What Happens When I Enter an Outpatient Drug Counseling Program?

Seeking help for a current addiction can be scary. After all, you aren’t sure exactly sure what will happen or what to expect when you enter an outpatient drug counseling program.

In an effort to help relieve some of the fears people have when seeking help for an addiction, we will take you through what you can expect to happen when you enter an outpatient drug treatment program.

Understanding the Definition of Intensive Outpatient Drug Counseling

Outpatient drug counseling programs are designed to provide individuals with access to the assessment and treatment services needed to find sobriety. These services include everything from medication management to talk therapy or group counseling.

Unlike inpatient drug counseling programs where you remove yourself from society for a certain time frame, an intensive outpatient program will have you living and working while seeking treatment. Typically, you will be required to attend treatment at the outpatient facility anywhere from two to five times a week. Each treatment session will last anywhere from three to six hours.

What Does a Typical Day Look Like at an Outpatient Treatment Center?

Outpatient treatment centers create programs that will help their patients achieve very specific goals. While the goals of an outpatient treatment program will vary depending upon the center you are using and the program you are enrolled in, there are some common treatment goals.

Common treatment goals for outpatient treatment programs include:

• Finding help maintaining sobriety
• Discovering underlying issues that may trigger a relapse
• Learning coping strategies that help prevent relapse
• Exploring the possibility of a co-existing mental illness
• Teaching patients how to live structured lives filled with productive, healthy habits
• Developing problem-solving skills that will help in the patient’s personal and professional lives

Patients are able to achieve these goals by attending regular treatment sessions at the outpatient treatment center. A single day of treatment sessions will often include a mix of therapy sessions, educational classes, and medicine management sessions.

Some of the classes and lectures that may occur while you seek outpatient treatment for your addiction include:

• Intense individual therapy
• Regular appointments with a psychiatrist
• Medication management sessions that are designed to help you find the right treatment for an existing mental illness
• Nutritional classes
• Group therapy sessions
• Family and friends counseling sessions
• Educational classes to teach the dangers of drugs and alcohol
• Classes to teach relaxation techniques, stress management, and problem-solving skills
• Employment preparation classes
• Hobby exploration – opportunities to explore new hobbies

Before entering outpatient treatment, you will meet with an intake advisor who will help you determine what classes, therapy sessions, and lectures you need to attend to help you find or maintain sobriety.

Are you ready to seek treatment? Contact Atlantic Recovery Center, located in Davie, Florida, to learn more about how intensive outpatient drug counseling programs can help you.