What to Expect at a Treatment Center
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Every treatment center is different but in most cases they all have many similarities. Your treatment will vary according to your own individual needs and the type of addiction that you suffer from but otherwise knowing what to expect at a treatment center is pretty standard. Here’s a look at what you can expect when you enter a treatment center for the very first time:
Treatment Center Intake
When you first enter into treatment for addiction you will meet the staff who will be in charge of caring for you throughout the treatment process. An intake representative or counselor will take all of your information regarding age, address, emergency contacts, etc. Then you will begin the initial evaluation with a physician or counselor at the treatment center.
The counselor or physician will ask you about your addiction as well as various other aspects of your life. A complete medical history will be taken and you will also be asked about how you feel about treatment for your drug addiction. Any personal hopes or aspirations that you have will also be discussed at this time. This session is like a “meet and greet” between you and your counselor or the physician on staff at the treatment center. It’s a time for the physician to get to know you and begin to understand your individual needs.
Following intake you will likely be taken to your room or to another area of the treatment center where you will begin the safe detox from drugs or alcohol. Detox is different at every treatment center but generally you will be offered certain medications along the way that will help to make the detox process easier for you and less painful.
Beginning Addiction Treatment
After a detox phase that typically lasts anywhere from 3-10 days you will begin treatment for your addiction. At this point a treatment plan has already been developed to meet your own individual needs based on the first intake session that you had with the counselor or staff physician. The first days of treatment will likely be the most difficult or challenging for you but once you get used to the schedule and the process of treatment it will become easier.
You will meet regularly with an addiction counselor and begin to attend group therapy sessions. Treatment centers offer a range of counseling services but most focus heavily on group therapy for the added benefits that come from discussing addiction and those effects of addiction with peers who have similar addictions. The rehabilitation process will include therapy, counseling, group meetings that are based on a twelve step approach to treatment and later aftercare. The treatment center is a safe place for you to recover from your addiction.
Treatment Center Therapies
During treatment you will find a range of therapies offered to you. The supportive and caring environment facilitates recovery without the need to worry about life’s daily stressors such as work, school or financial struggles so all you have to do if focus on recovering from addiction. Lectures and educational activities are usually offered to both you and your family members or loved ones so that you can all come out with a better understanding of your addiction and how it can affect your life as well as the lives of those around you.
Relaxation and recreational activities are introduced in an attempt to show the better side of life. You should try to find something positive to do each day whether you take part in an artistic activity such as painting or drawing or you get involved in an outdoor activity such as swimming or exercising. The idea is to find ways to occupy your time positively and to take these new plans with you when you have completed drug or alcohol treatment.
You will also have personal time in which you can reflect on your addiction and your past as well as on the counseling from earlier in the day or from previous days. Treatment centers also require you to do various individual assignments each day or week. It’s important that you always try to get the most benefit out of these assignments and that you are honest with yourself. The time spent at a treatment center is intended to help you learn, reflect and get past addiction to live a healthy and sober life.
