When you’re struggling with addiction, mental health disorders, trauma, and other emotional distress, it can be overwhelming to know where to turn for quality support. Fortunately, professional treatment programs can provide you with a safe and confidential space to heal from the root causes of your symptoms.
Yet, with so many available treatment options, it can be difficult to understand what program may be best for your individualized needs and goals for recovery. Here, we will explore inpatient vs outpatient programs and their roles in fostering lasting healing and well-being for clients.
If you are seeking compassionate, quality care for yourself or a loved one, we at AM Healthcare are here to guide and support you through every stage of care. We offer a wide range of treatment options for our clients, including both inpatient residential and outpatient treatment program services, across Southern California.
Each of our programs can be customized to meet you where you are on your journey to healing, ensuring that you have what you need to secure lasting, whole-person wellness of the mind, body, and spirit.
Before beginning your recovery journey, it can be helpful to understand the type of care that is most appropriate to address your unique needs. In general, addiction and mental health treatment exist in a continuum, known as a “continuum of care.”
As explained in a publication by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), this “refers to a treatment system in which clients enter treatment at a level appropriate to their needs and then step up to more intense treatment or down to less intense treatment as needed.”
By offering a continuum of care for substance abuse and mental health treatment, treatment facilities can offer more seamless transitions for clients as they grow closer to full independence.
There are five main levels in a continuum of care for mental health and substance abuse treatment. These include:
Understanding this continuum is essential for differentiating inpatient vs outpatient programs.
The most significant difference between inpatient and outpatient care is that inpatient care requires an overnight stay each night. In contrast, those enrolled in outpatient programs must return home following their participation in treatment.
Beginning with the highest levels in the continuum of care, levels III and IV are categorized as types of inpatient treatments. These services require clients to reside at a residential or inpatient facility as they undergo care.
The highest level of care, level IV: medically managed intensive inpatient services, offers around-the-clock medical and psychological support for individuals experiencing serious illnesses, severe symptoms of withdrawal, or psychiatric distress.
Level IV services are offered short-term (typically 7-10 days). They can be especially vital for those who are in danger of hurting themselves or others, as they provide intensive medical care, oversight, and other interventions aimed toward harm reduction.
Likewise, individuals seeking recovery from substance abuse or dependency will often have to begin their treatment journey here, specifically with detoxification services. Detoxification will work to minimize the risk of medical health complications that can arise during substance withdrawal while ensuring patient safety and comfort. Once a client is cleared from detox, they can transition to a lower level of care, such as a residential treatment program.
In level III: inpatient residential treatment, clients participate in a highly structured and intensive treatment program as they reside at the treatment facility. Here, clients will have ongoing access to psychological and medical treatment services as needed while participating in engaging individual and group therapy sessions as part of their individualized treatment plan.
Case management services, family therapy, medication management, holistic activities, and dual diagnosis treatment are all common facets of residential treatment programs. Treatment duration is customized to each client’s goals for treatment, lasting anywhere from 2 weeks, 30 days, a couple of months, or longer.
Moving down the continuum of care, the next three levels can all be categorized as types of outpatient services.
Continuing with level II: intensive outpatient services, this type of treatment offers a bridge between residential treatment and general outpatient care. Partial hospitalization programs (PHPs) require 20+ hours of weekly programming for clients, whereas intensive outpatient programs (IOPs) typically require 9-12 hours of programming each week.
Similar to residential treatment programs, in both IOPs and PHPs, clients will also participate in individual and group therapy sessions as part of their treatment plan. These programs also offer many of the same facets of residential treatment programs for clients, yet stress a particular focus on relapse prevention and crisis services as clients navigate environmental triggers in their daily lives outside of treatment.
Finally, level I is the least intensive type of substance abuse or mental health treatment available. Clients may engage in both individual and group therapy sessions, though on a much smaller scale.
Meanwhile, level 0.5 often involves psychoeducational initiatives to help educate individuals and loved ones on the potential dangers and harms of leaving substance abuse or mental health disorders untreated.
Now, when deciding whether inpatient vs outpatient care is right for you or a loved one, it is important to consider the circumstances in which inpatient treatment is recommended. Compared to outpatient treatment, inpatient treatment is a better option in the following cases:
If you or a loved one is in crisis or is experiencing severe mental or emotional distress, inpatient treatment can be life-saving. Examples of acute needs that are best treated in inpatient treatment can include, but are not limited to:
In these circumstances, inpatient residential treatment can provide you with intensive therapy and medication oversight to facilitate stabilization and symptom management. Once acute needs are addressed, clients can continue their healing journey by transitioning to a lower level of care.
Other circumstances where inpatient treatment may be the right choice include an overall lack of support in sobriety or progress in recovery. Factors such as an unstable, unpredictable, or unsupportive home environment, coupled with unsupportive friends or loved ones, can be especially troublesome for healing.
Fortunately, inpatient treatment can provide you with a safe and nurturing healing environment, free from external triggers, where you can be surrounded by others who support your sobriety.
Similarly, if you have been through other treatment programs before and find yourself falling back into temptation or experience emotional distress resurfacing, a residential treatment program can provide you with continued accountability as you find deeper purpose for your continued growth and healing.
At AM Healthcare, we offer several types of gender-specific residential treatment programs for clients seeking refuge from the difficult things they have been through.
First, our Ohana Recovery program offers residential mental health and addiction treatment for women. Next, our Valley Recovery programs offer residential treatment for men. Finally, After Action is our residential treatment program for first responders, which also offers gender-specific care to facilitate intentional healing and recovery.
Each of these programs offers 2-week and 30-day stays, which can be adjusted to fit clients’ unique needs and goals for recovery.
Residential treatment is not feasible for everyone, and there are circumstances where outpatient treatment may be a better fit for you. Consider some of the following elements of outpatient treatment:
Outpatient treatment may be a better option for those who have responsibilities (work, school, childcare, etc.) that cannot be put on hold for treatment. This added flexibility allows for greater access to treatment services, providing structured support and guidance through a schedule that works for each person.
Outpatient treatment can also be a better option for individuals who are stepping down from residential treatment and seek continued support as they transition back to daily life. With outpatient treatment, you have the opportunity to meet regularly with your healthcare providers as you navigate environmental triggers, stressors, and other challenges while building your independence.
Overall, inpatient vs outpatient care options offer you intentional and comprehensive opportunities to prioritize your healing in your life in a way that works for your unique needs, preferences, schedule, and goals for recovery. Both treatment options offer a plethora of therapeutic interventions and approaches, with many facilities also fostering a holistic (whole-person) approach to care.
There are additional factors to consider when choosing a specific level of care for your treatment journey. To understand the weight of each of these factors, it can be helpful to speak with your primary care provider or consider reaching out to our admissions team at our treatment facility.
First, try to gain a comprehensive picture of your physical and psychological needs. Are you looking to obtain symptom management for moderate anxiety, chronic pain, or a dual diagnosis? Or, are you struggling to function normally or well in your daily life?
The more severe your needs are, the more likely you are to benefit from a higher level of care in mental health or substance abuse treatment.
Next, consider the level of support that you may need to make the changes that you’d like to make in your life. Are you struggling to hold yourself accountable? Similarly, are you lacking structure in your day-to-day life?
Intensive outpatient or residential treatment can provide you with the structure that you may need for lasting symptom management and healing.
Lastly, consider what family members, friends, or loved ones are here to support you on your recovery journey. Do the people you live with continue to engage in alcohol and drug use openly as you work to prioritize sobriety? Are there any environmental triggers that are making your mental health symptoms worse?
Residential treatment can provide you with a sanctuary to truly begin again in recovery while quieting any external noise. Additionally, residing in a sober living home as you undergo any level of outpatient treatment can also be helpful to consider.
Learning more about inpatient vs outpatient care may help you feel more confident in your decision to participate in a professional treatment program. Yet, you may likely still have reservations and questions before you commit to this new phase of your life.
Fortunately, we at AM Healthcare are here to help you make an informed decision by exploring your unique needs with you and by being transparent about how we can meet you where you are.
As part of our commitment to comprehensive support, we offer addiction and mental health treatment consultations at no cost to you. A consultation will involve help and support from medical professionals and other medical staff, ensuring that you have the proper assistance you need to make the best decision for your care.
More specifically, a consultation will include a collaborative assessment and clinical review of your needs. It will also address financial options, health insurance coverage, and other barriers that may otherwise stand in your way of participating in treatment.
Our consultation and admissions process is client-centered, fostering a compassionate and understanding approach to care. Indeed, our goal for our treatment consultations is to ensure that you have all of the answers that you need to make the most informed decision about your care.
While we would love to be a part of your healing journey, we recognize that we may not be the best fit for you. If this is the case, we will help you locate a treatment facility near you that can provide you with inpatient or outpatient care and a diverse range of therapeutic treatment options to enhance your well-being in recovery.
At AM Healthcare, we offer a full continuum of care for our clients, from detox and residential treatment to partial hospitalization programs (PHPs), intensive outpatient programs (IOPs), general outpatient treatment, sober living, and aftercare.
In other words, we offer individualized services at every step of the healing process to ensure that you feel continuously supported as you transition to independence in your newfound recovery.
Alongside our array of in-person treatment services and programs, we also offer telehealth options for clients. Telehealth and other virtual services have widened availability and access for our clients, providing them with ongoing connection, accountability, and support throughout their healing journey. This can be especially valuable for clients who come to us for treatment and do not reside in Southern California.
Following the completion of any one of our treatment programs, you will have access to our aftercare, alumni, and other long-term support services. Recovery does not end once a treatment program is completed; rather, recovery is a lifelong journey.
Likewise, we believe this continued support is critical in maintaining progress, preventing relapse, and fostering deeper meaning and purpose for healing in daily life. Your aftercare plan will be individualized to you, ensuring that you have the support, tools, and encouragement that you need to sustain lasting healing and recovery.
All in all, whether you are looking to participate in a short-term residential treatment program and place your full focus on your healing or need some added support in maintaining recovery progress post-treatment, we are here to meet you where you are on your journey to lasting healing and sobriety. Allow us to guide and support you as you achieve lasting transformation in your life.
When you are struggling with mental health, substance abuse, trauma, or other emotional distress, you may feel called to participate in a professional treatment program for healing. Yet, with so many different types of treatment programs available, it can be difficult to know which treatment program will best fit your unique needs and goals for recovery. For instance, when considering inpatient vs outpatient care, it is important to consider the severity of your needs, your existing support systems, and the intensity of structure you are seeking. At AM Healthcare, we can help you better identify your needs to help you select the best treatment program for your healing. Learn more about our comprehensive program options by calling (866) 352-6898.
