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It can be helpful to think about treatment for a substance use disorder in three steps:

  1. Detoxification: The process of getting drugs or alcohol out of your system safely.
  2. Rehabilitation: The process of getting you ready for your recovery journey.
  3. Continuum of Care: Ongoing support and resources for maintaining your sobriety.

We have provided links to full explorations of detoxification and the continuum of care. In this blog post, the focus in rehabilitation. Let’s explore what you can expect in rehab and how it will set you up for success in recovery.

Understanding What Happens During Rehabilitation

A rehabilitation program includes therapy sessions that are designed to help you learn strategies and gain resources to support your ongoing sobriety. Therapy is a broad topic, and we won’t get into the details of different therapeutic approaches in this entry. That said, you can be confident that your rehabilitation will include individual therapy and group therapy.

Individual therapy is highly personalized to your specific needs. It may, for example, include treatment for any co-occurring mental health disorders that may be entangled with your substance use disorder. Good mental health and lasting sobriety are deeply intertwined, and rehab offers an opportunity to make progress toward better mental well-being. Individual therapy also provides a chance to explore your specific concerns related to returning to day-to-day life after treatment comes to an end.

Group therapy, of course, brings people together to talk about issues related to sobriety and the recovery journey. While not everyone is equally comfortable in a group therapy setting, the process can be helpful. A skilled therapist will work to ensure everyone is put at ease so that each person in the group can benefit from the experience. Group therapy reminds participants that they are not alone in their struggles and creates an atmosphere of mutual support. It also serves as a kind of introduction to the recovery meetings you are strongly encouraged to attend once treatment comes to an end.

Being open and honest with your therapists as you move through the rehabilitation process is essential. Again, therapy is personalized to your needs—but that is only possible when your therapist has a full and true picture of what those needs are. Getting the most out of rehab builds a firm foundation for your sobriety, so it is important to approach it with a spirit of seriousness and honesty.

How Long Does Rehab Take? And Will It Work?

Seeking out treatment for a substance use disorder certainly upends your day-to-day routines, so you might find yourself wondering just how long the rehab portion of treatment lasts.

As a general rule, the rehabilitation process takes about 30 days to complete. It is important to remember, however, that each individual comes to rehabilitation with their own personal set of needs and concerns. Because treatment is personalized, the length of each person’s time in rehab may vary.

Most of us get a little anxious when we don’t know exactly when something will end, and that is certainly true for folks going through rehab. While the end date may be hard to pin down, it can be helpful to focus on goals and lasting results rather than a specific duration. 

And that leads to the second question: Will rehab—and treatment as a whole—work? Will you be able to stay sober over time?

We can say without hesitation that getting treatment for a substance use disorder gives you the best opportunity for building a sober life going forward. Treatment allows you to reclaim your sobriety and learn ways to hold on to it—and it introduces you to a support network that will stick with you.

That said, relapse certainly is a reality for many people who struggle with drugs or alcohol. You might think that means treatment is a waste of time, but the opposite is true. Treatment—whether it is your first time, second time, or more—is the way to get safely sober so you can try to reach your goals again. Giving up on treatment because you experience a relapse is exactly the wrong move.

When It Comes to Helping You Get Sober, We Are Ready When You Are

Located in Meadville, Pennsylvania, French Creek Recovery Center offers a full inpatient treatment program that will see you through medically supervised detoxification and our personalized rehabilitation program so that you can start your recovery journey with confidence. As that journey gets underway, we provide ongoing support to help you maintain your sobriety and rebuild your life.

And if you experience a relapse, we will be right here to see you through the treatment process again. As we have noted, returning to treatment after a setback is the best way to continue to work toward your goal of living a sober life. And we guarantee that you will never be judged at French Creek Recovery Center.