Outpatient Addiction Rehab – For Alcohol and Drug Treatment
Outpatient addiction treatment means that you do not have to stay at the rehab centre overnight – and instead your treatment plan can be home-based or involve regular daily visits to a rehab centre to carry out therapy sessions and activities.
Outpatient rehabilitation for things like drug and alcohol abuse will suit some individuals more, since it allows people to still continue with most of their daily routine or keep up with their life responsibilities such as looking after their children, caring for a parent or keeping up with their studies or job.
The level of intensity can vary with some individuals able to take part in treatment over 7 or 28 days, or ongoing treatment. For others, this might be a series of intensive one-day programmes.
Importantly, the individual must keep up with therapy and sessions to get the desired outcomes. Living and being in the same environment where the addiction started could indeed trigger a relapse.
Help4Addiction can help find the right outpatients rehab treatment for you, based on your individual needs, location and budget.
Simply call our number on 0203 955 7700 to speak to a member of our team, FREE of charge or you can arrange a consultation to discuss your requirements further.
What Happens During Outpatient Rehab Treatment?
When undergoing outpatient treatment for alcohol, drugs or substance abuse, your treatment will largely consist of:
- Individual therapy sessions
- Group therapy sessions
- Intensive outpatient programs (IOP)
- Regular exercise
- Diet plan
- Creating a support network around you through sponsors and mutual organisations
A patient may take part in individual or group therapies at the rehab centre or online and this will happen for the duration of the treatment.
Being an outpatient, the individual is not staying overnight at the rehab centre or facility. It is essential that the person attends all sessions to make the necessary progress and there may be an expectation of around 20 hours per week.
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What Types of Outpatient Addiction Rehab Is Available?
There are a few different types of outpatient rehab that you can choose from.
Alcohol Home Detox
Follow a step-by-step programme to complete a full alcohol detox from home. This will involve completely stopping your alcohol intake or slowly weaning yourself off and closely monitoring this with the help of professionals and alcohol addiction specialists, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Day Treatments
Dayhab is a relatively new concept which allows you to go to rehab through the day, fitting it in around your work. They tend to be private only, although some NHS assisted rehab courses might include day sessions at one-off dayhab.
We can also assist with:
- 7 day rehab
- 14 day rehab
- 28 day rehab
- 90 day rehab
Secondary Treatments
Secondary rehab treatment is almost always given as an outpatient. This is the term we use to describe treatment for addiction given after regular residential rehab, that helps you transition back into normal life. If you have recovered entirely as an outpatient, you won’t need this period because you will already be transitioned into normal life.
Private Outpatient Rehab
When you are seen as a private outpatient, you tend to have a wider choice in the types of therapy used. Since you are paying for the therapist’s time, you can receive more attentive care with the likelihood of an increase in therapy sessions. A private rehab centre is usually a full-time, residential facility, but this isn’t always the case. You can receive outpatient treatment whether you are a private patient or whether you are using the NHS.
NHS Outpatient Addiction Services
NHS outpatient services helps to free up space in rehab centres. They will provide you with arranged appointments with therapists or doctors, and sometimes might give you access to online therapies. Medications can be prescribed and visits from a health visitor might be useful to you. The reason so many of our clients opt for a private outpatient care service as opposed to an NHS outpatient treatment plan, lies in the range of therapists and psych services that are available for online consultations, rather than meeting in person.
What’s Included in Outpatient Drug and Alcohol Rehab?
Below is a list of some of the things you can expect to find at an outpatient dayhab, should you go private.
Detoxing From Drugs and Alcohol
You may or may not detox as an outpatient depending on the severity of your addiction. Before you attempt it, you ought to speak with a doctor. Detox at home can be medically assisted.
Group Therapy
Peer support and group therapy sessions have both been used to successfully treat addiction since the first AA meeting in the early 20th century.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy uses talking therapies to explore your thoughts and actions, and the correlation between the two. It has been shown to be effective in the treatment of addiction in multiple studies but has also proved especially helpful in patients with co-occurring disorders[i].
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy is often used to explore the thoughts and actions of those with mental health issues, or with strong reactive responses. It has proven to work as an addiction treatment, as well as in the treatment of those who are displaying risky behaviours[ii].
Motivational Interviewing (MI)
Motivational interviewing is often used to spur a recovering addict on towards future goals. This helps them remember who they were before they started using, as well as giving them things worthy of recovering for[iii].
Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET)
Motivational Enhancement therapy works in the same way as MI, to help the individual set new goals in life. One study even saw this used as an effective treatment for pregnant substance abusers[iv].
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy can be used to help addicts accept their past and themselves and commit to changing for the better. ACT is used to address mental and physical health problems, as well as to treat addiction[v].
Interpersonal Therapy
Interpersonal therapy[vi] focuses on the relationship you have with the people around you. The focus on these relationships can give the recovering addict the boost they need to stay sober. Studies have shown this to be particularly effective in helping women break free of substance abuse disorders[vii].
Diet and Exercise
You won’t perhaps receive the same attention to detail that a meal plan could be if it was given as an inpatient, but you will still be invited to attend exercise sessions as part of your new healthy lifestyle. Studies indicate exercise increases well-being and self-confidence in the recovery stages[viii].
Educational Workshops
Educational workshops can cover anything from getting your CV sorted out to learning how to prevent a relapse. Furthering your education while in outpatient rehab gives you another place to focus your mind and take it off the addiction. Studies have found this sort of training improves attitudes and gives recovering addicts more confidence[ix].
Family Sessions
You may wish to bring your family along to some of your therapy sessions. Addiction is a terrible vice that hurts the people who love us most. Getting help as a family could go a long way towards healing rifts. Studies have found that family sessions for addiction recovery gives ‘promising’ results[x].
Holistic Therapies
Depending on your rehab/dayhab clinic, they may even offer you things like Reiki and acupuncture as rehab therapy tools. Don’t scoff, acupuncture has shown to be effective as an addiction therapy since it lowers cortisol[xi].
What Are The Pros of Outpatient Addiction Treatment?
Affordable – Outpatient treatment is more affordable than inpatient treatment because you are not paying for accommodation, travel or food. A 7 day outpatient rehab can cost around £1,000 compared to an inpatient treatment starting from £2,000.
Comfort – Some patients will respond better to treatment whilst still being able to stay at home with their family supporting them and their home comforts. For some, it can be daunting to move away from home when overcoming an addiction.
Proven – Outpatient treatment has helped millions of people worldwide with their addictions. The role of therapies that are overseen by addiction experts and use of supporting organisations can help people to overcome their addictions with drugs and alcohol.
Continue Daily Routine – For those that are working, caring for children or parents, taking part in outpatient treatment can still allow them to keep up with their daily routine and responsibilities.
More Discrete – Being an outpatient is more discrete and allows for some privacy and to save face when undertaking treatment.
What Are The Cons of Outpatient Addiction Treatment?
Requires Commitment – When staying at your own home overnight and between sessions, it is key that the individual remains committed and has the support of loved ones. You will be required to attend daily sessions and communicate with your therapists and healthcare professionals to achieve maximum results.
Same Environment – Living and being in the same environment where your addiction started can cause a risk for relapse. Some individuals have a better outcome when being removed from their home environment. It is important to avoid distractions that come from your daily household.
Some Addictions Need More Supervision – Some addictions and their treatment may require more supervision. If there is medication involved as part of the treatment (such as overcoming drug or substance abuse) or the treatment is not making an impact, having the support you would get when you are an inpatient may be more successful in overcoming addiction.
Where Can I Find Outpatient Addiction Treatment in the UK?
Help4Addiction has expert professionals and established partners across the whole of the UK.
We can help you find the right outpatient rehab centre for your needs including areas of London, Liverpool, Manchester, Watford, Sheffield, Nottingham, Brighton and more.
If you do not want to partner directly with a rehab centre, we offer a range of home detoxes and online detox from £2,795 per month.
Is Outpatient Addiction Therapy Right For Me?
Every type of addiction and its treatment is different – and every individual requires a different level of intensity.
Someone overcoming a heroin addiction may need closer monitoring and medication to help with their withdrawal symptoms. In this case, outpatient treatment may be less suitable.
For another individual who is dealing with alcohol addiction and needs to undergo an alcohol detox, this could be a better fit for someone who wants to stay at home, but would benefit from the therapy and support network around them.
Whether you have received treatment before and how long your addiction has been going on will also be important factors when deciding if outpatient treatment is right for you.
Some patients start with inpatient treatment and then move to outpatient treatment – and visa versa.
To discuss your requirements or for a loved one, you can speak to our FREE helpline on 0203 955 7700.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need answers about outpatient services for rehab clinics in the UK? If so, call our team on 0203 955 7700 or browse the frequently asked questions below.
What’s outpatient rehab?
Getting rehab as an outpatient is when you attend a clinic or centre through the day, usually in the evening out of working hours.
Why would I go to outpatient rehab?
If you have a full-time job, a family you need to co-parent, or are otherwise unable to attend an inpatient rehab clinic, you would be an outpatient.
What’s the difference between inpatient and outpatient rehab clinics?
There’s no difference in the level of treatment you receive. The only difference is that you don’t live onsite when you attend outpatient rehab.
Which type of rehab is best for me?
If you have a busy home or work life, you need outpatient rehab help. If you can take a few weeks off from your normal responsibilities, then inpatient or private rehab clinics have a slightly lower relapse rate because of their intensity and aftercare.
What is rehab aftercare?
The aftercare services your rehab clinic offer are the resources available to you when the main part of your addiction treatment is concluded. Usually, it includes phone support and group therapy.
Where can I get outpatient rehab care?
You can get outpatient rehab help in every major town and city throughout England and Wales.
How do I choose between rehab clinics?
You don’t have to trouble yourself. You can call our team who will ask key questions. They will use your answers to find the best match in rehab for you, in your area. You can go local or national if you choose, whatever makes your recovery simplest.
Is outpatient rehab cheaper than inpatient rehab?
Yes, it usually is. This is because room and board, as well as meals and cleaning costs, are included when you operate in an inpatient centre.
Where is my nearest outpatient rehab clinic?
There should be one in your nearest big town.
About The Author
Nicholas Conn
Nicholas Conn is a leading industry addiction expert who runs the UK’s largest addiction advisory service and is regularly featured in the national press, radio and TV. He is the founder and CEO of a drug and alcohol rehab center called Help4addiction, which was founded in 2015. He has been clean himself since 2009 and has worked in the Addiction and Rehab Industry for over a decade. Nick is dedicated to helping others recover and get treatment for drug and alcohol abuse. In 2013, he released a book ‘The Thin White’ line that is available on Amazon.
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