Drug Rehabilitation: What Is It Like to Attend Rehab?

Attending drug rehabilitation is perhaps the most personal journey one can start while breaking free from substance use disorder. 

Whether you're considering rehab for yourself or a loved one, this journey is filled with emotional, mental, and physical challenges. Feeling overwhelmed by the unknowns and uncertainties about what to expect is natural. 

This article will clarify the most important questions about drug rehabilitation and provide a better understanding of what attending rehab is like. We’ll also share different rehab options that can empower you to make an informed decision on this life-changing path.

Table of Contents

• What Is Drug Rehab Like?
• How Long Does Rehab Take?
• Therapies Available in Drug Rehab
• Dove Recovery Offers Comprehensive Drug Rehab Programs in Columbus, Ohio

Drug rehabilitation is a pivotal critical step for individuals struggling with substance use disorder. Rehab programs provide the support and structure necessary to break free from substance abuse while receiving the necessary medical care to ensure the patient’s health.

Patients in drug rehabilitation focus on their recovery journey rebuilding their lives and learning coping mechanisms to maintain their progress. Mental health professionals, using evidence-based approaches, ensure that rehabilitation not only addresses the physical dependence on drugs but also the underlying psychological and emotional issues that led the patient to substance abuse. 

Patients with substance use disorder experience negative effects on their physical and mental health, engage in reckless behavior, and see a decline in overall well-being. 

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), addiction can be managed and treatment enables patients to counteract the disruptive effects of addictions. Rehabilitation helps people modify their attitudes and behaviors related to substance abuse and regain control over their lives. 

Mental health specialists have widely studied substance abuse and developed different rehabilitation options according to the patient’s needs. Dove Recovery offers drug rehab in Columbus, OH, that focuses on individualized, comprehensive, and compassionate care to meet the needs of each client.

Inpatient Rehab

Inpatient rehab is the safest option for patients who require a controlled environment and a structured plan while receiving care and supervision 24/7. The goal of an inpatient rehab program is to provide a safe environment where the patient’s needs can be addressed until a more flexible program becomes an option depending on the patient’s progress and overall health. 

Outpatient Rehab

The outpatient program is Dove Recovery’s most flexible addiction treatment. Its personalized part-time methodology allows patients to maintain their schedules while providing an evidence-based approach that exceeds industry standards and helps you achieve your goals and find happiness. This program is a magnificent option for those who have a stable home environment and are at a low risk of relapse. 

Individual therapy, group therapy, medical management, and holistic therapies — such as yoga and meditation — are some of the powerful options available in daytime and evening sessions for this program. An outpatient program can often be more affordable than inpatient treatment programs. 

Intensive Outpatient Program

The Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) at Dove Recovery in Columbus is a comprehensive approach to addiction treatment. It is specially designed to provide the perfect amount of care to those who require more structure than a traditional outpatient treatment but less than full-time inpatient care. 

This program allows patients to maintain daily routines and responsibilities while supporting a smooth transition into everyday life and allowing them to apply the coping skills learned in therapy to real-world situations. IOP can help with long-term recovery and relapse prevention.  

Our IOP structured therapy sessions include individual therapy, group therapy, and family therapy as well as medication management and support services. This program involves several hours per day for several days a week; however, the program’s intensity is tailored according to the patient's needs and recovery progress. 

The intensive outpatient program can also be more affordable than inpatient programs. 

Partial Hospitalization Program

The Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) at Dove Recovery is specially designed for patients who need significant therapeutic support without requiring complete hospitalization. This program helps transition from inpatient care to traditional outpatient therapy and benefits patients who require more structured support. 

PHP is especially helpful in managing symptoms effectively, preventing relapse, and improving the quality of the patient’s life with the intensity of inpatient care and the flexibility to have the patient return to their home each night. 

PHP provides a highly structured program led by psychologists, psychiatrists, and mental health professionals who provide comprehensive and compassionate care to address each patient’s challenges, including: 

• Psychoeducation
• Case management
• Individual and group therapy
• Medication management
• A holistic approach; and
• Individualized treatment plans

Drug rehab is most effective when patients complete the full program, with the length of treatment varying based on the several factors that need to be assessed by our team and customized to the patient’s needs and progress. 

While some patients may need to start with the structure of inpatient rehab and transition into the flexibility of outpatient programs later, others can simply start with outpatient rehab for a few hours of therapy each week. 

Treatment programs typically include:

• 30-day programs
• 60-day programs
• 90-day programs
• Long-term options (sober living or halfway houses)

Dove Recovery tailors therapeutic sessions according to the patient’s needs and progress, including. Here are some of the therapy programs we offer.

Individual Behavioral Therapy

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) aims to recognize the impact of emotions and thoughts between each other and how those impact the patient’s behaviors. CBT is one of the most effective methods used in drug rehab and focuses on teaching the patient how to safely cope with all these during and after recovery. 

Therapists guide patients to identify triggers and develop tools and healthier responses to those stimuli in one-on-one therapy sessions. These promote and provide a safe and confidential environment for the patient to feel free to unfold fears or concerns, address them, and apply them daily.

Group Therapy

Group therapy in rehab provides a safe environment for patients to share their experiences and progress while fostering a sense of unity, as everyone in the group has experienced the challenges of substance use disorder. 

Mental health specialists guide and encourage patients’ shared experiences about recovery to be discussed with honesty and accountability. The positive impact of these sessions is seen not only when patients share their stories but also for the listeners who have a chance to connect, create meaningful bonds, and develop empathy for each other’s journeys.

Specialized Sessions

Certain drug rehabilitation centers also provide specialized sessions based on techniques that directly target issues like anger management, stress, trauma, or grief. 

The purpose of these sessions is to help patients acquire coping strategies that will help them manage different challenges in a healthy and controlled way. This also reduces the chances of relapse or the urge to turn to drugs for temporary relief. 

Some rehab programs also feature specialty tracks tailored to particular groups, such as first responders, veterans, healthcare workers, young adults, or the LGBTQ+ community. These programs provide a sense of belonging, healing, and support from people who have been or are going through similar experiences. 

Family Therapy

Substance abuse leads to destructive patterns like codependency, enabling behaviors, and deep feelings of anger or resentment. Since addiction does not affect just the patient but their entire family, family support and therapy are key components of most rehab programs. 

Family therapy sessions create a safe space where these issues and negative emotions can be addressed, and everyone can openly express their feelings and concerns. The success of treatment deeply relies on involving family members as the patient’s support after discharge. 

Many treatment centers offer family programs to actively involve loved ones in the healing process. These may include: 

• Visitation
• Family weekends
• Educational seminars
• Spaces where family members can learn how to effectively support the patient throughout their recovery journey

If you or a loved one is struggling with a substance disorder, taking the first step toward recovery can be life-changing. Don’t wait any longer — contact us today to start your healing journey, reclaiming your health and freedom. When you reach out, our specialists will help you choose the best program for your needs.