You’ve been holding it together for so long, and now you’re running on empty. At Alter Behavioural Health near Coto de Caza, we see you, and we’re here to catch you when you can’t keep going alone. This is a place where you can finally stop acting like everything is okay and start recovering. Our compassionate team walks beside you every step of the way. We’re here to celebrate your wins, big or small. Whether anxiety has taken over your life, or depression has made it difficult to enjoy activities, we’ll help you take back control. Your path to wellness begins the moment you decide to make the first call.
Our Coto de Caza centre feels nothing like the hospitals you’re probably imagining. We’ve created something warmer, something gentler. Natural light floods the rooms through large windows that frame views of Southern California’s natural beauty. The furniture is actually comfortable. You can sit down and pause for a moment. Need to be alone for a while? Our private spaces offer the calm you need. Ready to connect with people who understand the weight you’re carrying? Common areas make it easy to connect with people.
Our location offers the privacy and stability that serious healing requires. We’re close enough to Rancho Santa Margarita, Mission Viejo, and Laguna Niguel that loved ones can visit regularly, but far enough from urban chaos that you can truly disconnect and focus on yourself. Coto de Caza is a community that values privacy, quiet, and quality of life. Those same values drive everything we do here.
When your treatment ends, we don’t just let you be. We create a personalized aftercare plan that gives you the ongoing support you’ll need. You’ll have quality outpatient care, peer support groups, and whatever else you need to transition back to your daily routine. Our team doesn’t drop you off a cliff. We’re setting you up for sustainable recovery.
You’re not just another case file for us. Our clinicians chose mental health because they want to help people find hope when everything feels useless.
Our team includes
Dr. Araz Tawfique, M.D.
Medical Director/Psychiatrist
Dr. Araz Tawfique, M.D. is an award-winning, Board Certified psychiatrist in La Jolla, CA with over ten years of experience working with people of diverse needs. He pursued his true passion for psychiatry and completed his psychiatric residency training at the University of Reno, Las Vegas. A San Diego native, he returned to Southern California to receive additional training in mental health, and start his private practice. His specialties are psychiatry and psychotherapy, which are techniques that facilitate a better understanding of thoughts, feelings, and motivations. His approach explores the interplay of biology, psychology, and sociology in shaping individuals and their relationships.
Dr. Tawfique’s experience includes delivering comprehensive addiction treatment at substance abuse centers in San Diego.
Medical Director / Psychiatrist
Primary Therapist
Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Their training is extensive, yes. But what makes them extraordinary is their humanity. They’ll recognize when you’re struggling even if you don’t say it out loud. They’ll adjust your treatment when something isn’t working. And they’ll feel genuine joy watching you rediscover pieces of yourself you thought were gone forever.
Picking up the phone feels impossibly hard right now; we get it. That’s why we’ve made the first step as simple as possible. One conversation covers the basics: what you’re going through, whether we’re the right fit, and what your insurance covers. If everything aligns, you could be here starting your healing journey within a couple of days. There’s no “sick enough” requirement. If you’re struggling and life feels unmanageable, that’s reason enough to reach out.
Once you make contact, you’re not alone in this anymore. Show up ready to be honest, and we’ll handle the rest. The treatment design, the clinical expertise, the steady support. It’s all here. Book your free consultation today.
Yes, we do. If you’re dealing with both mental health and substance use issues, our team is trained to help
Connect with our compassionate team to get a personalized treatment plan designed around your needs.
All calls are 100% free and confidential
