What Is Outpatient Rehab? And Is It the Right Choice for You

The first step to overcoming drugs or alcohol addiction is accepting that you have a problem and need help. Once you decide to get professional assistance to regain your sobriety, the next thing is to find out the best options for you. 

Outpatient rehab is the best option if you wish to continue living your everyday life with family and friends. However, your therapist will help you choose a suitable program after an assessment to determine the nature and severity of your condition.

What Is Outpatient Rehab?

An outpatient rehab program is a non-residential therapy-based treatment for drugs and alcohol addiction. Unlike inpatient rehab, outpatient rehab does not offer accommodation to the patients; they attend therapy sessions and return home. 

If you are a student or working patient and want to join drug and alcohol rehab that will work well with your daily routine, outpatient is the right choice. Most sessions are conducted in the morning, evening, or weekend when most people are available. Like residential rehab, outpatient rehab programs also put into account individual needs.

Here are the three types of outpatient rehab you can benefit from depending on the nature, the severity of the addiction, or the stage of recovery.

Day Treatment

Day treatment is the intensive type of outpatient rehab program, patients usually meet five to seven days a week, and the sessions might take a full or half-day. The treatments are more structured; patients’ daily schedules involve detoxification, counseling, and support groups. The facilities may offer other special therapies such as art, music, or dance to help the patients avoid relapse.

Day programs require a lot of time and commitment, which means a patient might not continue with a daily routine like work or studies. If you choose this type of outpatient and still feel you need a sober environment to help you recover faster, consider a sober living home.

Intensive Outpatient Programs

Intensive outpatient programs are more flexible than the day program; they are ideal for persons with other commitments. Most sessions are held during the day or evening hours; the meetings are more frequent while you are new in the program, but they get less once you achieve several recovery goals.

The intensive outpatient program is more suitable for people with strong support at home; it allows them to go for professional treatment during the day and practice what they learn back home, which helps prevent relapse. 

Continuing Care Groups

Usually, continuing care groups are the final stage of the recovery process. These groups meet once a week with the help of professional therapists—groups such as alcoholic anonymous help the participant hold on to their commitment to achieving sobriety. The continuing care groups may also be gender-based or age-based.

Suppose you have completed an inpatient rehab program; continuing care groups will help you keep focused on achieving your goal of leading a healthy and productive life. However, their availability depends on your location; they are common in big cities, so you may have to travel to find one if you live in a small town.

Final Thought

The best time to start your journey to recovery is now; whether you are going for an outpatient facility or the alternative, the most important part is getting to recovery.