No two people’s experience with drug or alcohol addiction looks exactly the same. When individuals in treatment have different life experiences, it becomes crucial that treatment becomes individualized. Working with treatment professionals to create an individualized treatment plan can be the key to success in recovery.
What Is an Individualized Treatment Plan?
An individualized treatment plan is a course of action for substance abuse treatment that is customized to meet the needs of each individual. People with substance use disorder (SUD) have different histories, risk factors, triggers, and more. When treatment is not individualized, it does not meet the unique needs of a person. An individualized treatment plan will account for these factors and help create the most effective path for healing.
Treatment providers will work with individuals to find the best techniques and methods for their individualized treatment. This will include working to identify the following:
- Personal wellness goals
- How to reach goals in specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and timely (SMART) steps
- Skills and activities that can help in recovery
- Any triggers or stressors and how to manage them
The Benefits of Individualized Treatment
There are many benefits to individualized treatment, including the following.
Flexibility
When treatment is “one-size-fits-all,” it cannot be adjusted as needed. However, an individualized plan can be changed and molded to fit the changing needs of individuals in treatment.
Higher Treatment Success Rates
Individualized treatment plans allow treatment professionals to treat the individual. When a person with SUD is treated as a unique person with unique needs, treatment outcomes improve. According to the Journal of Drug Issues, treatment professionals who can provide services that match the needs of their clients there are higher rates of retention in treatment programs.
Empowerment
Individualized treatment recognizes that SUD is a complex disease that requires different approaches to treatment. When individuals feel that their needs are being heard and respected, they are more inclined to feel empowered in their recovery.
How Individualized Treatment Plans Are Created
In order to create a truly individualized treatment plan, clients must be thoroughly assessed upon entering a treatment program. While there is no set way to create an individualized treatment plan, there is a process treatment professionals use to create an ideal plan for each client.
One of the most important pieces of creating an individualized treatment plan is getting to know each client and the multiple aspects of their history with SUD. Factors that affect an individual’s treatment plan include:
- Age
- Family history of SUD
- Substances used
- Severity and length of addiction
- Co-occurring mental health disorders
- History of trauma
- Lifestyle (stress levels, relationship dynamics, etc.)
With information on the multiple factors of history and addiction, treatment professionals can develop the best course of action for each client.
The Opportunity for Multiple Treatment Approaches
An individualized treatment plan allows individuals to identify and confront the underlying causes of addiction. When treatment is individualized, it also provides the opportunity to use multiple approaches to help clients recover from SUD. At West Coast Recovery Centers, we offer a variety of traditional and holistic approaches to addiction treatment to meet each client’s specific needs.
Individual Therapy
Individual therapy involves one-on-one counseling. With individual therapy, clients can work to address their personal experiences with addiction. Clients can also work with therapists to change negative thought patterns, which can contribute to relapse. By doing this, individuals can develop the skills they need for successful recovery.
At West Coast Recovery Centers, all clients meet with a therapist to complete a personalized assessment. This includes evidence-based evaluations to assess for depression, anxiety, and trauma. Clients are assigned a therapist to meet their needs, which they will meet with at least once a week.
Group Therapy
In group therapy, clients get together with peers who are also working to overcome SUD. Group therapy sessions are run by treatment professionals who ensure appropriate topics are discussed. Sessions may involve:
- Sharing individual experiences of addiction
- Interacting with others in treatment
- Working toward developing healthy social skills
At West Coast Recovery Centers, we provide multiple opportunities for group therapy, including topic groups and process groups. Topic groups allow clients to become educated on a topic while considering new thoughts and ideas. In process groups, clients discuss thoughts, feelings, and experiences with their peers. We provide many group therapy options, including dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) skills groups and gender-specific group therapy.
Holistic Therapy
Holistic therapy includes a number of therapeutic tools used to help individuals heal from the symptoms of SUD. Holistic therapies seek to improve the mind-body-spirit connection and are used alongside traditional treatment methods. At West Coast Recovery Centers, we offer many holistic treatment methods, including yoga, creative expression, mindfulness meditation, music therapy, and more.
Individualized treatment is the core of successful recovery from substance use disorder (SUD). No one’s addiction looks the same, and no one’s treatment should either. When treatment is customized to meet your needs, you experience flexibility, higher success rates, and empowerment in your recovery. At West Coast Recovery Centers, we understand the importance of individualized treatment plans. Upon admission, you will meet with one of our therapists to determine your treatment needs. We will assess multiple factors, including your history with addiction and any co-occurring disorder that may be present. Our treatment program offers a range of traditional and holistic treatment methods that can help you successfully recover from addiction. No matter what you have been through, West Coast Recovery Centers is prepared to help you heal. For more information on individualized treatment plans and how we can help you recover from addiction, call (760) 492-6509.