Imagine being stuck in quicksand. The pull of it gripping your entire being and making you feel
hopeless and destined to succumb to its inescapable pressure. No matter how hard you try, you
simply cannot break free, so you inevitably stop struggling and simply accept your fate.
This is the life of an addict who has fought against their addiction only to find themselves deeper and deeper within the grip of their substance use disorder.
For those who have experienced the defeating patterns of addiction, you know all too well how hard breaking free from its control can be. But every journey starts with a first step.
Achieving sustained sobriety begins when you decide to face your demons and challenge yourself to begin the recovery process. Once this decision is made, your next choice is as important as the first: What type of treatment program will you choose to enroll in?
Outpatient vs. Inpatient Rehab
Your options consist of two primary options – outpatient and residential – with both providing specific benefits and advantages to its participants.
Keep reading to discover which one is best for you and your unique set of needs:
The Benefits of Outpatient Treatment
Outpatient therapy can be clinically similar to residential treatment, with the option of participating in services without living at the facility for an extended amount of time.
The various outpatient options can range in weekly treatment sessions (Covenant Hills’ day treatment program is five to seven days a week) and program requirements (mandatory AA sessions, individual counseling and group therapy).
The primary benefit of participating in an outpatient treatment program is the availability it provides you to maintain personal responsibilities and social obligations. It is common for someone in outpatient treatment to attend their scheduled treatment session during the day and still be able to go home in the evenings to handle family commitments and maintain their employment tasks.
This avoids having to explain to others why you are in a treatment program and allows you to complete therapy while going home to the constant support of your family and loved ones every evening.
This is not to insinuate whatsoever that attending treatment should be an embarrassing or taboo event. It simply allows a person the opportunity to engage within a therapeutic environment without having to explain their journey to every acquaintance they may know.
In addition to the creature comforts supported by outpatient therapy, it also enables its participants to actively implement the learned therapeutic techniques into their daily social interactions right away. This provides the unique opportunity to learn new and creative coping
mechanisms and put them to practice the same day in real-world environments.
This kind of real-time clinical practice can provide valuable insight into the impact that learned
therapeutic interventions are having on your behavioral patterns and areas in which increased focus may be necessary.
It’s important to note that outpatient treatment is best for individuals with a mild addiction, and one that does not require medical attention during the withdrawal process.
The Benefits of Residential Treatment
Like outpatient therapy, residential treatment programs offer a variety of therapeutic interventions and clinical approaches. The primary benefit of residential therapy is the all-encompassing therapeutic atmosphere associated with the treatment environment.
This is due to the fact that most residential programs last for a minimum of 30 days and ask the participants to voluntarily stay at the facility over that time frame. The safe and secure setting found within clinically sound residential treatment programs enables willing participants to fully submerge themselves within the treatment process while addressing their maladaptive behavioral patterns and addictive impulses.
It also encourages them to face their fears and confront destructive decisions that have eroded their confidence and allowed their substance use disorder to dominate their existence.
All of this soul-searching and clinical guidance is provided around the clock, allowing a person
to begin establishing improved behavioral patterns and habits that can fundamentally adjust their negative impulses and replace them with sound decision making.
In addition to this comprehensive treatment setting, a residential program allows those
engaging in the experience to detach themselves from their personal stressors and negative peer affiliations while in treatment. This can aid in removing negative influences from your life while encouraging those positive social supports to take root and flourish.
The emotional comradery and ever-present clinical support found within residential
treatment is a truly unique therapeutic intervention unlike any other.
Outpatient or Residential Treatment: How to Know Which Option is Best for You
Inpatient vs. outpatient drug rehab. Only you and your support team can truly know which treatment route will benefit you the most. Taking the time to consult with a medical or counseling professional in order to discuss what substance(s) you are currently addicted to and how long you have been struggling with your addiction is a good place to start.
From there, it is imperative to be honest with yourself and the goals you are looking to achieve. Whichever treatment approach you decide on, making sure that the program is established and clinically comprehensive can help achieve sustained sobriety and long-term personal success.
As long as you are fully committed to your recovery journey and focused on your sober goals, the chance to defeat your disease and take back your life is well within your grasp.
Christian-Based Outpatient and Inpatient Rehab at Covenant Hills
As a renowned Christian-based drug addiction rehab center in Southern California, Covenant Hills is a safe place to find peace and connection throughout the recovery journey. We deliver world-class outpatient and inpatient addiction treatment with a dedicated team of medical doctors, licensed addiction therapists and counselors who will empower you to achieve your goals of lifelong sobriety.
Through our whole-person approach, we’re here to help guide you back to the person God made you to be.
Learn more about our Christian-based addiction treatment, or contact us for a free and confidential assessment.
