Inpatient rehabilitation centers follow a particular format that gives them a decent success rate. The true strength of a rehab’s success rate depends on the strength of its individual conduct, but following the traditional rehabilitation format will get any rehab center started in the right direction. This format includes a detox period for those addicted to a substance, psychological treatment that lasts for at least 28-days, then either a sober living period or attentive aftercare.

The detoxification period is mandatory for anyone addicted to alcohol or drugs. The detox typically lasts for one week, though some withdrawal symptoms can persist longer. The week long period of flushing the body of toxins is critical to the person’s ability to function while in treatment. If their body chemistry is still under the effects of the substance, they will not have full control of their mind or body. It is important that clients detox under professional care because withdrawal symptoms can be dangerous and may need to be medicated.

After detox is complete, the psychological treatment portion can begin. The treatment itself lasts for a minimum of 28-days because studies have shown that is the length of time it takes the human brain to develop new habits and patterns. Treatment consists of private counseling, group counseling, support group meetings, workbook exercises, readings and discussion sessions. The treatment portion of rehab is where the core of the cognitive behavioral work takes place, and it is very important to the client’s psychological development.

When treatment is finished, rehabilitation centers highly recommend a period of sober living, or staying in a halfway house. Most rehab centers provide halfway houses for their clients. A halfway house is a private living residence within the rehab that allows clients to come and go as they please to attend work, social gatherings and the likes. They do not have total freedom, however. There can still be inspections of the living areas and conduct within a halfway house and typically the client continues to receive counseling. If the client chooses not to attend sober living, they still have other aftercare options they can take advantage of, such as counseling and support groups.

Individual counseling plays a very important role in inpatient rehab. Every rehab of good repute provides its clients with individual counseling. Group counseling and support groups are also vital components, but individual counseling is a method of eradicating underlying addiction causes that cannot be dealt with in any other way. It is an atmosphere where a client can let themselves become totally vulnerable and honest in the safe presence of a professional counselor without fear of shame or judgment. Every component of inpatient rehab is important, but individual counseling is frequently an area where clients make the most progress.

The cognitive behavioral work that takes place within individual counseling is very important to a recovering addict’s mental health. The negative thought and behavior patterns that are ingrained in an addict’s psychology have been affecting the person for so long that they typically play out on a subconscious level. Most addicts cannot explain why they are addicted or what life events pushed them toward addiction. They simply know that engaging in their addiction distracts them from the negative thought and behavior patterns they play out. Only a professional counselor has the training to make sense of these thoughts and behaviors that the addict is not totally conscious of.

Many times, an addict will be struggling with a mental disorder that has not been diagnosed. When a person is battling an addiction and a mental disorder, it is called a dual diagnosis, or co-occurring disorder. The trouble is, many people do not have their mental disorder diagnosed. For this demographic, individual counseling within inpatient rehabilitation is vital to understanding their psychological profile and receiving appropriate treatment. This is why individual counseling within rehab should not be considered optional.

And lastly, individual counseling in inpatient rehab is important to the clients so that they can practice relationship skills and trust building. A person’s relationship with their private counselor is a very important human relationship. The client reveals very personal information to their counselor and experiences trust in their professional conduct.