Inpatient and Outpatient Rehab: Two Unique Types of Treatment
When discussing rehab, there are two main types of treatments available: inpatient (residential) and outpatient. Inpatient rehab provides a supervised and highly structured environment outside of the home whereas outpatient treatment allows clients to receive their care while still living at home. Both of these approaches to rehab share the same goal of long-term wellness, and the choice between them is both clinical and highly personal.
At Safe Harbor, we provide a holistic approach to inpatient treatment that you can learn more about here. Whether you are considering inpatient or outpatient care, we urge you to carefully consider your options against your unique situation. For many, the structure of inpatient care provides relief and a clear path forwards, while for others outpatient care provides a stabilizing foundation for their day to day lives.
In this guide, we’ll provide a general overview of the differences between inpatient and outpatient rehab, what you can expect from each, and how you can make an informed decision about your care. If you would like specific information about Safe Harbor’s programs, you can contact our team of trusted professionals to have your questions answered.
Inpatient vs. Outpatient Rehab: Who Provides the Care
Outside the environment, one of the biggest differences between inpatient and outpatient rehabs are the types of staff they have available. For example, we at Safe Harbor provide a team that provides continuous support.
At outpatient clinics, access to counselors and care is scheduled and limited. Many needs are met through referral-based systems, such as peer support and more advanced medical services. While this can work for many clients with busy schedules that cannot support an extended stay inpatient, a dedicated team helps many individuals find a more consistent path to success.
The Core Differences in Inpatient and Outpatient Care
Each rehab facility will operate in its own way using different techniques of care, but there are a few key ways in which inpatient and outpatient care are unique.
Frequency and Intensity of Care
- Inpatient rehab: Daily structured, routine-based therapy with medical check-ins and oversight. Holistic activities, skill workshops, and peer support often included.
- Outpatient rehab: Scheduled therapy sessions with referrals for medical care, peer support, and long-term skill building.
Medical and Psychiatric Care
- Inpatient rehab: Ongoing assessment of both medical and psychiatric needs. Access to care is immediate for withdrawal management, co-occurring disorder care, and any other complications that may arise.
- Outpatient rehab: Care is coordinated and scheduled, often through an external network of trusted professionals.
Community and Culture
- Inpatient rehab: The residential nature of inpatient care fosters a close community and peer support. At Safe Harbor, we nurture an alumni network that continues after discharge.
- Outpatient rehab: Community is built through groups and reliance on local support networks, but without the immersion of residential living it can be difficult for clients to connect with peers.
When Each Type of Care Is Generally Recommended
As discussed earlier, the choice between inpatient and outpatient care is deeply personal and relies on a number of factors both clinical and unique to an individual’s life. Everything from how one lives to the type of care they respond to best must be considered in order to make an informed choice.
Inpatient rehab is recommended for clients who have medical detox needs. With safe and supportive clinical monitoring, inpatient provides peace of mind and personalized care in these challenging cases. Those who suffer from severe addiction and have an acute withdrawal risk especially benefit from this feature of inpatient care. The stabilization offered by residential care is often a key factor to success in cases with co-occurring disorders such as depression, anxiety, and bipolar depression. When triggers are difficult to avoid or a rigid structure would highly benefit the client, inpatient is a fitting choice.
Outpatient rehab is recommended for clients at low medical risk of complications – those with a stable medical status or strong home support. If a client lives in a situation that already has established, predictable routines, these can be wonderfully supplemented with the specific care that outpatient rehab provides. This is a key factor in clients who must continue to work, attend school, or fulfill family obligations while walking their path to recovery. This is why it’s common for clients who receive inpatient care to transition to outpatient treatment afterwards as part of a long-term commitment to their well-being and aftercare.
Other Factors That Help Determine the Best Treatment
For those in crisis, a clinical intake will evaluate their immediate medical needs as well as their psychiatric history, social supports, and level of addiction. From there, the appropriate level of care can be determined. In these cases, inpatient care is often recommended to help mitigate the circumstances leading to or surrounding the crisis, allowing a fully focused and deep level of care.
Another factor that determines the type of care a client might receive is their personal logistics and insurance situation. Insurance coverage for both types of care is an intensive topic – learn more about Safe Harbor’s specific insurance coverage on our webpage. While some clients may be unable to take off work or find help with responsibilities to make inpatient care possible, others may not be able to find reliable transportation to outpatient facilities. This is just one example of why the choice of rehab can involve a wide variety of factors.
When making your decision, here’s a quick list of practical questions you can ask to help affirm your choice:
- Will you need medically supervised detox or monitoring for signs of withdrawal?
- Would you benefit from clinical oversight for untreated co-disorders?
- How supportive is your home environment? Are there triggers that could be detrimental to your recovery?
- What does your support network look like? Can you depend on help with responsibilities, work flexibility, and transportation needs?
- Do you respond well to daily structure and immersive programming?
Both levels of care aim to provide a lasting plan toward happiness, health, and well-being. Long-term recovery requires the right skillset, tools, resources, and support system that both inpatient and outpatient care provide. As mentioned earlier, many clients who receive inpatient care often transition to outpatient rehab treatment to maintain the positive gains they worked so hard for. Outpatient rehab treatment is one of the strongest pillars of relapse prevention for many of Safe Harbor’s alumni.
Overall, the decision to attend either inpatient rehab or outpatient rehab is one to be applauded. The choice between the two types of care is deeply personal and will depend on not only a client’s medical and psychiatric history but their unique experience with addiction. Outpatient care offers a solid foundation of support for those who need it, but for many inpatient care provides the rigid structure and relief from daily triggers that spark real, permanent healing.
At Safe Harbor, we seek to nurture spiritual wellbeing and a full restoration of our client’s self-confidence. We work using evidence-based treatments and a holistic approach to wellness that aims to provide long-term wellness. If you or a loved one are ready to take the first step toward regaining control of your life, reach out to our admissions team of experts to start today.
