We understand that reaching out for help isn’t easy, particularly when it comes to mental health issues. This is why we’ve made confidentiality a cornerstone of our philosophy at First Light Recovery. We’re proud to offer a 24/7 expert care in our inpatient mental health program right here in San Juan Capistrano, CA. Our goal is to provide a secure, discreet environment where you can focus entirely on your healing journey. What’s more, we’re not just about treating symptoms – we aim to uncover the root causes of your mental health issues. Our team of experienced professionals will dig deep into the theories behind your struggles, applying a rigorous, evidence-based approach to ensure we’re treating the real issue, not just the surface symptoms. This approach to mental health is about more than just recovery; it’s about understanding, growth, and lasting change. So, when you’re ready to start this important journey, know that we’re here, day and night, to provide the expert, confidential care you need.
Severe mental illnesses, such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and severe depression, can be incredibly debilitating. They can completely upend our lives, making it impossible for us to work, study, or even engage in simple daily tasks. In our inpatient mental health service, we’re dedicated to providing comprehensive care for individuals grappling with these serious conditions. We’re here to provide a safe and structured environment where we can lay the groundwork for recovery.
Our program is grounded in evidence-based treatments that have been proven to help those with severe mental illness. We’re not just treating symptoms; we’re striving to get to the root of the problem. We use a mix of individual therapy, group therapy, medication management. We’re committed to creating a personalized plan for each individual, because we know that no two people’s experiences with severe mental illness are the same.
We believe in the power of community in the healing process. In our program, we’re not just patients and providers—we’re a team. We’re all in this together, helping each other navigate the twists and turns of recovery. We’re here to celebrate victories, big and small, and to provide support during the tough times. We’re committed to creating an environment where everyone feels seen, heard, and valued. Because when we’re coping with severe mental illness, that sense of connection can make all the difference.
24/7 Expert Mental Health Care
Accepts Most Insurance Providers
5-Star Rated, CARF Certified
Tailored, Individual Treatment Plans
Committed to Confidential, Therapeutic Healing
We strongly believe that our Residential Mental Health Program could quite possibly be the most pivotal journey you’ll ever embark upon. It’s not an overstatement to say that it can literally be a life-changing experience. This program isn’t just about managing symptoms, it’s about transforming lives. We’re here to help you navigate through the turbulent waters of mental health struggles and guide you safely to the shores of recovery.
Our team of highly skilled professionals is more committed than you could ever imagine. They’re not just at the forefront of their respective fields, they’re pushing the boundaries every single day. We’re not just keeping pace with the latest developments in mental health care, we’re leading the charge. Our licensed and CARF certified Orange County inpatient mental health treatment, is not just a place for healing, it’s a destination of hope for countless individuals. We’re not just treating mental health conditions, we’re empowering individuals to reclaim their lives.
At First Light Recovery, we understand that treating mental health effectively demands a personalized approach, taking into account each individual’s distinct experiences and needs. Our facilities offer a comprehensive array of residential care solutions aimed at a diverse spectrum of mental health issues and co-occurring disorders, utilizing specialized, evidence-based methods.
Our committed specialists are accessible 24/7, providing steadfast support, encouragement, and guidance to ensure that all residents have the essential resources and care they need for their path to recovery.
Our program excels in managing the intricacies associated with various mental health challenges:
Each treatment plan at First Light Recovery is as unique as the individuals we serve, ensuring that your path to recovery is both personalized and effective.
We’re often asked, “Why choose a residential mental health program over other options?” At First Light Recovery, we provide around-the-clock personalized care in a structured environment. We understand that mental health issues don’t stick to a 9-5 schedule, and that’s why we’re available 24/7. This ensures enhanced safety and swift intervention during crises. It’s about providing you with a safe space, where you can focus solely on your recovery without worrying about managing daily life or handling unexpected stressors.
In addition to constant support, our inpatient mental health program offers intensive daily therapy sessions. We believe in the power of consistent, quality therapy to accelerate progress and healing. You’re not just attending a weekly appointment, you’re immersing yourself in a therapeutic environment designed to promote recovery and resilience. By removing you from daily stressors, we provide a supportive space where you can concentrate fully on your healing journey. It’s about creating the ideal conditions for your recovery, and that’s what we strive for at First Light Recovery.
Our inpatient mental health program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF), highlighting our commitment to improving the quality of care and services offered to our residents. This accreditation reflects our dedication to ongoing enhancement and our focus on the satisfaction and well-being of those we serve in a residential environment.
Let’s begin your journey towards healing. At First Light Recovery, we’re here to provide compassionate, therapeutic, and confidential mental health services. We’ve got your back 24/7 with expert care and individualized treatment plans. We’re proud to be a 5-star rated, licensed, and CARF certified facility. We also accept most insurance plans. Don’t wait, let’s start your recovery journey today. Here’s what you can expect during the admission process:
Our goal is to make these initial steps as seamless and stress-free as possible, alleviating any anxieties about seeking help. We are here to support you, answer any questions you may have, and ensure that you feel prepared and confident as you begin this important phase of your life.
A: Our Inpatient Mental Health Program includes comprehensive care with individualized treatment plans that are designed to meet the unique needs of each patient. We’re dedicated to providing a safe, therapeutic environment where our patients can focus on their recovery.
A: Yes, most insurance plans are accepted at First Light Recovery. We’re committed to making our services as accessible as possible, and we’ll work with you to understand your coverage.
A: You can expect 24/7 care from a team of highly rated professionals who are licensed and CARF certified. We’re passionate about helping our patients regain their health and well-being.
A: We take patient confidentiality very seriously. All of our staff adhere to strict confidentiality agreements and we follow all HIPAA guidelines to ensure the privacy of our patients is maintained at all times.
A: Yes, we understand the importance of family support during recovery. However, due to our commitment to providing a safe, therapeutic environment, we do have specific visiting hours and policies in place. We’ll provide you with all the details when your loved one is admitted to our program.
In the historic heart of South Orange County, just east of Dana Point and conveniently near the 5 and 73 freeways, San Juan Capistrano offers a rich tapestry of culture and tradition. Our mental health center is strategically located here, amidst the community’s beautiful Spanish colonial-style homes and historical landmarks like the Forster Mansion, built in 1910. We chose San Juan Capistrano for our facility because it embodies a strong sense of community and heritage—key elements in fostering an environment supportive of mental health recovery.
San Juan Capistrano is famous for its annual “Miracle of the Swallows of Capistrano” on March 19th, St. Joseph’s Day, which celebrates the swallows’ return from Argentina. This event, a tradition since the 1930s, symbolizes renewal and is a time of community gathering and celebration, mirroring the principles of hope and renewal in mental health recovery.
The city also boasts an array of parks and educational institutions, from Cook Cordova Park to St. Margaret’s Episcopal School, catering to families and individuals who enjoy a vibrant, active lifestyle. The residential areas range from sprawling equestrian estates to luxurious gated communities such as the Marbella Country Club, offering diverse living options and a high quality of life.
At our center, located in this picturesque and dynamic setting, we provide specialized mental health care designed to meet the unique needs of our residents. We integrate the local culture and community spirit into our programs, enhancing our ability to support each individual’s journey toward well-being. Our facility is a place of refuge and healing, where the values of community and personal history are woven into the fabric of our care strategies, ensuring that everyone we serve can achieve personal growth and recovery in a setting that feels like home.
Directions to First Light Recovery in San Juan Capistrano, CA, from major freeways: From I-5 South: Take Exit 81 for Ortega Highway (CA-74) toward San Juan Capistrano. Turn right onto Ortega Highway (CA-74 West). Drive for about 1 mile. Turn right onto Rancho Viejo Road. Continue on Rancho Viejo Road for approximately 0.5 miles. First Light Recovery will be on your left. From I-5 North: Take Exit 81 for Ortega Highway (CA-74) toward San Juan Capistrano. Turn left onto Ortega Highway (CA-74 West). Drive for about 1 mile. Turn right onto Rancho Viejo Road. Continue on Rancho Viejo Road for approximately 0.5 miles. First Light Recovery will be on your left. From CA-73 Toll Road South: Merge onto I-5 South toward San Diego. Take Exit 81 for Ortega Highway (CA-74) toward San Juan Capistrano. Turn right onto Ortega Highway (CA-74 West). Drive for about 1 mile. Turn right onto Rancho Viejo Road. Continue on Rancho Viejo Road for approximately 0.5 miles. First Light Recovery will be on your left. From CA-74 East (Ortega Highway): Head east on CA-74 East toward I-5. Turn left onto Rancho Viejo Road just before reaching the I-5 on-ramps. Continue on Rancho Viejo Road for approximately 0.5 miles. First Light Recovery will be on your left. Note: The exact address for First Light Recovery is needed for precise navigation, and it’s recommended to use a GPS for real-time traffic updates.
If you’re struggling with your mental health, you don’t have to face it alone. First Light Recovery offers compassionate care, expert treatment, and a real-world approach to empower you.
Fueled By Antilles Digital Media
First Light Recovery
We firmly believe that the internet should be available and accessible to anyone, and are committed to providing a website that is accessible to the widest possible audience, regardless of circumstance and ability.
To fulfill this, we aim to adhere as strictly as possible to the World Wide Web Consortium’s (W3C) Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1 (WCAG 2.1) at the AA level. These guidelines explain how to make web content accessible to people with a wide array of disabilities. Complying with those guidelines helps us ensure that the website is accessible to all people: blind people, people with motor impairments, visual impairment, cognitive disabilities, and more.
This website utilizes various technologies that are meant to make it as accessible as possible at all times. We utilize an accessibility interface that allows persons with specific disabilities to adjust the website’s UI (user interface) and design it to their personal needs.
Additionally, the website utilizes an AI-based application that runs in the background and optimizes its accessibility level constantly. This application remediates the website’s HTML, adapts Its functionality and behavior for screen-readers used by the blind users, and for keyboard functions used by individuals with motor impairments.
If you’ve found a malfunction or have ideas for improvement, we’ll be happy to hear from you. You can reach out to the website’s operators by using the following email
Our website implements the ARIA attributes (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) technique, alongside various different behavioral changes, to ensure blind users visiting with screen-readers are able to read, comprehend, and enjoy the website’s functions. As soon as a user with a screen-reader enters your site, they immediately receive a prompt to enter the Screen-Reader Profile so they can browse and operate your site effectively. Here’s how our website covers some of the most important screen-reader requirements, alongside console screenshots of code examples:
Screen-reader optimization: we run a background process that learns the website’s components from top to bottom, to ensure ongoing compliance even when updating the website. In this process, we provide screen-readers with meaningful data using the ARIA set of attributes. For example, we provide accurate form labels; descriptions for actionable icons (social media icons, search icons, cart icons, etc.); validation guidance for form inputs; element roles such as buttons, menus, modal dialogues (popups), and others. Additionally, the background process scans all the website’s images and provides an accurate and meaningful image-object-recognition-based description as an ALT (alternate text) tag for images that are not described. It will also extract texts that are embedded within the image, using an OCR (optical character recognition) technology. To turn on screen-reader adjustments at any time, users need only to press the Alt+1 keyboard combination. Screen-reader users also get automatic announcements to turn the Screen-reader mode on as soon as they enter the website.
These adjustments are compatible with all popular screen readers, including JAWS and NVDA.
Keyboard navigation optimization: The background process also adjusts the website’s HTML, and adds various behaviors using JavaScript code to make the website operable by the keyboard. This includes the ability to navigate the website using the Tab and Shift+Tab keys, operate dropdowns with the arrow keys, close them with Esc, trigger buttons and links using the Enter key, navigate between radio and checkbox elements using the arrow keys, and fill them in with the Spacebar or Enter key.Additionally, keyboard users will find quick-navigation and content-skip menus, available at any time by clicking Alt+1, or as the first elements of the site while navigating with the keyboard. The background process also handles triggered popups by moving the keyboard focus towards them as soon as they appear, and not allow the focus drift outside it.
Users can also use shortcuts such as “M” (menus), “H” (headings), “F” (forms), “B” (buttons), and “G” (graphics) to jump to specific elements.
We aim to support the widest array of browsers and assistive technologies as possible, so our users can choose the best fitting tools for them, with as few limitations as possible. Therefore, we have worked very hard to be able to support all major systems that comprise over 95% of the user market share including Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari, Opera and Microsoft Edge, JAWS and NVDA (screen readers).
Despite our very best efforts to allow anybody to adjust the website to their needs. There may still be pages or sections that are not fully accessible, are in the process of becoming accessible, or are lacking an adequate technological solution to make them accessible. Still, we are continually improving our accessibility, adding, updating and improving its options and features, and developing and adopting new technologies. All this is meant to reach the optimal level of accessibility, following technological advancements. For any assistance, please reach out to