Outpatient Treatment

What’s the Difference Between Inpatient & Outpatient?

There is an unfortunate misconception surrounding outpatient addiction treatment programs. When people think of treatment that occurs outside the residential treatment environment, it is often viewed as “less” of a program than what a patient would receive if they were treated at an inpatient addiction treatment facility. Inpatient and outpatient programs both strive to provide and focus equally on providing the necessary support and guidance you need to overcome addiction. Both use comprehensive, evidence-based treatment models to ensure you have the tools you need to attain and maintain sobriety.

Outpatient addiction treatment programs allow you to live at home throughout the duration of your treatment. As part of an outpatient program, you will not receive some of the benefits provided in the residential setting, such as housing, meals, and 24/7 medical care and support. The structure of an outpatient program at Impact Wellness allows you to continue actively participating in your regular routine while working towards sobriety. In the inpatient setting, you would attend therapy during the day, every day of the week. At an outpatient treatment program, you will attend therapy on a set schedule, often a few days per week for a few hours each day. The number of hours and overall duration of your treatment program will depend on your specific treatment needs and goals.

Outpatient programs are structured around your specific needs. The flexibility in structure allows you to choose when it is most convenient to attend therapy sessions. Often, counseling and group therapy sessions are held in the evenings to ensure everyone can attend. Because of the less intensive nature of an outpatient treatment program, it may take longer to achieve your treatment goals when compared to a residential or intensive outpatient program.

Intensive outpatient programs or IOPs fall between inpatient residential programs and outpatient programs. The primary difference between a standard outpatient program and an intensive outpatient program is the required amount of time dedicated to treatment-related activities each week. Many IOP programs require twelve or more hours of therapy each week. This is often broken up into multiple groups and individual therapy sessions throughout the week. Intensive programs generally require a more substantial time commitment than would be found in a traditional outpatient program.

An intensive outpatient program in the Midwest is an excellent option if you need a higher level of care than available in an outpatient program but do not need continuous or 24/7 care provided in a residential program. Many addicts new to recovery use intensive outpatient programs as an intermediate step between a more intensive residential treatment setting and the aftercare or a fully independent living arrangement.