Akua Behavioral Health Inc Akua Mind and Body

Akua Mind and Body offers one of the more complete levels-of-care progressions available in Orange County. The program begins with medical detox for individuals who need clinical supervision at the outset, then moves into residential treatment — a setting where adults can focus entirely on recovery without the distractions of daily life. This step-down model continues through Partial Hospitalization (PHP), Intensive Outpatient (IOP), and standard outpatient programming.

A virtual and online program rounds out the continuum, making it possible for people in later stages of recovery to stay connected to the Akua system even when attending in person is not practical. This range of options is particularly meaningful for anyone looking for a rehab and recovery center that can serve them across multiple phases of their recovery — not just at the starting point.

One of the defining features of Akua Mind and Body is its dual focus on both addiction and mental health. The center treats alcohol addiction, opioid addiction, heroin addiction, methamphetamine addiction, cocaine addiction, and benzodiazepine addiction alongside co-occurring conditions including depression, PTSD, anxiety disorder, bipolar disorder, OCD, codependency, and personality disorders. For people whose mental health and substance use challenges are intertwined, having both addressed within the same accredited program matters.

The clinical team reflects this dual scope. Clinical Directors Mysty Higgins (LPCC) and Jacquelene Hernandez (LMFT) bring licensure in professional clinical counseling and marriage and family therapy respectively, while Vice Presidents Alicia Robinson (MSc, CADC-II) and Neely Weir (CADC-II) hold advanced certifications in addiction counseling. The facility operates 24 hours a day, and its Joint Commission accreditation provides an external, nationally recognized benchmark for the quality of care delivered.

Completing a residential treatment program or a PHP is not the end of the recovery process — and Akua Mind and Body acknowledges that directly through its Extended Care Program. This aftercare structure gives people who have moved through primary treatment a continued framework for accountability and support as they transition back into everyday life. For those evaluating recovery centers with an eye toward what comes after acute care, the presence of a formal Extended Care Program is a meaningful differentiator.

The combination of a virtual and online program alongside the Extended Care Program means that Akua's support does not abruptly stop when someone steps down from higher levels of care. For family members and individuals thinking about long-term recovery — not just the first 30 days — this continuity within a single accredited organization is worth considering when comparing substance abuse treatment options in Orange County.

Akua Mind and Body serves adults and is explicitly inclusive of LGBTQIA+ individuals. For members of the LGBTQIA+ community who are weighing addiction treatment options, finding a recovery center that identifies them as a served population can factor meaningfully into the decision. The facility's accreditation through The Joint Commission applies to its work across all the populations it serves.

Adults dealing with substance use disorders — including those with co-occurring psychiatric diagnoses — are the core population at Akua. The center can be reached at (888) 629-6707 or by email at [email protected]. It operates 24 hours a day, which means someone can make contact at any point in the decision-making process without waiting for business hours.