How Does Outpatient Rehab Work?

Partial hospitalization programs are the highest level of outpatient care. It is a full-time commitment without the requirement that you live at the treatment center. It is also a shorter program compared to residential drug rehab, so you can fit your care into just a couple of weeks instead of a couple of months. 

This makes it a much more viable option for people who only have a small amount of vacation time or time off in between semesters that they can use to dedicate solely to recovery.

Hours per week:

• Usually part-time, up to twenty hours per week
• Clients come to an outpatient rehab center every day during the week, with sessions before and after lunch, which are provided on-site

Length of program:

• Clients typically meet for two or three weeks

Best for: 

• Those who have a few weeks at a time they can take off
• Clients who want to start their program with detox services 
• Clients who want something comparable to a residential program in terms of commitment and services
• Those who can provide their own transportation to and from the rehab center
• People with mild to moderate addiction 
• Any clients with supportive living environments

Intensive outpatient programs offer the same types of treatment. Secondly, they provide regular access to services over a comparable length of time.

One of the key differences is that, as an outpatient program, you also don’t have to reside at the treatment center when you participate in an intensive outpatient program. Instead, you make arrangements to participate in a structured schedule of individual and group therapy sessions as well as other holistic care.

Studies indicate that IOP makes up forty-four percent of all the available drug and alcohol rehab programs currently available in America, making it one of the most popular forms of drug rehab. 

Hours per week:

• Usually, only ten to fifteen hours per week
• Clients come to an outpatient rehab center a few days per week, usually no more than five hours per day, and no meals are provided on-site

Length of program:

• Clients typically meet for three to four weeks

Best for: 

• Those who have a few hours, a few days per week, can take off for several weeks
• Clients who want something comparable to a residential program in terms of commitment and services
• Clients who have already completed a detox program 
• Those who can provide their own transportation to and from the outpatient rehab center
• People with mild to moderate addiction 
• Any clients with supportive living environments or currently in sober living facilities

Traditional outpatient programs consist almost exclusively of group therapy or support groups. Most people transition into a regular outpatient program after completing a higher level of care, such as intensive outpatient programs or partial hospitalization programs.

Traditional outpatient programs are there to offer continuing support for people who are not yet ready to function without ongoing services but who don’t need supervision or the same commitment as other outpatient programs.

Hours per week:

• Usually, only one or two hours of support groups and other therapy per week

Length of program: 

• Usually several months, longer if necessary

Best for: 

• Those who have already completed a higher level of treatment and need to transition back to normalcy
• Clients who want some level of support but don’t need supervision or full-time care
• Those who can provide their own transportation to and from their various weekly meetings or sessions
• People in recovery
• Any clients with supportive living environments