Aquila Recovery Clinic is a Washington D.C. based addiction treatment center for alcohol and other drugs. Our recovery programs offer an effective range of addiction treatment options that are supported by modern, scientific evidence.
Clients have access to various outpatient choices within the drug and alcohol addiction treatment community.
The three most common choices are as follows:
- Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)
- Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP)
- Standard Outpatient (OP)
The initial evaluations made by the clinical and admissions teams should be used to define the level of care a person begins. The partial hospitalization alternative may be difficult for patients requiring some degree of scheduling flexibility. A PHP will often demand the patient to come in for therapy 6 to 8 hours per day, five days per week. Although the PHP option is much less limiting than residential treatment, this still necessitates a significant time commitment from the client, which is only sometimes feasible.
It’s vital to remember that this program’s phase could last anywhere from two weeks to three months. The program’s particular requirements decides the amount of time a person spends in the PHP stage. This discussion will center on why clients might want or require outpatient treatment in the section after this one.
Motives for Preferring Outpatient Treatment
In some highly particular circumstances, inpatient residential treatment is required. For instance, residential treatment may be an ideal choice in the early stages of recovery when a person is dealing with chronic relapse and has to leave their environment. Due to the support and care they receive from their loved ones, many people find that attending outpatient treatment is beneficial, and it’s frequently the best choice for those who must continue attending a job or school.
It usually happens for one or more of the following reasons when outpatient treatment becomes a client’s obvious choice:
- The individual has obligations from work or school that cannot be delegated to others.
- The individual is the family’s primary provider, so taking time off work would have serious financial repercussions.
- The individual is primarily responsible for looking for children or the elderly.
- The individual’s addiction is not severe enough to justify residential treatment’s stringent requirements.
- The individual is searching for a step-down alternative after having previously participated in a detox facility or residential program.
Intensive Outpatient Therapy vs. Regular Outpatient Therapy
The remainder of this discussion will center on the other two outpatient choices, IOP and OP, under the presumption that PHP might be too limiting depending on your circumstances.
Recovery in the DC Metro Area
You’ll be most interested in a DC metro IOP or OP program if you reside in or around the DC metro area. There are some slight distinctions between these two types of treatment. Understanding the variations can assist you or a loved one receives the care that best ensures long-term recovery.
First, participants in intensive outpatient programs must come in for treatment 4 to 6 hours a day, 3 to 5 days a week. Clients in a typical outpatient program are only required to attend sessions once to three times a week for one to three hours each. Treatment in both situations can go on for several months. Clients will undergo drug tests both throughout IOP and OP treatment settings. Drug testing is required since the clients won’t stay at the facility but will be out and about.
This is a type of accountability, not necessarily to “catch” those drinking or using drugs. Regular drug testing discourages use because it holds patients more accountable for their sobriety. Some people’s path to recovery isn’t linear, so the treatment team can best support the patient’s recovery if they know whether or not the current treatment plan is effective.
Both outpatient and intensive outpatient programs provide group therapy sessions. These are excellent kinds of therapy since patients can interact with others in recovery. A therapist guides the group through various conversation themes during these sessions, and clients provide input from their peers. This is quite helpful because it helps patients realize that they’re not alone in the struggles they’re going through within the group.
Therapists and case managers monitor the client’s progress throughout the treatment process in both IOP and OP. The patient’s treatment regimen may be slightly modified as they advance through the program. The clients receive the tailored treatment plans they require to recover because every day brings new difficulties and chances to celebrate victories.
What to Anticipate During an IOP in the DC Metro
During the 20 to 30 hours of outpatient therapy each week, a patient’s time would be invested in intensive therapy, as the name implies. On a personal level, they would embark on a self-discovery journey with a qualified therapist. The primary purpose of individual treatment is multifaceted. The therapist would start by looking for the underlying personal difficulties that appear to motivate the patient’s desire to mask sensations and emotions with alcohol or drugs. Second, the client would devote time to improving their coping, responding, and life skills to shield them from relapses in the future.
It helps when patients are open and forthright with their therapist(s) to achieve these goals. They can also take part in group therapy sessions while receiving IOP treatment. The patient would have the chance to make new acquaintances during group therapy sessions to replace their previous drug-using circle. These new relationships might serve as the cornerstone of valuable resources for their future support.
Finally, there is a possibility that they will participate in family therapy sessions and get to spend time with their family. It would help if patient’s used this opportunity to try to patch up damaged ties and inform their family about their addiction sickness.
Aquila Recovery Clinic
Family and friends may frequently be an excellent source of support during the healing process, and this will aid everyone in starting to heal. Allow Aquila Recovery Clinic to assist you if you or someone you love is dealing with the disease of addiction and you believe IOP or OP would be the best option.
Our treatment staff will conduct an assessment to help you decide which level of care is best if you’re unsure. Contact Aquila Recovery Clinic today to learn more about how we can assist. We are committed to helping people in their efforts to recover and mend their connections with loved ones.