Amend Treatment

09/09/2025

“Do I have complex PTSD?” or “How is CPTSD different from PTSD?”

These are some of the most commonly searched trauma-related questions today. At Amend Treatment, we work with individuals who often carry deep, chronic trauma that hasn’t been recognized, or fully treated, for years. Understanding this difference can be the first step toward real healing.

Learn more about the differences between complex PTSD and PTSD: https://amendtreatment.com/complex-ptsd-vs-ptsd/

Learn how Complex PTSD differs from PTSD, what symptoms to watch for, and how trauma-informed residential care at Amend Treatment supports deep healing.

08/28/2025

Loneliness is not a clinical diagnosis, but it can lead to one.

Everyone feels lonely from time to time. But chronic loneliness, the kind that lingers for months or years, can have profound effects on both mental and physical health. Over time, it can:
▪️ Disrupt sleep and appetite
▪️ Heighten stress and anxiety
▪️ Lower immunity
▪️ Fuel feelings of hopelessness and low self-worth

For many of our Clients, the biggest shift isn’t from sadness to happiness. It’s from disconnection to belonging.

Learn more about the hidden connection between loneliness and depression: https://amendtreatment.com/loneliness-and-depression/

08/26/2025

Studies estimate that up to 70% of adults have experienced at least one traumatic event in their lifetime. But many more are now recognizing the impact of chronic or developmental trauma, which often goes unacknowledged and untreated.

Mental health professionals are increasingly being trained to recognize trauma’s effects not just on the brain, but on the body, the nervous system, and a person’s ability to feel safe in relationship. The American Psychological Association has called for more trauma-informed frameworks in clinical settings, and trauma-centered approaches like EMDR, parts work (IFS), and somatic therapies are now considered gold-standard treatments.

At Amend Treatment, we’ve built our program around this understanding. It shapes how we design our homes, structure our clinical model, and engage with each client’s healing process. Trauma-informed care isn’t a style of therapy, it’s a whole system of support.

Learn more about how Amend is integrating trauma-informed therapy in our programs: https://amendtreatment.com/trauma-informed-therapy/

08/25/2025

How does acupuncture work to support mental wellness?

Acupuncture involves placing very thin needles at specific points on the body to stimulate the nervous system and promote energetic balance. Western research has shown that it can:
▪️ Activate the parasympathetic (calming) nervous system
▪️ Increase endorphins and serotonin
▪️ Reduce physical symptoms like tension, fatigue, and insomnia

Acupuncture at Amend is offered as part of a broader therapeutic plan. It complements psychotherapy, somatic practices, and medication management when appropriate.

Learn more about how incorporating acupuncture into mental health residential treatment can help support nervous system regulation and mental wellness: https://amendtreatment.com/acupuncture-benefits-for-mental-health/

08/19/2025

According to the Office on Women’s Health, nearly 20% of women in the U.S. will experience a diagnosable mental health condition in any given year. But many will go untreated—or receive care that doesn’t account for the hormonal, trauma-related, and social factors that shape their experience.

There are also unique mental health risks for women including:
▪️ Hormonal fluctuations
▪️ Higher rates of trauma and PTSD
▪️ Eating disorders and body image distress
▪️ Bias in diagnosis and treatment

At Amend, we provide gender-informed, trauma-sensitive care that meets women where they are—across every life stage.

Learn more: https://amendtreatment.com/why-is-womens-mental-health-important/

08/01/2025

Today’s 20 and 30 somethings are facing unprecedented mental health challenges. Post-pandemic disruption, economic instability, and social pressures have created a perfect storm of anxiety, burnout, and identity loss.

At Amend Treatment, we specialize in helping young adults who feel stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure of how to move forward. Without enough support in place, young adults often feel and experience:

▪️ Delayed independence and underemployment
▪️ Chronic anxiety and emotional dysregulation
▪️ Disconnection from identity, purpose, and community

We help through:
▪️ Evidence-based therapy focused on emotional resilience
▪️ Life skills development for real-world adulthood
▪️ Community, structure, and a space to reset

Whether you or your Client are recent grads, a high performer in crisis, or someone who’s lost their way, Amend offers a tailored, therapeutic environment to help regain clarity and build a future with confidence.

Learn more: https://amendtreatment.com/young-adult-mental-health/

Explore young adult mental health and the growing emotional pressure on Gen Z and young Millennials navigating early adulthood.

07/29/2025

At Amend, the natural landscape is an integral part of our Client’s healing journey.

Our two beautiful Malibu locations are designed with one purpose: to support whole-person healing in every detail, including the outdoors. Clients are able to move, reflect, and process within the serene grounds. During our residential mental health treatment program, Clients are involved in:
▪️ Open-air yoga classes
▪️ Quiet reflection in the gardens and private outdoor spaces
▪️ Group therapy in the courtyard or by the ocean

Research shows that proximity to water and nature can reduce stress, increase resilience, and restore the nervous system. At Amend, we’ve built this science into our treatment model, offering a deeply therapeutic environment where healing happens alongside nature.

Learn more about how our outdoor healing spaces are helping Clients move through trauma, anxiety, depression, and more: https://amendtreatment.com/nature-and-mental-health/

How do nature and mental health healing go hand in hand? Outdoor therapy, ocean proximity, and natural spaces are powerful contributors to healing from depression, anxiety, and trauma.

07/25/2025

Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOPs) are a valuable next step for Clients with anxiety who have recently completed a residential treatment program.

At Amend Treatment, our virtual IOP offers continued support from familiar therapists and structured care without the intensity of inpatient settings.

Our program includes:
▪️ Real-World Practice: Participants can apply techniques to real-life triggers and get feedback in real time.
▪️ Community Connection: Group therapy offers shared wisdom and camaraderie.
▪️ Flexible and Accessible: Virtual IOP options mean care can happen from home, especially helpful for those whose anxiety includes social or situational fears.

Compared to weekly therapy sessions, our IOP meets three times a week through virtual group therapy, individual therapy, and supporting modalities to help support Clients after residential care.

Talk to our expert care team to learn more about our IOP and residential treatment programs for anxiety: https://amendtreatment.com/anxiety-and-iop/

treatment

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), panic disorder, social anxiety, and phobias are all commonly treated in IOP settings.

07/21/2025

What are a Client’s options after residential mental health treatment?

Individuals typically transition to a less intensive level of care after residential treatment, such as an intensive outpatient program (IOP).

Programs like IOPs offer a step-down approach that helps Clients maintain their progress, build on coping skills, and integrate back into their daily lives with ongoing support. This type of program can help solidify progress made in residential treatment, and offer a bridge between that highly structured environment and more independent living.

At Amend Treatment, we offer an intensive outpatient program both as a continuum of care for our residential treatment program and as a standalone for Clients in California.

This virtual program consists of group therapy, individual or family therapy, and supporting modalities such as yoga or meditation.

Learn more about our IOP: https://amendtreatment.com/residential-mental-health-treatment-to-iop/

It’s the structured flow of support that evolves as the client heals:

07/09/2025

Anxiety during midlife transitions isn’t always situational. Sometimes, it’s hormonal and it’s often overlooked.

At Amend Treatment, we’re seeing a clear trend: more women in perimenopause and menopause are arriving in crisis—experiencing panic, insomnia, racing thoughts, and a nervous system in overdrive.

And many have never had anxiety before.

Menopause-related anxiety is real, under-diagnosed, and frequently dismissed. Hormonal shifts, especially in estrogen and progesterone, can deeply affect mood-regulating brain chemistry. Add in caregiving stress, identity changes, and accumulated emotional fatigue, and it’s no surprise that many women feel like they’re coming undone.

Outpatient care isn’t always enough.

That’s why our residential program provides:
▪️ Integrated psychiatric and hormonal coordination
▪️ Trauma-informed therapy, including CBT and EMDR
▪️ Somatic and nervous system support
▪️ Peer connection in a safe, reflective setting

For many women, this chapter of life isn’t just a change, it’s an unraveling. But with the right support, it can also be a turning point: https://amendtreatment.com/menopause-and-anxiety/

07/07/2025

Mental health and substance use don’t exist in separate lanes. But too often, treatment still does.

More than 20 million U.S. adults are now living with a mental health disorder and substance use disorder at the same time, known as a co-occurring condition. And yet, many care models still treat these struggles separately, creating gaps that Clients can fall through.

At Amend Treatment, we approach dual diagnosis with a fully integrated model, because lasting healing requires it.

Here’s why it matters:
• Substance use often begins as a way to manage trauma, anxiety, or emotional overwhelm
• Fragmented care treats symptoms, not systems
• Outcomes improve dramatically when both conditions are addressed together

Our approach combines psychiatry, trauma-informed therapy, and addiction support within a connected, collaborative treatment environment. Clients are met with understanding, not judgment, and care that reflects the full picture of their experience.

If you work with Clients who are high-functioning on the outside but unraveling underneath, we invite you to learn how integrated care can help them truly heal.

The Rise of Co-Occurring Conditions: Why Integrated Treatment Matters More Than Ever: https://amendtreatment.com/the-rise-of-co-occurring-conditions/

A co-occurring disorder means someone is experiencing both a mental health condition (like anxiety, depression, PTSD, or bipolar disorder) and a substance use

06/30/2025

Healing doesn’t happen in isolation. It happens in context.

At Amend Treatment, we know that meaningful recovery from anxiety, depression, trauma, or burnout isn’t the result of a single therapy session or medication adjustment, it’s the product of the full therapeutic environment.

From the quiet of a private room to the warmth of sunlight through a window, the details matter.

Research from trauma-informed care and environmental psychology confirms what clinicians observe daily: physical surroundings impact emotional safety, nervous system regulation, and therapeutic outcomes. This is especially true for high-achieving adults and women who have spent years in hyper-function, clients whose systems need rest, not more effort.

At Amend, we intentionally design every aspect of care to support real healing:
• Soothing, non-institutional spaces
• Nutrient-rich, chef-prepared meals
• Sleep-friendly environments with no nighttime disruptions
• Personalized therapy grounded in trauma awareness
• Outdoor and somatic practices that reintroduce calm to the body

These aren’t amenities. They’re interventions.

If you’re supporting Clients who are holding everything together, but feel themselves unraveling inside, we invite you to learn how holistic care design can make the difference.

The Power of Every Detail: Why Environment, Amenities, and Care Design Matter in Mental Health Treatment: https://amendtreatment.com/the-power-of-detail/

Exploring the power of detail: Why environment, amenities, and care design matter in residential mental health treatment.