What Happens During Outpatient Addiction Treatment?

If you’re weighing your options for addiction treatment, you may be wondering, “How does outpatient rehab work?” Typically, outpatient rehabilitation programs allow you to live at home and rely on your personal support systems while receiving intensive addiction treatment. Depending on your individual goals, you may be scheduled to attend in-person care sessions with therapists, doctors, and counselors several times a week, for a few hours at a time. Finding balance between your lifestyle and your rehabilitation journey is a key component in outpatient programming.

Table of Contents

Who Is a Good Candidate for Outpatient Treatment?
Can You Work or Go to School While in Outpatient Treatment?
What Types of Therapy Are Offered in Outpatient Programs?
What our customers are saying
Is Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) Available in Outpatient Care?
Key Takeaways on the Question, “How Does Outpatient Rehab Work?”
Resources

Who Is a Good Candidate for Outpatient Treatment?

Outpatient addiction treatment may be right for you if you have access to specific resources and a particular medical history. We aim to provide you with the support you need to fulfill your personal obligations and thrive in recovery. When evaluating your candidacy for outpatient treatment, we consider:

• Work, school, or familial responsibilities: In outpatient treatment, we can accommodate most schedules and offer our rehabilitation services when it’s convenient for you. Our team knows that your job, education, and community can offer valuable motivation throughout your recovery journey.
• Supportive home environment: When you can count on the added support of your family, friends, roommates, or significant other, our outpatient program can likely be a part of your rehabilitation journey. Having the support of several people who know you deeply is one of the most powerful safety nets you can rely on during addiction treatment.
• Good physical and mental health: As long as any co-occurring physical or psychiatric disorders are being managed, we can provide you with outpatient addiction treatment options. We know your physical and mental health are important pillars throughout treatment, and can directly influence the progress you are making in your recovery.
• Mild to moderate addiction: If your condition does not put you at a high risk for severe withdrawal symptoms, our outpatient treatment may be able to help you find your footing on your rehabilitation journey. All the individuals we treat are thoroughly evaluated before program enrollment to ensure we can offer everyone a stable, safe environment.

Can You Work or Go to School While in Outpatient Treatment?

We understand that maintaining activities that bring you joy and keep you grounded are vital to addiction recovery. Our outpatient rehabilitation services are designed to be flexible and work with your existing responsibilities. We are always prepared to personalize our treatments and services for your class schedule, employment commitments, or child care pick-ups.

If outpatient treatment is on your radar, one of our team members will properly assess your level of commitment to addiction treatment and determine the frequency and intensity of your proposed treatment sessions. With the proper structure, support, and communication, you may find outpatient rehabilitation a suitable way to recover while advancing your career or education. We strive to make it possible to do it all, so daily life doesn’t get in the way of improving your mental and physical well-being.

What Types of Therapy Are Offered in Outpatient Programs?

Our multidisciplinary approach to outpatient addiction treatment allows for a variety of medical professionals to provide you with rehabilitative care. When considering “How does outpatient rehab work?”, it may be helpful to visualize the many types of therapy we offer in our outpatient facility. Licensed clinical social workers (LCSW), licensed mental health counselors (LMHC), and licensed psychologists (LP) may collaborate on your care and offer:

• Family therapy: We aim to support your addiction recovery by providing you and your family with education within structured sessions, as well as take-home resources. Our family therapy is designed to help you identify and strengthen a group of trusted individuals dedicated to assisting you throughout your treatment process and following discharge from our program.
• Individual therapy: You may benefit from one-on-one, outpatient treatment administered by our compassionate mental health team members. Individualized therapy can bring emotions to the surface that can be addressed across several aspects of your rehabilitation program. In all sessions, we will ensure you feel safe to express yourself and prepared to navigate the feelings that arise.
• Group counseling: We provide you with the opportunity to collaborate with your peers in our outpatient group counseling sessions. Listening to the stories of others and sharing your personal experiences can ground you in your desire to recover from a substance use disorder. Our group counselors work hard to ensure all participants feel respected and safe as they navigate feeling vulnerable and making genuine connections.

What our customers are saying

Is Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) Available in Outpatient Care?

Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) can typically be made available in outpatient programming. By combining medication and behavioral therapy, we aim to address both the physical and psychological aspects of your addiction. Alcohol use disorder and opioid use disorder can both be addressed with MAT, as long as you meet all other candidacy requirements for our outpatient care.

Participation in MAT services often requires routine counseling, relapse prevention planning, and frequent urine screenings. Our case managers are well-versed in coordinating specialized programming, including prescribing approved medications. If MAT is right for you, we will work to connect you with the medical resources you need to manage your condition while you navigate your recovery.

Key Takeaways on the Question, “How Does Outpatient Rehab Work?”

• Flexible, Structured Support: Outpatient addiction treatment allows you to continue to live at home while attending scheduled therapy sessions multiple times a week. We aim to offer you support without disrupting your established work, school, or family routine.
• Who It’s For: Outpatient care is ideal for people with mild to moderate addiction, a stable home environment, and manageable mental or physical health conditions. If you believe you are a candidate, our team members will evaluate your condition and goals before enrolling you in outpatient rehabilitation.
• Therapy Options: Our outpatient program typically includes individual therapy, group counseling, and family therapy. When you are rotating between all three modalities of treatment, you should feel supported in your long-term recovery and personal growth.
• Balancing Responsibilities: Most outpatient programs are designed to accommodate daily obligations, making it possible to maintain employment or continue education while receiving care. Our various team members remain understanding of the requirements you have outside of treatment and aim to offer you flexibility in your programming.
• Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT): MAT is often available in outpatient settings and combines medication with counseling and relapse prevention to address both the physical and emotional aspects of addiction. We pride ourselves on offering any additional services you need to embrace and thrive in recovery.

If outpatient addiction treatment sounds like the right step for you or a loved one, please call Muse Treatment at (800) 428-1818. Our dedicated addiction specialists will listen to your story, answer any further questions you have regarding “how does outpatient rehab work,” and begin to assess your opportunity for recovery. We will collaborate with you to explore how our high-quality addiction treatment can fully support your unique journey.

Resources

• National Library of Medicine – Clinical Issues in Intensive Outpatient Treatment
• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – Review of Medication-Assisted Treatment Guidelines and Measures for Opioid and Alcohol Use
• Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine – Implementing Office-Based Opioid Treatment Models in Primary Care