Many mental health and addiction programs offer a variety of treatment options. Two of the most common include inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation. While both treatments each possess unique benefits, the intensity of a mental health illness or addiction can help to identify what treatment program you may need. Inpatient treatment programs are ones that focus on treating severe problems with mental functioning or serious addictions in a full-time, residential environment. Outpatient treatment programs are non-residential and part-time. They can be a great start for busier individuals that may need treatment for more mild cases of mental illness or addiction. Weighing out the severity of a mental illness can be subjective, and may require professional advice.
You may be trying to decide between different treatment options, or you may be trying to decide whether to try treatment altogether. Either way, if you feel compelled to change something in your life and to better yourself, you are heading in the right direction. Let’s take a look at the different routes you can take when considering your treatment options.
I’ve Never Received Professional Treatment, Where Do I Start?
If you are someone that is trying to determine whether or not to try outpatient treatment, it is a good sign that you will benefit from individual therapy sessions. One of the determining factors for success with addiction recovery or mental illness recovery is one’s willingness to change. If you believe that you can grow from treatment in any which way, you are incredibly likely to do so.
If you have never engaged with professional mental health treatment before, consider identifying the cause and duration of your distress first. You may have been experiencing symptoms of unmanageable anxiety for years and have finally come to terms with needing treatment. You may be experiencing issues with quitting or slowing down your substance use and can no longer rely on yourself to avoid temptations. No matter where you stand, there is a treatment program available for you.
Co-Occurring Disorders and Trauma Work in Treatment
Once you have identified your motivation for treatment, you may want to do some research on therapies that may work for your specific case. Many individuals with co-occurring mental health disorders (meaning more than one illness at once, such as depression and addiction) find that there are therapies that target underlying, deep-rooted trauma that may cause them to be susceptible to the illnesses that they are experiencing. As many illnesses and addictions are caused by unresolved trauma, considering programs that may help you to identify these deep issues is often beneficial. These are typically offered as inpatient programs. Therapies that aim to resolve trauma-related experiences that may uncover reasons for substance use or other mental illness may include:
- Cognitive processing therapy
- Prolonged exposure therapy
- Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR)
- Mindfulness-based interventions
- Other holistic therapies
- Somatic experiencing
- Trauma-informed care
Inpatient Treatment vs. Outpatient Treatment
Inpatient Treatment, commonly referred to as residential rehab, is a treatment experience that involves you living at the rehab facility for a specific duration of time. Long-term inpatient treatment programs are typically six months to a year, while other short-term inpatient facilities require stays from days to weeks. Inpatient treatment is effective for individuals that may need 24-hour support and care. These facilities help individuals to avoid unhealthy temptations and negative influences that may motivate substance use or trigger unresolved mental health issues.
Outpatient treatment typically involves daily treatment such as counseling, group therapy sessions, individual therapy, or other skill sessions at a mental health facility. Outpatient treatment allows an individual to live on their own, allowing time for childcare and other family commitments, maintaining a job, or staying on track with their academics.
How Do I Know Which One Is Right for Me?
Both treatment options provide support for individuals experiencing distressing mental health symptoms. When deciding between the two, the most important thing to keep in mind is where you stand with urges, temptations, and daily functioning. If you are experiencing severe symptoms that affect your daily functioning, you may find that inpatient treatment can help you address your deep-rooted trauma more efficiently and tailor better to your individual needs. If you are someone that may experience anxiety going into daily sessions, you may also want to try inpatient treatment.
Although it is necessary to prioritize your mental needs, it can seem impossible to juggle your many daily responsibilities from an inpatient treatment center. Inpatient rehab requires you to distance yourself from your daily life. One benefit of outpatient treatment is that it is typically much less expensive than inpatient treatment. Each mental health center, whether they have inpatient or outpatient programs, will offer a range of therapy options. It is important to recognize which therapies stand out to you so that you can engage with a treatment center that has therapy options that would be useful to you. Some common therapy options may include:
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy
- Motivational interviewing
- Family therapy
- Couples therapy
- Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy
- Group therapy
- Emotive behavior therapy
- 12- Step Programs
- Dialectical behavioral therapy
- Person-centered therapy
If you are looking for professional help with your mental health or addiction, there are many treatment options that you may consider. Two of the most common treatment programs include inpatient and outpatient rehab. While inpatient programs are residential, outpatient programs allow you to keep up with your daily responsibilities while attending sessions throughout the week. Each treatment option holds its benefits, although it may be easier to narrow down options by identifying the severity of your individual health symptoms. If you find yourself experiencing constant urges and temptations of your addiction or are unable to function at the cost of your mental distress, inpatient treatment offers intensive, 24/7 care to help. West Coast Recovery Centers understands how hard it can be to find a center that motivates your recovery success. We want to work with you to promote a purposeful life. For more information, call West Coast Recovery Centers today at (760) 492-6509.