Difference Between Residential Treatment and Outpatient Treatment

Difference Between Residential Treatment and Outpatient Treatment
September 14, 2021 Lighthouse Network

There are different types of residential treatments for both drug, alcohol rehab and mental health. The most important factor here, is the offer of life-long recovery. When someone you know is suffering from substance abuse or a mental condition, their caretakers and family members should know what treatment options are available. Because there are various options available out there so choosing the right one for the individual is crucial.

Which leads to the question, what is residential treatment and how can it benefit your loved one. Even though outpatient treatment is a popular option, your loved one might need around-the clock monitoring. And there are also residential inpatient programs like schizophrenia residential treatment, which offer great treatment to patients suffering from mental health.

Additionally, when we talk about drug and alcohol treatment, most people think of residential programs that last for 30 to 90 days. But there are also residential inpatient programs which offer short-term emergency drug and alcohol treatment for those who are severely substance abuse-impaired.

Residential Treatment

Residential treatment programs involve long-term stays, which can be a few weeks to a few months or longer. Your loved one, or you are housed in a safe and secure residence in which intensive drug, alcohol or mental health treatment programs are the focus of your day-to-day activities.

When living in a highly structured environment with a daily schedule, basically, residents are removed from stressful life situations and familiar faces and places that can trigger urges using substances and mental health. And when these negative influences are removed from residents’ daily life in a residential treatment program, then it becomes easy for them to work on rebuilding the life skills impacted by addiction, without distractions or temptations.

Additionally, in residential treatment programs, residents also benefit from being a part of a therapeutic community, with people going through the same journey, in treatment who support one another by offering encouragement in staying focused on recovery. This relationship of empathy and shared experiences is available 24/7, meaning whenever you need someone to lean on.

Outpatient Treatment

Outpatient drug and alcohol treatment programs use most of the same therapeutic approaches as residential treatment programs, but the difference is that, they take place in a different type of structured environment. Mainly, outpatient programs allow addicts or patients more freedom of movement, as in this treatment, addicts go to treatment on a part-time basis. Not to mention, this kind of schedule also allows substance-abused people to maintain their commitments to family, work, and school. And, since addicts return home after their sessions at the treatment centers, they also have a greater level of privacy. Moreover, they don’t have to explain an extended absence to attend residential rehab to friends, or family members.

The controlled environment found in residential treatment programs is not part of outpatient programs, so there can’t be isolation from negative influences. Additionally, returning home each evening after outpatient treatment and having a normal social life, one must only voluntarily stay away from drug or alcohol use, which takes a great amount of vigilance.

So, while considering the options between residential treatment and outpatient treatment, remember that, only residential treatment can provide addicts with peer support, camaraderie, counseling, and family therapy.

Therefore, residential treatment programs provide a safe and comfortable place for clients to recover from addiction.

 If you or your loved one needs helps, please Call (844) 543-3242.

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