You have finally decided to take the next step towards recovery. After months of broken commitments and a revolving door of day-long periods of abstinence and immediate relapse, you’re ready to get the help you need.
Making the decision to enter any form of treatment is not easy. Swallowing your pride, looking in the mirror, and saying, “I can’t do it on my own,” takes a great deal of courage and is certainly something to be enormously proud of.
However, this is only the initial step in what will be a challenging road. For the first time in a while, you’re taking a gamble on yourself – and normally, gambling with the highest stakes has the biggest payout.
In this case, the payout is long-term recovery and the chance to take your life back. The best part about these types of gambles is the fact that you have heavy odds in your favor when you enter a treatment program – you just need to find the right one for you.
Outpatient Addiction Treatment for Simi Valley
Outpatient addiction treatment for Simi Valley residents is available in many different forms. The area is heavily saturated with different outpatient treatment options, giving you a wide variety of different options.
It’s important that you base your decision on the right options so you get the individual treatment plan you require. No two people with substance abuse issues are alike – their personalities are different, they communicate differently. The same holds true for treatment facilities.
Not every treatment facility specializes in the same approach to recovery. There are hundreds of different models to use based on multiple theories. You must carefully weigh your options before making your final decision.
One of the most common forms of treatment is an inpatient rehab program. However, the counterpart to this is an intensive outpatient program.
What Is an Intensive Outpatient Program?
An intensive outpatient program forms a level of treatment that includes more than 20 hours per week of attendance in a substance abuse rehabilitation center. Unlike inpatient treatment, clients are not required to reside in the facilities for outpatient programs.
Additionally, most clients will attend these sessions at a frequency of four days per week and about three hours per session. During peer recovery sessions, sessions include one-on-one time with mental health and substance abuse professionals and group therapy with other clients.
Family counseling is also available when clients list mending close personal relationships as part of their treatment plan. Clients are also encouraged to participate in 12-step recovery or other peer recovery groups during off-hours.
One of the most prevalent questions regarding IOPs is whether they can be as effective as inpatient treatment services. In the following section, we outline this
Outpatient vs. Inpatient Treatment
One of the most prevalent arguments regarding outpatient treatment is whether it can be as effective as inpatient options. The answer to this question is more of a matter of personal opinion than stone-cold fact.
Each of these methods of treatment has its own benefits and drawbacks, which we outline below.
Inpatient Treatment
Inpatient treatment is the use of a live-in facility for clients who reside on the property for a period of either 30, 60, or 90 days. If patients feel the need for further treatment, they may go in front of the staff for a detailed review of their treatment plan where a decision is made.
Normally, inpatient programs have a schedule that consists of waking up for breakfast at about 6 am, then meeting with therapists for one-on-one sessions or participating in a group recovery session. Other activities and stimulating learning environments take place that teaches clients about emotions and other coping mechanisms for post-treatment situations.
Pros
- A comprehensive environment that’s very conducive to recovery is a huge benefit.
- Clients don’t have as high of a chance for relapse because they’re not exposed to external trigger elements. Being in a confined environment that separates them from the outside world may provide significant benefits.
- Constantly engaging with peers who share the same experiences can be beneficial as well. Sharing stories, insights, and swapping questions with other clients can be motivational. There is an added layer of responsibility and accountability, and you may feel like you owe it to your team.
- Resources for aftercare panning are usually provided. This assists clients in getting ready for re-entry into a normalized environment. This includes information on continued mental health services, peer recovery groups, and ways to build a strong support system.
Cons
- No interaction with the outside world may pose certain challenges once clients graduate from treatment. With no participation in the workforce or participation in everyday society in general, upon release, clients may experience a form of shock from changing environments so quickly, especially under a different mindset.
- Low amount of contact with family and friends
- There’s a good chance of financial troubles once someone exits treatment and reenters society.
Outpatient Treatment
For the most part, the outpatient treatment carries the potential for the same type of activities that are available during inpatient services. The same access to mental health professionals and therapeutic activities is also provided for outpatient treatment clients. Additionally, clients will still be able to participate in engaging activities with peers in the form of group recovery meetings.
Pros
- Clients have the ability to hold a regular job and maintain a normal home life.
- The same access to mental health counseling services and other treatment benefits without the requirement of giving up 30, 60, or 90 days of your life to a live-in facility
- Clients have the chance to directly apply what they’ve learned to real-life situations. This should be considered a benefit when compared to the alternative with inpatient treatment. Clients participating in inpatient services must wait the full 30, 60, or 90 days to apply what they’ve learned to real social environments.
- Clients have the chance to participate simultaneously in off-site group recovery meetings and other recovery-related activities
- While participating in mental health counseling services during outpatient treatment, clients have the chance to establish a history with a new primary care psychologist or continue with their current mental health services if they are already being seen regularly.
- Remaining involved with immediate members of the home can benefit recovery. This is another example of having the ability to apply what is being learned in real-time.
Cons
- The daily drive to treatment services could be quite lengthy
- Chances of relapse could be higher if individuals don’t remove themselves from trigger environments
- Certain treatment centers may not provide as robust of a treatment plan for clients attending on an outpatient basis
Clearly, both methods of treatment have their own pros and cons. After weighing all of your options, there should be a clear-cut winner in your case.
In the end, it comes down to a matter of willpower, time constraints, and commitment. Clients must be realistic about what they can and can’t handle and decide accordingly.
The Adjustments Family Services Difference
At Adjustments Family Services, we place a particular focus on clients building a solid support system. After all, this is the most critical aspect of recovery once clients graduate from treatment.
We believe that having a strong support system increases the client’s chances for success. With all the hard work a client puts in and their long-term recovery chances resting on the shoulders of a strong support system, why wouldn’t you put special focus on this area?
Another belief of ours is that treatment should encompass healing multiple areas of the client. This includes the mind, body, and soul. When these can heal properly and work in unison, clients have a real chance of getting back to the person they knew and loved before substance abuse.
Additionally, we chose California as the primary backdrop for our treatment services. Your environment means a lot when you’re trying to promote healthy change in the mind. The beautiful California weather is one of the most appropriate places to provide clients with a fantastic environment for keeping a positive attitude.
You’re probably wondering about the types of services we have available for our clients. We specialize in nearly every type of approach to recovery, including the increasingly popular dual-diagnosis model.
Does AFS Treat Dual-Diagnosis Disorders?
Recently, mental health professionals are gaining more understanding when it comes to the relationship between mental health disorders and substance abuse. Many times, these conditions accompany one another, leading to the belief that they should be properly identified and treated simultaneously.
Before this can happen, clients must undergo strict screening and assessments to establish that an underlying mental health disorder exists with a substance abuse issue.
One of the most common underlying conditions is bipolar disorder. This leads to the constant shift between thoughts of wanting to enter recovery and wanting to use to ease the pain and psychological discomfort associated with their disorder.
Clients can begin healing from their substance abuse disorder when the underlying mental condition is addressed. However, if they’re unable to regain control over their mental challenges, it’s next to impossible to get to the root of their substance abuse issues.
This is just one area of focus that AFS specializes in. We also treat a variety of other disorders through our intensive outpatient program.
Disorders Treated by Intensive Outpatient Programs
Besides dual-diagnosis treatment, we also specialize in two other areas of recovery. Individually, we have services for alcohol abuse disorder and a drug treatment program.
Each separate type of treatment encompasses a specific set of therapeutics and approaches to recovery. There are several areas of focus that we strongly believe in, and we strive to implement these regularly in all of our
Our Therapeutic Approaches and Methods
For each type of disorder we treat, we believe in using an approach that includes three specific methods of therapy.
Past Trauma Resolution
We look at past trauma in a similar manner to a co-occurring substance abuse disorder. Clients suffering from unresolved emotions because of a trauma that occurred in the past will find it difficult to move on and heal from substance abuse.
This is a similar model to dual-diagnosis – if a client can’t heal and treat underlying mental health challenges, the substance abuse disorder will remain prevalent because the mind isn’t healed.
Family Program
We believe that getting the family involved is critical, especially for a return to the home after graduating from treatment. Family is often the main pillar of support, and their inclusion in recovery promotes long-term success.
These two elements, along with dual-diagnosis and intervention options, give us the chance to help clients in full-blown addiction while also having the ability to place emphasis on individuals in the beginning stages of substance abuse.
We also believe in the power of group therapy programs. Peer support and your recovery go hand-in-hand, and mixing in elements of 12-step recovery-based treatment gives us a robust lineup of treatment options. Here’s what to expect from AFS if you become a client.
What to Expect at AFS
You will get a personal counselor that helps craft your specific treatment plan. We encourage you to immediately participate in our 12-step recovery-based treatment, so you can engage with other clients and eliminate isolation. Bonding with individuals in similar situations can help heal the spirit and soul while stimulating the mind.
You’ll receive another counselor that specializes in the area of focus you need most. Whether this is dual-diagnosis, trauma-based, or another specific approach, we won’t stop until the job is complete. You’ll also receive a personalized diet plan for nutrition and other options for healing activities and recreation.
For a full lineup of what we can do for you or to begin the admissions process, please contact one of our specialists today!