In this blog, we frequently advocate for inpatient treatment for substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health disorders. The combination of medically supervised detoxification and a robust rehabilitation program—followed by an ongoing continuum of care—is extremely effective when it comes to helping someone reclaim their sobriety and begin their recovery journey with confidence.
But inpatient treatment is not necessarily for everyone. Issues related to cost, personal responsibilities, and more can make it extremely difficult for some people to commit to inpatient treatment. For those individuals, outpatient treatment may provide an effective alternative that is less disruptive to their day-to-day lives.
It is also the case that some people who go through inpatient treatment can benefit from following it up with outpatient treatment. Committing to outpatient treatment as a follow-up to residential treatment can shore up your sobriety in the early days of your recovery.
At Bel Aire Recovery Center, we offer two versions of outpatient treatment. Let’s take a look at each of them.
Bel Aire’s Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)
An intensive outpatient program offers a combination of structure and flexibility—a combination that can serve many people well. Bel Aire’s IOP generally involves three to five sessions each week, and each session lasts a few hours. It is a commitment, to be sure, but it also allows participants to continue to work, attend school, and maintain their other personal responsibilities.
This combination of structure (which allows Bel Aire to deliver a high level of care) and flexibility (which allows individuals to keep doing the things they need to do in their lives) can be an effective way to attack a substance use disorder. Also, the balance of treatment and daily responsibilities allows the person in recovery to apply what they learn in real time.
Bel Aire’s IOP offers personalized treatment and draws on various therapeutic approaches, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), group therapy, and family therapy. You can learn more about each of these kinds of therapies here under the heading “Therapeutic Modalities.”
Medication management is also part of Bel Aire’s IOP, to help ensure that individuals who take medications as part of their treatment do so safely and with maximum effectiveness.
All in all, the intensive outpatient program at Bel Aire Recovery Center is an effective, evidence-based approach to addressing substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health disorders.
For some people, however, the program’s intensiveness might be more than they need. For those folks, Bel Aire offers a more traditional approach to outpatient care.
Bel Aire’s Traditional Outpatient Program
Bel Aire Recovery Center’s outpatient program for substance use disorder recovery is similar to the IOP in that participants live at home while benefiting from therapy sessions. This program, however, involves fewer meetings and a less intense approach to therapy.
Nevertheless, this program can be a good fit for many people as it provides guidance related to healthy approaches to identify, avoid, and overcome triggers that might increase the risk of a relapse. Participants also learn to defeat negative thought patterns while increasing their compassion for themselves. The importance of building and maintaining a strong support network is emphasized as is the need to pursue ongoing personal growth.
Like our IOP program, this outpatient program can be an effective way to build on the skills learned during inpatient treatment. Sticking with treatment via an outpatient program can help ensure you stay sober in those crucial early days of your recovery.
Two Programs. Same Goals.
Our outpatient programs are designed to help individuals who are struggling with drugs or alcohol to rebuild their lives while working, going to school, parenting, and more. We help each person we serve find ways to overcome obstacles that threaten their sobriety, foster healthy and supportive relationships, and make quality decisions. We help individuals identify the resources and develop the strategies needed to cope with a range of issues that can undermine sobriety, including cravings, stress, compulsive behavior, and powerful emotions like anger, resentment, or regret.
Indeed, our outpatient programs and our inpatient program are all engaged in the same project: Help people get and stay sober.
Inpatient or Outpatient: We Are Ready to Help
At Bel Aire Recovery Center—located near Wichita, Kansas—we are wholly committed to providing evidence-based and personalized treatment for substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health disorders. We bring to bear a powerful combination of experience, expertise, and empathy as we serve those seeking inpatient treatment and those participating in either of our outpatient programs. Getting sober truly transforms your life. When you are ready to start that transformation, we are ready to help you reach your recovery goals.
