Recovering from addiction is far from simple - it's a journey that demands tremendous inner strength, courage, and willingness to change. Even after returning home, many individuals need the continued support and accountability of clinical therapy to keep on going. This is the need that outpatient treatment is here to fill.
At Avenues, one of our core beliefs is that finding and receiving addiction treatment should be as simple as possible, for every single person. Here we'll explain what outpatient treatment is, its pros and cons, who this type of treatment is intended for.
Outpatient therapy, or an outpatient program for addiction treatment, is a structured non-residential treatment program for substance use disorders. While receiving outpatient therapy, clients live at home and work or attend school as usual, and come into their treatment center a few times a week in order to attend in-person therapy sessions with their primary therapist. Outpatient therapy uses a wide range of therapy modalities, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, and group therapy sessions, to continue building upon the foundation that was laid in inpatient treatment.
After moving back home post-treatment, people in recovery still need additional guidance and support in order to maintain their sobriety. Returning to regular life can bring a slew of everyday challenges, as situations arise and triggers present themselves while the person is not yet rock-solid in their recovery.
For such people, outpatient treatment is the answer. OP treatment affords clients the freedom to go about their daily lives, but returns to a safe environment and gives them continued therapeutic support several times a week. The consistency and stability provided by outpatient treatment enables many people in early sobriety to stay strong as they build their new, sober life.
There are so many benefits to outpatient treatment; for many people, it serves as the stepping-stone that helps them transition safely from rehab to everyday life in recovery.
The benefits of outpatient treatment include:
However, it's important to remember that because outpatient treatment is the lowest level of care, it comes with an inherent risk if not used properly. Its relaxed scheduling and reduced oversight can dangerous for someone shaky in their recovery and commitment to sobriety. If outpatient treatment is used as a replacement for a higher level of care, or when a person is not yet ready, it can result in relapse - or worse.
In summary, outpatient treatment is meant for those who have completed the full continuum of care (which includes detox, residential, partial hospitalization , and intensive outpatient treatment), and are at a stable point in their recovery journey. When used in its proper place, outpatient treatment is a valuable way of receiving continued therapeutic support and accountability, and strengthening your sobriety.
Avenues currently offers outpatient treatment programming in our Metairie, Louisiana location. Staffed by highly skilled medical providers, psychologists, and addiction counselors, our OP program provides top-of-the-line medical and mental health care even after you've returned home from inpatient rehab.
Programming runs for several hours per week, and incorporates a broad range of therapy modalities - such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Motivational Interviewing (MI), Contingency Management, and 12 - Step facilitation. Therapy is provided in both individual and group settings, and Medication-Assisted Therapy (MAT) is available as well for all those who can benefit from it.
Our devoted and multidisciplinary staff are here to provide quality medical care, personalized therapy, and continued oversight as clients adjust to life after treatment.
Once clients have graduated from our outpatient program, our robust alumni program continues to provide the support and encouragement so needed post-treatment. Every individual who goes through Avenues emerges with a loyal and loving alumni family - a group of like-minded individuals all actively pursuing their recovery. We cheer each other on tirelessly through the journey of life!
Unlike inpatient treatment programs, there is no set treatment period for outpatient treatment. Your length of stay will vary from that of others' and should be made after consulting an addiction professional with an understanding your unique situation. Stays in OP treatment should be set according to need, and can always be adjusted according to client progress.
Every outpatient program has its own timeline and schedule, but standard programs can run from anywhere between three months to one year.
Avenues Recovery offers a full continuum of care, spanning Drug Detox Treatment, Residential Addiction Treatment, Partial Hospitalization Program, Intensive Outpatient Treatment, and Outpatient Treatment. It is important to understand where Outpatient Treatment stands in the greater picture of substance abuse treatment:
Detox > Residential/ Inpatient Treatment > Partial Hospitalization > Intensive Outpatient > Outpatient
In order for any program (including Outpatient Therapy) to be fully effective, it must be preceded and succeeded by the appropriate levels of care. Rushing treatment, skipping a level of care, or moving to a lower level of care before it is deemed medically and clinically appropriate can all detract from the efficacy of treatment. Therefore, we encourage following the structure of our treatment program. The pre-admission clinical assessment and ASAM criteria will determine each client’s level of care upon intake.