For patients battling both opioid use disorder (OUD) and co-occurring mental health conditions, the journey to recovery is often long, fragmented, and full of roadblocks. Fragmented systems of care, long wait times, and a lack of coordination between providers often leave patients in limbo—sometimes for decades—before receiving the co-occurring disorder treatment they need. But a groundbreaking new partnership between two leaders in behavioral health, Ophelia and Thriveworks, is working to change that.
Together, they are addressing one of the most persistent challenges in the behavioral health space: integrating treatment for substance use disorders and mental health conditions in a way that is seamless, accessible, and patient-centered.
A Long-Awaited Solution for Complex Patient Needs
Patients with both OUD and psychiatric conditions often struggle to find care that addresses their full range of needs. Substance use treatment programs may not have the capacity or expertise to manage complex mental health diagnoses. Similarly, traditional mental health providers may not be equipped to deliver medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid addiction.
This disconnect can create dangerous gaps in care. Without integrated support, patients may cycle in and out of treatment, never fully stabilizing or achieving long-term recovery. It’s a scenario that Zack Gray, founder and CEO of Ophelia, knows all too well.
“We’re a specialty care provider,” Gray explained in a recent interview with Addiction Treatment Business. “We try to treat [patients] for other conditions, but we’re limited in what we can do. We look to partners to make that happen, and Thriveworks is one of the best out there.”
How the Partnership Works: A Streamlined Referral Pipeline
Through the new partnership, Ophelia and Thriveworks have established a two-way referral system designed to catch patients who would otherwise fall through the cracks.
Thriveworks clinicians, who provide therapy and psychiatric services in both virtual and in-person settings, can now refer patients with suspected or confirmed opioid use disorder directly to Ophelia for specialized MAT. In turn, Ophelia patients who require mental health services beyond OUD treatment—whether therapy, psychiatric evaluation, or ongoing medication management—can be referred to Thriveworks for support.
This system ensures that patients aren’t left to navigate the behavioral health maze on their own. Instead, they are handed off between providers with warm referrals, coordinated scheduling, and a clinical understanding of their needs. It’s a simple concept with powerful implications: continuity of care becomes the rule, not the exception.
The Need Is Clear: Co-Occurring Disorders Are the Norm, Not the Exception
According to Gray, approximately two-thirds of Ophelia’s patients have co-occurring psychiatric conditions. These may include anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, or trauma-related disorders—issues that, left untreated, can sabotage recovery from substance use.
And the challenge isn’t unique to Ophelia. Across the behavioral health field, it’s widely recognized that co-occurring disorders are more common than not among individuals with OUD. Yet the traditional structure of healthcare systems has treated these conditions in silos, often requiring patients to juggle multiple appointments, providers, and even insurance authorizations just to get basic care.
The Ophelia-Thriveworks partnership aims to dismantle that siloed model and offer integrated co-occurring disorder treatment in a seamless, patient-friendly format.
Aligning Missions: Clinical Quality and Access at the Forefront
Both Ophelia and Thriveworks share a commitment to high-quality, evidence-based care. Thriveworks, based in Lynchburg, Virginia, was founded in 2008 and now operates 340 offices across 49 states and D.C., employing over 2,200 clinicians. Its hybrid model allows patients of all ages—adults, teens, and children—to access care in the format that works best for them: online or in-person.
Ophelia, meanwhile, is known for its innovative approach to MAT. The company delivers treatment through a tech-enabled, team-based model that includes clinicians, care coordinators, and software-driven patient support. Licensed in 49 states and D.C., Ophelia accepts Medicaid, Medicare, and commercial insurance, making their services broadly accessible.
“We’re trying to set up networks of like-minded organizations and clinicians that really have the same focus on clinical quality, care and access that we do,” said Dr. Daniel Frogel, CEO of Thriveworks. “Certainly, Ophelia checks all those boxes and then some.”
Building the Infrastructure for Integrated Care
Behind the scenes, this partnership required significant operational changes—especially on the Thriveworks side. In preparation for the collaboration, Thriveworks implemented targeted training for its clinicians to help them better identify patients who may be struggling with opioid addiction. They also optimized their electronic medical records (EMR) system to flag patients who may need a referral to Ophelia.
Once identified, patients in need of specialty care are escalated to a customer success team, which manages the referral process and coordinates scheduling with the receiving provider. The result is a smooth, low-friction experience for the patient—one that’s far more likely to result in follow-through and successful engagement in co-occurring disorder treatment.
A Model for the Future of Behavioral Health
The Thriveworks-Ophelia partnership is part of a broader shift across the behavioral health industry. Providers are increasingly recognizing the value of collaboration over competition, especially when it comes to delivering care that spans the full spectrum of needs.
In just the last year, similar partnerships have emerged:
- Pelago, a digital SUD provider, partnered with brick-and-mortar SUD programs to improve access to inpatient treatment for high-acuity patients.
- Spring Health teamed up with 2Morrow Health to make smoking cessation tools available to its user base.
- Talkspace, a virtual therapy platform, joined forces with Bicycle Health to offer integrated access to therapy and MAT for opioid use disorder.
These examples reflect an industry-wide realization: no single provider can meet every need. But together, providers can build a complete, coordinated continuum of care—without sacrificing their specialty or standards.
“I don’t think anyone’s going to crack the code on delivering the entire continuum of mental health services under one single roof,” said Frogel. “I think it’s important that as more specialty organizations are emerging, there [be] better collaboration.”
The Human Impact: Why This Matters
At its core, this partnership is about more than operational efficiencies or market alignment. It’s about people—patients who are often left behind in a system not designed to treat the full scope of their needs.
For someone struggling with OUD and a mental health disorder, getting treatment from both Ophelia and Thriveworks could mean the difference between relapse and recovery, despair and stability. It could mean staying in school, keeping a job, or reuniting with family.
And it could mean finally being seen—not just as an addiction patient, or a therapy client, but as a whole person with intersecting needs and a story worth supporting.
A Blueprint for Change
As the behavioral health field continues to evolve, the Ophelia and Thriveworks partnership offers a powerful blueprint for how organizations can work together to serve patients better. By integrating Co-Occurring Disorder Treatment into their approach, they provide a model rooted in specialization, strengthened by technology, and driven by a shared mission to increase access and improve outcomes.
If more providers follow this example—investing in interoperability, creating strong referral pipelines, and putting patients at the center of their strategies—the future of behavioral healthcare could look very different: more coordinated, more compassionate, and far more effective.
For now, the Ophelia-Thriveworks alliance stands as a beacon of what’s possible when collaboration replaces competition—and when innovation is paired with heart.
