What Can You Expect From Outpatient Rehab Programs?
If you or a loved one is struggling with drug or alcohol addiction, you probably know by now that professional help is needed to overcome this problem and get better. Still, you might not understand all of your addiction treatment options. It’s common to wonder about your choices, including trying to figure out what is outpatient rehab and how it compares to inpatient or residential help. Let’s explore how outpatient rehab works, who it’s for, and what kind of treatment you can expect if you choose this option for getting better.
Table of contents
» How Does Outpatient Rehab Differ From Inpatient Treatment?
» Who Is a Good Candidate for Outpatient Rehab?
» What Types of Therapy Are Offered in Outpatient Rehab?
» How Are Treatment Plans Customized in Outpatient Programs?
» What Is Outpatient Rehab? Key Takeaways
» Resources
How Does Outpatient Rehab Differ From Inpatient Treatment?
In many ways, understanding what is outpatient rehab and how it’s different from inpatient addiction treatment in Florida starts with comprehending how the two options are similar. In either type of drug or alcohol rehab, patients who are struggling with substance use disorder receive support, supervision, and comprehensive treatment to address the mental and physical aspects of their addictions, as well as treat any co-occurring mental health disorders such as depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and bipolar disorder.
Addiction specialists and therapists provide a combination of individual and group therapy to help patients work through these issues and start to make changes in how they respond to challenges and daily stress – all to maintain sobriety and avoid relapse in the future. Another similarity is that friends and loved ones can visit someone in drug rehab, whether it’s an inpatient program or an outpatient option. However, there will be stricter rules and restrictions on visitation for someone who is staying at an inpatient addiction treatment center.
The main difference between these two options is the intensity of treatment, with patients at an inpatient treatment program living in a treatment facility for 30, 60, 90, or longer days, depending on the program’s duration. During this time, they’ll receive 24/7 support and supervision, including things like medication-assisted treatment (MAT) if necessary, and they’ll live in a rehab center throughout the treatment.
An outpatient program, on the other hand, offers much more flexibility, allowing patients to return home each day and keep up with work, school, or home responsibilities while they get the help they need. They’ll still receive addiction treatment and therapy regularly. Some outpatient programs involve getting treatment one day per week. In contrast, more intensive options can include coming to a treatment facility as often as five days a week for several hours at a time.
Generally, outpatient rehab is a less expensive treatment option because it doesn’t involve room and board considerations that come with inpatient or residential treatment. Still, it isn’t for everyone, and some people struggling with severe addictions or who don’t have a supportive and safe living situation at home will be better off getting more intensive help through an inpatient rehab program.
Outpatient rehab can be the next step of treatment after completing inpatient rehab, helping people continue to get regular support and therapy as they restart their lives after addiction. Another difference is that outpatient rehab tends to be much longer than inpatient treatment, even though patients will only spend a few hours each day in treatment rather than living at the facility during their program.
Who Is a Good Candidate for Outpatient Rehab?
Many factors can make someone a good candidate for outpatient rehab, including:
- People who need the flexibility of outpatient treatment so they can continue living at home and keep up with their responsibilities at work, school, or in the household.
- Patients who are suffering from less severe or early phases of drug or alcohol addiction.
- Those with safe, supportive living arrangements at home who can return home each night without being exposed to temptation or struggle to avoid relapsing.
- Patients who have already completed an intensive inpatient treatment program and now require additional treatment and ongoing therapy through a more flexible option.
- Those who need the more affordable help that they can get in an outpatient program.
What Types of Therapy Are Offered in Outpatient Rehab?
So, what is outpatient rehab in terms of therapy and treatment programs during this time? Patients receiving help from this type of addiction treatment can expect to receive multiple types of therapy, including:
- Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy: Considered to be the gold standard of psychotherapy for addiction treatment, this involves a therapist helping the patient identify incorrect, unhealthy, or flawed ways of thinking and responding to the world around them. By replacing these flawed thought patterns with healthier ways of viewing the world and dealing with daily challenges, patients can be better equipped to make better choices and avoid relapsing.
- Other Forms of Psychotherapy: Patients often will also receive help from different types of therapy, such as Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), which helps them learn how to accept their current experiences while still learning to manage intense emotions more effectively. DBT can be a powerful way of improving the patient’s relationships and building coping skills to handle difficult situations or emotions without exacerbating them.
- Group Therapy: A therapist guides a productive group therapy session by encouraging patients to share their stories and experiences and help each other work through their feelings. Group therapy can be a powerful way of assisting patients to connect with and learn from one another during rehab.
- Support Groups: Many patients will also regularly attend support group meetings to receive additional support and encouragement to keep going with treatment. This can include things like Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous. Even support groups for families of addicts can help them work through their relationship problems that stem from the addiction.
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How Are Treatment Plans Customized in Outpatient Programs?
One of the most important things about any addiction treatment program is whether it is carefully tailored to meet the individual needs of each patient. While there are standard elements of rehab programs, such as individual and group therapy, ongoing support, and help managing or treating other co-occurring mental health disorders, these offerings need to be customized to help individual patients make the most out of their time and effort.
That’s why WhiteSands Treatment carefully assesses each patient and tailors their treatment to help them in the exact ways they need help. This can include selecting other forms of therapy to address their specific needs, as well as determining if medication-assisted treatment (MAT) is necessary to help them.
What Is Outpatient Rehab? Key Takeaways
- Outpatient rehab is a more flexible way of getting addiction treatment, and it tends to cost less than inpatient treatment.
- During outpatient rehab, patients will report to a treatment facility on a regular basis to get support, assistance, and therapy to address their addiction.
- Outpatient rehab can also be a way of continuing to get help after completing an inpatient addiction treatment program.
- Good candidates for outpatient rehab can include people who are in the early stages of addiction, those who have responsibilities they can’t put on hold during residential treatment, and people who have a safe, supportive home life.
- Research shows that outpatient and inpatient treatment can be equally effective in helping patients overcome addiction and achieve long-term recovery.
So, what is outpatient rehab? It’s one main option for getting help with overcoming addiction with therapy and professional treatment, and it can be a good fit for many people. WhiteSands Alcohol and Drug Rehab in Florida offers both inpatient and outpatient addiction treatment programs, providing patients with the flexibility and comprehensive help they need to get better. Call us at 877-855-3470 today to learn how to get started on the road to recovery.
Resources
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration – Treatment Types for Mental Health, Drugs, and Alcohol
- Healthline – Understanding the Difference Between Inpatient and Outpatient Rehab
- National Library of Medicine – Inpatient and Outpatient Treatment Programs for Substance Use Disorder: A Review of Clinical Effectiveness and Guidelines
If you or a loved one needs help with abuse and/or treatment, please call the WhiteSands Treatment at (877) 855-3470. Our addiction specialists can assess your recovery needs and help you get the addiction treatment that provides the best chance for your long-term recovery.
About the Author
Jackie has been involved in the substance abuse and addiction treatment sector for over five years and this is something that she is truly eager about. She has a passion for writing and continuously works to create informative pieces that not only educate and inform the public about the disease of addiction but also provide solutions for those who struggle with drug and alcohol abuse.
