How Long Does Outpatient Rehab Last?

When inpatient treatment ends, moving on to outpatient is a positive step toward a successful recovery from drugs and alcohol. How long does outpatient rehab last? Well, that varies case by case. However, the longer a person can receive the proper care and support from addiction professionals, the greater the chances of staying clean and sober. Gaining all of the life skills and healthy coping mechanisms is beneficial to those seeking recovery.

What is Outpatient Rehab?

Once someone finishes inpatient residential treatment, the traditional next step would be some form of outpatient treatment. This is a continuing care program that allows a person to begin integration back into society and normal life while still receiving the support and counseling provided by inpatient settings. Depending on how long outpatient rehab lasts, a person could complete all levels of care with multiple months of sobriety.

Outpatient rehab consists of group and one on one therapies to help hone the skills that someone began learning during their inpatient rehab stay. Healthy and positive coping skills are essential to staying clean and sober. Making it through the hard days by utilizing these skills and learning new ones is what outpatient rehab is there for. Rather than using drugs and alcohol to cope, a person is taught to express themself in a healthy, positive way.

Types of Outpatient Rehab

Outpatient rehab is generally a setting where one lives on their own, outside of the secured setting of an inpatient treatment center, but still attends the group and individual counseling a few times a week to maintain and continue to learn new skills.

The two main forms of outpatient rehab are intensive outpatient, and general outpatient. The complete continuum of care between these two settings is usually between one month and six months. Consulting with a team of professionals and being honest about how a person is feeling will be vital to working out how long to stay in an outpatient program.

Intensive Outpatient

Generally, intensive outpatient care consists of spending up to three hours a day and up to four days per week in a treatment center setting, then returning home and living a normal life while maintaining a lifestyle of recovery. How long intensive outpatient rehab will last is based on factors such as positive reaction to the program and readiness of the individual to step down to general outpatient.

General Outpatient

Once intensive outpatient treatment is complete, the next step is general outpatient. At this stage, an individual has shown success in maintaining their sobriety with less accountability and control from professionals. This level of care is for stabilized addicts and alcoholics.

Outpatient generally is a weekly meeting with therapists and professionals to strengthen relapse prevention skills and check in to address any concerns with recovery. At this point, a person doesn’t necessarily need the intense and in depth care provided in intensive outpatient treatment.

How Long is Outpatient Rehab?

How long outpatient rehab lasts varies based on the person and the program. There are longer term programs that can last up to six months. This full continuum of care helps those who struggle with addiction to be able to address everyday struggles without turning back to drugs and alcohol. Having the support and care of addiction professionals at a person’s disposal to use in order to stay clean and sober is beneficial for anyone seeking recovery.

Learning how to deal with some of the everyday struggles that would usually lead someone to drink and drug can be learned during the outpatient rehab setting. These skills make it easier to maintain long term abstinence from drugs and alcohol once graduated from the program.

Should I Continue Therapy Once Rehab is Complete?

Continuing individual therapy after the completion of any inpatient and outpatient program is highly recommended for those seeking recovery from drugs and alcohol. There will be times when things get hard, and having someone to talk to in a safe and productive environment can help a person to express their true feelings without judgment or holding back, Trusting someone with these intrusive thoughts and learning how to combat the bad days will help someone reach their goal of long term abstinence.

Maintaining sobriety without any kind of support can be difficult to do in early recovery. Using all of the resources available to stay the course is helpful to anyone who struggles with drugs and alcohol. Depending on how long outpatient rehab lasts, a person could complete a full continuum of care with six months free of drugs and alcohol. That can help the person continue on the path of recovery and live the life they want to live. 

Outpatient Treatment in Marietta, GA

Having a personalized care plan based on your needs for your recovery is vital to success. At Empowered Recovery Center, we strive to provide a personalized continuum of care to cater to the needs of those who trust us with their care. If you or a loved one are seeking to continue your recovery, contact us and let our professionals guide you on this leg of your journey.