You know you have a problem with alcohol or other drugs, and you’re finally ready to get help. But how can you decide which type of treatment is right for you, and what can you expect when you enter a program? It can be helpful to take some time to explore what rehab is like, so you’ll have the information you need to make the best decisions for your health and your future.
If you or a loved one are struggling with addiction, don’t hesitate to reach out to Live Oak Wellness today.
Call us now or verify your insurance to start your journey to recovery.
What Is Rehab Like?
There can be many correct answers to the question, what is rehab like?
As we’ll discuss throughout this post, your rehab experience can be influenced by many factors, including which type of program you’re in and what types of treatment you receive.
Before we get into these specifics, though, let’s take a look at a few of the fundamental features that most reputable rehab centers share. When you enroll in rehab, here are a few examples of what you can expect:
- Completing a thorough intake assessment to ensure that your treatment team understands the full scope of your needs
- Following a customized treatment plan based on the information that your team gathered during your assessment
- Taking part in multiple types of therapy
- Receiving prescription medication if necessary
- Learning about the disease of addiction and developing the skills that will help you live a healthier life in recovery
At most rehab centers, you will also receive a discharge plan as you approach the end of your time in treatment. This plan may include information about professional services, peer-led groups, and other resources that can support your recovery efforts when you’re no longer in rehab.
Types of Rehab
Descriptions of what rehab is like can vary considerably depending on what type of rehab you’re talking about.
Rehab can involve detoxification, residential treatment, and outpatient care. Some people only participate in one type of programming, while others spend time at multiple levels. There’s no right or wrong path – what’s most important is finding the path that’s right for you.
Detox
Detoxification, or detox, is a short-term program that is designed to help you get through withdrawal safely and with as little discomfort as possible. Detox is often part of residential treatment, though some centers offer an outpatient detoxification option.
Detox programs may include both medical and therapeutic support. Certain prescription medications can alleviate some of the more distressing withdrawal symptoms, while therapy can help you learn to manage symptoms that aren’t eased by medication alone. Therapy can also help you begin to prepare for a healthier, drug-free future.
It usually takes about five to 10 days to complete detox, though that time can vary depending on factors such as which drug you have become addicted to and how long you’ve been abusing that drug. Once you have completed detox, you can begin to fully engage in all aspects of treatment at the residential or outpatient level.
Residential
If you enroll in residential rehab, you will live at the center where you’re receiving care. The environment itself is a valuable component of residential rehab, as it gives you the opportunity to devote your full attention to your recovery, without having to deal with the stresses and distractions of daily life.
A typical day in residential rehab often begins with breakfast, followed by a morning group session to review the daily schedule and address general housekeeping or procedural matters.
After the morning session, you will follow the day’s schedule, which may include several forms of therapy, educational sessions, recreational and leisure activities, and a lunch break.
The day will likely conclude with dinner, after which you may return to your room or spend some time socializing with other patients.
Typical length of stay in a residential rehab program is at least 28 days, though many patients remain at this level for a longer period.
Outpatient
After you’ve completed the residential phase of your treatment, you may step down to an outpatient program for additional support. If you needs were not acute enough to warrant round-the-clock care, you may enter treatment directly at one of the following outpatient levels:
- Partial hospitalization programs, or PHPs, offer a range of therapies, just like residential rehabs do. However, when you’re in a PHP, you only need to be at the center when treatment is in session. Most PHPs offer five to seven hours of daily care, including lunch, five days per week. In the evenings and on the weekends, you can return to your home or to an alternative supported residence.
- Intensive outpatient programs, or IOPs, offer greater scheduling flexibility than PHPs do. In an IOP, you will usually participate in about three hours of treatment per day. Depending on your needs and the parameters of the program you’re in, you may attend treatment two to five days per week. During non-treatment hours, you may be able to work part-time, take a class, or participate in other healthy and productive pursuits.
- Outpatient programs, which are sometimes referred to as OPs, provide the greatest degree of flexibility while still allowing you to benefit from clinical care. Some people attend outpatient therapy once a week, while others attend sessions every other week or once a month. This level of care can be a valuable source of ongoing support as you work to maintain and build on the progress you made in residential and/or outpatient rehab.
Types of Treatment
There is no single type of therapy or course of treatment that works for everyone. Services that are life-changing for one person may offer little to no benefit to someone else.
This is why it’s so important to find a rehab center that will assess your needs, then develop a customized plan just for you. Depending on several individual factors, your care may include services such as:
- Individual therapy: which can be an ideal opportunity to address personal concerns and receive focused feedback from a member of your treatment team
- Group therapy sessions: where you can practice relapse-prevention skills, share your insights, and learn from the experiences of others who are working toward a similar goal
- Family therapy sessions: where you and your loved ones can address how you have all been impacted by your struggles with addiction and learn how to better support each other
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT): which can help you replace self-defeating thought and behavior patterns with healthier ways of thinking and acting
- Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT): which focuses on improving your skills in areas such as mindfulness, emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness
- Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy: which can help you alleviate emotional distress related to traumatic memories
- Holistic therapies: such as yoga and meditation, which promote healing in mind, body, and spirit
To better understand the connection between addiction recovery and mental health, visit our blog, Is Alcoholism a Mental Illness?.
Learn More About Rehab in the San Francisco Area
Live Oaks Wellness is a trusted source of personalized rehab programs for adults whose lives have been disrupted by addictions to alcohol and other drugs. We also serve patients whose struggles with chemical dependence are accompanied by anxiety, depression, and other co-occurring mental health concerns.
To learn more about what rehab is like at our center in Marin County, or to schedule a free assessment, please visit our Admissions page or call us today.
