Recovery in Reality did not get its name by chance. In today’s world being cocooned in a treatment facility for a month without contact with the outside world can present a whole host of problems when patients walk outside for the first time. Facing the world sober and clean needs a whole new set of skills if relapse isn’t going to rear its ugly head. There is a lot to be gained from some gently exposure whilst in treatment and there is a lot to be gained from experiencing the reality of living at home whilst still supported by the treatment environment during the day.
For some this is a more advisable option than remaining in the residential environment for an extra week or two. The problems that are encountered at home; the triggers of everyday life and the difficulties using some of the tools of treatment can all be brought back into the treatment environment and processed with counsellors. You are never more than a few hours away from safety. For some, particularly mothers of young children, it is essential to be back in the home environment to quickly bring back some stability to the children’s lives. Whatever the reason it is not to be seen as a substitute for the intensive inpatient treatment environment that is an essential ingredient to primary treatment. Much of the essential work that is done outside of the formal programme is lost when patients go home for the evening which in the initial phase is irreplaceable.
Day care following residential treatment is often ‘step down’ – a gradual closure on the treatment phase of recovery and a gradual reintegration back into work and home. Often the day care will start after a couple of days at home and during the first week will be a full time affair. If all is well this will gradually reduce to 5 days, then 4 until final discharge. Day care seldom lasts more than 4 weeks and often patients become confident enough to bring forward the final discharge date in the knowledge that there is other support that now needs to be utilised.
For some this is a more advisable option than remaining in the residential environment for an extra week or two. The problems that are encountered at home; the triggers of everyday life and the difficulties using some of the tools of treatment can all be brought back into the treatment environment and processed with counsellors. You are never more than a few hours away from safety. For some, particularly mothers of young children, it is essential to be back in the home environment to quickly bring back some stability to the children’s lives. Whatever the reason it is not to be seen as a substitute for the intensive inpatient treatment environment that is an essential ingredient to primary treatment. Much of the essential work that is done outside of the formal programme is lost when patients go home for the evening which in the initial phase is irreplaceable.
Day care following residential treatment is often ‘step down’ – a gradual closure on the treatment phase of recovery and a gradual reintegration back into work and home. Often the day care will start after a couple of days at home and during the first week will be a full time affair. If all is well this will gradually reduce to 5 days, then 4 until final discharge. Day care seldom lasts more than 4 weeks and often patients become confident enough to bring forward the final discharge date in the knowledge that there is other support that now needs to be utilised.
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