How Long Will My Alcohol Rehab Last?
Anyone facing addiction knows how intimidating that the situation can be. So many individuals choose to struggle in silence, refusing to reach out and receive the professional help they need. It’s always important that anyone struggling with alcohol abuse pursue help from licensed therapists.
Even after struggling individuals reach out to get help, they’re still faced with a number of questions. How expensive will the therapy be? Will the effects of my treatment last? What will my friends and family members think? Will I ever be able to live the life I want to live?
Alcohol rehab treatment helps to positively answer all of those questions, before helping to restore self-confidence and peace of mind. Keep in mind that when it comes to treatment for substance use, there’s no one-size-fits-all model, and there shouldn’t be. Rather, treatment models and lengths of time vary, depending on a number of factors.
There is no exact answer to the question “how long does alcohol rehab last?” Depending on your individual needs, the severity of your situation and the nature of your alcohol use practices, licensed professionals will craft a treatment and aftercare package that best suits your needs.
You’ll determine the best path forward alongside your healthcare provider and alcohol rehab program, to take recovery a single step at a time.
Alcohol rehab through a partial hospitalization program (PHP)
A partial hospitalization program, also known as a day hospital and abbreviated PHP, provides structured treatment through daily therapy and skill enhancement. Each participant in the PHP program participates in the therapy each day, but returns home each evening. Before the partial hospitalization program concludes, therapists will provide you with a care plan moving forward, to ensure that positive therapy effects remain permanent and to ensure that you can continue to live the healthy, happy life you’re working to maintain.
Our partial hospitalization program typically lasts 2-4 weeks, during which time you’ll receive the medical care and the in-house treatment you need to effectively manage substance use practices. You’ll likely also participate in individual and group therapy, with the possibility of family counseling to help further address alcohol rehab and the impact that behavioral health issues can have on sober living.
Alcohol rehab through an intensive outpatient program (IOP)
Intensive outpatient programs allow you to participate in programs and receive specific treatments that teach you how to effectively challenge your life’s substance use practices, without compromising your personal activities. You’ll spend less time onsite than with a PHP program, though the intended effect is the same: control over your substance use habits through alcohol rehab.
Our IOP program usually lasts 6-8 weeks. You can continue to work, attend school and participate in social and family activities during this time, with the understanding that you’ll also attend alcohol rehab sessions. Intensive outpatient programs can help you eliminate chemical dependency in your own life, helping you to improve your life without removing you from it during treatment.
What happens after rehab ends?
Alcohol rehab offers so many benefits. It helps strengthen mental health, improve personal and professional relationships, sets realistic, healthy expectations for the future and can even help realign you with career opportunities. You’ll find so much information available about the benefits of alcohol rehab, but much less information regarding what comes next after rehab concludes.
Here’s the good thing: even after alcohol rehab ends, life doesn’t have to go back to the way it was. If you can remain true to the skills you learned and the resolve you practiced during rehab, the new you is here to stay. You’ll have begun an entirely new life, one centered around positive thinking, healthy practices and a productive, self-confident outlook.
Even after PHP or IOP treatment ends, you’ll still attend regular treatment sessions. Similar to regular checkups or dental exams, you’ll want to attend proactive treatment sessions to reinforce substance use management.
These treatment visits can include weekly counseling sessions, group therapy, visits with a doctor specializing in addiction treatment, holistic therapy and/or medication-assisted treatment. Your healthcare professional will help you determine the best path forward after your PHP or IOP alcohol rehab program concludes.
Post-rehab life also requires that you reassess the individuals with whom you spend your time. Are your current friends, peers and social influences encouraging you to live your new life? If not, it might be time to more closely guard where your time is spent and how you allow yourself to be influenced.
Creating a new routine can also be phenomenally helpful in ensuring that positive change remains permanent change. Consider transitioning to a balanced, nutrient-rich diet, and adopting regular exercise and sleep habits. Make sure you spend adequate time each day pursuing activities you find enjoyable. And importantly, take active steps to manage stress during the day, to prevent yourself from falling into self-destructive habits.
Start working toward recovery today
Alcohol rehab marks a journey that’s taken one step, one right decision at a time. Take that first step today, and reach out to Rehab After Work to see how we can help you get the help for, and experience relief from, addiction. We provide flexible rehab programs that help you restore confidence in yourself, while you achieve and maintain sobriety. Call us at (610) 644-6464 for more information or to schedule an assessment, and we’ll begin working with you to help you receive confidential help for a healthier, happier you.
