Catholic Psychiatric Care for Major Depressive Disorder in Corona del Mar At Metamorphic Psychiatry, Dr. Anthony Duk provides compassionate, judgment-free care for those struggling with substance dependence, addiction, or dual-diagnosis conditions. From our office in Corona del Mar, we serve individuals and families throughout Newport Beach, Costa Mesa, Irvine, and surrounding Orange County communities, offering treatment that unites proven psychiatric methods with the healing power of faith and forgiveness.

Understanding Substance Dependence
Addiction is a medical and psychological illness that can affect anyone, regardless of background. It may involve dependence on alcohol, prescription medications, or illicit substances, often accompanied by anxiety, depression, or trauma. These struggles can lead to shame, broken trust, or loss of purpose — yet recovery is always possible. Dr. Duk understands that addiction is not a moral failure but a human wound that requires understanding, structure, and grace. With the right treatment and support, individuals can rebuild their lives, relationships, and spiritual strength.

A Catholic Path Toward Recovery
As a Catholic psychiatrist, Dr. Anthony Duk approaches addiction through both clinical science and the light of redemption. Healing involves the entire person — mind, body, and soul. Faith offers hope where guilt or despair once ruled.
At Metamorphic Psychiatry, treatment is rooted in mercy and renewal. We work with patients to rediscover dignity, purpose, and self-control through both medical care and spiritual restoration. Prayer, reconciliation, and community can become essential allies on the journey toward sobriety.

Treatment and Support

Each person’s journey with depression is unique. We provide:

Our focus is long-term healing — not only avoiding relapse, but fostering a renewed sense of freedom, balance, and faith.

The 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous

At Metamorphic Psychiatry, many patients find support in the spiritual and practical structure of the 12 Steps. These steps encourage honesty, accountability, surrender to God, and ongoing conversion of life:

1. Admit that addiction has become unmanageable and cannot be controlled by willpower alone.
2. Believe that a Power greater than oneself can bring restoration and sanity.
3. Make a decision to turn one’s will and life over to the care of God.
4. Undertake a thorough and honest moral inventory of one’s life.
5. Share this inventory with God, oneself, and another trusted person.
6. Become willing to have God transform character defects and unhealthy patterns.
7. Humbly ask God to remove shortcomings that hinder growth and freedom.
8. List those who have been harmed and become willing to make amends.
9. Make direct amends wherever possible, except when doing so would cause additional harm.
10. Continue to review one’s actions daily and admit wrongs promptly.
11. Seek deeper contact with God through prayer and meditation, asking for knowledge of His will and the strength to carry it out.
12. Carry this message of hope to others struggling with addiction and practice these principles in everyday life.

Internal and External Locus of Control in Recovery

An important part of overcoming substance dependence is learning where we believe control in our lives comes from — what psychologists call the locus of control.

External locus of control means a person feels that their life is mostly controlled by outside forces: other people, circumstances, “bad luck,” or even the addiction itself. While this can sometimes reduce feelings of guilt, it may also create a sense of helplessness: “Nothing I do will make a difference.”

Internal locus of control means a person recognizes that their choices, habits, and responses matter. This does not mean “going it alone,” but rather accepting responsibility and cooperating with grace.

At Metamorphic Psychiatry, Dr. Duk helps patients gently move from an external to a more internal locus of control by:

• Identifying thought patterns that reinforce helplessness or shame.
• Building small, realistic goals that restore a sense of agency.
• Using faith to understand that God’s grace strengthens, rather than replaces, personal responsibility.
• Encouraging patients to see themselves as active participants in their healing, not passive victims of addiction.

From a Catholic perspective, trusting in God does not mean giving up responsibility — it means freely choosing to cooperate with His grace. As patients grow in an internal locus of control, they often experience greater hope, stability, and confidence in their recovery journey.

Serving Corona del Mar and Orange County

We serve patients in Corona del Mar, Newport Beach, Laguna Beach, Irvine, Costa Mesa, Huntington Beach, and nearby Orange County communities. Whether you are taking your first step toward recovery or maintaining long-term sobriety, you will find a safe, supportive environment at Metamorphic Psychiatry.
Begin the Journey Toward Freedom and Renewal
Addiction does not define your story — redemption does. With compassionate psychiatric care and the strength of faith, healing is within reach.

Contact Metamorphic Psychiatry in Corona del Mar today to schedule your confidential consultation with Dr. Anthony Duk and begin your journey toward recovery, restoration, and renewed hope.