Aftercare Planning: Preparing You for Life After Rehab
Completing an addiction treatment program is a huge accomplishment and it’s something that you should be proud of, but your recovery extends far beyond a brief stay at a drug rehab facility though. Most people require some level of aftercare support after finishing addiction treatment.
Before you’re discharged from rehab, our team of addiction specialists will help you determine what type of aftercare services you need to be successful in your recovery.
What is Aftercare Planning?
“Aftercare,” which is sometimes called “continuing care,” is a type of structured, ongoing care program that aims to provide support to people who have recently finished an addiction treatment program. Aftercare can be formal treatment, like outpatient rehab or mental health counseling, or it can be informal, such as an alumni program or peer support group.
At Sheer Recovery, we offer aftercare planning services to help our clients transition into the next phase of recovery. Before you leave treatment, you’ll work closely with your therapist and case manager to develop an actionable aftercare plan.
The primary goals of aftercare planning include:
- Helping clients prevent relapse
- Encouraging a commitment to the recovery process
- Assisting clients in developing healthy behaviors
- Connecting clients to resources and accountable support groups
- Providing guidance for common challenges people in recovery face, such as housing and relationships
Clients who follow through with their aftercare plan tend to have more positive outcomes in the recovery process.
Aftercare Planning is Essential for Long-Term Recovery
Making the transition away from the rehab facility that you have placed your trust in isn’t always easy. Leaving rehab means you now have to navigate sobriety in the real world. You may be faced with triggers on a regular basis, battle drug cravings, and find it difficult to adjust to living sober. However, if you have a plan in place, you’ll be adequately prepared for anything that comes your way.
Aftercare services such as continued counseling, an alumni program, support groups, medication management, sober living, and more can provide you with the support you need to be successful in early sobriety. Aftercare planning can help you find fellowship among other sober people and arm you with the proper resources.
What Does Aftercare Planning Entail?
There is a lot more that goes into drug and alcohol rehab aftercare planning than most people think. Aftercare planning typically involves the following components.
Plan for Your Discharge Date
There are some logistics you must figure out before leaving inpatient rehab. For example, where will you be living? Who will take you there? Did you come to California from out of state and need to fly back home? What will you do immediately after you leave rehab?
These details may seem insignificant, but if you don’t have a detailed plan in place you may find yourself overwhelmed upon being discharged. We want you to feel confident and excited to leave rehab–not stressed out. That’s why our excellent case managers will help you figure out every detail of your discharge plan.
Discuss Continued Care
Most people who attend inpatient residential rehab can benefit from stepping down to a lower level of care, such as partial hospitalization (PHP) or intensive outpatient (IOP) before finishing treatment completely. Participating in a continuum of care such as this can ease the transition out of residential treatment and better prepare clients for their recovery. Before you are discharged, our clinical team will discuss your options for continued care and implement the right treatment plan for you.
Make a Plan for Your Sobriety
Everyone’s recovery looks different, so your aftercare plan may vary based on your needs. Regardless, there are a few things you can plan for that can help you stay clean. These include:
- Sober housing – Lack of safe, supportive, drug-and-alcohol-free housing is a major barrier to recovery for many people. If you don’t have safe housing to return to, our case managers will help you find sober living options in California or in your home state.
- Support groups – Most people benefit from participating in some type of recovery-based support group after leaving rehab. Examples include 12-Step fellowships like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (AA) as well as groups like SMART Recovery, Refuge Recovery, and Celebrate Recovery. Our team will help you find support group meetings near you so you know where to go for support after rehab.
- Relapse prevention – Knowing how to identify and cope with triggers as well as care for your mental health can help you prevent addiction relapse. Your therapists will work with you to develop an individualized relapse prevention plan based on your situation.
Drug & Alcohol Rehab Aftercare Support at Sheer Recovery
During treatment, our clients work closely with a team of mental health and addiction specialists including a therapist and case manager. Our team works together to help clients craft strategic and detailed aftercare plans so they can navigate life after rehab smoothly. We’ll assist clients in identifying potential challenges they may face and develop practical solutions to address these concerns.
At Sheer Recovery, one of our goals is to make the transition from rehab to the real world as seamless and stress-free as possible using thorough, individualized aftercare planning. With our expert guidance and compassionate support, you’ll leave our facility feeling fully prepared to embrace life in recovery. To learn more about our Southern California drug and alcohol rehab facility or to verify your insurance coverage, please call now to speak with one of our dedicated admissions counselors.