The advent of COVID-19 led to a massive shift in daily life for many. It affected both the use of addictive substances and made digital communication commonplace. Feelings of isolation, loneliness, personal and professional stress, and more were already difficult to process. COVID-19’s impact has further exacerbated these feelings, with many persisting in daily life today.
Overcoming an addiction to drugs or alcohol and establishing a healthy, sober life is a complex journey. Despite the technological changes and increasing prevalence of telehealth services, there is no replacement for in-person treatment. Its benefits can be essential for embracing genuine change in overcoming addiction.
The Advantages of In-Person Treatment
Advancements in telehealth and the increasing popularity of its use have been beneficial for many. It has provided newly accessible avenues to address a person’s need for treatment in overcoming addiction, mental health disorders, or a combination. However, It does have its limitations. Understanding the advantages in-person treatment provides can help individuals make the most informed choice about pursuing their needs for a healthy and sober future.
Building Trust and Connections
Sitting alongside professionals in a recovery setting can be intimidating for some. However, removing unnecessary barriers, like a computer screen, can also allow these relationships to form in a more open and honest space.
It can be difficult to truly connect with others on an emotional level when separated by these barriers and limitations. Microphone quality, camera quality, spotty internet, and more can all be reminders that an individual is not genuinely sharing this space. As a result, it can hinder the development of this critical relationship.
Likewise, it can be easy for many to use these barriers to avoid difficult subjects. Without a genuine sense of connection, dishonesty and avoidance can be easy, even if they act to an individual’s detriment in recovery. Being able to communicate honestly with either professionals or peers in recovery is about more than simply the words being spoken. Instead, it combines chosen words, tone, body language, eye contact, and much more that can get lost solely using digital mediums.
Exploring In-Person Communication Strategies
Developing effective communication strategies for each individual is also paramount throughout treatment. This helps an individual feel heard and understood by others and rebuild key relationships that have been affected by the use of drugs or alcohol.
In-person treatment allows those in recovery to explore how they best communicate with others in individual and group therapy sessions. Having options to communicate and using a combination of these skills is best nurtured by engaging, in-person treatment.
Creating a Healing Community
Overcoming addiction is not only about learning to identify and stave off cravings. Instead, it is a transformational experience, and many adjustments to daily life will have to be made. Changes in daily routines, thought patterns, rituals, hygiene, and even changes to social groups are all common to facilitate this healing and the development of a healthy and sustainable sober life. Dedicated recovery communities play a significant role in establishing these mindsets and can be difficult to form through only digital mediums.
In-person treatment is necessary to feel truly ingratiated in these recovery communities. Feelings of isolation and loneliness may still be prevalent throughout any stage of recovery, especially as an individual is overcoming the use of drugs or alcohol. Telehealth options can make it difficult to challenge these feelings truly. Individuals may not feel they are a part of a living, breathing, and evolving healing community.
In-person treatment can instead nurture these communities. It can aid in developing a healing culture and birth greater feelings of accountability and camaraderie. The heart of a community is difficult to reflect with an online medium.
Personalizing Strategies
Personalizing every treatment plan depending on the individual is paramount, as each journey in overcoming addiction will be unique. However, it can be challenging to personalize treatment modalities when limited by the available telehealth forms.
Instead, individualized treatments, experiential outpatient programs, and group sessions are all necessary. Communicating practical strategies can be difficult via telehealth options, with an individual needing to practice these with professionals for their most effective use actively.
Many strategies, such as experiential therapies like somatic experiencing or psychodrama, may also not translate well to a digital environment. Group therapies can also be challenging to conduct effectively. Each individual is navigating their barriers, and constant interruptions being common and distracting can hinder effective and necessary treatment. In-person treatment can alleviate many of these barriers and empower individuals to pursue the most personalized treatment possible without limiting their options throughout their treatment program.
Lasting Relationships
The relationships made and maintained in sobriety can be wholly transformative. Meeting others who understand and have navigated their challenges in sobriety can develop into amazing support throughout any stage of recovery. Building these relationships can define an individual and their journey to sobriety. In-person treatment empowers each person to develop lasting relationships with professionals and peers.
There is no replacement for the connections, community, and heart of dedicated, in-person treatment. We at Redpoint are committed to bringing these advantages and a genuine approach to healing and change through our dedicated outpatient programs. With multiple locations throughout Colorado, we can help reach you where you are and create an effective community of healing to help you overcome the use of drugs, alcohol, mental health disorders, and personal challenges that may accompany them. We personalize every recovery program, involving family, using local resources, and exploring various strategies to provide you with the most personalized and impactful care possible. For more information on our in-person treatment modalities, call to speak to us at (303) 710-8496.
