Once you’ve decided to pursue treatment for substance abuse or addiction, finding the right program for you can help determine how well you succeed in your recovery. A good outpatient program helps you achieve sobriety and maintain a drug-free, alcohol-free life after the program’s completion. From location to treatment approaches, there are a lot of things to consider when choosing an outpatient rehab program.
Choosing the Right Location
During an outpatient program, you continue to live at home while attending therapy sessions and meetings at a drug rehab facility during the day or in the evenings after work or school. To ensure your treatment is a success, you need to consistently attend your sessions, so the location of the program can be an important factor. The outpatient center you choose should be conveniently located near your home, work or school to ensure that you can get there for every appointment.
Working with Your Schedule
One major reason people choose an outpatient program is the flexibility involved. Being able to attend work or school and participate in normal family life lets you complete a course of treatment without having to put everything else on hold for weeks or months at a time. This is why it’s important to find an outpatient program with a schedule that works for you.
If you have to maintain regular attendance at work or school during the day, evening therapy sessions give you the flexibility to keep up with those responsibilities. Substance abuse therapy sessions during the day might work best for individuals who need to balance their treatment plan with responsibilities at home.
Personalized Outpatient Programs
Not everyone experiences the same challenges during rehab. For some, work and family obligations make scheduling treatment complicated. Others might need specific help working out the underlying causes of their addictions or focused training on resisting temptations that could lead to a relapse. An outpatient program that offers a personalized care plan tailored specifically to your needs can help keep the focus on the most relevant aspects of your recovery.
Some outpatient programs go beyond just focusing on the addiction to provide a holistic approach to recovery. For example, if you want to take a spiritually based approach to recovery or need help with mental health issues in addition to substance abuse treatment, you may need a treatment plan that incorporates these things or a facility that works with community partners to help you access these services.
Evidence-Based Treatment Plans
Any outpatient program you pick should be centered around evidence-based care. This means that the program uses methods shown to be effective through rigorous scientific research studies. Fortunately, there’s been plenty of research done on addiction and drug abuse, so outpatient facilities have plenty of methods available to help you achieve sobriety. Some evidence-based treatments include behavioral therapy, medication to help break addictions and ease withdrawal symptoms, group therapy, motivational incentives and 12-step programs. Your personalized program might include a combination of these different methods, and a trained clinician can work with you to figure out what evidence-based approaches work best for your personality and situation.
Caring, Professional Staff
When you go through rehab, you spend a lot of time with the counselors and medical professionals who help you traverse the journey to recovery. Individuals with substance abuse issues need empathy and support, so the attitude of the staff plays a role in how well treatment works. Seek out a facility where the staff truly cares, and look for a case manager who offers individualized support that takes into account your specific background and needs.
A staff that has a compassionate, caring attitude from the start can develop effective, individualized treatment plans centered on their clients, like the staff at Alliant Treatment Center. Outpatient rehab programs with a low client-to-counselor ratio provide personalized attention that can help you connect emotionally and develop the bonds of trust necessary for effective therapy. Small group sizes during group therapy sessions allow for intimate sharing and may help you achieve the kind of emotional breakthroughs needed to discover the reasons behind your addiction or substance abuse issues.
Family Support
For many people trying to break free of drugs or alcohol, substance abuse has already caused personal relationships to suffer. The breakdown of close relationships is often a major reason for seeking help. An outpatient rehab facility that understands the importance of healthy friend and family relationships can help you rebuild those bonds and heal some of the damage caused by addiction.
One way that outpatient rehab offers family support is through family counseling sessions where spouses, parents and children participate in therapy along with the individual going through recovery. Some programs also offer resources that help family members and friends understand how the recovery process works and give them the skills to support the recovery process.
Cost Concerns
Knowing how you plan to pay for your treatment makes a difference in the facility or program you eventually choose. Some treatment options are covered by insurance or offer payment plans to help you cover the costs. Outpatient programs are typically much less expensive than inpatient programs, so this can make a huge difference in your overall treatment budget from the start. The length of the program and your specific treatment needs also affect the cost, so talk with an intake counselor about these aspects of your plan before you begin.
An Effective Transition Plan
At some point, the therapy sessions and intensive rehab process end. Thinking about the end goal before you begin can help ease that eventual shift back into normal life. The outpatient facility you choose should offer help transitioning into independent living once the program ends, so ask about how the program wraps up before you commit to a specific course of treatment.
Getting Help to Find the Right Program for You
Choosing an outpatient rehab program might seem complicated, but the process need not be overwhelming. The first step on your journey to recovery is to speak to a professional who understands the treatment process and can answer any questions you have about rehab.
Contact us online or by phone at (216)230-8667, to talk to an intake counselor about your options and find an outpatient rehab program that works for you.
This was a a very serious issue for the educators of neshaminy for addiction and recovery because you know descended into drug abuse and the painful, uncertain journey to recovery. A powerful keynote address was delivered by Brandon Novak, a high-profile professional skateboarder and actor from Levittown. He is a recovering addict whose addiction cost him his career and nearly his life. He is now working with Banyan Treatment Center to help other addicts.
Thanks.
I love how you suggested thinking about an end goal before you start considering any plan for healing substance abuse. I will be sure to ask about how the program does wrap up before. My nephew, who is staying with us has agreed to go see a substance abuse professional. He is actually anxious to get started. We will begin making calls in the morning.