Outpatient treatment entails weekly or monthly visits to a treatment centre for individual and group therapies. Outpatient programs often serve as the final step in the continuum of care for addiction recovery and can last several months. Clients in an outpatient program are sober, stable, living independently (not with the treatment centre), and typically have resumed their full lives (work, school).
Outpatient services typically include therapy for relapse prevention, mental health conditions, and sobriety reinforcement. Outpatient settings also offer a supportive environment for those in early recovery. Some rehabs have both residential and outpatient programs at their facility, but some outpatient centres stand alone.
How Do Outpatient Programs Help?
Outpatient programs keep you connected to recovery support and can strengthen your sobriety. They provide a stepping stone to fully independent living and expand upon the tools and skills learned in rehab. So, outpatient programs can help you grow stronger in your recovery, resilience, and the recovery community in your area.
What Are The Typical Components of an Outpatient Program?
Common components of an outpatient program include group and individual therapy sessions, 12-Step meetings, and some holistic services. Outpatient programs also have a regular treatment schedule. For example, you may come in every Wednesday, or once every two weeks at 5 o’clock. This allows you to structure your work and family life around outpatient treatment.
What Are The Benefits of an Outpatient Program?
Outpatient programs have a primary benefit of flexibility. Rather than spending multiple days a week in intensive outpatient care, or being in residential treatment 24/7, you only need to attend outpatient care a couple hours every 1-2 weeks.
You also connect with a group of like-minded people in recovery. You’ll grow your support network and have a community to learn from as you embark on your recovery.