Many individuals who go through a one-month treatment program or medical detox have their treatments end abruptly. Patients may be clean after the program, but this does not mean treatment should stop. Staying sober is a lifetime pursuit.
Regrettably, continuing addiction treatment long-term is not provided through most health insurance providers. This causes many patients to stop seeking assistance. Not because they are not in need of additional attention, but because their insurance has convinced them additional treatment does not exist.
Fortunately, rehabilitation facilities like the Scottsdale Recovery Center® are investing heavily in lifetime therapy programs for addiction. Recognizing that recovery does not end when a patient leaves treatment, lifetime therapy incorporates many different programs to offer solutions as diverse as the lives of those they serve.
Outpatient Sessions
At the core of lifetime therapy programs are the outpatient group therapy sessions. Participants participate in a therapeutic group setting learning about themselves and others. The group provides a comfortable environment to share common experiences and goals.
The therapy sessions also serves as a support group. Everyone in the group is seeking to better their lives and are doing so with the same understanding of the difficult path ahead. And, when one group member falters, the other members are there to pick them up and help them return to right path of life-long sobriety.
One-On-One Counseling
Individual counseling available in lifetime therapy programs is all about learning about oneself. Sessions dig deep into personal issues that may be affecting patient choices, including substance abuse. Gaining an understanding of how prior and current issues affect our everyday lives is important.
Professional and experienced drug and alcohol therapists work with patients to uncover such issues and how to address them. This conscientious approach opens a gateway for patients to learn which issues, thoughts, and circumstances may be driving behavior. And, with this knowledge, patients have the ability to change their behavior for the better.
Physician Access
Substance abuse and the recovery process take a toll on the human body. Just because patients have cleared their system of drugs or alcohol does not mean their body is back to normal health. Weight loss or gain, muscular atrophy, and other conditions require medical attention, but are often overlooked when a patient completes a treatment program.
Lifetime therapy programs provide access to medical doctors. Patients receive regular check-ups long after leaving the treatment center. The check-ups allow physicians to monitor weight fluctuations, blood pressure, and other biometrics to help keep patients on the path to a normal, drug-free life.
As life changes along the way, physicians are there to answer any medicinal and prescription questions as well. Counseling patients on the potential effects of medications will help patients avoid medicines that may lead to a relapse. Further, physicians advise on medication assisted treatment options long after rehabilitation has been completed.
Psychiatrist Access
Treating the mind is just as important as treating the body. Lifelong therapy programs may include access to licensed psychiatrists. Those provided as part of lifetime therapy programs are specially trained in the diagnosis and treatment of psychiatric disorders associated with drug and alcohol abuse. Long-term recovery means facing many hurdles along the way. To be successful requires the regular assessment of a patient’s mental health needs.
Licensed psychiatrists give the opportunity for patients and their treatment team to listen and learn about one’s mental state at numerous points along the recovery path. Regular evaluation then allows psychiatrists to suggest treatment methods to the recovery team. By understanding the connection between substance abuse and psychiatric conditions, psychiatrists play a critical role in the long-term success of patient sobriety.
Trauma Therapy
Trauma is when the ability for an individual to cope is overwhelmed. For those recovering from drug and alcohol addiction, this inability can cause relapse. Relapsing can be triggered by psychological traumas suffered prior to abusing drugs and alcohol. By combating childhood and other negative traumas, trauma therapy can remove these triggers.
When seeking trauma therapy, the first step is to determine the goal for the treatment. One of the proven and effective methods of reaching patient goals is eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR). EMDR helps break the cycle of triggered relapse. This rare treatment erases the triggers known to drive patients to use again. Trauma therapy could hold the key to long-term sobriety success.
Wellness Therapy
Patients completing rehabilitation treatment have come a very long way. Although the body physically has purged the dangerous toxins, both the mind and body need the opportunity to reconnect and return to their pre-substance abuse state.
Recovery based wellness programs have been specifically designed to do just that. Yoga classes, meditation clinics, and drum circles allow participants to increase their self-awareness. By increasing self-awareness, the ability to calm the mind and body becomes easier. This newly learned control could increase the chances of long-term sobriety.
Substance Testing
Accountability of oneself or your loved one comes from staying one hundred percent sober. Regular drug and alcohol screenings deliver a structured approach to staying sober. If an individual does indeed relapse, screenings often provide the first notice of use and the opportunity to treat the relapse quickly.
Some private medical insurance policies will cover select screening tests. For those without such coverage, lifelong therapy centers can provide testing up to twice a week. Both urine and blood analysis is available, providing peace of mind to loved ones by holding those recovering accountable.
Lifelong Sobriety
Whether a patient needs a little support or more intense assistance, lifetime therapy has the solution. The reasons to utilize a lifetime therapy program are as diverse as their patients. From young adults seeking the support of a group, to executives requiring accountability, lifetime therapy can adapt to the needs of each individual.
Rehabilitation facilities, such as the Scottsdale Recovery Center, are developing robust programs across the country. If you or a loved one has successfully completed a drug rehabilitation program and is looking for the options to help maintain a lifetime of sobriety, contact our center today and speak with one of our staff members.
