Questions? Call for Help Now
Questions? Call for Help Now
Your Gateway to Wellness in Rancho Santa Margarita
Rancho Santa Margarita looks peaceful. Mental illness doesn’t care. Anxiety strikes in quiet neighborhoods. Depression shows up in big homes. PTSD doesn’t wait for an invite.
That’s why we built Alter Behavioral Health. We serve Rancho Santa Margarita residents with top-tier, proven residential mental health care. You don’t have to go far. You just have to go forward.
Life unravels fast. You miss a few days of work. You sleep too much or not at all. You say you’re “fine,” but you’re not. At Alter, everything shifts. You’re heard, not judged. You get space to heal, not hide. You build skills, not excuses. For residents of Rancho Santa Margarita, support is close—and silence is no longer the only option.
We design our residential facilities like luxury stays—because comfort fuels recovery. Here’s what we offer:
This is health care that feels like self-care.
Life in Rancho Santa Margarita won’t press pause forever. That’s why Alter’s programs go beyond emotional safety. Conflict resolution becomes second nature. Coping strategies get practiced until they’re instinctual. Career support and academic planning prepare clients for what comes next. Family sessions repair the damage and open new doors. And aftercare isn’t a list—it’s a plan that sticks. No one leaves here floating. Everyone leaves grounded, prepared, and in control of their recovery story.
Your zip code isn’t a barrier. Your healing starts with one call. Our team is ready to verify insurance, answer questions, and get you into a place that finally feels right.
Our Rancho Santa Margarita clients get access to some of the most respected minds in the field. Meet the real ones doing the real work:
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
They’re not here to babysit. They’re here to help you rise.
Therapy at Alter isn’t “talk about your feelings” forever. It’s action-based, strategy-driven, and backed by science.
Here’s what’s in rotation:
Every plan fits you. Not your label.
Mental health thrives on structure. We keep your schedule tight and purposeful:
Recovery is a rhythm. We keep the beat going.
Alter Behavioral Health isn’t a name—it’s a network. We have residential mental health facilities just minutes from Rancho Santa Margarita, each with a unique strength. In Irvine, clients find a calm and focused haven for deep healing. Dana Point blends luxury with clinical rigor, offering a safe and empowering space. Capo Beach pairs ocean-side calm with clinical excellence. San Juan Capistrano delivers immediate crisis stabilization when it matters most. San Diego expands those stabilization options for broader coverage. We’ve built our Alter system for flexibility, speed, and serious outcomes. That’s what makes it different—and that’s what makes it work.
Yes. They’re part of your healing team.
Chef-prepared. Delicious. And customized to your dietary needs.
Licensed. Skilled. Humans. They don’t fake empathy.
Yes, at structured times. We make it meaningful.
Yes. We work with major plans like Cigna. We’ll check your benefits before anything starts.
You do. Privacy helps progress.
That depends on your needs. But we’ll guide every step.
Yes. You focus on healing. We handle the rest.
Bring comfy clothes, approved meds, an ID, and a journal. Leave the stress at home.
You get a plan. You get referrals. You get support. You won’t be alone.
Our mission is to advance the future of mental health care through innovative, evidence-based treatments, delivering excellence, fostering human connection with unwavering compassion that empowers every individual to thrive.
34270 Pacific Coast Hwy
3rd Floor
Dana Point, CA 92629
Questions? Call now to speak confidentially with an admissions counselor.
