What Are Residential Treatment Centers?

If you or a loved one has been struggling with drug or alcohol abuse for a long time, you may be wondering what are your available options. Residential treatment centers, also known as rehab centers, are health care facilities where clients live for a period of time and are provided a structured environment with comprehensive, intensive therapeutic services. Typically, clients use residential treatment centers as a last resort to help overcome their addictions. After undergoing a detox process and a treatment plan is created, residential treatment for addiction recovery involves primary care and extended care and is completed in 90 days. Aftercare also helps to ensure success–whether as outpatient services or sober living housing.

Primary Care—the First 30 Days

After undergoing a complete assessment and the detoxification process, clients are transferred to a residential facility and begin a structured treatment process. Typically, clients will not have contact with anyone outside of the program during this blackout period. This allows clients to completely focus on recovery as well as give reassurance to family and loved ones that clients are safe and not using drugs or alcohol. Although clients are not allowed to contact others, family members can contact the facility and receive progress dates on how clients are doing during residential treatment.

Primary care includes daily attendance of 12-step meetings, such as Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous. Clients participate in counseling sessions, chores, other meetings and activities, meditation, step work, meeting with sponsors, sports, and more. Although there is downtime, this 30-day period is busy for clients, as they have time to rebuild their lives without the influence of drugs or alcohol. Clients are supported in their recovery journeys by the house manager, therapists, addiction counselors, their sponsors, and program alumni.

Extended Care—the Next 60 Days

The next step in residential treatment after primary care is extended care.  The primary focus of this time period is finding gainful employment that can support clients on their paths to sobriety. Clients will look for work five days a week. More experienced house residents will accompany first-time job seekers, giving them guidance on how to navigate the local area.

The blackout period ends during extended care, so family and loved ones are allowed to visit clients after the weekly family support group. The visits will first be on-site, and then off-site passes given to clients, with the time of the visits increasing over time, up to overnight passes.

Aftercare—After 90 Days

When residential treatment is completed, clients can participate in outpatient treatment. Clients can either move back home or live in a sober living house for additional support and accountability. Activities include individual and group sessions, working with a sponsor, and attending 12-step meetings. Outpatient treatment can offer some needed help and support as clients continue to make their way on the path of addiction recovery.

If you are looking for a California residential treatment center for you or a loved one, contact Yellowstone Recovery today at 888-418-4188.