TUSTIN, CA - Friendly Recovery Center announced the rollout of a comprehensive patient-centered model designed to make outpatient mental health care in Orange County more accessible, coordinated, and outcomes-driven. The approach aligns scheduling, clinical pathways, and progress tracking with each individual’s goals, creating a practical framework that supports sustained improvement without disrupting work or family responsibilities.
The model emphasizes rapid access to care, expanded hours, and coordinated teams across psychiatry, therapy, and case management. Intake staff guide individuals from first call to first appointment with clear expectations, while clinicians use measurement tools at regular intervals to inform treatment adjustments. The result is a streamlined experience that seeks to improve engagement, reduce drop-off after intake, and deliver measurable progress over time.
“Patient-centered care is not a slogan at Friendly Recovery Center, it is a set of habits that starts at intake and extends through step-down planning,” said Shahana Ham, LCSW - Clinical Program Director. “By aligning therapy, psychiatry, and case management around the person’s life and goals, and by tracking what changes session to session, the team can respond faster, remove barriers to attendance, and help translate motivation into daily skills.”
Key features of the new framework include same-week access for initial appointments, evening and early-morning group options, and telehealth availability that complements in-person services. Coordinated care plans bring therapists, prescribers, and case managers into structured communication, supported by shared notes and defined touchpoints. Individuals step down from higher intensity tracks, such as intensive outpatient programming, into standard outpatient care with scheduled follow-ups in the first week to maintain momentum.
Measurement-based care anchors the clinical process. Routine symptom scales and functioning measures are collected at set intervals and reviewed in case consultations. These data guide treatment updates and provide a transparent view of progress for individuals and families. The center also places emphasis on practical family engagement, offering education and optional sessions that help household members support coping skills, routines, and safety plans at home.
Insurance navigation is another pillar of the model. Friendly Recovery Center provides benefits checks, authorization support, and clear language about options so individuals can begin care with fewer administrative hurdles. Staff are trained to clarify levels of care, answer cost-share questions, and coordinate with health plans while keeping the clinical timeline moving forward.
Orange County’s growing need for accessible mental health services informed the design of this approach. Friendly Recovery Center analyzed barriers that commonly derail outpatient engagement, such as delays between intake and the first visit, limited after-work availability, and uncertainty about next steps after completing a higher level of care. The resulting framework addresses these pain points by standardizing access targets, expanding scheduling windows, and building step-down pathways that are planned before discharge rather than after gaps emerge.
Operationally, the center tracks leading indicators of continuity, including time from first contact to first session, first 30-day attendance consistency, and scheduled follow-ups kept after transitions in level of care. Early internal results indicate improvements in on-time starts and retention that align with national best practices for outpatient engagement. The team plans to share aggregate findings with community partners to encourage broader adoption of patient-centered, measurement-informed processes across the region.
Friendly Recovery Center is headquartered in Tustin and serves adults across Orange County and surrounding communities. The organization treats a range of mental health conditions through individual therapy, group therapy, psychiatric services, and structured outpatient programs. The patient-centered model brings these services together under one coordinated plan so individuals can progress through care with clarity and consistent support.
Ham added, “People move forward when care fits real life. Flexible scheduling, clear plans, and consistent measurement make a meaningful difference. This model helps teams deliver on that promise day after day.”
With this announcement, Friendly Recovery Center underscores a commitment to practical innovation that can be replicated by other providers. The center invites healthcare partners, employers, and community organizations to learn more about the framework and explore collaboration to expand timely access, coordination, and measurable outcomes for residents across Orange County.
Media Contact
Name
Friendly Recovery Center
Contact name
David Ham
Contact phone
(657) 218-9125
Contact address
15991 Red Hill Ave, Suite 101
City
Tustin
State
CA
Zip
92780
Country
United States
Url
https://friendlyrecovery.com/
