When it comes to getting treatment for an addiction, a painful relationship, old wounds and traumas, and other dysfunctional behaviors, the choices can be confusing and overwhelming. We recommend meeting with a qualified professional to get recommendations for what levels of treatment might be right for you or a loved one. Below are some of the options and who might consider them. If you have more questions, please reach out to us. We would be happy to help you get to the right place.
12 Step and Self-Help Programs
These are programs designed to support individuals struggling with addiction, those in relationships with addicts, those healing from trauma or painful past issues, and/or recovering from a mental health concern.
These programs are typically peer-led, meaning there are no professionals guiding the process. This can be beneficial as participants help each other recover. Participants often relate to each other as they share a common problem and are finding solutions together.
***Self-help programs in combination with therapy appears to be most effective.
Who Would Benefit & Why
- Almost anyone
- Those needing ongoing support between therapy sessions
- Those able to maintain needed changes without ongoing therapy
- Those in the maintenance phase of recovery
Benefits
- Increase level of support by attending more meetings each week
- It’s free (or very low cost – i.e., $2 donation)
- Form relationships with others going through similar issues and who have found solutions
- Develop sense of community and relationship
Cons
- Must rearrange schedule to prioritize meeting attendance
- It can feel vulnerable to let a group know that you’re struggling
Individual Therapy
In individual therapy sessions, clients meet with a therapist for approximately an hour. Sessions typically occur weekly, bi-weekly, or sometimes less often.
Therapists are trained to help clients identify the problem(s), clarify recovery/therapy goals, and then help work toward those goals. Many therapists (including TARC therapists) have specialized training to help clients address particular challenges (i.e., sex addiction, trauma, betrayal wounds).
***Therapy in combination with self-help support appears to be most effective.
Who Would Benefit & Why
- Those getting started in a recovery process
- Those already attending 12 Step or self-help groups
- Those needing consistent professional support to address a problem
- Those needing assessment to determine the problem and get recommendations for treatment.
Benefits
- Consistent professional help
- Confidential place to address issues
- Deepen recovery through gaining new insight, awareness, and accountability for changing behaviors
Cons
- Fees involved
- Rearrange schedule to prioritize appointments
Group Therapy
Group therapy, like 12 Step and self-help programs, have the benefit of providing support from other people who are struggling in similar ways as you. Unlike many self-help groups, group therapy is facilitated by a specially trained therapist who guides the group process. Because of this, group therapy offers an opportunity to express strong feelings, practice safe/healthy communication with group members, and receive feedback from each other in a safe way. Group therapy also allows participants to focus on a particular issue with greater intensity and the use of group members to gain insight and clarity into relationship patterns.
Who Would Benefit & Why
- Those benefitting from the individual therapy process
- Those needing increased support from others.
- Those whose problematic behaviors are best observed in relationships
- Those needing to improve relationship skills including communication, empathy, and intimacy
Benefits
- Improve communication and relationships skills
- Use of group and professional support in addressing problems
- Gift of gaining feedback from group members that people may avoid telling you in real life
- Confidential place to address issues
- Deepen recovery and healing work, potentially faster than individual therapy alone
- Address interpersonal dynamics that aren’t likely to arise in individual therapy
Cons
- Fees involved
- Rearrange schedule to prioritize sessions
- Vulnerability in sharing problems with others
Intensives
Intensives are therapist-guided experiences that may involve one client, a couple, a family or a group of clients with similar therapeutic goals. Intensives are generally short term (1-5 days) experiences where clients can work on specific treatment goals. Because of the longer time frame involved, clients can dig into a particular issue without fear that the session will end in a few minutes.
Who Would Benefit & Why
- Those already in a therapy and recovery process
- Those seeking to re-energize recovery and/or a relationship
- Those with specific therapeutic goals to target in a limited amount of time
- Those who are free from suicidal ideations, active self-harm, or active addictive behaviors
- Those who are stable with emotion regulation skills
- Those who intend to engage in ongoing therapy and self-care practices
Benefits
- Focus on specific goals with guided professional support
- Intimate process for couples or families wanting to deepen their relationships.
- May help clear specific blocks to ongoing recovery process.
- Re-energize motivation for recovery and ongoing healing
Cons
- Fees involved
- Significant time commitment
- Sometimes there is preparation work prior to the event
Intensive Outpatient Treatment (IOP)
IOP programs provide treatment to clients on an outpatient basis. IOP programs provide more structure and intensity to the therapy process than individual or group therapy alone. IOPs are typically 7-9 weeks, offering a mixture of education, group therapy, individual therapy, and experiential work. Some IOP programs also offer family services. IOP programs occur 1-4 days per week, 3-6 hours per session.
Who Would Benefit & Why
- Those struggling with active addiction or mental health issue.
- Those who need a more structured therapeutic process
- Those who need/want to make significant life changes immediately
- Those whose current level of support has not been enough to maintain change
- Those who can function in and benefit from a group environment
- Those who are at risk for relapse into destructive behavior
- Those who are facing serious relationship, work, legal or other consequences because of destructive behaviors
Benefits
- Supports immediate change with more intensive therapeutic structure
- Gain 8-12 months of therapy in 7-9 weeks
- Participant can usually continue to work and attend to home tasks while engaged in treatment
- Implement needed changes into daily life with ongoing accountability and intensive support
- Allows family members to participate as needed/recommended at a local level
- Connect with and utilize local support while engaged in treatment – increase the likelihood that you will continue use support when the program ends
- Demonstrates motivation and desire for change
Cons
- Fees involved
- Will need to alter regular life/work routines to accommodate treatment schedule and assignments
- Significant time commitment
Residential or Inpatient Treatment
Residential (or inpatient) treatment programs require clients to reside on the program’s premises while engaging in treatment services. These programs are generally 2 weeks to several months long (many programs are 28-45 days). Clients are expected to respect the rules and structure of the program (i.e., group attendance, technology use, lights out/bed times, etc). While these programs are intense, they are extremely beneficial for those who are struggling to make changes in their home environment. Additionally, due to the intense focus of these programs, clients are able to make changes quickly within this safe environment. Changes will only be maintained, however, if support is in place at home upon program completion.
Who Would Benefit & Why
- Those who are unable to maintain sobriety or safety with local and/or intensive outpatient resources
- Those who want to deepen their recovery
- Those who need or want to gain a firm recovery foundation relatively quickly without distractions of real life
- Those who are facing serious relationship, work, legal or other consequences due to destructive behaviors
- Those needing to make changes fast
- Those who can function and benefit from a group setting
- Those who will benefit from a structured treatment environment, 24 hours/day
- Those able to leave current life circumstances for 14-90 days (or more depending on the program)
Benefits
- Supports immediate change with more intensive therapeutic structure
- Gain 1-2 years of therapy in a several weeks
- Focus exclusively on recovery issues without distraction from the outside world (work, family, news, etc)
- Practice behavior change in a supportive environment. Mistakes have minimal consequences and professionals are there to help you do it different next time.
- Family members are also able to get information and support on a limited basis
- Get clear after treatment recommendations and help to set up needed appointments
- Demonstrates motivation and desire for change
Cons
- Typically more expensive than other forms of treatment
- Will need to detach from real life responsibilities and routines including phone, email, texts, etc to focus on treatment
- Significant commitment of time away from home and work
- Will need support to implement ongoing therapy and community resources upon completion of residential treatment
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