No two addiction recovery situations are exactly the same, and this is reflected in the variation of treatment programs you’ll see. One of the biggest general choices someone seeking treatment will make early on is the choice between inpatient and outpatient addiction treatment.
At the outpatient rehab center at Renaissance Ranch, addiction sufferers receive numerous benefits as they move along their road to recovery. What are the notable positives of outpatient treatment, and what kinds of services can it provide?
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Possible Treatments
There are a few elements that will be provided by virtually any outpatient rehabilitation facility (some may have additional elements):
- Medical assistance or pharmacology: The use of medications or other medical techniques to limit cravings, treat psychological disorders and address any underlying medical issues.
- Psychological interventions: More commonly referred to as therapy or counseling, these are ways of addressing attitudes, feelings, habits and other behaviors in a safe, private setting.
- Self-help: This involves encouragement, support and participation in a setting run by other individuals with similar issues who have gone through recovery.
Now let’s look at some of the individual advantages of outpatient treatment.
Freedom and Commitments
For patients who will benefit from this, outpatient programs offer significantly more freedom. Patients sleep in their own bed and are in control of every element of their life. There are situations where this can be a negative if the patient isn’t yet ready for this level of responsibility or potential temptation, and a professional can assess this.
In addition, outpatient programs allow patients to maintain commitments like work, family, school or other important areas.
Privacy
Outpatient programs allow for recovery within a more private environment – that is, absences will be far less noticeable from areas like work and school. Patients won’t be forced to explain long absences to bosses or teachers, who might view them negatively after the reasoning is explained.
Networking
Outpatient treatment also allows the building of a network of peers for support. This is not unique to outpatient programs, as it happens during inpatient programs as well, but the dynamic outside a facility can make this feel less forced and more significant for some patients.