Some people call these rehabs. They offer treatment for a wide range of problems including mental disorders, addiction, substance abuse, and behavioral issues. Residents are monitored and closely supervised by staff at residential treatment centers.
Why Residential Treatment?
The country offers many options for treatment, and there are many different levels of care. It can be confusing to decide which program is best. Although there are many issues that can be treated in residential treatment, certain problems almost always require residential treatment.
Benefits Residential Therapy
Each residential treatment facility is different in one way or the other. Regardless of differences, there are a few common elements that can make residential so successful.
24/7 support – The 24-hour monitoring and available support in all residential treatment centers are a major advantage over other levels. Although it can feel intrusive, patients benefit from continuous monitoring and support. This helps identify and track patient progress and helps prevent relapse.
Distance – Distance from the patient’s former life. It is important to get away from toxic people and trigger places. Distinction from one’s current situation may help with discernment and perspective.
Different Modalities – Residential treatment centers often offer many therapeutic intervention options (not just “talk therapy” as seen in many outpatient clinics). Many residential treatment centers offer holistic treatments, which means they can treat the whole person, including the mind, spirit, and body. A variety of experiential therapies are available such as art therapy and trauma therapy.
Frequent Sessions– Residential treatment centers not only offer a wide range of therapeutic modalities to their patients but also have more frequent sessions. A patient’s ability to see a counselor on a daily basis, or having one available every day, can make a difference in their recovery. It also helps establish trust and foster a therapeutic relationship. The frequency of therapy sessions is important, as well as the ability to see patients outside of their office. Therapists and counselors in residential treatment often lead therapy groups, have meals out with patients, or engage in activities with them. This allows therapists to see patients in multiple situations and gives them a better understanding of their personalities and problems.
What Are You Required To Seek Residential Treatment?
Accreditation/or licensure- every state has its own licensure requirements. While the qualifications for each center are different, they all must be licensed. Many rtcs apply for additional accreditation. This is a certification that the rtcs have passed certain evaluations. An rtcs that is both licensed and accredited does not necessarily guarantee high-quality care.
Access To Emergency Care Services – A good residential facility will have working relationships and connections with local hospitals. It does not matter if the patient has an accident, is involved in suicide, or is experiencing a crisis (and thus requires additional support), it’s important that the treatment facility has these resources.
Aftercare Planning– This involves planning for discharge as soon as possible after admission. However, there are exceptions based on individual patients. This is where the patient’s team and the patient meet to plan their care after being discharged from the residential treatment facility.
Credentialed Personnel – It is crucial for an rtc that they have properly trained, and in some cases credentialed, staff. Since patients can be admitted and then discharged in different ways, the count (number of patients) may fluctuate from day to day. There must be enough staff to properly support any number of patients, depending on the facility’s capacity.