When your client shows signs of an addiction to alcohol or drugs, responding compassionately and urging treatment is the best way to provide the help he or she needs to move forward.
Self-help groups and outpatient programs aspire to help individuals achieve sobriety, but these approaches are typically ineffective for someone with an established history of substance abuse. The more effective approach is to first seek residential treatment before using self-help groups and outpatient programs as part of a continuing care plan.
6 Benefits of Referring Patients to Residential Treatment
Residential treatment at one of Summit’s certified facilities provides personalized care, detox services, individual and group counseling from trained professionals, family support programs, holistic therapies, and relapse prevention/aftercare planning. All facilities accept a wide range of major insurance plans and will work with patients to make treatment as affordable as possible.
1. Personalized Treatment Plans
Substance use disorders develop based on complex interactions between genetic and environmental risk factors, which means that every individual has unique needs. A quality residential treatment program should provide care that is personalized for each participant.
Some factors that may need to be considered include:
- Co-occurring mental health disorders such as anxiety and depression
- Process addictions such as gambling or shopping addiction
- Need to control chronic pain
- Chronic medical conditions, such as diabetes or high blood pressure
- Past trauma, such as being a victim of sexual assault or domestic violence
- Previous unsuccessful attempts at recovery
- Strength of existing support system
- Effect of other family members who have substance abuse programs
2. Detox Services
Detox is often the first step towards recovery, but this process is difficult to complete without around the clock supervision. Withdrawal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, sweating, anxiety, and insomnia can make an individual so uncomfortable that they run back to the very substance they are trying to escape.
Depending on the substance being abused, detox could be potentially dangerous. Seizures are one example of a withdrawal symptom that poses an unacceptable level of risk when the person is not being closely monitored.
Most of our residential treatment programs provide medically-managed detox services that include 24/7 supervision by healthcare professionals. Vital signs are monitored to prevent complications and measures are taken to keep individuals as comfortable as possible throughout the process. In cases where a Summit facility does not offer detox, we work closely with appropriate medical providers to ensure that detox is completed in a safe environment.
3. Individual and Group Counseling
Your patient may believe he or she can conquer addiction with help of 12-Step support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous. Although these groups do have value, they are limited in scope because they are run by groups of individuals in recovery and not trained medical professionals.
Professional counseling is necessary to establish a foundation for sobriety. Using both cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), trained counselors can help your client:
- Uncover the reasons why he or she turned to substance abuse initially
- Identify triggers and proactively manage cravings
- Learn to handle unpleasant emotions without drugs and alcohol
- Develop healthy communication skills to build stronger relationships with loved ones
- Set realistic sobriety goals.
A mix of individual and group counseling is considered the most effective approach. Group counseling benefits patients by helping them to see that others are struggling with similar issues while allowing them to hear a variety of perspectives. Individual counseling lets them discuss challenges in a safe, private space.
Gender-specific programs, while not offered at every facility, may appeal to those who feel their addiction experience has been greatly shaped by their gender. For example, women with eating disorders or who have survived sexual assault may be uncomfortable opening up to a mixed-gender group about how this has affected their substance abuse history.
4. Family Support
Addiction doesn’t just affect the person who is abusing drugs or alcohol. The entire family unit, including parents, spouses, and children, struggles. Family counseling programs can promote lasting sobriety by helping the participant’s loved ones heal from their trauma and communicate in a healthier fashion going forward. Family support groups can also address the effects of codependency and enabling behaviors on sobriety.
5. Holistic Therapies
Growing numbers of residential treatment programs are offering holistic treatments to promote sobriety and the development of a wellness-focused lifestyle. Holistic therapies often incorporated into drug and alcohol addiction treatment programs include:
- Therapeutic massage
- Meditation
- Yoga
- Art therapy
- Music therapy
- Drama therapy
- Equine therapy
In addition to encouraging healthy communication, expression of emotions, and stress management, these treatments may help convince reluctant participants to give the rehab experience a try. Seeing that a program offers activities that could be perceived as “fun” can motivate individuals who are uncertain of the value of residential treatment to commit more fully to the experience.
6. Aftercare Planning and Relapse Prevention
Aftercare planning and relapse prevention are critical components of the residential treatment process. Patients who attend Summit facilities have access to personalized plans for their continuum of care, including referrals to outpatient treatment, sober living homes, 12-Step groups, and relevant community-based resources. This helps to ease the transition back to independent living while setting up the lifelong habits necessary to manage the chronic nature of a substance use disorder.
We can start you on the road to recovery.
