San Diego Center for Change

About San Diego Center for Change

MHS San Diego Center for Change is an outpatient drug and alcohol rehab in San Diego, California, serving adults with substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health conditions.

The program offers outpatient and intensive outpatient services along with aftercare support, providing a step down option for individuals transitioning from residential or inpatient care.

As part of the Mental Health Systems network, the center focuses on integrated, whole person treatment for adults navigating recovery.

What Sets MHS San Diego Center for Change Apart

Key features of this San Diego outpatient program include:

Levels of care: Outpatient rehab, intensive outpatient programming (IOP) and aftercare support for ongoing recovery.
Populations served: Adult men, women and young adults, including justice involved and court referred clients.
Dual diagnosis treatment: Integrated care for co occurring substance use and mental health conditions.
Evidence based therapies: Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), individual counseling, group therapy and family therapy.
Additional approaches: Experiential therapy, psychoeducation, SMART Recovery, relapse prevention and spiritual therapy.
Justice system connection: Established ties to adult drug court and court ordered treatment in San Diego County.
Access: Same day outpatient admissions referenced for those needing timely entry into care.
Location: Conveniently located on Kemper Street in the 92110 area of San Diego, California.
Payment options: Self pay, private insurance, Medicaid, Medicare, financial aid and sliding scale assistance referenced across listings.

Begin Your Recovery Journey

Starting care at MHS San Diego Center for Change typically begins with contacting admissions to schedule an assessment and review service options.

The team can help match individuals to the appropriate outpatient or intensive outpatient level of care and explain payment, insurance and financial assistance options.

Edited by: Gayle Morris, BSN, MSN

Addiction Treatment Programs

Alcohol Rehab
If you’re ready to overcome alcohol use disorder, an alcohol rehab in California can give you the tools you need. Whether you need detox, inpatient treatment, or outpatient care, an alcohol program will help you build a new lifestyle based on healthy coping mechanisms, better relationships, and a new way of thinking about life.
Dual Diagnosis
Many people with addiction issues also have a mental health diagnosis, which is known as a dual diagnosis. Be sure to find a rehab in California that can treat both. Whether you need detox, inpatient treatment, or outpatient care, a dual diagnosis program will offer specific support for your mental health needs alongside traditional substance use treatment.
Opioid Addiction
The goal of an alcohol rehab in California is to give you the tools and skills you need to achieve long-term recovery. During this program, you’ll work with professional counselors to deal with the psychological, emotional, and physical issues that opioid misuse can cause. Over time, you’ll learn how to live without substance use long-term.
Drug Rehab
In California, a drug rehab provides a combination of therapy and education to help clients overcome substance misuse. In a drug treatment program you’ll not only receive treatment, but you’ll participate in activities, receive peer support, and learn how to have fun without substance use.
Adult Program
An adult program in California addresses the unique needs of adults, such as finding secure housing, building a career, and raising a family. Whether you need detox, inpatient treatment, or outpatient care, an adult program will offer specific support for your emotional, mental, and social needs.
Men's Rehab
Choosing a men’s rehab in California can be a great way to manage gender-specific issues while also addressing substance use. Whether you need detox, inpatient treatment, or outpatient care, a men’s program will offer specific support for your emotional, mental, and social needs.
Women's Rehab
If you’re a woman struggling with substance use, consider a women’s rehab program in California. Whether you need detox, inpatient treatment, or outpatient care, a women’s program will offer specific support for your emotional, mental, and social needs.
Young Adult Rehab
Young adult rehabs in California address a wide range of substance use issues while also helping clients transition into adulthood. Whether you need detox, inpatient treatment, or outpatient care, a young adult program will offer specific support for your emotional, mental, and social needs.
DUI/DWI Offender Program
San Diego Center for Change provides a specialized track for DUI/DWI offenders, combining substance abuse education with structured, compliance-oriented outpatient treatment for justice-involved clients.
Co-Occurring Disorders Treatment
Clients with substance abuse and mental health conditions can receive integrated treatment for co-occurring disorders at this San Diego outpatient facility.
Opioid Medication Support
San Diego Center for Change accepts clients currently on opioid medication, allowing continuity of care for individuals in outpatient substance abuse treatment.
Smoking/Tobacco Cessation
Smoking and tobacco cessation counseling is offered alongside substance abuse treatment, addressing nicotine addiction as part of a broader recovery plan at the center.
Case Management Services
Case management and social skills development are provided as ancillary services, helping San Diego Center for Change clients coordinate care and build recovery-supporting life skills.

Insurance Coverage

Medicaid
One way to pay for rehab in California is to use Medicaid if you qualify for the coverage. You can find treatment centers that accept Medicaid offering multiple levels of care, including detox, inpatient, and outpatient. You may pay little or nothing out-of-pocket.
Self-pay options
Paying the full cost of rehab in California yourself is called self-pay. Some people write a check, some electronically send payment to the treatment center, and others get a medical loan. There may be different fee structures depending on the level of care.
Private insurance
Paying for rehab in California is easier if you use private insurance. Keep in mind that coverage levels may vary, and it’s important to try to find a center that’s in-network with your plan. Be sure to ask about your out-of-pocket costs, such as copayments and deductibles.
Financial aid
One way to pay for rehab in California is to use financial aid programs if you qualify. Treatment programs may offer grants and scholarships to help you afford the cost of treatment, or you might find help from non-profits or other community groups.
Sliding scale payment assistance
How do you pay for rehab in California? A good option is to look for programs with a sliding scale payment plan. You may need to provide financial documentation for your income and family size, but the lower fees will make it much easier to get the care you need.

Levels of Care

1
Outpatient Rehab
San Diego Center for Change delivers regular outpatient treatment for adults with alcoholism and drug addiction, combining individual and group counseling with case management in San Diego County.
2
Aftercare Support
Aftercare and continuing care services support clients after completing primary treatment at San Diego Center for Change, reinforcing relapse prevention skills for long-term recovery.
3
Partial Hospitalization Program
The facility offers partial hospitalization/day treatment as a structured outpatient option for adults needing more intensive support than regular outpatient services in San Diego.

Therapies

Dialectical Behavior Therapy
In California, dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) helps you learn healthy coping strategies and build your ability to manage stressful situations. This makes it much easier to reach long-term recovery. Substance use treatment includes detox, inpatient treatment, and outpatient care, and DBT may be a part of each of these stages. The goal is to help clients develop the skills they need to solve the problems they face without substance use.
Experiential Therapy
In California, experiential therapy is a holistic therapy that is widely used in addiction treatment. By participating in art, music, or physical activities like hiking, you can learn to face internal issues without turning to substance use. Instead, you’ll develop healthy coping mechanisms.
Family Therapy
Attending family therapy in California is a way to address broken relationships and dysfunction, helping you establish long-term recovery. There are several goals in family therapy. Some sessions may be focused on specific past events, while others address current broken relationships or how good intentions have gone astray. Over time, family relationships can be restored, making recovery easier.
Group Therapy
Attending group therapy in California is a way to overcome shame and isolation, helping you establish long-term recovery. Substance use treatment includes detox, inpatient treatment, and outpatient care, and group therapy may be a part of each of these stages. The goal is to help clients support each other, provide accountability, and relate to each other’s experiences.
Individual Therapy
During individual therapy in California, clients work with a professional to address specific individual concerns. Some of the topics covered in individual therapy include developing healthy coping skills, addressing past events that may have played a part in substance use, and building a support network.
Individual Counseling
San Diego Center for Change offers one-on-one counseling sessions for adults working through alcoholism and drug addiction, supporting personalized goal setting within its outpatient treatment framework.
Group Counseling
Group counseling sessions at San Diego Center for Change give clients a peer support setting to address substance abuse issues alongside others in outpatient treatment.
Family Counseling
Family counseling is available at San Diego Center for Change, helping loved ones of clients in outpatient substance abuse treatment address relational impacts of addiction.
Relapse Prevention
Relapse prevention services help clients at this San Diego facility build coping strategies and identify triggers as part of ongoing outpatient substance abuse treatment.
Substance Abuse Education
San Diego Center for Change provides substance abuse education to help clients and families understand addiction, supporting informed participation in outpatient treatment programming.