Dual diagnosis

TriBeCa Therapy is located in Downtown Manhattan, NYC and provides individual psychotherapy and group therapy for adults, children, teens and couples who are looking for creative help in living and building their lives.

Dual diagnosis is an understandably confusing term. Diagnosis itself is confusing enough, and one might rationally conclude that dual diagnosis implies that two psychiatric diagnosis have been given. This is sort of true. While more than one psychiatric diagnosis can be given to a single individual (and commonly is), dual diagnosis refers to the presence of both a diagnosis related to substance abuse or addiction and one that is not (e.g. diagnoses more commonly thought of as “mental illness). A typical example is an individual with a diagnosis of bi-polar disorder and a diagnosis of alcohol abuse.

Commonly (though not always) individuals with a dual diagnosis are seen as doubly broken. They’re extra disordered. And therein one sees the limitations of an over-dependence on diagnosis. Diagnoses bring stigma, they narrowly define what an individual is struggling with, and consequently narrowly define their treatment. In the case of dual diagnosis, this is doubly so.

As a psychotherapist, I would never ignore the emotional struggles that others define as “mental illness,” nor would I ignore struggles with alcohol use and abuse. But the prevalence of diagnosis, and the limitations therein are too constricting, alienating and too narrowly define both the patient and the problem.

For more information on creative psychotherapy in New York City for difficulties with drugs and alcohol, contact:

TriBeCa Therapy
matt@TriBeCaTherapy.com
212-571-5799
291 Broadway, Suite 801
New York, NY 10007