You’ve had enough of the substance abuse. Maybe you had a close call with an overdose. Now, you’re looking for help from a California addiction counseling program with the addiction counseling care you need. Here’s what to look for in a quality program. Here’s what to expect.
Doing an Intake Interview
When you first connect with an intake specialist for drug addiction treatment in Berkeley, CA, the expert wants to learn about your situation. This is the time to be brutally honest. There’s no need to sugarcoat the truth. Besides that, these folks have already heard it all.
The intake specialist also conducts an insurance verification. Most importantly, they’ll share with you what the insurance company will pay for. This is important information to have. It means that you don’t have to call the insurance company yourself.
After you have the information you need, you set up a time to come in. The intake specialist will tell you what you can bring. Because each facility’s different, it makes sense to take some notes.
Treatment Starts with Detox
Almost all program participants start with detox. Unless you’ve already quit using and overcome the withdrawal symptoms, it’s a useful treatment. At the center, a therapist works with you to determine what kind of detox experience you could benefit from.
For people with an alcohol use disorder or an opioid addiction, detox is a necessity. That’s because withdrawal can be painful. However, it doesn’t have to be. With the help of medical professionals, you can make it through withdrawal.
Medication helps manage cravings and control pain. Therefore, you stick to your decision to quit using. Depending on your individual situation, detox might take three to seven days. You’re now ready to head to rehab.
Rehab as the Second Stage to Recovery
A quality California addiction counseling program works together with your detox provider. Doing so is instrumental in providing you with a seamless transition. It provides clinical care that helps you deal with the psychological aspect of addiction.
Most importantly, you learn why you fell victim to addiction in the first place. Therapists use talk sessions to help you determine your vulnerability. For some, it’s a co-occurring mental health condition. For others, there’s a peer group that’s leading to substance abuse.
Once you understand your weaknesses, the therapist will customize a care protocol for you. It focuses on the unique challenges that you experience. Treatments might include:
- Dual diagnosis therapy for co-occurring mental health conditions that create substance abuse triggers
- Social skills development for people who need to extricate themselves from a negative peer group
- Couples counseling that deals with issues of co-dependency and anger management
- Life skills training as a tool for helping you develop a healthy lifestyle after program graduation
- Behavioral counseling, which focuses on the development of workable coping skills to replace dysfunction
- Trauma treatment as a tool for handling adverse situations from the past that still affect you in the present
Aftercare Leads to Ongoing Recovery
Each California addiction counseling program has its own unique aftercare program. Almost all of them involve 12 Step program attendance. There, you learn from peers in recovery how to deal with real-life triggers and stressors. Similarly, peer accountability protects many participants from experiencing a relapse.
Some facilities recommend stepping down care to an outpatient treatment model. It’s a good option when you are graduating from an inpatient program. In this setting, you continue to attend therapy part-time and work it around your schedule. Doing so makes sense when you’re looking for (or returning to) work.
Furthermore, consider whether a sober living home couldn’t be a good option for you. It’s a place where you have a room with peers who’re also graduating from treatment. Together, you work on developing and maintaining a sober lifestyle. For some, this program is a brief stepping stone.
For others, it may take many months or even a couple of years to graduate. The goal is for you to feel comfortable with living on your own. But with the right California addiction counseling program, you can do so. Isn’t it time to make the call today?
