What’s the Difference Between Full and Half Day Rehab in Massachusetts?

If you’re searching for addiction treatment services for yourself or a loved one, you may be thinking that the choices that seem to be available are too limited. Checking in for a month of luxury rehab might sound appealing but be too demanding when you consider the time or money involved, but you may not be sure that an alternative such as outpatient rehab would serve your needs.

The good news is that multiple types of outpatient treatment programs are available to you. Many people successfully achieve recovery via half-day treatments or full-day treatments, opting for outpatient programs that suit their availability and lifestyle. Keep reading to better understand what the available options entail, so you can find the right treatment and help you or your loved one start the journey towards sobriety and a more fulfilling life.

Types of Addiction Treatment

While inpatient rehab programs, also known as residential programs, may be the first thing you think of when considering addiction treatment, they can be very pricey. They also require you to put your entire life on hold for weeks or even months while you receive 24/7 therapeutic care. In a residential treatment program, the person seeking addiction treatment lives in a controlled environment for as long as 90 days, receiving therapy and medical treatment throughout their stay.

Inpatient care may often be the preferred medical choice for people with co-occurring mental health disorders or those who anticipate acute withdrawal complications. However, most people are able to get the help they need from outpatient programs.

Outpatient programs (OPs) allow those seeking treatment to live at home, heading to a facility for treatment for several hours each day or each week, depending on the type of treatment. It’s often the best choice for those who have responsibilities they can’t shirk at home or work. People who thrive in outpatient programs often also have plenty of support at home, and don’t require 24/7 medical supervision.

While most outpatient addiction treatment programs incorporate counseling, medical therapy and support groups, the details vary depending on the type of program. The two main types of outpatient addiction treatment are full-day treatment programs, also known as partial hospitalization programs (PHPs), and half-day treatment programs, also known as intensive outpatient programs (IOPs).

Full-Day Treatment: Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHP)

When you opt for PHP treatment, you’re receiving the maximum level of addiction treatment possible without participating in an inpatient program. You can expect to spend about 30 hours a week in treatment programs, typically taking place about six hours a day across five days a week. These full-day programs are most appropriate for those just beginning their sobriety journey. In some cases, people who have undergone inpatient detox or other addiction treatment will transition to PHP programs as the next step of their treatment program.

Full-day treatment is customized for each patient. Treatment programs include individual therapy, group therapy, education, peer support, counseling and various group activities, all designed to fit each participant’s lifestyle, medical history and specific needs and goals. In essence, a partial hospitalization program provides the intense therapy of a residential program without the overnight stay. In one-on-one therapy, you or your loved one will work with a licensed therapist to change specific behaviors and learn better coping strategies. Group therapy sessions typically help you connect with others who are on the same journey, and provide an additional element of social support.

The highly structured nature of PHPs helps patients remain fully focused on sobriety and recovery. Some participants live at home while undergoing full-day treatment, while others may return each day to a sober living home to continue the emphasis on healthy living. Because full-day treatment demands a significant time commitment, most patients can’t work full-time. A PHP program may last just a few weeks, or longer for other patients.

Half-Day Treatment: Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP)

Some people who want to beat their addictions can’t take part in a full-day PHP program, much less an inpatient treatment program. For these folks, a half-day treatment program, or IOP, is often the answer. These programs provide the support, structure and therapy people need while still allowing them to continue their normal work, home and school lives.

In addition, IOPs are often transitional programs for people who have already completed inpatient rehab or full-day PHPs. The support systems offered by an IOP help keep patients on the right track when they’re tempted to relapse, and teach the coping techniques needed for the return to everyday life. Meanwhile, patients can still live at home or opt for a sober living facility.

An intensive outpatient program typically includes individual therapy, group therapy, educational classes, job training, and individualized case management. In addition, patients may undergo treatment or therapy specific to their own addictions and any co-occurring mental health issues. An IOP focuses on helping patients transition back into normal life by providing support and resources to help the recovery succeed.

IOPs are typically more flexible than PHPs, with treatment time decreasing as patients show signs of progress and success. Typically, you or your loved one will attend treatment sessions up to three times a week for up to a couple of months. Often, these meetings and therapy sessions take place in the evening, allowing you to return to a work or school schedule that’s close to normal. Because participants are immersed in their normal lives, they’re able to put the relapse prevention techniques they’re learning into practice every day.

Half-day treatment of this sort is especially effective for people who have a strong support system available to them at home. In many cases, family members will participate in group therapy to help understand and resolve family issues related to addiction.

Continuing Outpatient Treatment

Once you or your loved one has completed intensive outpatient treatment, you won’t be left high and dry to navigate a sober world on your own. Continuing OP programs can help you transition into a permanent lifestyle of health and sobriety on your own schedule. As you continue in OP treatment, you’ll typically receive ongoing counseling and education within a support network nurtured by your treatment center.

Trained, licensed staff will help you bridge the steps between one type of treatment and the next, standing alongside you to determine when you’re ready to scale down your treatment. As you enter ongoing OP treatment for addiction, these trained experts will assess your medical history, your history of addiction and substance abuse, any co-occurring mental health issues, any family issues, and your own lifestyle and goals. That assessment will set you on the right path, and make sure you’re getting the continuing resources and support you need.

Choosing the Right Type of Addiction Treatment in Massachusetts

One of the most important decisions you make for you or your loved one is your choice of addiction treatment program. Understanding the options can help clarify exactly what will serve you or your loved one best when pursuing recovery. Your lifestyle, ability to take time off from work, insurance coverage and the severity of your addiction will all factor what type of treatment program might serve you best.

At Topsail Addiction Treatment, we treat every person who enters treatment with us as the unique individual they are. We want to get to know you or your loved one so we can customize a treatment program that will speak to your one-of-a-kind needs and priorities, your medical history and your lifestyle into consideration.

If you’re seeking addiction treatment in Massachusetts, we will take the time to understand what will best help you regain control of your life and your body. Our licensed staff have deep experience in helping patients identify the right techniques, tools and behavioral changes for avoiding relapse. We can assist in getting you back on a healthy and fulfilling path, and help you stay sober for the long term, so your life can become all you originally dreamed it would be.

We’ll work with you to determine whether half-day treatment or full-day treatment is the most appropriate, based on your diagnosis and your ability to complete each program. At all times, we will strive to do what’s best for you, and provide you with the supportive environment and resources you need.