Meditation therapy is a clinically integrated practice that teaches you to observe thoughts, emotions and physical sensations without immediately reacting to them. At Silver Lining Recovery in Huntington Beach, licensed clinicians use meditation alongside individual therapy, group therapy and modalities like DBT to build steadiness that supports treatment, at every level of outpatient care.
Clinically integrated practice
Individual and group sessions
PHP, IOP and outpatient
Mindfulness, breath work, body scan and more
Meditation therapy is the structured, intentional use of meditation practices within a clinical treatment setting. It differs from general wellness meditation or a relaxation app in that it is used with specific therapeutic goals in mind, facilitated by clinicians who understand how it intersects with addiction, trauma and mental health.
The practice builds a pause between a thought or craving and how you respond to it. Over time, that pause becomes one of the more practical tools in treatment, the space where a craving does not have to become a setback.
Meditation is woven into both individual and group formats across our levels of care, from PHP through IOP and standard outpatient. It is introduced first in individual therapy, where your clinician tailors the approach to what you are working on, then reinforced in group therapy, where practicing alongside others adds accountability and shared experience.
It is not a standalone program here. Meditation connects directly to the mindfulness work in DBT and supports the emotional processing that happens in trauma-informed therapy and CBT, so your care team coordinates it with the rest of your plan rather than running it on the side.
A self-guided app can be a useful supplement once you already have some stability, but it cannot provide clinical context, a therapist who understands your diagnosis, your history and the patterns keeping you stuck, and who can adjust the practice accordingly. The type of meditation used, the pacing and the support available when difficult material comes up are calibrated to you rather than generic.
Meditation is taught as a relapse prevention skill rather than a standalone therapy: something you can use on your own when stress or craving arrives. A benefits check usually comes back within 24 hours and costs nothing.
Practices are introduced and paced by clinicians who understand how meditation intersects with addiction, trauma and mental health, not a generic script.
Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, TriWest/TRICARE, Aetna, Anthem, Health Net and more. Verification is free and takes about two minutes.
Meditation connects to your work in DBT, trauma-informed therapy and CBT, so practices reinforce each other instead of running separately.
A clinician can explain how it fits your goals in about fifteen minutes. Checking your coverage first costs nothing and carries no obligation to enroll.
The approach is matched to your clinical needs and comfort level. No prior experience is required for any of these.
Focused, non-judgmental attention on the present moment. The foundation of the DBT mindfulness module and one of the more researched practices in treatment.
Slow, deliberate breathing used as an anchor for attention and a direct tool for nervous system regulation, often the first practice introduced.
Attention moves slowly through the body, noticing sensations without trying to change them, often coordinated with trauma-informed work.
Structured mental imagery led by a clinician, supporting emotional processing, stress reduction and rehearsal of healthy coping responses.
A structured method for cultivating warmth toward yourself and others, aimed at shifting self-criticism rather than forcing positivity.
Most virtual outpatient programs are therapy only and send anything medical elsewhere. Ours is run by the same physicians, nurses and clinicians as the Huntington Beach program, over a secure HIPAA-compliant platform.
Which level of care your plan covers depends on your specific benefits and medical necessity. Verification is free, takes about two minutes, and carries no obligation to enroll.
Five steps from your first call to a practice you can sustain on your own.
Your first conversation is free and private. Admissions asks what you are going through, explains your options and verifies your insurance. No prior meditation experience or referral is needed.
A licensed clinician completes a full assessment covering substance use history, mental health background, stress patterns and sleep, which determines your level of care and whether meditation is part of the plan.
If meditation is part of your plan, your clinician introduces practices gradually, tailored to what you are working on, whether that is anxiety, trauma processing or sleep.
Meditation is added to the facilitated group setting inside your PHP or IOP schedule, where practicing alongside others adds accountability and shared experience.
As treatment progresses, your care team helps you build a personal practice you can maintain as you step down in care.
Call for a free, confidential assessment. A clinician will explain how meditation fits your treatment plan and which level of care it sits inside.
No single approach or level suits everyone. Most people receive a combination, set at assessment and adjusted as treatment progresses.
Most people receive a combination rather than a single therapy. Your clinician matches approaches to what you are working on, and adjusts as treatment progresses.
| Approach | Format | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive Behavioral Therapy | Group and individual | Changing the thought patterns that keep symptoms going |
| Dialectical Behavior Therapy | Group and individual | Distress tolerance and emotion regulation when feelings overwhelm |
| EMDR | Individual, eight stages | Processing specific traumatic memories that still carry a charge |
| Trauma-Informed Therapy | The whole program | The framework every session operates in, so care does not re-traumatize |
| Internal Family Systems | Individual | Working with the conflicting parts of yourself that trauma created |
| TMS Therapy | In clinic, alongside your program | Depression that has not responded to medication and therapy |
| Individual Therapy | One-on-one, every level | The private work that group cannot do, with your own clinician |
| Group Therapy | Groups capped at eight | Practicing skills with people doing the same work, in a small room |
| Meditation Therapy | Alongside clinical sessions | Managing stress, cravings and the physical side of anxiety |
| Faith-Based Track | Optional, alongside the same program | Clients who want their faith included, with nothing lost by declining |
Every program here is run by licensed, credentialed clinicians. These are the people you will actually see.
William Sanchez
LMFT
SL
Sarah Litwiller
Primary Therapist, LCSW
CT
Christian Tiedge
Associate Marriage and Family Therapist
Kendra McCarthy
LVN
Most people receive a combination rather than a single therapy.
Structured work on the thought patterns behind cravings and mood, often practiced alongside meditation.
Skills-based work on distress tolerance and emotion regulation, sharing a mindfulness module with meditation.
The framework the whole program operates in, often paired with body scan practice.
Where meditation supports treatment for substance use and a co-occurring condition together.
"Silver Lining is a great place for mental health and substance use disorder treatment. I’ve been here for both. Every single person from staff to clinicians to ownership all genuinely care and make the time to show they care. Programming is thoughtful, informative, and very engaging. There is much more thought into treating the root cause than the symptom."
"The support and real care they give is unmatched. I can say without any doubt that the people that make up this community have a calling to serve and support those of us trying to heal and find a new way of life. Today I’m over five months clean, I have a career that feeds my energy, and a community of people that help me stay accountable."
"Silver Lining Recovery is a fantastic program for anyone seeking treatment for drug and/or alcohol abuse. Barmak and his staff were a delight to work with. Highly recommended."
No experience is needed at all. Practices are introduced gradually, starting with the most accessible techniques, and your clinician adjusts based on what feels manageable.
Not in the way it is practiced at Silver Lining Recovery. The techniques used in our clinical programs are evidence-informed and secular. Some practices, such as loving-kindness meditation, have roots in Buddhist traditions, but they are taught here as psychological tools, not spiritual ones. A personal faith practice can be honored alongside this work.
That is one of the most common concerns people have, and it is based on a misconception about what meditation actually is. The goal is not to stop thinking, it is to notice that you are thinking and gently return your attention. A busy mind is not a failure, it is the practice itself.
An app offers guidance but not clinical context. In treatment, the type of meditation, the pacing and the integration with your other therapy are all tailored to your diagnosis and goals, and support is available when the practice surfaces difficult material.
Yes, that is how it is designed to work. Meditation is integrated into your broader treatment plan alongside individual therapy, group therapy, DBT and trauma-informed work rather than run as a standalone program.
Meditation therapy is delivered as part of Silver Lining’s outpatient programs. We accept most major insurance, including Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, TriWest/TRICARE, Aetna, Anthem and Health Net. Call 866-681-0927 and our admissions team will verify your specific benefits at no cost.
Medically Reviewed By
Last reviewed: September 24, 2026
Dr. Atul Grover, MD, is Medical Director at Silver Lining Recovery. He is board-certified in Addiction Medicine and Anesthesiology, trained at UCLA, and is affiliated with Hoag Hospital Newport Beach. He oversees medical care including medication-assisted treatment and co-occurring mental health conditions.
You do not have to have any prior experience to begin. Call for a free, confidential assessment, or verify your insurance online, and a clinician will explain how meditation fits into your treatment plan.
Medical disclaimer. This page is for general information only and is not medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It does not create a provider and patient relationship. Always speak with a qualified health professional about your own situation. If you are in crisis or thinking about harming yourself, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, or call 911.
Program hours, session counts and level of care recommendations described here are typical ranges. Your own plan is set by a licensed clinician during assessment. Insurance coverage varies by plan and by medical necessity.
