Addiction is a complex illness that most often requires professional treatment. Uncomfortable or dangerous withdrawal symptoms, environments with triggers or reminders of substance use, and friends and family in active addiction are just a few of the factors that make it difficult to maintain sobriety. By choosing residential treatment, individuals get the medical support necessary for navigating withdrawal symptoms, while also learning the healthy coping strategies and life skills that they need for recovery. Below, we look at the benefits of residential treatment and explore what residential therapy has to offer someone ready to gain freedom from addiction.
Benefit 1: Structure and Support
Residential treatment provides a structured environment that’s conducive to overcoming addiction. Residents follow daily routines and schedules, and they participate in recreational and therapeutic activities that support their recovery.
FHE fosters a structured environment through several strategies, including:
- Consistent daily routine. Residents have a 6:30 wake-up time. At this time, health care professionals check their vitals. Then, they enjoy a healthy, freshly prepared breakfast before beginning daily activities such as group and individual therapy sessions and recreational activities. This tight daily schedule lets them build a strong support network and learn to maintain a routine that doesn’t involve drug use.
- Therapeutic activities. Exercise sessions, experiential therapies, and educational activities address the physical, emotional, and psychological impact of addiction.
- Healthy habits. Predictable sleep and wake times, proper nutrition, and regular exercise help individuals heal the physical damage caused by drug or alcohol use.
- 24-hour support from trained professionals. Medical staff, therapists, counselors, and case managers are always on hand to provide practical guidance and emotional support.
- Safe and controlled environment. Residents take a break from their home environment, which may be filled with triggers and temptations that could result in relapse.
- Accountability. The residential setting provides more accountability than residents would receive at home. Individuals work with therapists and peers to track their progress, and they’re surrounded by people who want to see them succeed.
Overall, the structure and support individuals receive during their residential treatment play a vital role in helping them overcome addiction.
Benefit 2: Personalized Care in a Controlled Environment
Just as the reasons for developing an addiction are unique to the individual, the approaches to effective treatment are also unique. By choosing residential treatment, individuals get personalized care in a controlled environment, free from the triggers of home. This includes elements such as:
- Tailored treatment plans. Each individual’s treatment plan is based on the substances they use, the duration and extent of their use, and the underlying factors that contribute to their addiction.
- One-on-one therapy sessions. FHE residents have one-on-one therapy sessions with licensed mental health care professionals built into their weekly schedules. This provides opportunities to explore the root causes of addiction and work on emotional and psychological challenges.
- Medical and psychiatric care. For many patients, co-occurring medical conditions or mental illnesses contribute to addiction. Residential treatment programs provide comprehensive care that addresses all aspects of an individual’s health.
- Controlled environment. Especially during the early stages of recovery, easy access to drugs and alcohol can result in a relapse. Residential rehab settings eliminate this trigger by offering a controlled environment without negative influences. This lets individuals focus solely on their recovery.
- Holistic treatment approaches. Expressive arts therapy, IV vitamin therapy and medical massage therapy contribute to a holistic approach to treatment.
- Ongoing support and monitoring. In a residential environment, individuals receive regular assessments of their progress, adjustments to their treatment plans, and ongoing encouragement and motivation.
Residential treatment provides a high degree of targeted care that’s not available in outpatient programs. Because residents receive treatment that’s specifically tailored to their needs, they learn coping strategies and skills that are relevant to their unique living situations. This helps them avoid relapse when they return to their home environment.
Benefit 3: Building a Strong Support Network
Residential treatment offers a built-in support network of healthcare providers and peers. This network plays a vital role in an individual’s recovery in a variety of ways, including:
- Group therapy sessions. Group therapy gives individuals a platform for talking about their challenges and victories, learning from others’ experiences, and giving and receiving helpful feedback and encouragement. These sessions also provide an opportunity to develop conversation skills in a safe space, build empathy, and get a fresh perspective on their own challenges.
- Community activities. Residents participate in a range of recreational and therapeutic activities together, including games, group projects, and social events. This encourages meaningful friendships and serves as an essential source of emotional support.
- Therapeutic relationships. Along with learning to connect with peers, residents build relationships with therapists, counselors, and other support staff. These professionals help individuals navigate their recovery journeys by providing guidance and expertise.
- Family involvement. While the support that group residents build within the rehab facility is important for their recovery, their support group on the outside is equally vital. At FHE, family members can take part in their loved one’s recovery through weekly phone calls. During these calls, families get helpful information on addiction or participate in family or couples counseling. FHE also has resources such as guidebooks, support groups, and a directory of community resources to help families support their loved ones’ treatment.
Overall, the support network individuals build during residential treatment provides invaluable emotional, psychological, and practical support that’s hard to replicate in other types of treatment.
Benefit 4: Long-Term Recovery Through Continued Care and Therapy
During their stay in rehab, individuals build strong connections with mental health care providers. This eases their transition to outpatient treatment or sober living environments. Continued care and therapy help individuals sustain their progress and maintain sobriety even when the residential treatment phase comes to an end. This benefit of residential therapy includes:
- Ongoing support groups. Whether an individual transitions to a partial hospitalization program or an intensive outpatient program after completing residential treatment, support groups remain a key part of their recovery. Being part of a support group helps the individual build a sense of community and stay motivated.
- Aftercare programs. Those who’ve completed residential treatment at FHE has additional resources that help to support their wellness and recovery. These include retreats, in-person gatherings, meetings, volunteer opportunities, and recreation. They also get regular check-ins from mental health care professionals, giving them access to ongoing accountability and advice.
- Sober living homes. For those whose home environment isn’t conducive to recovery, sober living homes provide a safe environment for temporary living. Through the connections they make in residential rehab, individuals can learn about nearby sober living homes where they can live and continue to attend outpatient treatment.
FHE recognizes that addiction recovery doesn’t end when the residential treatment plan is over, and it continues to provide support and guidance for those who are further along in their journey.
Benefit 5: Comprehensive Approach to Recovery
Because residential treatment provides an immersive environment, it offers a holistic approach to recovery that isn’t practical with other frameworks. Not only does this approach treat the addiction, but it addresses the underlying issues and overall well-being of the individual. Residents receive well-rounded care with elements such as:
- Medical detox. This phase of addiction treatment focuses on managing acute withdrawal symptoms individuals experience in the initial days of treatment. Residents receive around-the-clock monitoring, emotional support, practical guidance, and medical interventions as needed.
- Integrated treatment modalities. Residential treatment incorporates a variety of modalities, including individual and group therapy, art and music therapy, mindfulness practices, yoga, and physical fitness programs.
- Medical care and monitoring. Prolonged drug and alcohol use often results in serious physical health consequences that require medical attention. In other cases, issues such as unmanaged chronic pain directly contribute to substance use. As residents in inpatient rehab, individuals benefit from continuous medical monitoring and intervention.
- Mental health support. Many people in recovery experience mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression. Residential treatment facilities have mental health care professionals who specialize in treating these and similar disorders.
With a comprehensive approach to recovery, residential treatment programs offer a holistic approach that addresses all aspects of an individual’s life.
Contact FHE to Learn about our Residential Treatment Program
At FHE, we offer a comprehensive residential treatment program for those living with alcohol or drug addiction. With treatment plans ranging from 3 weeks to 3 months and beyond, we provide the personalized support our clients need to achieve long-term sobriety.
Talk to our admissions counselors today to learn more about the benefits of inpatient treatment or plan your stay.
