Twenty million – that’s the number of people suffering from substance use disorder in the United States. Of that 20 million, almost 83,000 entered into addiction treatment in Massachusetts. Help is out there, and outpatient substance use and mental health treatment in Massachusetts is at your fingertips. All you have to do is decide to take that first step forward, reach out, and take it.
If you use or abuse substances or someone you care about is suffering from addiction and dependency, Northstar Recovery Center has outpatient programs that can help turn things around.
What Is Outpatient Treatment in MA?
Outpatient addiction treatment in Massachusetts, in essence, means that you complete treatment while residing outside a facility. This is in opposition to the inpatient where you would be living inside some addiction treatment center for an extended period of time. Outpatient addiction treatment in MA allows people a degree of freedom to continue going about their regular lives – working, attending school, seeing or caring for their family, and so on.
Many people can’t simply drop all of their responsibilities, or perhaps they’re just frightened or unwilling to give up every aspect of their routine. Inpatient care isn’t right for everyone, but outpatient treatments have saved millions of people.
Types of Outpatient Addiction Treatment in Massachusetts
Within the umbrella of “outpatient treatment” there are still numerous different types of addiction treatment programs offered. Some are more intense than others, requiring more of a time commitment, but there are options out there that can suit everyone.
IOP in Massachusetts
IOP (intensive outpatient treatment) is the highest tier of outpatient treatment. It requires the most time commitment − typically two to four hours a day for a few days a week. To be successful with an IOP, you’ll need a stable, safe environment at home and the ability to arrange your schedule around those sessions on different days.
IOP grants access to therapies and interventions that have been proven to be successful for substance abuse patients. This includes individual therapy, group therapy, possibly family and trauma therapy, or whatever suits the individual needs of the person participating.
Evening IOP in Massachusetts
Northstar Recovery Center goes one step further in offering Evening IOP, allowing people to carry on with their work or daily commitments and then receive treatment at night. It eliminates a worry that so many people have – that they’ll have to give up or suspend their livelihood and routine by entering outpatient addiction treatment in Massachusetts. Evening IOP cuts out that concern and makes it as convenient as possible to begin your new and improved life.
Support Groups
Different support groups (like Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous) can be incredibly helpful components of outpatient treatment. While they’re not “treatment” on their own, they can help people to stay on track and accountable, while also fostering social relationships with people who will support their recovery. Group therapy is typically included in outpatient treatment programs, and support groups can continue to fill in that space for those in recovery.
What’s Included in Outpatient Treatment?
In outpatient treatment, you’ll have access to the same types of therapies that are used with more intense programs. The biggest difference is the amount of time you spend on those therapies.
You’ll have the opportunity to participate in one-on-one, individual therapy. This might include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to help you learn about yourself, your addiction, and how to change the behaviors that guide it. Trauma therapy may also be included as part of your individual therapy.
Outpatient therapy also involves group therapy, which (as mentioned in the “Support Group” section above) is one of the best ways for people in recovery to meet and socialize with others who understand their struggles. It removes the loneliness and isolation that go along with addiction, and group therapy gives many people a chance to speak to others in ways they wouldn’t feel safe doing otherwise.
Is Outpatient Addiction Treatment in Massachusetts Right for You?
Some important criteria will determine whether or not outpatient treatment is the right option for your recovery.
First and foremost, do you have a safe and supportive home environment? With outpatient treatment, you’ll be staying at your residence, not at a facility, so that needs to be an environment you’re comfortable in. If you live somewhere or with people who might jeopardize your recovery, outpatient treatment might not be as successful.
Those who need 24/7 monitoring or care are also not the right candidates for outpatient therapy. They could benefit more from inpatient treatment or, perhaps, partial-hospitalization programs instead.
The ideal outpatient treatment “candidate” has a strong support network to return to at the end of the day, is willing to make time for sessions, and does not require heavy monitoring or aid throughout the day and night.
Conclusion
Outpatient therapy has helped millions of people move beyond their addictions and dependencies and build new lives for themselves. If you’re seeking the best outpatient substance use and mental health treatment in Massachusetts, you’ll find it at Northstar Recovery Center. Reach out to take the first step toward a new, sober you.