It’s the start of your second week in rehab. Now that you’ve successfully completed detox, or are almost there, you may be wondering what the days ahead will look like. It may also be tempting to think that now that you’re clean, you don’t need more rehab. (Many people prematurely drop out of treatment thinking similar things, only to relapse soon after.)
Just one glance at the daily rehab schedule will convince you otherwise. The road ahead won’t be easy, but as you stick with the structure and support of a daily program of inpatient treatment over the next 30-plus days, followed by outpatient treatment, you’ll find that the lessons you learn about yourself, and the healthy coping tools and peer friendships you develop, will be indispensable to your recovery— and to a lifetime free of drugs and/or alcohol.
We wanted to give you a helpful picture of what to expect in the way of a daily schedule in addiction treatment, including the group topics you’ll address. On that note, below is a “day in the life” introduction to inpatient and outpatient rehab at FHE Health, with real examples of daily schedules from our inpatient and outpatient programs.
Appointments and Sessions in a Typical Day in Rehab
But first, we thought it would be helpful to give you a broad overview of all of the potential appointments and sessions that are possible in any given day here at FHE Health. That’s because the schedules that follow this section, while a very helpful eye into a typical day in rehab at FHE Health, don’t convey the full range of sessions and appointments that are available to our patients on a daily basis. They are as follows:
- Medical appointments in which you meet with members of our interdisciplinary medical team for medication maintenance and monitoring of any symptoms you may be experiencing
- Vitamin infusions that address nutritional deficiencies related to substance abuse and/or other underlying medical issues
- Blood work that allows us to identify and treat any medical issues that may be contributing to an addiction or impeding recovery (and that also encourages abstinence in patients with substance abuse issues)
- Therapies with clinicians who are trained and licensed in CBT, DBT and trauma resolution
- Specialty therapies that, applying DBT techniques, address gambling and eating disorders
- Neuro therapy that uses the latest in imaging techniques to identify and treat regions of the brain where there is dysfunction, thereby helping to restore healthy brain function
- Acupuncture, massage and breathwork, each of which treats the patient as a whole person, (mind, body and spirit), working to alleviate any painful physical and emotional symptoms.
A Typical Day in Residential Inpatient Treatment
After detox, our Residential Inpatient Program provides the most intensive level of care for patients needing addiction treatment. A typical day in residential inpatient treatment looks as follows:
- 6:30 AM Wake-up Call
This includes a check of patients’ vitals (by our techs or nurses).
- 7:00-7:45 AM Breakfast
Like other meals, breakfast consists of a variety of healthy and delicious, home-cooked menu options prepared by our in-house chef.
- 8:00-9:00 AM Community Group
Community Group is an opportunity to address any community issues, introduce new members, talk about the day’s schedule and form healthy goals for the day. In the words of FHE Health’s Dr. Beau Nelson, who directs and manages Clinical Services, this group “gives the whole community time to be together and receive support.”
- 9:00 AM Medications
Medications are dispensed by our nursing team at regular intervals throughout the day to patients whose treatment plans include medication maintenance. (Medications may be prescribed by our doctors for any co-occurring medical or psychiatric issues and/or certain withdrawal symptoms, such as cravings— depending on the treatment plan.)
- 10:00-11:00 AM Clinical Group or Restore Group
The Clinical Group is substance-abuse-focused, according to Dr. Nelson. He said the Substance Abuse group focuses on skills, education, and process, utilizing “a multi-modal approach that deals with everything from the disease of addiction, relapse prevention, behavioral change, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectic behavior therapy (DBT), breathwork therapy and neuro education.” The goal of this group is to help people learn what their issues are and what has not worked, and learn new ways to live without substances or self-defeating behaviors, according to Dr. Nelson.
The Restore Group focuses on mental health (which will be relevant to anyone whose substance abuse co-occurs with another underlying mental health condition). Like the Clinical Groups, the Restore Groups also include an emphasis on education, process and learning skills. However, the group topics are geared more around how to manage and cope with a mental health condition (other than addiction), the elements of a healthy, balanced lifestyle and life issues ranging from relationships to self-care to the processing of traumatic experiences.
- 12:00-1:00 PM Lunch
Patients always enjoy meals at FHE Health, and lunch is no exception, with its buffet of delectable and nutritious menu options prepared on-site by our dedicated in-house chef.
- 1:00-2:00 PM Clinical Group or Restore Group
(See above descriptions for the Clinical and Restore Groups.)
- 2:00-4:00 PM Individual Therapy Sessions
In these sessions with their primary therapist, patients have plenty of one-on-one time and individualized attention, so they can dig deeper in understanding and addressing the specific roots of their addiction. They can also receive a deeper level of personalized support and attention in one or more of the evidence-based therapies for treating addiction that our therapists are trained and licensed to administer. (These include: CBT, DBT, Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) and Trauma Resolution therapy.)
- 3:00-4:00 PM Medications
- 4:00-5:00 PM Free Time
Patients have the opportunity to enjoy some downtime reading, watching TV or just hanging out.
- 5:00-6:00 PM Dinner
Because eating a well-balanced diet is one of the building blocks of recovery, our in-house chef strives to make it an enjoyable and mouth-watering experience. Patients can indulge in any one of a number of mouth-watering entrees, knowing they are also supporting the healing of both the brain and body.
- 6:00 PM Vitals
- 7:00-8:00 PM 12-Step Meeting
In this meeting, patients get exposure to the time-tested spiritual principles and traditions of the 12-Steps and begin to learn how to apply these tenets to daily life. They also benefit from the emotional and spiritual peer support that this meeting (like other 12-step groups) offers.
- 8:00-9:00 PM Wrap-Up Group
This group is an opportunity to look back on the day and evaluate how it went. Patients can reflect on whether they met their goals and what, if anything, they need to address moving forward. Any outstanding community issues may also be talked about.
- 9:00 PM Medications
- 11:00 PM Lights Out
Patients retire for a peaceful night’s sleep.
A Typical Day in Intensive Outpatient Treatment
Our Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) and Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) are a step-down level of care for patients who have completed 30-plus days of inpatient treatment. Some patients choose to live off-campus while receiving treatment services that are similar in intensity and structure to inpatient services. Other patients prefer to reside at our facility.
Other differences from inpatient treatment: more free time that’s programmed into the schedule, so that patients can prepare for life after rehab, via job and career planning with the help of our resource center; and, group topics oriented towards staying sober after rehab.
Another perk that’s unique to our outpatient program is the local canteen where patients can go to get food and snacks in between groups and other commitments.
Here is what the typical daily schedule looks like in outpatient treatment:
- 7:00 AM Wake-Up
- 7:15 AM Breakfast
- 7:30 AM Medications
- 9:15 AM-12:15 PM Program Group
The Program Group is group therapy—see above descriptions of our Clinical and Restore groups and the therapies that we offer—that’s “tailored to the needs of patients in the program and utilizes therapeutic techniques appropriate to learning and growing in new ways to be more stable and higher functioning,” Dr. Nelson said.
For patients who have come from our inpatient program, this group time is an opportunity to build on, practice and ultimately master many of the same therapeutic concepts that were first introduced to them during inpatient treatment.
- 12:15 PM Accountability Check
Because patients enjoy greater personal freedom in the outpatient program, the accountability check is really just a check-in so that our staff knows where patients are in the day.
- 12:15 PM-1:00 PM Lunch
- 1:00 PM-3:00 PM Afternoon Group
- 3:00 PM Medications
- 3:45 PM Accountability Check
- 7:00-8:00 PM Self-Help Program Meeting
“Self-help programs are like a 12-step meeting where people talk about their progress and their struggles, and gain support and learn to trust and be a part of a community looking to get better,” Dr. Nelson explained.
- 9:00 PM Medications
- 11:00 PM Lights Out
By the end of the day, you will be that much closer to a full and lasting recovery.
A Disclaimer
Keep in mind that this description of a “day in the life of rehab” is generalized. In fact, not all of our patients will experience the same classes and programs. At FHE Health, we customize treatments to ensure that each patient gets the support they need based on their type of substance addiction, unique circumstances, and whether or not a dual diagnosis is present.
Patients can expect to take part in one-on-one treatment sessions with therapists as well as group sessions. However, not all patients will require medical detox or take part in certain therapies. Some of the programs and treatments we offer are also subject to change. Like other medical fields, addiction medicine changes with research and new therapies.
At FHE Health, our providers prioritize their continuing education to ensure that we provide the latest proven treatment practices. Our programs evolve to incorporate medically sanctioned treatments that are proven to benefit patients recovering from addiction and other mental health conditions. We may also feature other therapies that are known to enhance the recovery process. With customized care that’s continually updated with best treatment practices, patients can learn to manage their condition successfully.
A Customized Treatment Program
FHE Health offers different levels of care to ensure that each patient gets the help they need to manage their addiction and achieve lasting recovery. Our tailored support gives patients the flexibility they need as they rebuild their lives in the context of sober living. We also feature flexible treatment schedules because many of our patients prefer to work or have other obligations that they want to maintain while getting the help they need to end their dependence on drugs or alcohol.
Many addiction treatment centers feature rigid schedules with set treatment programs. Unfortunately, not all patients can adhere to those non-flexible plans. At FHE Health, we have the capability and staffing to accommodate our patients’ diverse needs. We understand our patients’ need for flexible treatment options as well as treatments that are customized for their care and support needs.
Every person experiences addiction and recovery in their own way. While some elements may overlap, each person brings different circumstances and needs with them to rehab. Our goal is to deliver patient-centered care without cookie-cutter programs or inflexible schedules that may prevent patients from getting the professional support they need to achieve wellness. If you’re searching for flexible addiction treatment that’s tailored to your healthcare needs, reach out to FHE Health for more information.
