People come to Southern California for sunshine, surf, and selfies. But not everyone’s chasing a tan. Some come because their mind needs help, not a vacation. In Orange County, one place offers that help—with real, 24/7 care for people going through real struggles.
Alter Behavioral Health runs five full-time mental health centers in Southern California. This year, they got nominated for Best Behavioral Health Facility in the region. The award isn’t for style—it’s for showing up, day after day, with real care. The team says they don’t offer quick fixes. They provide real support for people who need it.
The center treats depression, anxiety, PTSD, DID, and more. It’s not a drop-in program. Clients live on-site and get care 24/7. Staff say that’s the point—deep work takes time, and time takes space.
Most people stay 30 to 45 days. They can bring phones. Private rooms. Families can visit. The setting helps, too—think ocean air and quiet hills, not traffic and noise. It’s a place built for slowing down and working on oneself.
The program’s only for adults. You have to be 18 or older. They don’t treat teens or children. Staff say they move fast with admissions—same-day or weekends, if needed.
Some clients live nearby. Others fly in from across the U.S. A few even travel from overseas. Every person gets assigned a case manager on day one.
That case manager helps with everything—from setting up treatment to handling work leave or short-term disability. Staff also assist with FMLA paperwork. They try to make the process smooth.
Alter says they focus on mental health first. They are not a rehab center. But they do treat people with both mental health and substance use issues, as long as the mental health part comes first.
They treat many different conditions. That includes depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder (BPD), PTSD, complex PTSD, and dissociative identity disorder (DID). They also work with clients who have autism or are on the spectrum.
Each client gets a care plan. That plan is based on the person’s needs. Therapists review it often and adjust it during treatment.
They use therapy backed by science. The two main types are Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT). CBT helps people change how they think. And DBT helps people stay calm when things get tough.
“Most people need both,” one therapist said. “You learn how to think better and stay steady.”
Alter also takes great pride in their staff. They use something called the Care PredictorTM Index to choose who gets hired. “We don’t just look at degrees,” said one spokesperson. “We want people who care.”
The clinical team includes therapists, doctors, nurses, techs, and support staff. Clients go to one-on-one sessions, group therapy, and other activities. The support is always there, day and night.
According to their internal surveys, 95% of former clients say they were satisfied with their care. There’s no public report, but some past clients have shared their experiences. “I’d been to other places,” said one former client. “This one helped me slow down and think. That’s what I needed.”
Not everyone can use their insurance there. Alter does not accept Medi-Cal or Medicare. They don’t take any state-funded insurance. But they do work with many private PPO or employer health plans. These include:
- Anthem Blue Cross
- Blue Cross Blue Shield
- Cigna
- UnitedHealthcare
- Surest (UHC)
- Aetna
- GEHA
- UMR
- Medica
- Highmark
- Carefirst
- Priority Health
- Carleton
- NYSHIP
- Regence
Families can also pay out of pocket. The billing team helps with insurance checks and cost estimates. They go over all of that before admission.
Alter also runs a stabilization unit. That part helps people in crisis. It’s for short-term help before they enter full-time care. “Sometimes people just need to get through a bad moment,” one staff member said.
Phones are allowed but with limits. Visitation happens on-site. Private rooms are available.
One common question is about work leave. The answer is yes—Alter helps with that. The case manager talks to employers and helps file paperwork. That includes FMLA, disability, and leave of absence forms.
Many clients come from out of state. “We get calls from all over,” said a team member. “Texas, Florida, New York. People want quiet care. That’s what we offer.”
Alter does not offer outpatient programs like PHP or IOP anymore. Their focus is on full-time residential care. Clients live on-site for the entire program. They get support every day, all day.
One therapist put it this way: “You can’t undo years of pain in a few days. But four or five weeks in the right setting can make a difference.”
The nomination for Best Behavioral Health Facility came earlier this year. Winners will be announced later in 2025. The team says the award matters, but not as much as the work.
“Being nominated feels good,” one staff member said. “But we show up every day either way.”
In a state where finding mental health care isn’t always easy, Alter Behavioral Health is one place trying to fill the gap. Whether or not they win the award, they say their focus remains on what comes next.
For them, that means keeping the doors open, the phones on, and the care going.
