Treatment
Most laypersons equate the idea of "treatment" with recovery from substance abuse, such as the fictional yet fairly realistic program represented in the movie "28 Days". In fact, inpatient treatment programs typically last for 28 days (a duration most often determined by insurance companies, rather than by what statistically yields optimal prognosis), but today's wellness landscape offers programs that address a wide variety of issues and conditions, including substance abuse and behavioral addictions.
Treatment center services generally fall into one of two categories: inpatient or outpatient. Inpatient treatment is exactly what its name might imply: It involves residential stay, at the actual treatment facility, during which several recovery-oriented activities are offered and patients' whereabouts are consistently monitored. "Intensive Outpatient Programs" (IOP) have become increasingly popular, and they proffer services similar to inpatient treatment, in more of a "day camp" type of structure - patients most typically attend IOP groups from early morning through late afternoon, on weekdays.
Beyond these above-mentioned classifications, substance and behavioral addiction treatment has become exceedingly diversified. One can find myriad programs rooted in substantially divergent practice philosophies, including 12-step, alternative-wellness, psychology-based, faith-based, boot camp and outdoor-wilderness models. Additionally, one can find treatment entities customized to the needs of virtually any specialized population, including programs designed for men, women, pregnant women, families, adolescents, dual-diagnosis clients, the GLBT community, prison release candidates and various professional members, just to name a few. Finally, many treatment protocols are tailored to a specific practice focus, such as eating disorders, codependency or gambling.
The wide range of treatment specializations is surpassed only by the variance of pricing structures and payment options, within the industry. In effect, one can find treatment programs that are free, as well as those that cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. Some are covered by insurance, and some are self-pay. Some finance; whilst, others do not. Even more importantly - and contrary to what most laypersons might presume - program efficacy is oft times not correlated to program cost.
The treatment landscape can be very daunting to both addicts and their family members, who are simply trying to discern the best program through which to meet their respective needs and budget. Furthermore, treatment seekers' confusion can be compounded by a general lack of understanding about the comprehensive addiction-recovery process. In short, the idea that the first 28 days of post-detox rehabilitation are important is true; however, the idea that these first 28 days are any more critical than are the ensuing two years is grossly misleading. Program referral and placement counseling can help families to make pragmatic provisional decisions, with an informed contextual perspective.
There is simply no singular way to "do treatment"; however, ARCS counselors generally subscribe to the tenet that specialization is only viable within the larger framework of diverse offerings. In other words, each individual may react differently to various treatment approaches; thus, to be responsive to clients, treatment entities and individual counselors should be fluent in a vast range of healing modalities.
Treatment center services generally fall into one of two categories: inpatient or outpatient. Inpatient treatment is exactly what its name might imply: It involves residential stay, at the actual treatment facility, during which several recovery-oriented activities are offered and patients' whereabouts are consistently monitored. "Intensive Outpatient Programs" (IOP) have become increasingly popular, and they proffer services similar to inpatient treatment, in more of a "day camp" type of structure - patients most typically attend IOP groups from early morning through late afternoon, on weekdays.
Beyond these above-mentioned classifications, substance and behavioral addiction treatment has become exceedingly diversified. One can find myriad programs rooted in substantially divergent practice philosophies, including 12-step, alternative-wellness, psychology-based, faith-based, boot camp and outdoor-wilderness models. Additionally, one can find treatment entities customized to the needs of virtually any specialized population, including programs designed for men, women, pregnant women, families, adolescents, dual-diagnosis clients, the GLBT community, prison release candidates and various professional members, just to name a few. Finally, many treatment protocols are tailored to a specific practice focus, such as eating disorders, codependency or gambling.
The wide range of treatment specializations is surpassed only by the variance of pricing structures and payment options, within the industry. In effect, one can find treatment programs that are free, as well as those that cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. Some are covered by insurance, and some are self-pay. Some finance; whilst, others do not. Even more importantly - and contrary to what most laypersons might presume - program efficacy is oft times not correlated to program cost.
The treatment landscape can be very daunting to both addicts and their family members, who are simply trying to discern the best program through which to meet their respective needs and budget. Furthermore, treatment seekers' confusion can be compounded by a general lack of understanding about the comprehensive addiction-recovery process. In short, the idea that the first 28 days of post-detox rehabilitation are important is true; however, the idea that these first 28 days are any more critical than are the ensuing two years is grossly misleading. Program referral and placement counseling can help families to make pragmatic provisional decisions, with an informed contextual perspective.
There is simply no singular way to "do treatment"; however, ARCS counselors generally subscribe to the tenet that specialization is only viable within the larger framework of diverse offerings. In other words, each individual may react differently to various treatment approaches; thus, to be responsive to clients, treatment entities and individual counselors should be fluent in a vast range of healing modalities.