Best Treatment Centers with Excursions

Excursions in a rehab program are typically outings, which can be therapeutic or nontherapeutic. They offer a change of scenery and a chance to apply the treatment skills you learn in the real world. If you're in rehab for addiction, excursions could also be an excellent opportunity to participate in certain activities while sober.

What Types of Excursions Are Offered?

You can expect to have various excursions in your program, depending on the rehab. You may be able to take a nature walk, swim, or visit a local gym for exercise. If you’re attending rehab by the ocean, then you might have beach outings or surf lessons. Your care team could also try cultivating client bonding through social outings or art and music therapy.

Some centers incorporate therapeutic interventions through their excursions. For example, if you’re in eating disorder treatment, you may go to the grocery store and practice buying groceries, or you may go to a cooking class. If you’re in recovery for substance use, you could have a group outing to a restaurant so you can practice being in an environment where there are other people drinking alcohol.

What to Expect During Excursions

You’ll usually go on excursions during set times of the week. For example, this could be just on the weekends or Friday during lunchtime. Often, rehabs will focus on more traditional therapies during the core hours of weekdays, and excursions are built in around that.

Excursions are structured to maximize client benefits. Most of the time, you should have a group leader who is part of the program staff. Sometimes, you’ll have a licensed therapist heading the activity. Your program will have blocked off time for the activity and provide transportation if needed. For any specialized activities, like rock climbing, your rehab will have a trained instructor leading the group to ensure your safety. Your program should provide any equipment or safety training so you can (safely) get the most out of the excursion.

The Benefits of Excursions in Recovery

While evidence-based therapies are the backbone of your recovery, excursions offer many benefits to your healing. Excursions for mental health conditions or addiction allow you to apply your newly learned skills in the real world. This makes the transition back home after rehab easier. These activities can also build your toolbelt of skills for physical fitness, emotional regulation, and socializing.

Excursions help you build confidence. Accomplishing something new boosts your self-esteem and can help motivate you to continue your recovery journey. You can also strengthen your social skills, especially in settings that might have been difficult for you.

Finally, excursions can make you happy. Engaging in something enjoyable, especially during a transformative period of your life, reminds you that this process can be fun. Life in recovery can be joyful, and you can transition back home after treatment knowing that your daily life will be fun.