Choosing Holistic Rehab for Yourself or a Loved One

Choosing treatment for yourself or for a loved one can be daunting. Of course there’s the immediate questions of “what type of treatment is necessary?” and “Do I really even need to get professional help?” There are also the questions of, “What makes one type of treatment or one treatment facility better than the next?”

Most holistic rehabs utilize similar treatment methodologies in order to help patients recover, but no two treatment programs are identical and there is no one-size-fits-all rehabilitation program that will work for every recovering addict. Finding a holistic rehab center that will mesh with your individual needs while providing you with adequately focused treatment is vital to your success in recovery, but with so many options out there, how do you choose?

Initially, you must consider your own needs and how these needs can be accommodated in treatment. If you’re suffering from an addiction to alcohol, you may want to consider a program that specializes in the treatment of alcoholism. Likewise, if you suffer from a dually diagnosed condition such as anxiety and addiction to a drug, consider seeking a rehab center that specializes in treating both addiction and mental illness.

Holistic treatment helps people overcome and heal from addiction.

You’ll also have to decide whether you require around-the-clock monitoring such as that provided in a residential rehab center or if you can get adequate treatment from a qualified outpatient holistic rehabilitation program. Choosing between these two types of treatment will depend on a variety of factors including:

• The severity of your addiction.
• Your current mental health.
• Your current physical health.
• Whether you have been in treatment before.
• The type of addiction or behavioral disorder that you currently suffer from.
• Your commitment to recovery.
• Your insurance coverage or ability to pay for treatment.

Consideration should also be taken in terms of the length of treatment. NIDA recommends that individuals suffering from an addiction to drugs or alcohol remain in treatment for a period of at least 90 days in order to gain the greatest benefits in recovery. Many inpatient treatment programs range in length from 30 days to 90 days or more. Outpatient programs can span any amount of time with programs ranging from just a few months to a year or more.

Holistic Detox

Regardless of the type of treatment that you initially choose, detox is the first step of the recovery process. During detox, patients will receive support, medical treatment and an array of care services that are aimed at the common goal of helping the addict to physically stabilize in preparation for ongoing psychological therapy and counseling.

The majority of addictions to drugs or alcohol require at least a short period of time to allow for safe detoxification. During holistic detox, the patient will experience the early stages of withdrawal during which time the trace effects of drugs or alcohol will gradually be eliminated allowing for overall stabilization of the body. Various methods of treatment can be utilized during holistic detox including:

• Acupuncture to control physical symptoms of withdrawal such as nausea or headaches.
• Massage therapy to induce relaxation or to reduce pain.
• Nutritional guidance and health meals that promote the elimination of toxins from the body.
• Exercise to help further promote toxin elimination and speed the process of detoxification.

The amount of time that it takes to detoxify and prepare for the psychological foundation of treatment which consists of counseling and therapy will depend on the severity of the addiction, the length of time an individual has been addicted and various other factors. Generally, detox will take somewhere between 3 and 14 days depending on individual circumstances.

The decision to seek residential detox will depend on the severity of the addiction and the potential severity of withdrawal symptoms. Medical intervention, including the use of maintenance medications, is often required during the detoxification process. Alcohol addiction as well as many prescription drug addictions require extensive monitoring during detox to ensure the safety of the patient.

If you or someone you love suffers from an addiction to alcohol or to a prescription drug such as Xanax or Methadone, it is recommended that you choose a residential detox program for help. While outpatient detox is available for some, this type of treatment is generally reserved for individuals who suffer only from mild symptoms of withdrawal and who are not heavily addicted to a drug that leads to serious physical repercussions when abruptly eliminated from regular use.

Residential Treatment Programs

Residential treatment is the chosen method of care for those suffering from an addiction to drugs or alcohol. Following a period of time spent in detox, most addicts will find that the most effective holistic treatment starts in an inpatient rehabilitation center. Here, in a safe and controlled environment, individuals who are addicted to drugs or alcohol begin to re-learn what it means to be sober. Monitoring and patient support is provided around-the-clock to ensure consistency and continued abstinence as well as overall safety.

During residential treatment, psychological counseling and therapy is provided to help the patient overcome the burdens of addiction. The goal of this phase of the treatment process is to help the addict restore a sense of normalcy into his or her life by:

• Learning methods of craving control.
• Learning how to recognize triggers and avoid them.
• Learning how to overcome stress and other challenges that could otherwise derail recovery.
• Learning how to cope with everyday factors that led to the addiction.
• Learning how to socialize and interact with others without the use of drugs or alcohol.
• Learning how to remain focused and in control of behaviors and personal actions.

Residential treatment programs can be tailored to the unique needs of the patient allowing for a fully customizable treatment approach that will help the addict to heal. Most holistic treatment programs are closely monitored by a patient care coordinator who works closely with the treatment staff to ensure that the patient’s recovery goals are met and that treatment modifications are made as needed to ensure continued success in recovery.

Providing a total body approach to healing, residential treatment in a holistic rehab center focuses on helping the recovering addict to stabilize and heal on both a physical and psychological level. The whole-body approach to recovery that is provided in a residential treatment setting restores the necessary balance into the user’s life ultimately facilitating long-term recovery and healing.

Outpatient Treatment Programs

Much like residential treatment, outpatient treatment focuses on restoring balance by providing a wide range of holistic therapy approaches that are aimed at helping the addict to heal. Through counseling, therapy and monitoring that takes place on a day-to-day basis rather than a 24-hour basis, outpatient treatment for addiction allows the recovering addict to remain involved with work, school and family life while also receiving the help that they need to get sober.

The decision to seek the less invasive help of an outpatient rehab center should not be taken lightly. For some, outpatient treatment simply does not provide adequate coverage in terms of monitoring and medical support, but for most individuals suffering from behavioral disorders as well as for those with mild cases of addiction, outpatient treatment can help.

This type of care will incorporate counseling and therapy into the everyday lives of those who seek help. By offering access to treatment during the day, on weekends and even in the early evening hours, outpatient rehab programs can aid in the recovery process as long as the patient is committed and has a strong support network outside of the treatment program.

Support can come from friends, family and peers. To ensure that patients don’t relapse and remain abstinent from the use of drugs or alcohol, most outpatient rehabilitation programs will require patients to submit to random drug or alcohol screenings. These tests are not meant to point fingers, but rather to provide an early detection mechanism that allows the counselor to recognize the need for changes in the monitoring and treatment regimen should relapse begin to occur.

Outpatient treatment is not for individuals who suffer from serious mental illness, serious addiction or serious instances of withdrawal when a drug or alcohol is abruptly eliminated from daily use. This type of treatment is recommended only to those who are otherwise stable mentally, have a strong commitment to their recovery, have a strong support system and have not recently relapsed or had prior rehabilitation treatment.

Traditional Care vs. Holistic Rehab

Why should you choose holistic rehab? Traditional treatment programs incorporate counseling, therapy and medical treatment into the overall healing regimen but may not offer the holistic practices that can greatly benefit you or your loved one. It’s important to recognize that both holistic rehab and traditional rehab programs offer similar services in that they both provide counseling, they both offer behavioral therapy and they both offer medical treatment both in detox and ongoing.

Holistic rehab differs slightly in the amenities or additional services that are offered. In this type of program, patients are given the opportunity to take part in an array of alternative treatment modalities including:

• Acupuncture
• Massage therapy
• Art therapy
• Animal therapy
• Music therapy
• Nutritional therapy and exercise
• Meditation
• Yoga
• Naturopathic Medicine

Each of these holistic care practices, as well as many others, offers patients a well-rounded means of healing their mind, body and spirit. According to NIDA, “effective treatment attends to multiple needs of the individual, not just his or her drug abuse.” In order for treatment to be most effective, proper care must be taken to ensure that the patient has an opportunity to heal and recover from the medical, psychological, social, spiritual and emotional elements of addiction or a behavioral disorder; holistic rehab provides ample opportunity for the recovering addict to shift focus from his or her addiction to the necessary steps that must be taken in order to achieve recovery on all levels.

If you’re not sure which type of treatment to choose, inpatient or outpatient, holistic or traditional, consider the following benefits of inpatient holistic rehab:

• Around-the-clock support, patient care and medical monitoring.
• Consistency in counseling and therapy.
• Safe practices that facilitate healing of the mind, body and spirit.
• Peer support and guidance.
• Healthy meals and exercise programs.
• Ongoing services including aftercare for lifelong recovery.

For more information about holistic rehab, or for help finding a treatment center that can provide you or someone you love with the supportive care you need to get well, call our helpline. Our counselors are ready to answer your questions and help you choose the right holistic treatment center.