How to Choose a Rehab Centre

Posted on February 18, 2021

How to Choose a Rehab Centre

Rehab for addiction can take a wide variety of forms, from group therapy to individual therapy and residential to non-residential care. There is no ‘best’ type of therapy, treatment for addiction is highly personalised so what works for another person might not work for you.

Therefore, it is important that you get as much information about rehab facilities to make your decision and start in rehab easier. This article will give you some information and things to consider ways that treatment is delivered, helping you to make your choice.

Inpatient/Residential Treatment

Inpatient addiction treatment centres have the facilities for you to live on-site, with therapy during the day and perhaps some evening sessions, then sleeping at the centre overnight.

Some find this arrangement allows them to fully immerse themselves in the recovery process and is often favoured by those with more severe addiction problems ^[1] although it can be used by anyone along the scale of severity.

Although the way in which therapy is delivered varies between facilities, they broadly follow the same pattern:

After an initial assessment, inpatient rehab typically begins with the detox process ^[2]. This is the process of your body getting rid of some of the harmful products that may have built up as a result of substance use. During this time, some people, particularly those who have been suffering from addiction for a long time, may experience withdrawal symptoms ^[3]. These unpleasant symptoms including nausea, shaking and fevers last about one week after your last drink or hit and are the result of your body has become used to having the substance around. In these cases, detox is medically supervised by professionals in the facility with a range of treatments on offer that can make the process safer and more manageable ^[4]
After the physical dependence has been addressed, work starts on the psychological aspects of dependence. Through a range of psychological therapies delivered by trained professionals, you can begin to understand your addiction and find better ways of coping with stressors than reaching to alcohol and drugs. This therapy can take the form of talking therapies like cognitive behavioural therapy and counselling ^[5]
In addition to psychological therapies, alternative therapies like art and music therapies, mediation and yoga are also commonly used in the rehab process to help you overcome addiction ^[6]

Outpatient/Non-residential Treatment

Others may prefer to live at home, attending treatment sessions during the day at an outpatient facility, several days a week. Similarly to inpatient treatment, an initial assessment will take place to make a programme that is highly individualised to you.

Treatment lengths will again depend on your needs but could range to 9-20 hours of treatment a week for two months to one year.

The same methods of treatment are used as in inpatient facilities; talking therapies, complementary therapies, group and individual therapies and even life skills workshops to get you back on track.

Treatment for Specific Groups

Again highlighting that treatment for addiction is highly personalised, there are facilities that are specific for gender, age, religion and faith.

Extended and Long-term Rehab

After an initial course of rehab is completed, the work still continues to support lifelong sobriety as addiction is a chronic, long term disease. Sober-living homes offer a live-in but unrestricted means to slowly reintegrate back into society and normal life without having to depend on substance use.

Long-term rehab is also available which is like traditional inpatient rehab but involves much longer stays, potentially up to a year. These types of programmes may be particularly beneficial to those with more severe addictions with frequent relapses.

Regardless of which form it takes, a formal addiction treatment programme can help you learn new and lasting ways of thinking and acting to help you along the journey to a full recovery.

Take time to think about what needs you have and what type of centre would meet those needs best. As ever, help is always on hand to help you in deciding, the NHS is a good place to start ^[7-8].