When people decide to receive mental health care, they may wonder how long they will need to remain in treatment. The short answer is that it depends. Each treatment plan at Pathways Wellness Center is highly individualized, so it's not possible to tell someone right away how long it will take. There are averages, but again, they depend on how severe the addiction and any co-occurring mental health disorders are. If someone is struggling a lot, they are going to need more time to recover.
It can also vary due to the specific type of substance a person is recovering from. Substances can be dangerous, and takes a supervised detox program to recover safely. Some withdrawal symptoms can even be deadly if not overseen by a medical professional. As a result, detox is done carefully and is never rushed. It's for the safety of the client, and safety always comes first.
Other variables determine treatment length, including the type of treatment program and personal preference. Estimations can be made, but again, it depends on each person and their needs.
To estimate the average length a person may take to complete treatment, we must first look at the different program types designed to treat addiction. Some of the most common examples of addictions treated at Pathways are alcohol, nicotine, opioids, and marijuana. Each of these substances is very different in how they affect the body and the mind. So thusly, they need different approaches to help the client achieve recovery.
A person usually goes to a residential treatment program first for severe addictions. Then it's followed by a partial hospitalization program (PHP). After that comes an intensive outpatient program (IOP) and/or an outpatient program (OP), depending on how much extra help a person needs. The goal of the latter two is to help someone integrate back into society again.
Residential treatment tends to vary between a month to a year, depending on the type of addiction. Methamphetamines, for example, can sometimes take weeks to fully detox safely. Other types of substances may need shorter detox times. The goal of residential treatment is to make sure the client is stable and safe enough to leave constant professional and medical supervision.
Afterward, clients will transition to either a PHP or IOP, depending on how likely they are to relapse. Some substances can leave traces in the body that can last after detox is complete, so they may need more monitoring in a PHP. PHPs have medical personnel on standby to assist in emergencies as well as perform other tasks related to addiction recovery.
Once someone has detoxed, they can fully focus on therapy. Such therapies are there to help someone identify the source of their addiction and teach healthy coping skills. Pathways Wellness Center also uses PHP and IOP programs to help teach clients societal skills, such as finding a job and building better relationships. The average time a client may remain in treatment here is about six months, but again can be shorter or longer.
An OP is less intensive, with therapy sessions lasting only an hour or two at most per week. These programs more or less are transitional for those recovering from addiction. It allows them to enter society, have jobs, and build families, but with extra support from a professional. Being in an OP allows a client to bring up concerns and work through problems before they can become worse. Sometimes a client may only need a month or two of monitoring before they feel ready to leave treatment. Others may want to continue the monitoring process, sometimes being in an OP for a year or more.
Each client will have access to a case manager, who will evaluate the client's needs and help build a treatment plan. There, they can give the client a time frame in which they can expect to meet their goals. This treatment plan can change at any time and is a collaborative effort between the client and the case manager. The client has the power here, and their decisions can greatly impact the time they remain in treatment.
At Pathways Wellness Center, a client's decisions matter greatly. Treatment ultimately depends on the collaboration between the staff and the client. If a client only wants a streamlined treatment plan, they can get one. A client that wants to take advantage of some of Pathways Wellness Center's unique therapies, such as adventure or art therapy, can elect to include those in their plan. This may extend the time needed to complete treatment but should be considered if the client believes it will help them.
Someone may also remain in treatment for as long as they feel they need it. Most clients choose a balanced plan that lets them complete treatment between one to six months. Again, treatment length depends on the addiction and the co-occurring mental health disorder. However, a client can still make decisions that can extend or reduce the time needed to remain in treatment.
Of course, Pathways' staff is always up to answering questions about average treatment lengths. Simply visit our contact page to request information or even visit the facility in person.
Treatment times vary greatly between individuals, but treatment is not designed to last forever. Eventually, every client can expect to return to their previous lives as happier and healthier individuals. With exciting treatment options like adventure therapy, one may find time passing faster than one thought.
People often fear addiction treatment because they expect it to be like a prison. However, that is far from the actual truth. Here at Pathways Wellness Center in Glendora, California, we understand that some clients need more time than others to recover, and that's okay. Regardless of the time it takes, our clients can expect a safe and encouraging setting where they can find healing in peace. Addiction treatment is not locking someone away forever. It's teaching someone how to overcome their addiction so they can eventually live happy, fulfilling lives in recovery. If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction, don't wait. Call us today at (888) 771-0966.
