Outpatient Treatment

The Need for Outpatient Treatment for Addiction

Probably the best environment for people who are trying to break away from addiction will be found in a residential rehab programme. Unfortunately, this is not an option that is always going to be available to everyone. There may be some valid reasons for why the individual will not be able to take time out of their life to enter a drug or alcohol rehab. Thankfully, this does not mean that the person needs to remain trapped in addiction. There are also outpatient treatment programmes that offer many of the same benefits of a residential programme but without the need to stay there at night. If you feel that outpatient treatment would be the best option in your case, you can contact us now on 0800 140 4824 (+44 203 1511488 if you are outside the UK) to find out what is available in your area.

What to Expect with an Outpatient Treatment Programme

The aim of an outpatient programme is to reproduce as much as possible those effective elements that make the residential alcohol or drug rehab so successful. In some cases, the programme offered will be the same as the one given to residents with the only difference being that the individual will go home at the end of the day. The type of thing that the individual can expect as part of this type of treatment would include:

• Group therapy sessions – this is where the individual chats in a meeting format with other clients. The goal is for them to collectively delve into their problems and look for possible solutions. In most of these groups, there will be a facilitator, but it will be up to group members to decide where the meeting goes in regards to content.
• One to one therapy sessions can be highly effective because they allow the individual to delve deeply into their issues with the help of a therapist. These sessions also provide an opportunity to assess progress and create goals for the future.
• Cognitive behavioural therapy can provide tools that the individual can use to help them deal with their own negative thought patterns. This ability to have more control over thinking can also be used to improve the person’s life in general.
• As part of the outpatient programme there will usually be workshops on relapse prevention. This will allow the individual to learn about the common mistakes that people make as well as the relapse triggers they are likely to face in recovery. The person will then be able to use this information to help them develop effective strategies for avoiding relapse.
• Skills workshops can be another important part of an outpatient programme. It is common for people to fall into addiction at a young age, before they have developed appropriate skills for dealing with life. This means that when they become sober they can really struggle to deal with things. These skills workshops can teach things such as anger management and assertiveness training.
• 12 Step work – many clients will use fellowships like Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous to help them stay sober. This type of twelve-step work can be helpful for strengthening recovery.
• Fun and social activities – these can be important because the individual needs to begin building a satisfying life away from addiction. If the sober life is not fun, it is doubtful that people will work hard to maintain it. The good news is that life free from alcohol or drugs can be more fun than the person has ever previously experienced.

You can contact us right now to find out about what is involved in outpatient drug or alcohol detox. We will be able to talk specifically about programmes in your area.

Is There Any Need for a Residential Rehab?

Given that there can be so much gained from attending an outpatient programme, it may be tempting to conclude that there is no need for a residential programme at all. The reality is that the residential option is still the best one, and that the outpatient option is only there for people who are unable to attend an inpatient programme. It is not recommended that those who would be able to choose a residential rehab choose this other programme. When it comes to achieving sobriety, the individual really needs to give him or herself the best possible chance, and this will usually be inpatient rehab.

If you remain unsure about the best choice for you then just call us right now for a chat. We will be happy to answer any questions you might have. You can also text “help” to 66777 and we will get right back to you.