Outpatient treatment has the same goal as just described for inpatient treatment, but it is structured differently. Outpatient rehabs offer a flexible alternative to living at an inpatient facility, and can therefore accommodate people who would otherwise not be able to leave their jobs for a month or more. During the treatment period, clients can stay at home outside of treatment sessions, which will reduce the expense of rehab dramatically.
An outpatient program follows many of the same principles as an inpatient rehab, but it requires less participation. Outpatient rehabs can have several levels of intensity, each with their own participation requirements and individualized treatment benchmarks. While outpatient rehabs typically offer individual therapy, the focus is on building social support through group counseling, classes, and recovery community meetings, such as A.A. or N.A. or a non 12-step program like SMART Recovery.