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Role of a counselor in inpatient addiction treatment

Inpatient addiction treatment is for patients whose lives have become more difficult to manage because of their addiction. Hence, such patients need to remain within the treatment facility till they become sober.

Just like other types of addiction treatments, the counselor is also a pivotal force when it comes to helping patients have better lives. Here are some of the functions of a counselor in inpatient addiction treatment.

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Creation of a therapeutic alliance

It is important to note that addiction counselors do not necessarily share the same similarities as conventional counselors.

Addiction counselors are aware of the challenges that come with defeating addiction. Hence, they create a bond with their patients, so that they can always rely on them as a profound support system.

They motivate the patient

When addicts are in recovery, some of them may likely feel demotivated to continue. It might be difficult for them to manage the withdrawal symptoms that come with staying away from addiction.

They may find it hard to fight off the cravings, and sometimes, they might feel like they are not doing well in life.

The addiction counselor encourages the addicts to follow through with rehab and treatment. They will also inform them of their progress, and the advantages of their newfound sober lifestyle.

They create a robust recovery and relapse plan

Most addicts have the fear of relapsing when they are in addiction treatment. They know how difficult it is to defeat addiction, and going back to the lifestyle might be too overwhelming for them to handle.

The counselor helps to quell this fear by creating a profound relapse and recovery plan that will help them remain sober permanently.

Supports their loved ones

Sometimes, the family and friends of the addict might not find it easy to deal with the burden that comes with caring for their addicted loved one. The counselor educates them on what to expect, and how they can best support their loved ones so that they can retain their sobriety.

The categories of people quintessential to inpatient addiction treatment

Deciding to try out ways of getting quality and fast addiction treatment is a hard but essential step to finally recovering from the addiction.

Only very few people get to understand this before they finally fall into some hideous effects of what they are doing. Inpatient addiction treatment is one good way to snap out of addiction totally and quickly.

Types of addiction treatment

Whichever kind of addiction a person is battling, it is important to understand the kind of addiction treatment that would be useful for effective management of their situation.

There are two basic options to therapeutic addiction treatment, which are inpatient and outpatient addiction treatment. Your choice of treatment is dependent on how severe your addiction situation has gotten.

Both options are targeted towards helping patients get rid of their addiction, but not just any method is best for different people.

Outpatient addiction treatment is for people who have addiction problems and can still manage to go on with their daily life. They only must visit the rehab for therapy sessions, individual or group counseling sessions, and clinical healthcare.

What is inpatient rehab, and who should take it?

Inpatient treatment is an intensive addiction treatment that does not allow patients to go on their regular life while on treatment. The treatment package covers all the rehab needs to treat the patient for the period required. Categories of people that should consider inpatient treatment are:

  • Chronic drug, alcohol, and behavioral addicts
  • Addicts experiencing severe withdrawal symptoms
  • Addicts finding it hard to identify the solution to their addiction
  • People with severe effects of addiction
  • Addicts finding it hard to stay out from addiction triggers

The inpatient addiction treatment period may take between 3 to 6 weeks or 6 to 12 months, depending on whether short or long-term treatment respectively. It is also called residential rehab because patients are asked to live at the rehabilitation facility throughout their treatment period.

What does inpatient addiction treatment mean?

Generally, there are two different types of addiction treatment programs – inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation.

The decision on which program best suits your addiction problem is dependent on the severity of your situation. Inpatient addiction treatment is majorly recommended for people with serious addiction problems.

This program is structured to be an indoor 24-hours treatment, for the duration decided by the therapist or whoever is in charge at the rehab. It is the kind of addiction treatment that requires that the patient leave their home of residence to do a full-time treatment at the rehab.

Contrary to inpatient treatment, outpatient addiction treatment is such that patients only have to visit their therapist for counseling and reflection sessions to treat their addiction.

Patients who subscribe to outpatient counseling can still go about doing their normal work and other activities so far they are not found to be detrimental to their treatment process.

It is most times recommended for people with mild or no addiction effects and those who have just finished a short-term inpatient treatment.

Duration of inpatient addiction treatment

Inpatient addiction treatment could be short -or long-term. Short-term treatments usually span for a period of 3 to 6 weeks and then followed by outpatient treatment. In this case, outpatient treatment is seen as an aftercare addiction treatment.

On the other hand, long-term inpatient addiction treatment could span between 6 to 12 months of treatment, depending on how quickly the patient is responding to treatment.

This program is usually recommended for people having serious drug and behavioral addiction issues. Its scope is accompanied by individual therapy, medical detoxification, support groups, skill-building sessions, and life coaching.

Inpatient addiction treatment is best for people who need help overcoming drug, alcohol, and behavioral addictions. It is one of the very few healthcare where addicts can get their treatment on speed dial.

Benefits of Addiction Treatment as an Inpatient

If you or your loved one is in the process of finding treatment for drug or alcohol addiction, inpatient treatment in an accredited facility is an option to seriously consider.

This is because there are several benefits for an inpatient treatment for addiction rehab that help participants physically, emotionally, and psychologically. Here are 5 significant benefits

You will have structure

First of all, all inpatient rehab facilities provide daily and weekly structures that you may find difficult to maintain in a home setting. The daily routine takes into account every waking moment with no idle time. This approach is critical for addiction treatment because it not only prevents the addict from figuring out how to get find a way to get the drug they want but also because their mind doesn’t have time to think or crave about the drugs they are trying to get away from.

You get support and supervision around the clock

Addicts attending an inpatient rehab will have professional support available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. In early recovery this can make all the difference; most relapses happen early during recovery.

Constant support and supervision is also important because almost all patients experience withdrawal, including mental withdrawal. This could even create dangerous and life-threatening situations. Mental withdrawal can last for months. So the medical supervision and counseling at an inpatient rehab can provide much needed emotional support which is critical.

No Negative Influences or access to drugs and alcohol

Inpatient drug rehabs often limit phone calls and do not allow, or closely monitor, any visitors. This will avoid the temptation to contact someone outside the rehab to try and smuggle the substances. It would also prevent negative influences that a person outside the rehab may have on the addict.

You will have many therapy options

Most inpatient drug rehabs offer various alternative therapy options that will help people throughout recovery. Examples include exercise, yoga, meditation, Pilates, Tai Chi, Pilates, massage, etc. These are all excellent options to reduce stress, improve mental concentration, and the overall physical and psychological wellbeing of a person. During early recovery, this can make all the difference.

You get help after discharge

Support after you get out of the supervised environment is critical for the recovery journey. Inpatient rehabs will provide help and support for a significant amount of time even after their patient leaves the facility. The recovering addict will have access to several tools to help anytime they have cravings or are at risk for relapsing. While still in the facility, counselors in the rehab centre will teach how to effectively use the tools at anytime, anywhere. Using the tools can potentially save a person’s life.

Overall, inpatient drug rehabs offer clear benefits that will no doubt help anyone who decides to overcome a drug or alcohol addiction.

A Day in an Inpatient Addiction Treatment Centre

Inpatient or residential treatment provides both medical and non-medical care 24 hours a day, generally in non-hospital settings.

If you or your loved one is considering a residential inpatient center for drug or alcohol addiction treatment, you may be wondering how a typical day looks like.  

In general, the inpatient treatment centres are organized with routine activities and therapeutic sessions. These planned and structured days help to reduce uncertainty and provide a supportive environment for the recovery process.

Each treatment centre will have its own plans and routines. Though there will be variations in daily activities particular for each rehab centre, a typical day could look like the following:

In the morning:

Usually each morning starts early with a healthy breakfast. In some treatment facilities participants have a choice of a yoga or meditation classes to help start the day in a relaxed state of mind.

After the morning breakfast and health routine, there could be a group or individual session led by a counselor or a therapist. These daily meetings, in the safety of a controlled therapeutic environment, will help the residents to recognize patterns of behavior that needs to change or certain triggers to avoid after they return home.

In the afternoon:

Most intensive series of therapeutic sessions take place in the middle of the day provides. These could include:

Individual Therapy sessions

Inpatient treatment facilities often use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy sessions.  This form of therapy provides an environment for the participants to open up and share anxieties and fears they may have. It will also guide the therapist to identify appropriate tools and alternative behavioral responses to these sources of anxiety.

Group Therapy sessions

Group sessions are meant to support the individual through sharing personal stories and experiences with fellow patients which allows emotional healing. The group members could develop a bond or a sense of friendship and an understanding for each other’s struggles.

Family Therapy Sessions

Family support is an important aspect of the treatment plan in an inpatient facility. During a family session, a number of issues can be brought to light, and often suppressed or pent up feelings are addressed. Family therapy sessions factor in future support for the patient once they get discharged.

Relaxation and Free Time

A couple of hours of free time in the afternoon is set aside to be used by the residents whichever way they choose.

Some people spend free time journaling or reading whereas some others prefer this time for prayer, meditation or just to relax.

In the Evening:

After dinner in the evenings, usually a 12-step program session is made available. The meetings provide a respectful and anonymous environment in which fellowship can be fostered.

Bedtime is encouraged to be at a reasonable hour, as a way to cultivate healthy habits.

If you or your loved one requires inpatient treatment and rehabilitation from drug or alcohol addiction, it is important to find the right place. Contact a treatment facility close to you and talk to the counselors to identify the right treatment option for your situation.

THE CONCEPT OF INPATIENT ADDICTION TREATMENT

Coming to terms with the fact that you need an addiction treatment, can be an overwhelming decision to make. This is one of the reasons why people shy away from it due to the adverse emotional effect which it has on them.

However, what these people are oblivious is, one of the first things that would be addressed during inpatient addiction treatment, is the emotional aspect.

Hence, those people who feel dejected prior to opting for inpatient addiction treatment, usually get okay in no time, because the addiction counselor would have made them realize some things about addiction, and why they should not look down on themselves.

It would interest you to know that, inpatient addiction treatment is one that has been successfully proven to prevent relapse, and this is what most addiction patients are facing.

The form of addiction at an inpatient rehab is usually more intensive, personalized and immersive than any other type of treatment.

The major factor in inpatient treatment, is the form of accommodation, which is always closed, and opened when the individual has been certified to be free from addiction.

This is usually done because, they want to shut off the individual from other forms of addiction.

Inpatient addiction is targeted at filtering the experience of the addict via the lens of a regular positive strengthening, and a profound support system. The treatment is usually long, and it is not interrupted by any factor. Hence, this grants the addict a realistic state of mind.

The addiction therapy sessions are on a regular basis, and they are available in both individual and group settings, and this gives the addict the chance to relate their struggles to other patients there, who have empathic listening abilities.

During these therapy sessions, patients receive invaluable advice which is often integral to their recovery in either the short or long run.

To wrap it up, the inpatient rehab facility is often structured to the needs of an individual. So, prior to the admittance of clients into an inpatient rehab facility, they are usually interviewed concerning their addictions.

Hence, the data gotten from this would be used to choose the specific treatment materials, activities and therapies.