Choosing the right rehab
The search for a rehab program for yourself or a loved one can be exhausting. There are over 14,000 drug and alcohol treatment facilities in the U.S. that provide counseling, therapy, behavioral and educational services to those who need it, and it can be difficult to narrow down the best option among so many. Even selecting between programs in a specific area can be tricky because most facilities aren’t easily comparable— it’s more like apples and oranges.
Choosing the right rehab for yourself or a loved one is incredibly important to a successful recovery, so how can you know whether apples or oranges will be the best choice?
The steps below should help you form a plan for narrowing down from thousands of rehabs to just a few to help you choose the right rehab for you.
Do you want total immersion or something that will fit into your daily life?
The choice between residential care and full time outpatient care is a big one. Often people can’t leave their family, their home, and their jobs for the length of time that residential treatment requires. Some people feel certain they won’t be able to address their recovery while staying in their routine. Both have their perks, but comparing an inpatient treatment facility (where you will live full time, usually for 30-90 days at a time) to an outpatient facility (which usually features services 3-12 hours a day and allows you to sleep at home) is almost impossible. Residential treatment allows you to mentally “step away” from the situations in your current life so that you can focus on your recovery. Outpatient allows you to work on your recovery incrementally within your regular home life and avoid the “bubble” of residential rehab. Figure out what you think is more important as you narrow down to help choose the right rehab for you.
Do you need insurance to cover the costs, or are you able to contribute?
Choosing the right rehab for you will necessarily include some kind of financial investment. Oftentimes insurance coverage will dictate where you go if you need your insurance plan to cover as much as possible. This may not always include your first choice, so it is probably best to check with your insurance provider early on in the process to see what your options are. You will have more freedom and flexibility to choose what will be best for you if you have a way to financially contribute to the costs, and most treatment facilities will work with you or allow you to finance all or a portion of the costs of treatment. Calling your insurance company can also help you answer the inpatient vs. outpatient debate. The latest studies show that the length of treatment time is more important than full immersion, which means insurance companies are more likely to cover or offset the costs of outpatient programs than they are residential ones. Regardless of which one you choose, there are often medical need loan programs with lower interest rates that provide financing for medical issues such as addiction treatment programs, so check with your chosen facility.
How important are the extras?
Federal and state laws dictate much of drug treatment protocols, including the number of hours a client must receive of individual therapy and group therapy, the credentials of the professionals that are involved in your care, what level of medical care is required for your specific needs, and basic things like client safety, client confidentiality, and provisions such as meals, shelter, and restroom access. All licensed treatment facilities should meet at least the minimum requirements, which means that the difference between the facilities tends to boil down to the type of program provided by the facility, the connection between you and the staff and clinicians, the amenities of the facility itself, and the addition of supplemental therapies such as Equine Therapy, Art Therapy, Mindfulness Classes, and Sound Therapy. Often places provide supplemental therapies because they believe them to be complementary to the success of the recovery, and clients often feel the same. If you feel you need the picturesque castle on the cliff overlooking the ocean to truly get well, factor that in. If you know that you would feel more comfortable in a cozy office-type setting for your group meetings and individual therapy, note that as well. If you love animals and need them to be a part of your recovery journey, there are places that will cater to that. Write down your ideal recovery journey, highlight the “must haves”, and remember that the most important thing you are bringing to rehab is your own state of mind.
Visit before you commit
If at all possible, visit the facility before you agree to entrust your recovery to any facility. It’s fairly easy to make any rehab facility “look” nice online, but what does it feel like when you walk in the door? Do the employees seem caring and genuinely invested in your success? Will they allow you to speak to any current or past clients to get an honest review? Is the facility as nice and tidy as promised over the phone or on the internet? It can be daunting to try and decide what is best for you or your loved one during a time of uncertainty, and often even a quick tour and visit with actual employees can help you make a decision.
Seek out reviews
It can be tough to decipher how good a rehab program actually is. The sole purpose of websites and marketing are to present the facility in the best possible light. If you can speak to someone who has actually been through the program you are considering, their experience can be invaluable to helping you make your decision. If you don’t already know someone who has gone through the program, consider asking the facility if there is anyone who has completed the program who would be willing to speak to you. Centered Recovery often has past clients who volunteer to answer questions about their experience to help prospective clients make the right choice for them. Finally, seek out online reviews on forums such as Google, Yelp, Better Business Bureau, or Rehabs.com to check out real reviews from real clients. Be wary of reviews with little information or simply 5 stars. Most real clients will give details about their experience, the staff, and the program, rather than just giving 5 stars or saying it is a clean facility.
Choosing the right rehab can be paramount to your success, and your life in general. If you have any additional questions about finding an addiction recovery program that is right for you or your loved one, feel free to speak with our Director of Client Services, Reed Smith. He is committed to helping clients find the right program for them, even if the right program isn’t Centered! If you’d like to find out more information about Centered Recovery, our program, or our facility, please call 800.556.2966 today.
