Pacific Coast Mental Health Center in Costa Mesa, California, has introduced new inpatient treatment methods for anxiety disorders. Director Cari McNiff presented these treatment advances, which represent an essential development in anxiety care.

Multi-Sensory Immersion Therapy

Pacific Coast Mental Health Center’s new treatment program features multi-sensory immersion therapy (MSIT), which uses virtual reality and touch and smell stimuli to treat anxiety.

“The MSIT system helps patients face fears in a monitored environment that engages multiple senses,” McNiff says. “This creates more true-to-life situations, which can improve treatment results.” Each patient receives personalized MSIT sessions targeting specific anxiety triggers, whether social situations or phobias.

Chronotherapy for Anxiety

Pacific Coast Mental Health Center has developed the Chronotherapy for Anxiety (CTA) program, which enhances treatment by working with patients’ natural sleep-wake cycles. “Research shows that timing matters — both for therapy sessions and medication,” says Dr. Sarah Chen, the center’s head psychiatrist. The CTA program matches treatment times to each patient’s daily rhythm for better results. The center reports improved outcomes when sessions align with patients’ peak alertness periods.

The program coordinates light therapy, medication times, and counseling sessions when patients are most responsive. Staff members work with each patient to identify optimal treatment windows by monitoring sleep patterns. “By adjusting the approach to natural rhythms,” Dr. Chen notes, “we help patients get more from time at the center.”

Neuromodulation Enhanced Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Pacific Coast Mental Health Center has added brain stimulation to its cognitive behavioral therapy program (NE-CBT), combining standard therapy with gentle magnetic pulses to improve results.

“The NE-CBT method uses magnetic signals to work with brain areas that help control anxiety,” McNiff says. “Adding this to regular therapy has led to quicker improvement for many patients.” The center adjusts each person’s treatment plan based on progress.

Biofeedback-Guided Mindfulness Training

The center has developed a guided meditation program (BGMT) that lets patients track body stress signals during practice sessions. The method combines traditional meditation with modern monitoring technology. Small sensors measure heart rate and muscle tension during meditation sessions, helping patients understand which calming techniques work best. The real-time feedback appears on a screen, allowing patients to adjust to breathing and relaxation methods immediately.

“When patients can see how the body reacts to stress as it happens,” Dr. Chen says, “learning to manage responses happens more quickly. Many people find it hard to know if meditation is being done ‘correctly,’ but this system removes the guesswork and builds confidence in practice.”

Integrative Aftercare Program

Pacific Coast Mental Health Center supports patients after discharge with the Aftercare Program (IAP), which includes digital tracking tools and personalized support. The program helps patients monitor moods and offers guided exercises through a mobile app. “Going from hospital care back to everyday life can be difficult,” McNiff says. “The aftercare program helps patients use new coping skills at home and work.”

This new approach at Pacific Coast Mental Health Center marks a notable step forward in anxiety care. By unifying proven therapy methods with new technology, the center offers additional options for people with anxiety disorders. The program also includes video check-ins with therapists and 24-hour support resources, helping patients maintain progress after leaving the facility.