What Is the Difference between Inpatient and Outpatient Rehab?

Outpatient treatment works essentially the same way as inpatient treatment does, the main difference being that inpatient treatment programs are 24/7 and often begin with a supervised detoxification period while outpatient treatment programs meet for a set number of days per week and a set number of hours per day, beginning with Partial Day Treatment. This is the first step in slowly returning to everyday life outside of our facility.

The main components of outpatient treatment at Forward Health include individual therapy, group therapy and educational sessions. At Forward Health, both inpatient and outpatient rehab incorporate evidence-based treatment practices such as Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) and medication–assisted therapy.

Family involvement in the rehab process is another important factor to consider in weighing your outpatient treatment options. Substance use disorder affects the entire family, programs that offer family therapy, support, education and other resources are very beneficial in helping family members work through the chaos that they’ve experienced, set healthy boundaries and rebuild healthy relationships.