Your Gateway to Wellness in Rancho Santa Fe
When life feels unmanageable, it doesn’t matter how beautiful your surroundings are. Rancho Santa Fe is just an hour away from Alter Behavioral Health, which is located in Dana Point. Here, you will find serenity and a compassionate team that helps you regain balance and build coping skills to reconnect with yourself.
You might think healing is an ongoing journey, and you may be right, but sometimes you need to feel safe and supported to make progress. At Alter Behavioral Health, we provide a nurturing setting that encourages you to cope with stress positively.
Alter Behavioral Health prioritizes comfort because a calm nervous system is the foundation of mental stability.
We know what a secure and calm environment can do for mental health, and that is what we offer so you can focus on recovery.
Recovery is a unique experience for everyone. We understand everyone is going through a battle of their own, so we create a plan tailored to their mental health goals.
We provide individual therapy sessions to address personal challenges as well as tools for stress management, emotional regulation, and coping skills.
We provide guidance for rebuilding routines and confidence, supportive check-ins to track progress, and adapting your plan. Our goal is to help you take small, consistent steps. It will help you build momentum and maintain it.
We know that with treatment comes financial concern. This is why our team assists you with insurance verification and coverage so you can focus on your mental wellness.
At Alter Behavioral Health, we help you with claims and paperwork so you can focus on your recovery. We provide flexible treatment options and work with most major insurance companies.
At Alter Behavioral Health, you are under the care of experienced clinicians who are dedicated to guiding you through every stage of recovery.
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
Our team provides expertise, compassion, and individualized support to every client.
At Alter Behavioral Health, we provide therapy that is grounded in science and caters to the individual mental health needs of our clients.
We use scientific methodologies in combination with mindfulness and holistic therapies to improve coping skills and emotional resilience.
Consistency is everything when it comes to recovering from depression, anxiety, and other mental health challenges. We encourage our clients to maintain a structured routine without ever making them feel restricted.
We understand that each healing journey looks different for everyone, so we offer flexible arrangements that cater to your specific needs.
One of the most therapeutic experiences in life is taking long walks by the ocean and giving yourself time to heal. We provide a Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) for structured daily support and an Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) for a gradual transition back to everyday life. Our programs offer consistent care while empowering you to regain independence.
Our center combines clinical expertise with a warm, homelike environment that encourages peace and reflection rather than pressure or judgment.
Not always. We offer residential, Partial Hospitalization (PHP), and Intensive Outpatient (IOP) programs so you can choose the level of care that fits your needs.
We treat a wide range of mental health challenges, including anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, trauma, PTSD, OCD, and stress-related disorders.
Yes. Your privacy is always protected. Each client has their own private room, and all sessions are completely confidential.
Yes. Family therapy is encouraged, as it helps strengthen relationships and provides a strong support system during recovery.
Most insurance plans cover mental health care. We’ll verify your benefits quickly and handle the paperwork so you can focus on healing.
The duration depends on your personal progress and treatment plan.
Your day may include therapy sessions, group discussions, mindfulness exercises, creative expression, balanced meals, and time for rest or journaling.
Before discharge, our team helps you create a personalized aftercare plan with referrals, coping tools, and local resources to maintain stability.
You can call us directly or fill out a quick contact form on our website. A compassionate admissions specialist will walk you through the next steps and help verify insurance.
