Making the decision to seek help for alcohol or drug addiction is a big step, but before you enroll in just any addiction recovery program, it’s important to do a little bit of homework to make sure you’re going to find one that is right for you. Not all recovery programs are the same, so finding one that fits your personal values and meets your physical, emotional, and spiritual needs is essential to set you up for long-term success and sobriety. Here are a few questions you can ask to help you figure out which program would be best for you.
1: What licensing, accreditation, and/or training does your staff have?
You want to make sure that the people who are providing treatment at the facility have the appropriate training to help you get through a very difficult program. There are many nationally-recognized credentials that staff might hold, including licensed alcohol and drug counselor (LADC), licensed professional counselor (LPC), certified addiction counselor (CAC), as well as degrees in social work, psychology, marriage and family therapy, and psychiatry. If the facility provides medical detox or other medical services, make sure they have properly licensed nurses, physicians, and other medical professionals to provide the care.
2: What is your approach to treatment and how is it different from other programs?
There are a lot of different ways to approach addiction treatment, and not necessarily one right way. What’s important is that you fully understand the way that a treatment center is planning to approach your addiction and discuss with the program and with your friends and family members if it sounds like it would work for you. For example, Renaissance Ranch incorporates Gospel principles from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS), so if your faith is a big part of your life, a program with a Gospel-centered approach and therapists who share your religious and spiritual views will likely be more effective than just a standard curriculum or treatment modality.
3: What programs are available?
Different addiction recovery centers in Utah offer different programs, so before you sign up, make sure they offer the ones that are going to work best for you. Check to see if they offer residential or outpatient programs (or both), gender-specific programs to address the unique challenges that you face as a man or as a woman suffering from addiction, medical detoxification or “detox”, individualized therapy, family programs, and more. Not everyone will participate in every program, but being able to choose the ones that best fit your needs will set you up for success.
4: What kind of ongoing support is available after treatment is finished?
The initial treatment to overcome alcohol addiction or drug addiction is important, but recovery is often a lifelong journey. Make sure that your recovery program in Utah has aftercare that provides the support you need and is proactive in helping you continue on your path toward lifelong sobriety.