Couples rehab is a unique way to addiction treatment. It addresses the challenges of substance abuse within the framework of a committed relationship. Traditional rehab programs focus on individual recovery, while couples rehab recognises the complex subtleties between partners and aims to heal both their addiction and the relationship.
The couple rehab centers have intensive therapy sessions. Depending on the couple’s needs and treatment stage, these sessions can be individual or joint.
- In individual therapy, each partner can explore their underlying addiction cause and develop coping mechanisms.
- In couple’s therapy, communication dilemmas, co-dependency, and how their past behaviours have pushed them towards addiction are explored. Therapists use behavioural couple’s therapy [BCT] to establish a healthy communication pattern and rebuild trust.
The couples rehab facility fosters a supportive environment where couples can witness each other’s struggles and successes firsthand. It encourages empathy and a sense of shared purpose. This is beneficial when only a single partner is struggling with addiction. The non-addicted partner can learn relapse prevention techniques and ways to support their partner’s recovery.
Couples’ rehab programs are designed differently in outpatient and inpatient options. Inpatient programs are intensive, where the couples need to stay under medical supervision. Couples can focus on changing their behaviour towards one another, which is disturbed due to daily stress.
Outpatient programs allow couples to attend regular therapy sessions at the rehab clinic, which can be 3 to 5 times a week. The doctors at the facility will help you determine which option is suitable after evaluating your addiction severity.
- For mild and moderate addiction, they may advise outpatient rehab program.
- For severe substance abuse, couples may need to get enrolled for residential treatment.
How to prevent relapse?
Therapists will help couples –
- Identify their triggers
- Develop coping mechanism
- Establish a relapse prevention plan
It includes building healthy leisure activities and a support network outside the rehab program. Couples will learn to identify the early relapse symptoms and practice effective communication to address them positively.
Couples rehab requires a high commitment and hard work from both partners. For couples keen to handle these challenges, rehab centres give them a chance to reclaim their healthy lives.