Editorial Team

Dr. Alicia Moreno, PhD

Co-Occurring Disorders Editor — Dual Diagnosis & Mental Health

AM

Dr. Alicia Moreno

PhD
Co-Occurring Disorders Editor — Dual Diagnosis & Mental Health

Background & Education

Dr. Alicia Moreno holds a PhD in Clinical Psychology from the University of New Mexico, where her doctoral dissertation examined integrated cognitive-behavioral interventions for adults with co-occurring PTSD and alcohol use disorder. She completed her predoctoral internship at a VA Medical Center with specialized training in dual diagnosis programming and trauma-informed care, and her postdoctoral fellowship at a community mental health center providing integrated treatment for complex co-occurring disorders.

Her training reflects a deep commitment to integrated care models — the clinical approach that recognizes co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders as interconnected conditions requiring simultaneous, coordinated treatment rather than sequential or siloed approaches.

Clinical Experience

Before transitioning to editorial work, Dr. Moreno spent eight years as a licensed clinical psychologist in integrated behavioral health settings. She served as Clinical Supervisor for the co-occurring disorders program at a large community mental health center, overseeing a team of therapists providing individual and group therapy to adults with complex presentations including PTSD and addiction, bipolar disorder and substance use, anxiety disorders and alcohol dependence, and major depressive disorder with stimulant use.

Her therapeutic orientation integrates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and trauma-focused modalities including EMDR and Prolonged Exposure. She is a recognized authority on the application of DBT skills in dual diagnosis settings — an area where the evidence base has expanded substantially in recent years.

Dr. Moreno's research interests include treatment outcome measurement in co-occurring populations, the neurobiology of trauma-substance use interactions, and implementation science for integrated care in community settings.

Editorial Role at Holy Rosary Healthcare

As Co-Occurring Disorders Editor, Dr. Moreno directs Holy Rosary Healthcare's flagship content vertical: the Co-Occurring Disorders & Dual Diagnosis library, comprising more than 20 in-depth articles covering specific condition pairings, treatment modalities, and patient populations. She also oversees the Mental Health vertical.

Her editorial focus areas include:

  • What dual diagnosis treatment is and how integrated programs differ from sequential treatment
  • CBT and DBT adaptations for co-occurring disorders
  • Trauma-informed care frameworks for dual diagnosis populations
  • Specific condition pairings: depression and addiction, PTSD and substance use, bipolar disorder and addiction, anxiety and substance use, BPD and addiction, ADHD and substance use, schizophrenia and substance use
  • Substance-specific mental health interactions: opioids, alcohol, benzodiazepines, stimulants, cannabis
  • Inpatient and outpatient dual diagnosis program structures
  • Medication management in co-occurring populations
  • All general mental health condition content: anxiety disorders, depression, PTSD, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, eating disorders, BPD, ADHD

Relevant Sources & Guidelines