- 30 Day Rehabilitation
- 90 Day Rehabilitation
- Adolescent Substance Abuse Rehabilitation
- Christian Drug Rehabilitation
- Co-Dependency
- Couples Treatment
- Detoxification
- Drug Addiction Treatment Help
- Drug Rehabilitation
- Extended Treatment
- Gender and Ethnic Specific Treatment
- Health Spa Recovery
- Inpatient Drug Rehab
- Intervention
- Long Term Treatment
- Older Adult Rehabilitation
- Outpatient Treatment
- Private Therapists
- Psychiatric Hospitals
- Psychiatrists
- Sober Escorts & Companions
- Sober Living
- Therapeutic Boarding School
- Tips to Know Before Checking In
- Wilderness Programs or Outdoor Therapy
Extended Treatment
Extended care drug rehabilitation can be several things. It can be extended stays at treatment facilities that go beyond the 30-, 60-, 90-day cycle. It can also refer to post treatment methodologies that are designed to help the individual maintain an addiction free life. Whatever the reason for participation in an extended care program, the goal is the same – preventing a relapse of the old behaviors.
Types of extended care
Extended care can manifest itself in several ways among these are:
Additional time in a treatment facility – Because each individual’s circumstances are unique, applying a time-frame that applies to everyone can only act as a general guideline. If there is a dual diagnosis, multiple addictions, an environment outside the center that is not conducive to abstinence, or any number of other factors, it may be necessary to remain in the treatment facility longer than originally contracted.
Participation in a 12-step or other peer support group – These types of extended care provide the person in recovery with ongoing, regular opportunities to find help in dealing with addiction. Most of these programs assign sponsors or mentors who make themselves available, and is in fact a symbiotic relationship, as all participants begin to develop a support network in which everyone is supporting everyone else.
Outpatient treatment – Some individuals may be referred to outpatient treatment after leaving residential treatment. While outpatient treatment may involve participation in a 12-step program, it most commonly entails meeting with licensed counselors and therapists in either individual or group settings at regularly scheduled times. Outpatient therapy is usually open ended, and continues or ceases based on the condition of the participant.
Sober living homes, companions, or escorts – Relatively new to addiction treatment and therapy, participation in a sober living environment or program provides the opportunity for support treatment that is tailored to the needs of the individual. Sober living homes provide structured environments with strict regulations that help the participant incorporate and practice the skills needed for living a sober life. Sober companions and escorts are for those individuals whose environments are not conducive to sober living, and need more frequent, steady, and regular guidance and mentoring on a one-on-one basis.
Private therapy – For some, extended care may involve regular visits with a psychiatrist, psychologist, counselor, or other mental health professional. In this type of care, one-on-one sessions provide the support the patient needs to cope with the situations and circumstances that fueled his or her addiction.
Regardless of the type of treatment originally prescribed and followed, studies consistently show that long-term programs, that essentially provide extended care, help reinforce the earlier therapy, and provide the greatest chance of successful recovery.