Co-Occurring Disorder Residential Support

What is a co-occurring disorder?

A co-occurring disorder means someone is experiencing both a substance use disorder and a mental health condition.
This can look like:

Using substances to quiet anxiety or panic
Drinking to sleep because trauma symptoms keep showing up
Feeling depressed, then relapsing to escape the pain
Mood swings that get worse when substances enter the picture

Because symptoms can overlap, people often need consistent support and a plan that takes both sides seriously.

Mental health conditions we commonly support in ESsex sober living

Many residents manage mental health conditions alongside recovery, including:

Anxiety disorders
Depression and mood disorders
Bipolar I and Bipolar II
Panic attacks and panic disorder
OCD
PTSD
Borderline personality disorder
Schizophrenia (with appropriate outside clinical care)
Substance-induced mood disorders
Dual diagnosis and co-occurring disorders

We are here to help

What to expect in the first week

Moving into sober living is a big step. We keep it simple and supportive.

In your first week, you can expect:

Clear expectations so you know what “success” looks like
A stable sober environment
Encouragement to attend therapy, outpatient care, and recovery meetings
Support from staff and peers when stress spikes
Help building a routine that you can actually stick to

How We Support Recovery

1Accountability & Monitoring Clear house expectations and monitoring help maintain a safe, recovery-focused environment.

2Recovery Meetings & Community Residents participate in in-house meetings and are supported in connecting with outside recovery meetings and the local recovery community.

3Individualized Support
Each resident’s needs are different. We provide guidance and structure based on individual recovery goals.

4Life Skills & Daily Strucutre
We help residents develop healthy routines and practical life skills that support independence, responsibility, and long-term stability.

5Mental Health Support Coordination
We encourage and support ongoing care with licensed therapists, counselors, and psychiatrists to help residents manage mental health alongside recovery.

6Family Communication & Support
When appropriate, we help facilitate healthy communication with family members to support understanding, boundaries, and long-term recovery success.

Co-Occurring Disorder Residential Support in Brooklyn, NY

Trying to stay sober while also dealing with anxiety, depression, trauma, bipolar disorder, or other mental health symptoms can feel exhausting. Many people are not just fighting addiction. They are also trying to manage what is happening in their mind and emotions at the same time.

At Essex Sober House, we provide a structured sober living home in Brooklyn for people working through recovery while managing co-occurring mental health challenges. We are not a clinical treatment facility, but we support residents with structure, accountability, and coordination with outside licensed providers so they can stay steady and keep moving forward.

Location: 48 Essex Street, Brooklyn, NY 11208 (Cypress Hills / East New York area).

What we do at Essex Sober House and what we do not

Let’s keep it clear.

What we do

We provide safe, structured sober living with daily routines, accountability, and a recovery-focused environment.
We also encourage residents to stay connected with outside care such as therapists, psychiatrists, counselors, and outpatient programs.

What we do not do

We do not replace clinical treatment, therapy, or medical care. Essex Sober House is supportive housing, not a hospital or inpatient rehab.

If you need detox, inpatient stabilization, or emergency mental health services, we can help you understand what level of care may be appropriate before sober living.

Why sober living matters for dual diagnosis recovery

Many people do great in treatment, then struggle once they go back to real life. Triggers return, stress hits fast, and structure disappears.

Sober living can help by providing:

A stable place to live without alcohol and drugs
Predictable routines that reduce chaos
Peer support from others taking recovery seriously
Accountability that protects progress
Space to practice coping skills in real life, not just in sessions

How our co-occurring disorder support works

Every resident is different, but our focus stays the same: structure, stability, and recovery momentum.

1) Structure and accountability

Clear house expectations, routine, and monitoring help keep the environment safe and recovery focused.

2) Recovery meetings and community

We offer in-house recovery meetings and help residents connect with outside meetings and recovery resources across Brooklyn.

3) Life skills and daily routines

Co-occurring symptoms often get worse when life feels messy. We help residents build routines that support real stability, like sleep schedules, responsibilities, and healthy habits.

4) Support coordination with outside providers

Residents are encouraged to stay connected with licensed clinicians. If someone has a therapist or psychiatrist, our environment supports consistency and follow-through.

5) Family communication (when appropriate)

Recovery impacts everyone. When it makes sense, we support healthier communication and boundaries so families can stop living in crisis mode.

Who is a good fit for this program?

Our co-occurring disorder residential support is often a strong fit for people who:

Completed detox or treatment and need structure next
Are sober but still feel emotionally unstable
Have relapsed in the past because mental health symptoms were not managed
Need accountability while working, going to outpatient care, or rebuilding life skills
Want a sober home that takes mental health seriously, not as an afterthought

Note: This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Please consult a healthcare professional for personalized recommendations.