What Happens In Rehab?

What Happens in Rehab?

If you or a loved one are preparing for recovery, you may be wondering what happens in rehab?

Rehabilitation centres provide a safe, structured environment designed to guide people through the early stages of addiction, with residential facilities offering detox, if needed.

While every one is different, with different needs, the process typically begins with a thorough assessment, followed by a medically supervised detox (if necessary and in-patient), intensive therapy (including individual and group counselling), and comprehensive aftercare planning for sustainable long-term sobriety.

Naturally, a day in rehab differs whether it’s residential or outpatient (attend a clinic but stay at home).

• Residential (or in-patient) rehab involves living at the facility 24/7, providing round-the-clock medical support and a highly structured daily schedule of activities.

• Outpatient rehab allows you to live at home while attending scheduled therapy sessions and maintaining work or family commitments.

This fundamental difference – whether you are residential (at our Essex Clinic) or non-residential (in Birmingham or London) – dictates the intensity, structure and duration of your recovery journey. 

If you’re preparing for rehab, you’re probably feeling nervous and unsure, especially if you don’t know what to expect. Many people delay getting help for fear of judgement from others, however, rehab is a safe space for anyone looking to get sober.

Residential (In-patient) Rehab 

At The Lighthouse in Essex, our programme is designed to help you maintain your recovery long-term. The process is broken down into several stages, starting with an assessment, then detox and therapy and finally aftercare.

While you’re in rehab you’ll get to experience various treatments including group therapy and one-to-one counselling. These evidence-based interventions are a big part of your programme as they allow you to share your own story but also hear the stories of others. As well as forming new connections with your peers you’ll learn coping strategies to help you deal with triggers in the future.

Here we’ll take you through the different stages of rehab and show you what a typical day in treatment looks like.

Addiction Assessment 

Before you can begin treatment, you must first undergo a thorough assessment. This stage is vital because it allows our team of therapists to create a treatment plan specifically dedicated to your needs. During this assessment, you must be open and honest about the severity of your addiction. We understand that this stage isn’t easy. If you’re someone who has spent a long time trying to downplay or hide your addiction, speaking about it can be difficult. However, withholding important information can negatively impact your treatment outcome. You can rest assured this information is completely confidential and will only be used to help us design the best treatment plan for you. 

Residential Detox

Treatment will begin once you’re finally settled and comfortable. If you’re struggling with physical dependence as a result of your addiction, you will likely require detox. During your assessment, the doctor will prescribe the necessary medication to help you manage withdrawal and cope with any unpleasant symptoms. Detox is an important stage of your recovery journey, as it helps your body eliminate harmful substances and manage any unpleasant withdrawal symptoms you might be experiencing. Our specialist alcohol detox offers clinical excellence, and our drug detox programmes provide clients with the best UK healthcare for drug treatment. Just like the rest of our programme, detox will be tailored to suit your needs. You will receive round-the-clock care and medical supervision from our dedicated team and they will monitor your progress and provide support.

In addition to traditional detox methods, we integrate holistic approaches such as yoga, meditation and nutritional support, all aimed at promoting overall well-being and recovery. This approach addresses the physical aspects of detox but also nurtures your emotional health.

Once detox is complete and you are considered fit to continue treatment, you will take part in therapy sessions, both individually and in groups. These sessions aim to help you identify and address the root causes of your addiction. 

Therapy

Therapy is a big part of your recovery process as it helps you address the underlying issues that led to your substance use. In rehab, you’ll likely take part in a combination of one-to-one counselling and group therapy. One-to-one counselling provides a safe space for you to explore personal challenges, group therapy provides connection and support with peers who are going through similar struggles.

Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is often a big part of this, helping you identify and change the negative thought patterns that lead to substance use. You’ll learn coping strategies to manage triggers and stress. Family involvement is also important; involving loved ones can strengthen your support network, aid healing and improve communication.

Also art therapy provides a creative outlet for emotional expression so you can explore feelings you can’t put into words. This holistic approach to therapy means you’re not just addressing addiction but also your emotional and psychological well being. By participating in these different therapies you’ll gain valuable insights and skills to support your long term recovery journey. Use this opportunity to grow and heal as it’s a big part of living a healthier substance-free life.

Aftercare

Relapse prevention is the focus of aftercare. You’ll learn coping strategies tailored to you to manage life’s stresses without using substances. Family involvement is also encouraged as having a strong support network can make a big difference to your recovery journey. Involving loved ones can help create a supportive environment and reinforce healthier habits.

Also wellness activities are an important part of your ongoing recovery. Whether it’s yoga, meditation or fitness classes these activities promote physical and mental well-being and help you stay grounded. By being in aftercare you’re not just leaving rehab you’re building a sustainable healthy lifestyle that supports your long-term recovery.