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Outpatient rehab provides intensive treatment and tailored support for those addressing substance use or mental health disorders. While it offers greater flexibility than residential treatment, it features a structured program to help patients focus on their recovery goals.
Below, we look at how outpatient treatment programs work, including typical daily schedules, types of therapy, and how to navigate challenges.
Introduction to Outpatient Treatment: An Overview
Outpatient treatment offers customized programming and support for those with mild to moderate conditions. Understanding how outpatient programs work can help patients prepare for their recovery journey.
What Is Outpatient Treatment?
Outpatient treatment is a form of intensive treatment where patients receive support and services without staying overnight at a facility. This option may be a good fit when finances, home or work responsibilities, or lifestyle preferences make inpatient treatment impractical.
While both outpatient and inpatient treatment offer personalized therapies and support for individuals in their recovery journeys, they feature some key differences in typical living arrangements, level of supervision, treatment intensity, and pricing.
Individuals receiving inpatient care stay full-time at a rehab center, benefit from constant monitoring, intensive and immersive therapies, and comparatively high treatment costs.
By comparison, those who choose outpatient treatment life at home or in a sober house are responsible for self-managing some aspects of their care, follow more flexible schedules, and have lower treatment costs.
Who Benefits from Outpatient Treatment?
Outpatient treatment offers an appropriate level of care for those who have a sober, supportive home environment. It’s also a good option for those who come out of inpatient treatment or who don’t require medical detox.
Some common conditions outpatient treatment addresses include:
- Mild to moderate substance use disorders
- Mental health disorders, including depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder
- Co-occurring disorders, such as substance use and chronic pain
- Chronic stress and trauma
Daily Activities and Therapies in Outpatient Programs
While outpatient treatment doesn’t provide the same level of monitoring as inpatient treatment, it offers structured counseling services and therapies to help patients build important skills.
Typical Weekly Schedule
Outpatient rehab programs typically involve counseling and therapy sessions several days per week. How many days rehab treatment is required depends on the type of program an individual is in.
- Partial Hospitalization Programs: Individuals in PHPs focus mainly on their recovery, despite living in their home environment. They attend sessions five to seven days per week, usually from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. In total, this program requires a weekly commitment of around 25-30 hours.
- Intensive Outpatient Programs: A step down from PHPs, IOPs allow for more flexibility. This level of care usually has around 15 hours each week of treatment. Depending on their needs and schedule, patients might attend three five-hour sessions or five three-hour sessions weekly.
- Standard Outpatient Programs: This option features the least intensive level of treatment, with patients typically attending weekly or biweekly sessions. It’s tailored for those who need ongoing support but at a reduced frequency.
Sample Daily Schedule
Outpatient rehab programs follow structured schedules that help individuals balance treatment with outside responsibilities. While every program has its own daily schedule based on the needs of its patients, here’s what a typical day in a PHP might look like:
Morning
- 8-9 a.m.: Mindfulness or meditation session
- 9-10 a.m.: Group therapy session
- 10-11 a.m.: Educational workshops that focus on topics such as relapse prevention and stress management
Afternoon
- 12-1 p.m.: Lunch break and informal socialization time
- 1-2 p.m.: One-on-one therapy sessions
- 2-3 p.m.: Specialized therapy, such as art, music or trauma-informed therapy
- 3-4 p.m.: Life skills training
Types of Therapies Offered
Patients participate in several types of therapies, depending on their needs. This may include:
- Behavioral therapies, such as cognitive behavioral therapy and dialectical behavioral therapy
- Group therapy
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy
- Family therapy
- Expressive arts therapy
- Relapse prevention planning
How Group and Individual Therapy Sessions Work
Outpatient rehab programs usually contain a mix of group and individual therapy, giving individuals the benefit of peer support and one-on-one professional guidance.
Structure of Group Therapy
Group therapy gives patients a space for connecting with others on similar recovery journeys. During these sessions, members often share challenges they’re facing, build life skills, and celebrate milestones and small victories. For example, in outpatient rehab, those recovering from drinking problems may talk about the relapse prevention strategies that work for them, or they might talk about how they’re processing emotions such as guilt and shame.
At FHE, group therapy sessions are usually led by at least one licensed mental health care professional. They range from 30-90 minutes, giving members time to share, provide feedback, and support one another. They may be open, meaning new members can join at any time, or closed, meaning it’s a fixed group of participants. This structure ensures a supportive, productive environment that encourages personal growth.
Structure of Individual Therapy
Individual therapy involves working one-on-one with a licensed therapist. During the initial sessions, patients talk about their mental and physical health histories, close relationships, and significant life events.
As therapy progresses, the patient and therapist create a personalized treatment plan with measurable goals. They decide how frequently to meet and the best way to track progress.
During these sessions, the patient does most of the talking. The therapist often has conversation prompts and questions, taking opportunities to challenge negative thoughts and giving the individual a safe space to express their thoughts.
Building a Support System in Outpatient Care
Recovery doesn’t happen in a vacuum. A strong support system is key at every phase of the process, especially for those who pursue treatment in an outpatient setting. For many individuals, peer support and involvement from friends and family serve as sources of motivation and encouragement.
Importance of Peer Support
Addiction, mental illness, and the path to recovery can be isolating. Oftentimes, connecting with a group of people who understand the highs and lows of treatment helps individuals feel less alone. Peer support plays a key role in any treatment plan, giving individuals the opportunity to give and receive support, exchange tips and celebrate every victory.
Support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous, SMART, and Celebrate Recovery represent some of the most common treatment philosophies. While these groups incorporate different focuses and treatment methods, they all provide a safe space for sharing challenges and learning important coping strategies.
Involving Family and Friends
Addiction and mental illness often have strong links to an individual’s genetics and environment. By involving their friends and family in the treatment process, they can help create a supportive foundation that reinforces the individual’s progress.
Family and friends can learn how to support their loved ones, understand their triggers, and contribute to a healthier environment. This fosters trust and healing by encouraging open communication and mutual accountability, which is vital to the long-term success of managing addiction or mental health issues.
Managing Expectations: Challenges and Progress in Treatment
While outpatient rehab is highly effective in the long term, many individuals experience challenges throughout the treatment process. By understanding these challenges and setting realistic goals, individuals can manage their expectations for progress.
Common Challenges in Outpatient Treatment
One of outpatient rehab’s most significant benefits – its flexibility – presents one of the most significant challenges. Particularly for those in PHP and IOP programs, the main focus should be on treatment and recovery. Balancing daily responsibilities with treatment can be challenging.
Another common challenge in outpatient treatment is learning to cope with triggers and cravings. Unlike residential treatment programs that remove individuals from their home environments, outpatient treatment means patients are typically surrounded by familiar triggers and have access to substances they use to cope.
Creating a structured but adaptable routine can help individuals navigate their responsibilities and avoid boredom, which could lead to a relapse. This could involve designating specific times of the day for family responsibilities, enlisting support and help from friends and family, and learning stress reduction strategies and coping skills for managing cravings.
Measuring Progress and Celebrating Milestones
Celebrating victories is a key component of outpatient treatment. Recognizing milestones, no matter how small, helps the individual stay motivated in their recovery journey. Whether it’s resisting triggers for a day or completing a treatment phase, acknowledging these achievements builds confidence and reminds individuals of their resilience.
Outpatient treatment offers a structured format that balances freedom with intensive care. Talk to an FHE intake specialist today to learn more about our programs.
