Outpatient Program (OP)

An outpatient addiction treatment program is a step down from intensive outpatient and other levels of care. It’s a great program for people in recovery who are transitioning from rehab to everyday life. It can also be used at various points in the recovery process, such as if you’re at risk for relapse and need extra support.

Compassion Behavioral Health offers outpatient rehab in a safe, supportive setting. Like our other programs, outpatient treatment is comprehensive and includes medication education, life skills education, nutrition, EMDR therapy and counseling. This ensures you have everything you need under one roof to build a successful recovery.

What is Your Outpatient Treatment Program Like and What Does it Include?

The outpatient rehab program at Compassion Behavioral Health includes a single session of group and individual therapy each week. All clients have rules to follow, which we’ll discuss when you start our program. For example, we expect our clients to stay sober and attend all treatment sessions.

Outpatient treatment is the least intense type of program compared to intensive outpatient, partial hospitalization and inpatient treatment. You’ll only meet twice a week for an hour at a time, but this is often the right amount of structure for individuals working their recoveries and transitioning to their everyday lives.

Aside from a single session of individual counseling and group counseling, you will also have access to the following:

  • Trauma-focused therapy
  • Dialectical behavioral therapy
  • Group and individual therapy
  • Nutrition and life skills education
  • Relapse prevention
  • EMDR therapy
  • Meditation and yoga
  • Medication education

How Does Outpatient Treatment Differ from Intensive Outpatient Treatment?

The only real difference between standard outpatient treatment and intensive outpatient treatment is the amount of time spent in counseling. Our intensive outpatient program requires clients to meet three to five days a week, for three hours a day. Standard outpatient only expects attendance twice a week (one for individual counseling, one for group counseling) for one hour.

It’s also worth pointing out that outpatient treatment is very different from inpatient rehab. You do not have to live at our facility to receive treatment, allowing you to return home for work, school or other responsibilities. Our outpatient program is also flexible and affordable. Clients appreciate that they can manage their obligations and maintain much of their normal schedule while getting the support they need.


Who Benefits Most from Outpatient Rehab?

While outpatient treatment is touted for its flexibility, it’s not for everyone. This is the lowest level of care, so we typically do not recommend it for serious addictions. Rather, it’s an opportunity to transition to your daily life while having structure and support alongside you. This way, you can keep learning about your addiction, what triggers to avoid and how to protect yourself from relapse.

With that said, here are some of the best candidates for an outpatient treatment program:

  • Time spent in treatment. Outpatient rehab is ideal for people who have already received some treatment for their addiction. They are clean, have been through detox and already have some foundation in treatment and recovery.
  • New addictions. All addictions are serious, but some are certainly more severe than others. People who are actively using and have a severe addiction generally do best in inpatient rehab. New addictions, on the other hand, can be treated in an outpatient setting.
  • Strong support network. To make outpatient treatment most effective, clients must have a strong, supportive network to rely on. As long as you can come home to a sober home with lots of supportive friends and family, you should do well in outpatient care. If you lack this structure, you may want to consider a sober living house while receiving treatment.
  • Good mental and physical health. Most outpatient treatment centers don’t expect you to be free from mental illness, but they do want your symptoms to be somewhat managed. At Compassion Behavioral Health, we have a mental health treatment program that addresses mental health disorders through counseling, social support and education.


What are the Advantages of Seeking Outpatient Care?

To reap the benefits of outpatient treatment, it’s important that you are a good candidate for this type of care. Otherwise, you may not receive enough structure and support from your treatment plan. As long as you feel that you are a good fit for outpatient rehab, you can expect the following advantages:

  • Access treatment while going to work or school
  • Stay connected to your support circle
  • Transition gradually into your everyday life
  • Connect with others in your own community going through similar struggles
  • Maintain your privacy (you don’t need to take time off from life)
  • Less expensive than other types of treatment

Can Your Outpatient Program Prescribe Medications?

Compassion Behavioral Health can prescribe medications, though we only prescribe drugs that have been approved by the FDA for treating substance abuse and mental health issues. Most of these medications are used to treat opioid and alcohol addictions.

We’re very careful to make sure that our clients don’t substitute one addiction for another. This is why we try to manage symptoms using alternative, drug-free therapies like EMDR therapy, nutrition education, meditation and yoga.

However, if you do need medication, some of the ones we may recommend are:

  • This medication helps control opioid cravings and withdrawal symptoms.
  • Methadone relieves opioid withdrawal symptoms and cravings. It has been used for years to treat opioid addictions, though it can be addicting.
  • This drug blocks the effects of opioids and lessens cravings as a result. Naltrexone is not addictive, and it may be used to treat alcohol cravings.
  • Known by the brand name Antabuse, this drug creates uncomfortable effects (vomiting, nausea, headache, chest pain) when a person drinks alcohol. This makes them less likely to return.
  • Acamprosate can help reduce the symptoms people get after going through the initial stages of alcohol withdrawal.

In addition to these medications, you may also be prescribed medications to treat mental health disorders like anxiety, depression or schizophrenia. These drugs generally include antidepressants, antipsychotics, anti-anxiety meds and mood stabilizers.


How Can I Learn More About Your Outpatient Program?

Compassion Behavioral Health is here to help you or a loved one with their substance use or mental health disorder. Contact us today to learn more about our standard outpatient program and how it can support your recovery journey.

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