Content reviewed by Karen Rubenstein, LMFT
Residential treatment, also known as inpatient treatment, offers live-in care for patients. These programs are often highly structured and intensive, providing care 24 hours a day. Residential treatment is recommended for individuals struggling with severe mental health and addiction symptoms. While every facility has varying patient expectations, this treatment option offers endless benefits for those seeking to recover from psychological and emotional distress. When narrowing down a treatment facility best for you or your loved one, it is essential to understand what residential treatment programs can offer for short-term healing and long-term recovery success.
Is a short-term or long-term addiction treatment program for me?
While the benefits of residential treatment programs extend to all residential treatment options, it may help to know that different programs are available based on one’s individual needs and goals for treatment. Short-term residential treatment programs can last anywhere from 30 to 90 days, whereas long-term residential programs typically last between six and 12 months. Still, some long-term programs can last well up to two years.
Short-term residential programs offer condensed therapy and are typically more intensive than long-term programs. Short-term programs are often an excellent option for individuals who have not received long-lasting benefits from outpatient treatment programs or if the individual is unsafe at home while receiving treatment.
Research has found that compared to individuals in short-term treatment programs, individuals in long-term treatment programs have more positive and long-lasting treatment outcomes,
Residential treatment programs encourage a complete focus on your recovery.
One of the most notable benefits of residential treatment programs is that they allow individuals to focus entirely on their recovery while living at the treatment facility. Individuals are required to free themselves from any outside obligations, such as work and school, to prioritize their healing for a dedicated amount of time.
Substance use and co-occurring mental health disorders can control an individual’s thoughts, feelings and behaviors. Before treatment can teach an individual how to regain autonomy over these things, they will be encouraged to surrender their self-will, which is not always easy. Residential treatment is more than helping individuals get sober; it involves addressing past trauma and underlying issues to ultimately lead the individual to create healthier habits and ways of coping.
Residential treatment programs offer refuge while patients get back on their feet.
Another benefit of residential treatment programs is that they offer a place of refuge for patients. Often, individuals find themselves using substances to self-medicate painful life experiences. Sobriety and recovery would be nearly impossible if an individual were trying to receive treatment while remaining in a toxic home or otherwise abusive environment. Residential programs become an invaluable option for those that require space for healing.
Similarly, these programs may also be best for those with limited or no family support in treatment. This situation may be because a family has favorable attitudes towards drug use or because they have watched a family member relapse several times and neglect to believe that they can remain abstinent. Luckily, residential treatment programs offer a powerful sense of community.
Residential treatment programs offer vital social support.
Social support plays a crucial role in facilitating positive treatment outcomes. Addiction often causes individuals to feel isolated, lonely and guilty, among other distressing emotions. Sadly, the stigma of addiction causes many individuals to fear seeking or utilizing treatment resources. Still, there is hope in knowing that residential treatment programs offer a necessary sense of community for all of their patients.
These programs emphasize the importance of social support through many group interventions, such as group therapy. Everyone involved in the program knows what each other is going through and can feel empowered to take on growing pains together. Patients can share their personal experiences of both struggle and success with one another while addiction professionals facilitate conversation and offer compassion.
Even once treatment is said and done for the day, the social support does not stop in residential treatment. If patients struggle with triggers or cravings during free time or throughout the night, a staff member is always available to help them work through their thoughts. In the same sense, there will likely be a peer available to talk through personal experiences as well. Whenever a patient is experiencing a challenging moment, they can expect that someone will be there to walk them through it.
Residential treatment programs are highly structured.
Another benefit that sets residential treatment programs apart is their excellent structure for patients. The structure of a daily routine is essential to help patients focus on getting healthy again. Highly-structured schedules help to eliminate downtime that often causes cravings to grow. Patients who are given downtime later in treatment can use it to develop greater independence. These programs also have set boundaries and expectations to help all individuals work on accountability, responsibility and positive choices.
Casa Palmera is a treatment center that offers residential treatment programs which are tailored to fit patients’ unique needs. We offer warm, inviting residences that will make treatment feel like a home away from home. By fostering a safe and supportive environment for patients, they will have the utmost opportunity for growth and healing. To learn more about our residential treatment program, contact us today.
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