Day treatment services usually include a range of counseling services, including individual and group treatment, life and social skills training, and educational or vocational services. Outpatient Treatment Outpatient treatment is appropriate for individuals whose substance use patterns allow them to remain in their own homes and environments while receiving services. Outpatient programs that administer methadone are considered a different modality of treatment. In outpatient treatment, emphasis is placed on individual or group counseling, and sometimes on family counseling. Treatment guidelines are based on individual assessment and treatment goals.
Services can range from weekly counseling to intensive counseling provided several times a week.
Outpatient counseling can last for two or three months, or can continue for a year or more. Many outpatient programs have specific services for special populations such as impaired employees or professionals, criminal offenders, cocaine abusers, and youth. Outpatient programs can be staffed by trained substance abuse counselors, psychologists, or other mental health counselors including social workers. Clients who need additional services such as legal, financial, housing, educational, vocational, and health are usually referred to community resources. Some programs may provide some or all of these support services.