Getting help for addiction and/or co-occurring mental health disorders can take time. Addiction is a chronic condition, one that has to be managed over your lifetime, but the length of time that you participate in therapy sessions and support groups is based on the following:
- The type of program you choose
- Your progress
- Your needs
Outpatient treatment is generally reserved for people who have mild addictions, but it can also be a step down for someone who has completed a residential program. Outpatient programs range from a few weeks to a few months on average.
How Long is Outpatient Drug Rehab?
This depends on the type of program you choose. In most cases outpatient programs last between 3 and 6 months just the same as an inpatient program but for serious situations or those seeking treatment for multiple conditions, that might last up to one year.
Outpatient programs fall into three main categories:
- Partial hospitalization programs
- Intensive outpatient programs
- Traditional outpatient which is mostly support groups
In all three of these levels, but especially the first two, you’ll focus on the following:
- Individual and group therapy
- Relapse prevention
- Coping skill development
- Recovery skills
- Life skills
- Stress management
- Psychoeducation
All levels of outpatient care allow you to live at home or in a sober living home while you continue to connect with those around you and your team of professionals.
So, how long is outpatient drug rehab for all three of these?
PHP
Partial hospitalization programs are an intense form of outpatient recovery, and they require full-time participation over the span of a couple of weeks, during which you participate 5 to 6 days per week in a full day of services.
This is something that many people choose as an alternative to residential care, but it can also serve as a step down from residential care. You live at home or in a sober living facility and are responsible for getting yourself to and from your recovery treatment center every day.
How Long is Outpatient Drug Rehab for PHP? An average of 2 weeks.
IOP
Intensive outpatient programs are the next step down in outpatient rehab in Southern California and they require a part-time level of participation over the span of several weeks where you participate in around 3 hours worth of services for an average of 3 days per week.
This is something that many people choose when they need additional flexibility and are trying to adjust back to normalcy while still maintaining things like a job, school attendance, or family responsibilities.
How Long is Outpatient Drug Rehab for IOP? An average of 3 weeks.
Outpatient
Traditional outpatient is the lowest level of care and this almost always involves a few hours per week of support groups or other group meetings. This is intended for people who have already completed another level of care and are looking for a way to continue receiving mild support as they have transitioned back to their daily lives.
This level of care is something that can last anywhere from a few months to a few years. You can choose how long you still feel like attending a 1 hour weekly support group and how long you want to continue helping other people reduce their risk of relapse as well.
How Long is Outpatient Drug Rehab for Traditional Outpatient? An average of 6 months.
Can I Choose How Long Outpatient Drug Rehab Lasts?
When you reach out to Casa Serena or any other team, you’ll undergo an initial assessment to determine which level of care is best for you.
Not only will a recommendation be made for the type of outpatient program but the duration of that program. While you participate in your program you’ll be assessed on a regular basis with modifications made to the length of your program where necessary.
If, for example, you are making excellent progress, you might complete a partial hospitalization program with no need to jump down to an IOP but instead transition quickly to a traditional outpatient program for just a few weeks. But then, a few months later, you might find that you’ve hit some stumbling blocks and you need more support, so you go back to your traditional outpatient program or you try an intensive outpatient program instead.
If, instead, you are struggling with years worth of addiction and a coworking mental health disorder, you might complete a partial hospitalization program and then need a few more weeks through an intensive outpatient program and several months of traditional outpatient.
At Casa Serena, we are here to support our clients as they transition through all levels of care, no matter where they are in their recovery journey. We work with you to determine which type of program is best, which therapies are most effective for your circumstances, and how long your treatment plan should be.
We work with you to take into consideration insurance coverage and other payment plans so that you know what to expect not just in terms of the length of your stay but the cost.
Contact our team today to learn more about how long your outpatient drug rehab might last.
