Finding the right care when it comes to addiction treatment can be challenging. Some options are intense and involve living full-time at a treatment center while you improve your life. Others offer more flexibility in recovery while providing structure and support.
Outpatient rehab is one option that affords you the flexibility to tend to other obligations in your life while you learn to live without drugs or alcohol. Footprints to Recovery is a full-service recovery center offering outpatient rehab for our clients. Our outpatient rehabilitation programs are based on compassion and dignity for all. Our team of addiction professionals can help you get your life back on the right track.
What Is Outpatient Rehab?
An outpatient program, also known as OP, is a form of treatment that doesn’t involve checking into a recovery facility full-time. It is a safe, less intensive option compared to inpatient rehab, but you still receive addiction treatment while you maintain a regular commitment to family, work, or school. Outpatient rehab often happens on the weekends or at night for added flexibility. Many who attend treatment step down to an OP after attending treatment in an intensive outpatient program (IOP).
Outpatient rehab offers a variety of treatment services in regularly scheduled sessions. Tools such as individual counseling, group therapy, family therapy, and medication management are proven effective when used in recovery. These aim to address the root causes of addiction and mental health disorders and provide you with coping strategies and tools to manage your symptoms.
Here are some important points about outpatient rehab:
- 1 to 2 days per week, 1 hour per day
- Evening and day schedules
- Individual therapy
- Group therapy
- Family therapy
- Case management
- Aftercare (select locations)
Wellness activities and specific groups offered in outpatient rehab include:
- Psychoeducational programming
- Didactic lectures
- Process programming
- Specialized and culturally specific programming
- Mutual self-help programming
- Skills training
- Expressive therapy (yoga, tai chi, art, music, comedy)
- Vocational rehabilitation
- Community support
- Experiential programming
- Nutritional counseling and other wellness initiatives
- Recreational programming
When Do You Need Outpatient Treatment?
Our goal at Footprints to Recovery is to help you gradually step down into less-intense levels of care until you’re ready to restart your life after recovery. When it comes to outpatient rehab, it’s important for you and your treatment team to know your limitations. You may start a specific program, finish it, and feel ready to go back to your normal life. Or you might need a more gradual transition back to life outside recovery.
That’s why we offer different recovery options—to better help you overcome addiction and prevent relapse. The main differences between our recovery programs include:
- The number of sessions per week
- Session duration
- Session intensity
This transition process is considered a step-down approach. It allows you to move through different levels of treatment as you progress in recovery. You’ll follow your own unique journey when you recover at Footprints to Recovery.
Types of Outpatient Rehab
There are three main types of outpatient rehab and all three are offered by the clinical team at Footprints to Recovery. The difference between the three is mostly in how much time per week you spend undergoing treatment at our recovery center.
The three types of outpatient rehab include:
- Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP)
- Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)
- Outpatient Program (OP)
Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP)
A partial hospitalization program is a structured form of outpatient treatment that provides intensive care for substance use disorders. It falls between inpatient treatment and traditional outpatient therapy in terms of intensity and support.
You will attend treatment five days per week. Sessions last for around six hours. You have the option to live on your own, with your family, or in a sober living home while in a PHP. The goal of a PHP is to build on the skills and tools you learned during inpatient treatment to prepare for long-term recovery.
Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)
An intensive outpatient program is a structured and comprehensive form of outpatient treatment designed to provide you with intensive support for a substance use disorder. An IOP is particularly beneficial for people who require more focused and structured treatment than traditional outpatient therapy but don’t need the round-the-clock care of inpatient or residential treatment. The major difference between a PHP and an IOP is the time spent at our facility. IOP treatment involves between 9 and 15 hours of treatment per week.
Outpatient Program (OP)
Traditional outpatient addiction treatment involves all the same treatment options and therapies as PHP and IOP. The goal is to help you transition back to your normal life. The major difference in traditional outpatient treatment is that it involves sessions only once or twice per week. You will spend the majority of your time living, working, or going to school in a normal way. You’ll attend treatment on a regular weekly schedule to help build your support systems and develop coping mechanisms.
What Is Outpatient Treatment Like?
Outpatient treatment is a safe and effective treatment for mental health and substance use disorders. It can also be used to treat co-occurring disorders. During an OP, you have access to many of the same therapies available in an inpatient program without having to stay in a treatment facility 24/7 until the end of the program. There are several levels of outpatient treatment. These range from partial hospitalization, where you attend treatment for a full day, to intensive outpatient, which meets for a few hours on three to five days a week, to regular outpatient treatment, which meets for one to three hours a week.
Outpatient programs typically begin when medical detox is complete. You’ll be stabilized, meaning you don’t have drugs in your system, and you won’t be dealing with acute withdrawal. Because you won’t have many physical symptoms, you’ll be better able to sit through sessions of treatment. Being sober is especially important during outpatient treatment since that will make it easier to avoid relapse.
No matter your outpatient program, you will come in for appointments, like treatment sessions. Early in your recovery, you might visit your team every day. As you progress, your meetings might become less frequent. You are supported throughout the program, but when you’re not in a session, you won’t be surrounded by your care team.
Outpatient Therapies for Addiction
Outpatient therapies for addiction encompass a variety of approaches designed to address the multifaceted nature of substance abuse and dependency.
Individual Therapy
Individual therapy stands as a cornerstone, offering a private setting in which clients can explore the underlying causes of their addiction. This one-on-one approach enables therapists to tailor treatment to the specific needs of each client, fostering personal growth and self-awareness.
Group Therapy
Group therapy provides a supportive environment where individuals can share experiences and challenges with others who are navigating similar paths toward recovery. This collective setting not only helps in diminishing feelings of isolation but also promotes the development of social skills and empathy among participants. The shared stories within group sessions often serve as powerful catalysts for change, encouraging members to remain committed to their recovery.
Family Therapy
Addiction is frequently described as a “family disease” due to its profound impact on relationships and dynamics within the household. Family therapy sessions aim to heal these rifts by improving communication, resolving conflicts, and fostering a deeper understanding among family members about addiction and recovery processes. This inclusive approach helps to build a solid support system for the individual in recovery, vital for long-term success.
Types of Therapies in Outpatient Addiction Treatment
Outpatient addiction treatment provides a diverse range of therapies tailored to address the complexity of substance use disorders and their underlying causes. These therapeutic approaches are designed to equip individuals with the skills they need for long-term recovery, focusing on changing destructive thought patterns, improving emotional regulation, enhancing motivation to change, and expressing oneself in healthy ways.
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): is a form of therapy that helps individuals identify and challenge negative thought patterns that contribute to substance abuse. By examining the relationship between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, CBT enables patients to develop coping strategies that target problematic thoughts, ultimately influencing their actions towards more positive outcomes.
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): originally developed for treating borderline personality disorder, has proven effective in substance abuse treatment as well. DBT emphasizes the development of four key skills: mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotional regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness. These skills are particularly beneficial for individuals struggling with emotional dysregulation or impulsivity associated with substance use.
- Motivational Interviewing (MI): is another critical component of outpatient treatment. This client-centered counseling style addresses ambivalence toward change. Through MI, therapists help individuals explore their own reasons for wanting to change their behavior in an empathetic and non-confrontational manner. This approach builds on internal motivation, making it easier for clients to commit to long-term changes necessary for recovery.
- Expressive Therapy: encompasses a variety of creative arts therapies including art therapy, music therapy, dance/movement therapy, and writing therapy. These modalities offer individuals alternative ways to express emotions and experiences that might be difficult to articulate through words alone. Expressive therapies can be particularly powerful in uncovering hidden feelings and conflicts within a therapeutic setting, fostering healing through creativity.
Each of these therapies offers unique benefits within an outpatient treatment setting. Together they provide a comprehensive approach to addiction recovery that addresses not just the physical aspects of substance abuse but also the psychological factors contributing to addiction.
What Does Outpatient Rehab Treat?
Outpatient treatment addresses the same substance use disorders as residential rehab does, including:
- Prescription drugs like fentanyl, hydrocodone, morphine, Xanax, and more
- Stimulants like Adderall, Ritalin, cocaine, meth, and more
- Alcohol
- Opiates like heroin
- Marijuana
- Other addictive substances
Dual Diagnosis Treatment in Outpatient Rehab
Often, drug or alcohol addiction is paired with mental health issues. This is called a dual diagnosis, or co-occurring disorder. You might struggle with depression or anxiety and never have been officially diagnosed, but your mental health influences your relationship to substances. Mental health disorders can make substance use disorders worse when you turn to alcohol or drugs to get relief you’re your symptoms. And addiction can make mental health issues worse because of the way drugs and alcohol affect your brain.
It’s vital that your addiction issues and any mental health disorders are treated at the same time. This way, you can understand the underlying causes of your substance use and learn coping skills for dealing with your mental health.
Some of the mental health disorders outpatient rehab can help with include:
- Depression
- Anxiety disorders
- Mood disorders
- Personality disorders
- Trauma and PTSD
- Eating disorders
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How Long Is Outpatient Treatment?
How long outpatient treatment takes depends on different factors. The duration you spend per week in treatment and for how many weeks that treatment lasts depend on the individualized treatment plan put forth by your outpatient treatment therapist. Most outpatient programs last at least 6 weeks, with the average being around 10 weeks of treatment.
For some, treatment is a lifelong process. Attending 12-step support groups or keeping in touch with your outpatient rehab team after recovery can really help in relapse prevention. Many who recover from drug or alcohol abuse report that sobriety is something that needs constant work to be successful. The skills and tools you learn in outpatient recovery are just part of what makes treatment so valuable.
Sample Outpatient Rehab Schedule
Outpatient treatment is the most flexible form of recovery. As a client of Footprints to Recovery, you’re able to fit treatment into your schedule. Choosing the times and days that work best for you can help you feel empowered while juggling your recovery and other aspects of your life.
Below is a sample of an outpatient rehab schedule, similar to what you’d find at a recovery facility.
Outpatient Schedule
Treatment Days:
Mondays and Wednesdays
Treatment Time:
7:30 pm to 8:30 pm
Treatment Duration:
10 weeks
Program Details:
- Individual therapy
- Group therapy
- Family therapy
- Case management
- Aftercare
- Skills training
- Expressive arts therapy
- Nutrition counseling
What Is Sober Living?
While you’re in outpatient care, you’ll be exposed to relapse triggers in the outside world. There’s no way to completely avoid them, but it’s important to do so as much as possible. A safe, sober home environment—with support from your loved ones—can go a long way.
The people you live with need to be aware of your treatment and your desire to remain sober so they can support you when you’re not standing within the walls of your treatment facility. Staying sober means a lot of changes will have to be made to your living environment and social habits. The people beside you should be prepared and informed about them and be ready to help.
Though you can’t make everyone around you change, you can change. If your home situation is no good for pursuing and maintaining sobriety, inpatient treatment might be better for you than outpatient rehab. If you can’t afford residential treatment or don’t meet the diagnostic criteria, moving into a sober living home is a safe option.
A sober living home, or halfway house, is a group home meant to be a safe space for people recovering from addiction. It’s free of drugs and alcohol, with a set of rules to follow.
Sober homes work like co-ops: Each resident pays part of the costs and helps with chores. There are different types of sober houses from which to choose. Some are privately owned; others are owned by businesses and/or religious groups, or even charity organizations.
Sober living provides a secure, substance-free environment where you can live with others who are going through the same things as you. You’ll be able to implement the lessons you learn in therapy into your everyday life with support from your housemates along the way.
Aftercare Planning
One of the main benefits of working with an inpatient and outpatient treatment provider is aftercare, which is the care you receive after you leave an addiction treatment program. Aftercare is important because having proper support and guidance as you take your first steps into sobriety can be crucial for long-term success.
At Footprints to Recovery, we take aftercare seriously. Our clinicians can help you find things like 12-step programs and online therapy that can help you remain sober long-term.
What Are the Benefits of Outpatient Rehab?
Outpatient rehab programs are proven effective in helping people learn to manage addiction. These programs come with some benefits inpatient programs can’t provide. When compared to an inpatient service setting, an outpatient program offers:
- Cost savings
- Flexibility
- Interaction with family and friends
Outpatient recovery offers excellent treatment but costs less per day than inpatient treatment because you’re not paying a facility for housing, food, medication, and staff. When you’re not at our recovery facility, you are available for other obligations in your life. If you live at home during treatment, you’ll be able to receive support from your family and friends. This can often strengthen relationships that were strained by addiction.
How to Pay for Outpatient Treatment
Payment should never deter someone from seeking treatment. At Footprints to Recovery, our goal is to work with you and your insurance provider to find an affordable treatment option that suits your needs. Each insurance policy and provider is different, so navigating your plan can be confusing. In some cases, insurance may cover all of treatment. In other case, it will cover a portion.
We take the confusion out of insurance verification so you can focus all your energy on sobriety. The admissions team at Footprints to Recovery will work with you and your insurance provider directly to outline your recovery options based on your coverage.
If you don’t have insurance, there are private pay options available to help. Learn more by contacting the admissions team at Footprints to Recovery.
Outpatient Rehab at Footprints to Recovery
Drug and alcohol addiction treatment at Footprints to Recovery is personalized to your needs. Our outpatient treatment programs can help you improve your health and well-being for a brighter future. If you don’t need the structure of 24/7 inpatient rehab, then a treatment center offering outpatient options is a great choice. Our licensed therapists establish an outpatient setting where comfort and safety are priorities. We create a unique treatment plan involving different types of therapy for a comprehensive approach to recovery.
Don’t wait to find a drug or alcohol rehab center. The sooner you call our admissions team, the sooner you can get started with your recovery. Our team can help with insurance verification if you’re wondering how to pay for rehab. They can also answer any questions you have about the recovery process.
Questions about treatment options?
Our admissions team is available 24/7 to listen to your story and help you get started with the next steps.
