Is a Recovery House Different from a Treatment Center?

There are several different phases to addiction recovery with each phase offering a unique service to aid in the recovery process. As you begin, you may need to go through a medicated detox, which helps you get clean and manage withdrawal symptoms a little easier. This is a necessary first step, so you can begin your rehab program with a clear and sober mind. From here, you will likely move into an inpatient treatment facility, where you will begin the recovery process.

While this is a live-in situation, residential addiction treatment is not the same thing as living in a recovery house. In fact, moving into a recovery house is often the final stage in the treatment process, providing different services than those you experienced in the inpatient treatment facility. While residential rehab programs teach addicts to cope with their substance abuse problems, recovery houses help the individual prepare for their return to society. Before you begin treatment, it may be helpful to understand more about how these two aspects of recovery differ.

What is Involved in Rehab at a Treatment Center?

When you think of addiction recovery, what you’re probably thinking about is the counseling that you receive in an inpatient rehab program. This involves starting one on one counseling sessions to help you deal with the things in your life that caused you to become addicted. These private counseling sessions may also provide treatment for any emotional problems that could have contributed to your substance abuse.

Additionally, you will be able to participate in peer group support meetings, which bring all of the addicts in the residency program together. Peer support of this kind help addicts build up strength and confidence by providing opportunities to mentor each other. When one individual feels especially affected by cravings or withdrawal symptoms, the other members in the group will be there to help them through that difficult period.

What Do Recovering Addicts Do in a Recovery House?

If you begin one on one therapy and group support in your inpatient rehab program, what will you do in a recovery house? For many recovering addicts, therapy and group meetings become essential parts of their lives moving forward. They often need to participate in outpatient treatment programs as a means of continuing their successful recovery. For this reason, you will still have access to these resources in a recovery house, and you will be encouraged to participate in support group meetings hosted by the managers of the recovery house.

While the atmosphere in a recovery house is less strict than it was in rehab treatment, there will still be managers present on site. The staff in a recovery house is there to ensure the sober and drug-free environment is maintained, while also offering advice and support to the residents. Some staff members may be recovering addicts themselves, so they have the experience to guide you in pursuing a clean and sober lifestyle.

Why is a Recovery House Necessary?

While you’re not required to move into a recovery house upon leaving the treatment facility, it is advisable. Some research has found that recovering addicts are far less likely to relapse if they use a recovery house to help them transition back into society. Many addicts even find it comforting, because the rules of a recovery house help them stay clean as they begin rebuilding their lives.

There will be much to do as you take up residency in a recovery house. In addition to attending counseling and group therapy, you will also have to begin returning to society. This may mean finding work or looking for a permanent place to live. This may also be the time to work on restoring relationships that have been strained as a result of your addiction. Your time in a recovery house is beneficial because other residents will support your efforts and point you toward helpful community resources. While living in a recovery house is a temporary situation, it can provide you with the guidance you need to improve your chances for a sustained recovery.

While recovery can seem like a long process from getting clean to completing your residency in a recovery house, the time goes rather quickly. Speaking with our counselors at 302-842-2390 can help you understand more about the process, and can help you learn more about your recovery options. Our counselors are available 7 days a week, 24 hours a day, so contact us at your convenience to begin your path to recovery.

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