Are All Treatment Centers Created Equal?

It is hard to know which treatment center is right for you with so many available. It helps to be mindful of the type of treatment you want for yourself. Would a faith-based approach be better than a peer support group? Do you prefer a holistic or clinical approach?

What works for one person will not necessarily work for someone else. While each treatment center is different, they all have the same goal: to teach the client to overcome their addiction. The tools and methods learned throughout treatment give the client the best opportunity for a prosperous life.

It can be challenging to fit each treatment center into a conventional addiction treatment category with today's ever-changing and diversifying treatment approaches. However, detoxification programs are standard in most treatment programs. Treatment centers like Present Moments Recovery will begin each treatment with detoxification. The detoxification process with medication-assisted treatment will clean the individual's system of any drugs while keeping them safe from severe withdrawal symptoms. Once detox is complete, the real work begins.

Types of Treatment Therapies and Techniques

There are various approaches to treatment used in facilities, including:

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is a psychotherapy approach that can treat substance use disorders (SUDs), depression, anxiety, and phobias. CBT assists clients in recognizing their unhealthy patterns, identifying triggers, and applying coping skills. During CBT sessions, the client discusses thoughts and feelings that trouble them. Individuals have the opportunity to access their progress, create plans, and identify approaches to prevent and manage new challenges as they transpire.

Motivational Interviewing

Motivational interviewing is a client-centered approach that targets alcohol or drug addiction by establishing and strengthening an individual's motivation and commitment to sobriety.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing

Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) is a technique that can help individuals deal with unresolved trauma. In one study involving women struggling with SUD, incorporating EMDR into the treatment process proved effective for long-term recovery and overcoming trauma. The women credited EMDR as a critical continuing care component, uncovering emotions and shifting perceptions.

Hypnotherapy

Hypnotherapy is a mind and body intervention used to reprogram the subconscious mind. Hypnotherapy can alleviate pain and decrease anxiety.

Psycho-Educational Groups

Psycho-educational groups are a particular type of group therapy that teaches clients about their addiction and coping skills to manage their addiction. Psycho-educational groups deliver information to instill self-awareness, discover ways to grow and transform, find community resources that can help the client, and recognize and appreciate the recovery process. The ultimate goal of psycho-educational groups is to acknowledge addiction's behavioral and psychological consequences.

Contingency Management

Contingency management is a behavioral therapy approach that reinforces or rewards the client for positive behavior change. It is a highly effective form of treatment for alcohol or drug addiction.

12-Step Programs

12-Step programs provide a set of principles that help individuals who struggle with alcohol or drug addiction by outlining steps to follow. There are two fundamental objectives of a 12-Step program. The first includes the individual accepting their chronic, progressive disease, where they have lost control and abstinence is required. The second objective is the hope for recovery through admitting they have lost control, believing in something that is not "a person" that is fallible and judgmental, but something that is all-knowing, loving, and forgiving, and recognizing that the 12-Step fellowship is influential in recovery.

Choosing a Treatment Center

Choosing the right the National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers (NAATP) suggests selecting providers that are Accredited by CARF or The Joint Commission, and are state-licensed for all levels of care they provide. We believe that these suggestions are the keys to an effective treatment outcome. The state licensing authority and Accrediting body will have a record of complaints filed against a facility, and violations. Many of these resources are available online.

Look for programs that seek in-depth patient medical history to assess the appropriateness of fit. This information is critical in identifying the appropriate level of care, or patient needs that would be better addressed at alternate facilities. Be wary of providers only interested in financial information, or that do not seek in-depth medical history.
Look for a treatment center that is “in-network” with your insurance. If they are not an in-network provider, then ask them to run a benefits check with your insurance company to determine costs associated with an "out-of-network" provider.
Look for programs that use evidence-based addiction treatment practices ranging from Medication Assisted Treatment to 12-Step meetings and most importantly, Discharge Planning services.
Look for providers that have detailed information about their staff qualifications and service types. While ancillary services, spa amenities, and destination locations are attractive, evidence-based clinical services and professionally credentialed staff are far more important for successful outcomes.
More information is better. Look for facilities that have bios for their staff including medical and clinical personnel. They should show their location, and provide detailed information about their assessment, treatment planning, and clinical services. The harder you look, the better a program should look. Be wary of providers that offer generic answers you want to hear, and seek companies that provide comprehensive information.
Look for providers who offer detailed information about patient financial responsibility, and billing practices. While free sounds good, medical services have associated with patient responsibilities through deductibles and copays. Be wary of facilities offering no out-of-pocket cost with insurance.

While there are many treatment centers and approaches to treating alcohol or drug addiction, there is only one goal: to learn how to live with the disease of addiction. Learn all of the coping skills and methods presented throughout treatment to be the best version of yourself; that is what matters the most.

Deciding to seek addiction treatment is one of the most important decisions you will make in life. Getting sober can be overwhelming initially, and being in the right place with the right people can ease your worries away. Finding a treatment center that offers everything you need can impact how you perceive your recovery journey. If you or a loved one are ready to start your recovery process, we can help. In San Diego, California, Present Moments Recovery offers a home-like environment where individualized treatment plans can help you build a firm foundation for your future. Our family-run treatment center offers detox programs, inpatient and outpatient counseling services, and a sober living home to ensure long-term recovery. At Present Moments Recovery, you can heal in a home instead of a facility. We believe recovery can only happen in the present moment. Call us today and learn more about our services at (619) 363-4767.