Virginia Outpatient Rehabs
What Is Outpatient Rehab in Virginia?
Outpatient rehab is a program where clients visit rehab centers for addiction treatment and return home between sessions. This part-time nature makes outpatient rehab suited for people who cannot put life responsibilities on hold while they get treatment. Also, the structure of outpatient rehab means that clients get the treatment that adapts to the severity of their addiction and recovery needs.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA) sets the standard for addiction treatment in the United States. At the state level, the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS) oversees the activities of treatment professionals and rehab centers providing outpatient treatment in Virginia. These agencies also maintain helpful resources for finding outpatient rehab centers in Virginia.
What Are the Types of Outpatient Treatment in Virginia?
Outpatient rehab is non-residential. So, clients visit the rehab center, get treatment, return home, and revisit the center for their next appointment. There are several types of outpatient treatment programs based on this flexibility. The main differences between these programs are in the free time between sessions and the level of support that clients get. The three types of outpatient rehab in Virginia are:
Day Treatment or Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP)
In this type of outpatient rehab, clients attend rehab sessions lasting six to eight hours per day, depending on their recovery needs. Here, clients have several sessions — up to five days a week.
The structure of PHP makes it great for clients with moderate to severe addiction. However, this program will benefit clients who need a high level of care. Likewise, patients moving from residential treatment to everyday life will benefit from the treatment services provided in partial hospitalization.
Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP)
In intensive outpatient programs, clients attend rehab sessions for three to four hours, usually at least three days per week. Reduced hours mean clients have more time to commit to life responsibilities between addiction treatment sessions.
Generally, clients match into intensive outpatient programs from the onset, per recommendation from a rehab specialist. However, it is also common for IOP to be a step-down treatment for clients in PHP or inpatient rehab.
Continuing Care
In this type of outpatient rehab, the focus is on preventing relapse and maintaining sobriety. There is less emphasis on helping the client beat addiction. Clients in continuing care can live drug-free lives, but they need this program to strengthen sobriety skills and get support for other aspects of their lives.
Sessions are short (usually one to two hours per week, every two weeks, or every month). The rehab schedule depends on the client's recovery needs and how much support they need to bolster their sobriety skills. Generally, rehab specialists recommend continuing care for clients who have completed IOP or PHP. Still, clients who have completed an inpatient rehab will find continuing care helpful in their sobriety journey.
What Is an Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) in Virginia?
IOP is an outpatient rehab program designed to provide a high level of support while being flexible enough to give clients the time they need to handle life responsibilities. IOP is multidimensional, meaning it addresses all facets of the client's life, including treating the addiction. This nature especially makes the program best for clients struggling with co-occurring disorders.
Why Choose an IOP over Inpatient Treatment in Virginia?
Flexibility is the main reason to choose IOP over inpatient rehab in Virginia. Because IOP treatment sessions are typically two to three hours and are non-residential, clients have time for work, family, or school. On the other hand, inpatient programs are fully-residential. Thus, patients must pause their commitments for the duration of the program.
Cost is another reason to choose IOP over inpatient rehab. Generally, an IOP program would cost several times less than an inpatient program of the same duration. This low-cost nature of IOP means clients can afford to stay in rehab for as long as they need to beat addiction.
The Stages of Treatment in IOPs in Virginia
The stages of IOP treatment will depend on rehab specialists' evaluation of the drug problem. Generally, clients in IOP go through five steps:
Detox Stage
This stage involves removing drugs accumulated in clients' systems and restoring their bodies to better physical health. IOPs use ambulatory detox because clients do not live at the facility. Ambulatory detox differs from traditional detox because clients go home after receiving care. Also, rehab specialists integrate the client's support system (friends, partners, and family) into the program. This support system is essential to keep the client safe when withdrawal symptoms appear between rehab sessions.
Treatment Stage
At this stage, the client is healthier and no longer experiences intense withdrawal symptoms or cravings. So, rehab specialists can now provide treatment services like individual counseling, cognitive-behavioral therapy, group therapy, and medication-assisted treatment. These treatment services help clients develop the skills and confidence they need to maintain sobriety. Treatment also addresses co-occurring mental and physical conditions.
Sobriety Reinforcement
At this stage, the client has a solid understanding of how addiction affects them. They would have also identified the behaviors, habits, stressors, and triggers contributing to their addiction. Sobriety reinforcement focuses on testing healthy coping skills, adjusting habits, and learning ways to handle slips or relapses.
Self Reliance Stage
By now, the client has learned enough to spot new behaviors and unpredictable life changes that may trigger them to use drugs or relapse. The client can also independently identify ways to respond to those behaviors and changes. Meanwhile, expert help remains accessible, but the rehab specialist takes a mentorship role as the client takes a more active role in their recovery plan.
Client as a Mentor
Many IOPs also include this stage to help clients see their progress and help others in the early treatment stages. This mentorship can also help clients see addiction from a different perspective and identify aspects of their recovery that need attention.
How Long Does IOP Last?
According to the 2019 SAMHSA report, IOP in Virginia lasts for 81 days on average. This time is long enough to help clients get the best benefits from addiction treatment and prevent a relapse, per the National Institute on Drug Abuse recommendation of at least 90 days.
How Much Does Outpatient Rehab Cost in Virginia?
It depends. The cost of outpatient rehab depends on several factors. However, the significant factors include the program's duration, available treatment services, and the canter's location.
Duration of the Program
Most Virginia outpatient rehab programs charge monthly, although many centers charge hourly sessions. While there is no umbrella figure for this charge, clients can expect to pay more the longer they are in rehab. Nevertheless, it is worth pointing out that the cost of outpatient rehab will typically be several times lesser than a residential rehab program of the same length.
Treatment Services
Clients in outpatient programs get the spectrum of treatment services they will need to make a full recovery. These typically include behavioral counseling, cognitive-behavioral therapy, group therapy, ambulatory detox, and medication treatment. Many centers provide add-on services like family therapy, motivational interviewing, and technical skills training. The overall cost of rehab will reflect the cost of getting these services.
Location of the Rehab Center
Generally, outpatient rehab centers in the city center will cost more than centers in the countryside. This cost usually reflects the facility's running cost and the cost of providing expert services in that area. So, an outpatient rehab center in Falls Church City will typically cost more than a facility in Martinsville.
Despite location affecting the rehab cost, consider weighing the overall cost of going out of town before choosing a rehab center in the countryside. Going out of town is not always practical, considering the price of gas and the time spent on the road between the facility and your home. The better choice is a rehab center nearby, so you can readily get expert help in a short time. This convenience comes in handy when clients are tethering on the brink of relapse or having a personal emergency.
Benefits of Virginia Outpatient Rehab
People choose outpatient rehab programs for three main reasons:
Flexibility
Commitment to rehab reflects the client's recovery needs, but most outpatient rehab programs are flexible enough that clients still have time to handle life responsibilities. Workers can go to work and recover, students can get an education, and parents don't have to miss family events.
Lower Cost
The total cost of getting outpatient addiction treatment in Virginia is significantly less than an inpatient program of the same duration. This lower cost is great because health insurance does not always cover the entire rehab program. So, treatment remains within reach even without insurance.
Opportunity to Practice Sobriety Skills
Clients in outpatient rehab get to apply sobriety skills and adjust as necessary. This benefit contrasts with residential rehab, where patients mostly get to practice their coping skills after leaving the facility.
Services Offered in Outpatient Treatment in Virginia
Generally, Virginia outpatient treatment programs provide the following services:
Ambulatory Detox
Detox is the foundation of addiction treatment. This treatment begins recovery on the physical front and prepares the client for further treatment services.
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
CBT helps people in recovery understand how their feelings, behaviors, and interactions with their environments enable addiction. The treatment also provides tools and ways for clients to modify those behaviors and emotions.
Psychotherapy and Counseling
Psychotherapy and counseling treat mental health problems that occur with addiction, including depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorders. Clients also gain insight into how their drug use started, how the disease affected them, and how to resolve personal issues caused by addictions.
Medication-assisted Treatment (MAT)
In MAT, rehab specialists replace illicit drugs with medication that slowly helps clients lose dependency. Generally, the medications used in MAT dull the effects of drugs and suppress withdrawal symptoms and cravings.
Group Therapy
Group therapy is a way to help clients to meet with other people to recover, share their experiences, and get informal support. These meetings benefit clients who do not have a support system outside the rehab center.
How Long Does Virginia Outpatient Rehab Last?
It varies. Per the 2019 SAMHSA report, outpatient rehab programs typically last 128 days (or about six months). The duration of outpatient treatment will vary with factors like the severity of the addiction, the substances in question, and overall health.
The Severity of the Addiction
Persons with severe addiction, mainly those dependent on drugs for a long time, typically spend longer in rehab.
The Nature of the Drugs Abused
Drugs have varying potency and cause physical dependence in different ways. While drugs like cocaine are fast and short-acting, others like opioids are slow and long-acting. As such, the time needed for effective treatment will depend on the nature of the drug.
Co-Occurring Conditions
The time needed for addiction treatment will be longer if the client has a physical or mental condition besides addiction. Rehab specialists must also address these conditions, as addiction rarely happens in isolation. Otherwise, these conditions may worsen and cause a relapse. For example, clients who became addicted to opioids to manage chronic pain or Xanax to manage anxiety need additional treatment for the pain or anxiety.
Inpatient vs. Outpatient Virginia Rehab Centers
The four significant differences between outpatient and inpatient rehab are the length of stay, residential structure, the level of support available, and the cost.
The Length of Stay
Generally, outpatient rehab programs are longer than inpatient programs because rehab specialists deliver sustained treatment to manage addiction as a chronic disease. The average time spent in inpatient rehab in Virginia is three months, compared to six months in outpatient rehab.
Residential Structure
All outpatient rehab programs in Virginia are non-residential. This means clients live at home between treatment sessions. On the other hand, persons in inpatient programs live at the rehab center with constant expert support.
The Level of Support
Persons in inpatient rehab receive addiction treatment, usually for a short period. This makes inpatient rehab suitable for persons struggling with moderate to severe addiction. On the other hand, outpatient rehab also provides a high level of support, delivered over a long time. This nature makes outpatient rehab better suited for persons with mild to moderate addiction.
Cost of Rehab
The cost of outpatient rehab is comparatively lesser than an inpatient program of the same length. The difference in price is mainly because the inpatient facility is responsible for meeting clients' needs and providing round-the-clock expert support. On the other hand, clients in outpatient programs only pay for treatment services.
Outpatient Rehab Centers Near Me in Virginia
If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction, help is available. You can find an outpatient rehab center near you by calling the Virginia Office of Recovery Services at (804) 786-3921.
Alternatively, use the SAMHSA rehab center locator or call the helpline at (800) 662-4357 to find an outpatient clinic or addiction treatment specialist near you. A search on the locator will provide you with information like the facility's location and contact details. You'll also find a list of various treatment services, amenities, insurance coverage, and payment options available at those centers.
