If you are currently struggling with an addiction or mental health challenge, you may not know where to turn. Many experts recommend rehabilitation programs, but with so many available to choose from, making a decision that is right for your situation can be a challenge. Inpatient programs, support groups, and outpatient programs are some of the wide variety of options; if you do not need medical assistance to begin your recovery but would benefit from help in changing the way that you think and act, an to join an intensive outpatient program may be right for you.
What Is An Intensive Outpatient Program?
An intensive outpatient program is one type of outpatient rehabilitation. It differs from inpatient programs, in which an individual is required to check into a facility and remain there 24/7 during treatment. Most often, this occurs for those who struggle with severe cravings and relapses when not in the presence of rehab professionals or those who need medical assistance and supervision.
In contrast, an outpatient program is built to allow individuals in recovery to continue on with their lives and responsibilities. What separates an intensive outpatient program from the standard outpatient procedure is the time commitment; intensive outpatient programs are often the first step after inpatient treatment, and they consist of numerous meetings with professionals, therapists, and groups each week in order to set the individual up for success.
Recovering from an addiction can be a confusing time, and the sudden choice of what to do with all of the hours in a day may encourage unhealthy decisions. In order to combat this, intensive outpatient programs spend significant time assisting individuals in reshaping their thoughts and behaviors before they progress to less supervised rehab.
Who Should Join An Intensive Outpatient Program?
Intensive outpatient programs are a valuable tool, but they are not right for everyone. The best candidates for intensive outpatient programs are those who do not need medical assistance in order to begin or continue their rehabilitation. If your substance or mental health challenges will result in severe physical withdrawal symptoms or other side effects that require the help of a medical professional, an inpatient option may be a better choice.
Intensive outpatient programs are best suited to those who have begun the road to recovery but are still struggling with addictive tendencies and habits. Those who need regular guidance, supervision, or distraction can flourish in an intensive outpatient program because it consists of meetings with therapists, life coaches, and peer groups to help to develop important skills and retrain the brain. If you believe that an outpatient program that meets once or twice per week does not provide enough accountability or therapy for you, an intensive outpatient program is worth pursuing.
What Happens After An Intensive Outpatient Program?
Intensive outpatient programs are not the end of the rehabilitation process; they are simply a step along the way. Most people move from inpatient rehabilitation to intensive outpatient programs, where they remain long enough to acquire the skills, coping habits and help that they need to keep moving forward. Once an individual has spent some time—typically at least 90 days—in an intensive outpatient program, they may graduate to a standard outpatient program.
This will see their weekly commitments reduced in terms of therapist appointments and group meetings, but those avenues for assistance will not go away. They will simply become less frequent in order to facilitate the transition from rehabilitation to a thriving life.
Outpatient programs are an effective method of conquering addiction while maintaining one’s responsibilities and commitments, such as employment, education, family duties, and childcare. The frequency of meetings and what type of counseling occurs within them will be determined by an addiction recovery expert who crafts an outpatient rehabilitation program that suits your personalized situation.
Work With The Experienced Addiction Recovery Experts
Whether you are looking for a rehabilitation program for the first time or you have tried others and have not found the success that you were hoping for, be sure that you work with experienced addiction recovery experts. A personalized plan that is created based upon the unique factors of your situation is the most likely to succeed, and Insight Treatment Center is skilled in crafting personalized treatment plans that feature a combination of group therapy, peer support groups and individual counseling that will work best for you.
Reach out to speak with an addiction recovery expert so that you can determine which type of rehabilitation is best for you. There is no shame in seeking help with an addiction or mental health challenge; it is the first step in achieving the life that you hope for.
