Anyone who has come to the point where they know that they struggle with alcohol will need to make a thorough account of what kind of treatment they require. It is best to do this by consulting a healthcare professional simply because alcohol, like all drugs, will impact our ability to make decisions. However, there are a few things one can consider on their own. We can take a look at outpatient treatment to see of this is a reasonable option.
Outpatient treatment, or rehab, allows the alcoholic to remain at home and with family. They have regularly scheduled appointments and counseling sessions with addiction treatment professionals. This type of treatment seems to work best for early-stage alcoholics—individuals who have found themselves in the earliest stages of addiction.
Early stage alcoholism may be characterized by the simple recognition that alcohol has become too important, that a preoccupation with drinking is clearly evident. Recognizing the problem early on could make one a good candidate for outpatient treatment.
For some people, something like a DUI is just the major crisis which prompts them to seek help for their drinking or substance abuse problems. If this is the case one can consult a DUI attorney directory for legal help, and prompt treatment can help with the legal problems.
Outpatient rehab will consist of most of the same programs as inpatient. These will include regularly scheduled meetings with addiction counselors and medical evaluations. There are a vast array of rehab styles and methods but many centers are based on the familiar 12-step programs. Outpatient programs will host 12-step meetings and facilitate entry into these programs beyond treatment.
Many outpatient treatment programs offer individual counseling and individual therapy. These various forms of therapeutic intervention are designed to re-orient the thinking of alcoholics from the destructive patterns associated with addiction toward more productive thought habits. Therapy and counseling work toward helping with deeper psychological issues that may have led to addiction in the first place.
Nearly all outpatient programs put clients in touch with support groups which help with long-term sobriety and recovery. As mentioned above, many people make their first contact with groups like AA and NA while undergoing outpatient treatment. This ensures a smooth transition to continued work with these programs.
In an outpatient setting, patients are able to experience the benefits of treatment without upsetting their home-lives and their jobs. It is not difficult to find a treatment center in your state that will guide you through the various treatment options.
Making the decision to seek alcohol and substance abuse treatment is daunting, but just making the decision to seek treatment is really the difficult part. Once you have settled on a course of action it is really just a matter of deciding which program will work best for your needs. Treatment for alcohol and substance abuse comes in a vast array of forms and there is always a way to get the treatment you require. Deciding on an outpatient program is a positive first step.
