Choosing to enter a rehabilitation treatment can be one of the most beneficial decisions you ever make. It’s a choice to start on a path to recovery and spend time focusing on healing your addiction. But there are a few different choices on what kind of rehabilitation program you can enter. The main treatment options are inpatient vs. outpatient rehab, with occasional middle choices and plenty of variation in types of aftercare and post-rehab support.
There isn’t a universal “right” choice, because everyone’s addiction is different. But it’s important to weigh your options and learn what type of rehab program will address your needs best. Different programs have different levels of coverage from insurance companies, so it’s important to research costs and what you may have to pay out of pocket.
What is Inpatient Rehab?
When most people think of rehabilitation for drug addiction, they’re usually thinking of inpatient treatment programs (also called residential treatment programs). This type of treatment involves an individual living at a treatment facility and focusing on their treatment full-time.
In terms of length, inpatient programs can range from 28 days to over a year. It is highly dependent on the needs of the individual, their progress within the program, and the severity of their addiction.
Regardless of length, a complete inpatient treatment plan includes a program of aftercare and support to ensure no risk of relapse. Longer inpatient programs typically incorporate more work and support into integrating the person back into daily life. Extended stays may also focus on underlying issues regarding addiction, such as trauma or underlying mental illness.
Every inpatient rehabilitation center is different, and it’s most important to find a center that caters to your individual needs. At Wisconsin Recovery Institute, what we treat includes addictions to many different substances and their associated effects. Individuals that come seeking help with recovery receive therapy and individualized treatment based on their needs.
A Day at Inpatient Rehab
A stay at an inpatient rehab typically includes a period of medically supervised detox, wherein a person’s body purges itself of the addictive substances. This may be a gentle “washing out” with minimal effects. But it may also be very severe, and medical intervention may be required to ensure the detoxing person doesn’t suffer permanent effects.
Inpatient rehab fully includes living at the rehabilitation facility, so individuals may be required to wake up at a certain time or follow certain rules. There will likely be designated times for receiving visitors, and of course no substances from outside the facility may be brought in. Meals may be shared in common areas, and individuals will participate in group recovery activities to give and receive support.
Support groups and individual therapy services (such as cognitive behavioral therapy) may take up a large portion of the day, depending on the individual’s needs. Activities may be scheduled to break up the day in constructive ways, and time in nature is heavily encouraged. Individuals engaged in the program may engage in experiential therapy activities, such as art therapy and psychodrama. These work to break up routine and delve deeper into exploring issues.
How to Prepare for Inpatient Rehab
To fully get everything out of the inpatient experience, individuals need to prepare themselves for not only an extended time away but also an easy transition once they return.
Once you’ve set a length of stay for your time in rehab, work to ensure that all bills are paid or are set up to automatically be paid for the entire length of your time away. This includes rent and any personal expenses associated with the people in your life. If you’re responsible for a pet or any other animals, make sure that there are supplies set aside for their needs. You may wish to set up an emergency fund that is easily accessible in case something comes up during your stay.
It may seem redundant, but it’s important to make sure that your home will be completely ready for your return once you’ve completed treatment. Make sure that rent or mortgage payments are all set up to go through in your absence, and set ground rules with the people you live with around access to your possessions. If you must move into new housing post-rehab, do all you can to make arrangements before you leave.
Some rehab facilities permit only a certain number of personal items, while others may have limitations on types of items only. Rules may differ on how much contact individuals are allowed with family members (or the outside world in general). Visitation may be unlimited or only be confined to certain hours. Knowing the rules ahead of time will reduce friction and prevent potential conflicts between yourself and rehab staff.
Attending and transitioning out of rehab is an incredible opportunity to rebuild relationships that may have been harmed by the person’s addiction. If the rehab facility offers family therapy, talk to family members beforehand and establish who would be interested in participating. Ask if someone would be willing to transport you back from therapy, and establish ground rules for communication within the facility’s rules.
What is Outpatient Rehab?
Outpatient rehab is actually very similar to inpatient, except for the fact that the person doesn’t live full-time at the rehabilitation facility. Regular meetings and addiction therapy sessions still take place. The person may even attend lectures or keep in contact with the same peer network as they would in an inpatient facility.
Detox is not necessarily part of an outpatient rehab program, but it can be. It all comes down to your individual treatment plan and the results of your initial intake. Outpatient rehab can be a step between an inpatient program and transitioning to life outside the rehab facility.
However, it is possible for a person to enter straight into an outpatient program. This is typically recommended more frequently for people with less severe addictions that may not require an extensive detox program. Those who undergo this type of program will have to visit a hospital or other designated medical facility for regular check-ins.
Within outpatient therapy, there are sometimes options for partial hospitalization programs. These are intended for people who may require more support early on in their treatment, especially if they’re transitioning out of an inpatient program. People who choose this option may spend the equivalent of a full-time job in therapeutic programs during the week.
Outpatient rehab programs can last for three months to longer than a year. However, it may be easier to obtain coverage from insurance if a person decides to proceed straight to an outpatient rehab program versus inpatient rehab as a first stop. Contact your insurance provider to learn the details of your policy’s coverage before reaching out to a rehab facility’s admittance team.
A Day at Outpatient Rehab
Attending an outpatient therapy program might include coming by the treatment facility before a work shift, or after dropping off your kids at school. You may participate in a single session with your therapist or be part of multiple group therapy meetings — it all depends on the needs of your individual treatment plan.
Most people can count on attending meetings or engaging in treatment of some kind for at least three days per week in outpatient rehab. Others may need more time, devoting as much time to their treatment as they would a second job. Some outpatient programs require a few days (or meals) per week to be spent at a sober living facility. But this often varies by facility. Most people in outpatient programs go back to their own homes at night.
How to Prepare for Outpatient Rehab
It’s important to make sure that your outpatient therapy program works for your schedule, so you can consistently attend therapy sessions or any other treatment programs. Accept that attending therapy on this type of schedule means that you may be in therapy for weeks or months longer than someone who attends inpatient rehab.
If necessary, make arrangements for child care and/or transportation to rehab as early as possible in the process of entering outpatient rehab. It’s not always necessary to inform your place of employment that you’re entering a rehabilitation program. But you may find unexpected sources of support from coworkers or managers that are also in recovery.
Begin Your Journey at Wisconsin Recovery Institute
A life beyond addiction is waiting for you, and we at Wisconsin Recovery Institute want to help you build it. Our facility at Fond du Lac is designed for holistic treatment and healing rooted in evidence-based treatment options. Our staff will provide support and guidance at every step, from the first day of detox to the final day of residential treatment.
Contact us and learn how you can begin your journey to recovery.
