Outpatient Therapies Offered

Detox

When presented with a physical addiction to drug or alcohol, the first stage in any recovery is drug or alcohol detoxification, and although detoxification is best done under medical supervision, an outpatient but still monitored detoxification is possible. Some people will benefit from an initially hospitalized period of detoxification, followed by continuing outpatient therapy.

Group therapy

Almost universally, outpatient drug rehab programs will use peer group support programs as an educational and motivational tool. These peer support groups may or may not be 12 steps based, and will encourage abstinence through a shared exploration of abuse behaviors and a shared discussion of applicable strategies to use avoidance.

Cognitive behavioral therapies

Through participation in cognitive or behavioral therapies, addicts are encouraged to take responsibility for their substance use and abuse, and even for the cognition that lead them to temptation and increased risks of abuse. Real world strategies to avoid situations of temptation and techniques to get away from inevitable temptation without relapse are explored. This technique has been very successful for certain drug abuser profiles, particularly younger abusers.

Private therapy

Although frequent peer group sessions are beneficial, the concurrent therapy with a trained addictions councilor or psychologist best allows recovering addicts to discover their individual risk factors back to abuse, and to formulate a plan to stay sober.

Drug and vocational education

Drug education classes inform recovering addicts of the bodily consequences of addiction, and teach relapse prevention and general health.

Vocational training may be offered to those without employable skills, and some better outpatient facilities may even include a supervised work component. High school equivalency courses or even higher education classes may also be offered.