The goal of addiction treatment is to effectively change behaviors to prevent drug or alcohol’s continued use. In nearly every case, this starts with a consultation and assessment. For some people, outpatient therapy is the right first step. It may also be a follow-up to inpatient treatment. The road to recovery often includes at least some time spent in this type of treatment. Our team at Northern Illinois Recovery offers this type of support.
Jump to Section
When Is Outpatient Treatment Acceptable for Addiction?
It’s not common that the first step of addiction treatment will be traditional outpatient therapy. It may be an intensive outpatient program or a partial hospitalization program, both of which are outpatient treatment types that involve coming in for therapy numerous times a week. Traditional outpatient treatment is often just one or two times a week. That’s rarely enough to break dependence and create a strong recovery lifestyle.
However, some people may use this service over time, especially as they continue to get stronger and move from residential to intensive outpatient care. The final step is often traditional outpatient care. This type of treatment may be beneficial to those who:
- Have a stable home life
- Are no longer dependent on drugs or alcohol
- No longer have cravings to use
- Are committed to a drug-free lifestyle
- Need continuing care after inpatient care
The key component of outpatient treatment is its flexibility. You can go home after treatment. You can increase the number of times or the number of hours you receive care each week. This gives you support when you need it the most – when you are living your life and facing challenges.
What Are the Benefits of This Type of Recovery Step?
Addiction treatment through outpatient care offers several outstanding benefits, including:
Being Ale to Live at Home
For those with a drug-free home life and ample support, outpatient treatment works well. It allows people to receive the care they need and still work or go to school. It also helps ensure you have access to the people who can help you through this time of your life. For some, it is very comfortable because of this.
Gain Access to Recovery Therapies
Depending on where you are in your care, you may have continued access to addiction treatment therapies. These are the same type of therapies you may have in a residential program, but often less intensive. There’s still the benefit of using them to improve outcomes for those who already have worked through them. At Northern Illinois Recovery, we offer a range of therapies such as:
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy
- Dialectical behavior therapy
- Holistic treatment programs
- Family therapy programs
- Group therapy programs
- Individual therapy programs
Outpatient Is Affordable
Another key advantage of choosing outpatient care is how accessible it can be due to the lower cost. For those who need addiction treatment but have a family to care for, this type of therapy is a good choice because of its flexibility. It may be affordable even in the long term.
It’s There When You Need It
When using addiction treatment on this scale, you may not need to come in several times a week. You may need to reach out when there’s a point of high stress in your life or with relationships. You can utilize care when you need to, keeping you on track with your recovery.
Take the First Step – Call Northern Illinois Recovery
The investment in outpatient care is accessible to many people. As a form of effective addiction treatment, it is the type of investment most need to overcome their addiction. To start on a path towards recovery, call Northern Illinois Recovery at 855.786.1978 or reach us online now.
Licensed Physician and Surgeon
Dr. Beth Dunlap, a board-certified addiction medicine and family medicine physician, and is the medical director at Northern Illinois Recovery Center. She is responsible for overseeing all the integrated medical services at both campuses. Beth completed medical school, residency, and fellowship at Northwestern University, where she continues to serve on the faculty as a member of the Department of Family and Community Medicine. She has extensive experience in addiction medicine at all levels of care, and her clinical interests include integrated primary care and addiction medicine, harm reduction, and medication-assisted treatment.
© 2023 Northern Illinois Recovery.