What inpatient rehab is like

What do you do every day in an inpatient rehab facility? Many people want to know what scheduling or programming is like in an inpatient substance abuse rehabilitation program before jumping into a program. While we can’t speak for other inpatient rehabilitation treatment centers, we can speak for our own 30-day substance abuse program, Courage to Change. Here’s what an average day looks like inside our Courage to Change unit at Salt Lake Behavioral Health.

Inpatient Rehab Schedule Example

7:00 Wake up
7:15 Yoga
8:00 Shower, dress, and get ready for the day
8:15 Breakfast
9:00 Group therapy
10:00 Expressive therapy (art, music, or pet therapy)
11:00 One-on-one meeting with a psychiatrist / addictionologist
11:30 Lunch
12:30 Individual therapy
1:30 Exercise
2:30 Alcoholics Anonymous
3:30 Free time / Visitation / Possible Group Activity
5:30 Dinner

What is Group Therapy?

What do you talk about in rehab group therapy sessions?

Group sessions within our Courage to Change inpatient substance abuse treatment program in Salt Lake City, UT, cover many different topics. We talk about anything from working through trauma, identifying triggers, dealing with anger, setting boundaries, safe and unsafe people, to building healthy relationships. In our group therapy sessions, each person will be given a workbook to help them follow along and record their thoughts on the subject. The workbooks contain exercises to strengthen skills and build upon what’s talked about in each group. The purpose of the groups, and the whole program, is to give clients the skills they need to transition into recovery and the tools they need to stay sober.

person stretching in a yoga session

Why do you do yoga in inpatient rehab?

Yoga has a calming effect on the mind and the body. Yoga teaches mindfulness, and has been proven to reduce anxiety. When the mind is focused on movement, stretching, and balance, it can push anxious and unhealthy thoughts to the background, providing some relief from bad stress.

art supplies

What is expressive therapy?

Expressive therapy is therapy that involves music, art, dance, or other forms of artistic expression. Expressing negative or overwhelming emotions on paper or through movement allows the emotions to leave the mind and body instead of being bottled inside. These activities can serve as an emotional cleanse and unburden overloaded minds. One art project our Courage to Change patients participate in, for example, is designing masks. The outside of the mask shows how the person feels others see them, and the inside of the mask represents how the person feels about themselves. Visualizing these feelings can help identify opportunities to grow. A music therapy activity is beating drums to a specific rhythm.

 

How does exercise help in rehab?

Exercise has been proven to have positive effects on mental health and improve one’s mood. According to an article from PubMed.gov, “Aerobic exercises, including jogging, swimming, cycling, walking, gardening, and dancing, have been proven to reduce anxiety and depression.”

doctor reaching out to shake hands

One-on-one meetings with an MD

In your one-on-one meetings with an MD, you’ll discuss medication management and the changes in behavior that your nurses are noticing. With your doctor, you’ll plan for your discharge, review diagnoses, check for any medication side effects, and discuss your other health needs.

Seeking Safety Trauma Curriculum

The Courage to Change units also use Seeking Safety, an evidence-based treatment modality for co-occurring PTSD and substance use. The Seeking Safety curriculum outlines practices of grounding, education, and coping techniques. This substance use and PTSD treatment is available on a national and local scale.

We hope you’ve found this article about inpatient rehab activities helpful. If you or a family member requires inpatient rehabilitation or medical detox for addiction to drugs or alcohol, please call 801-264-6000.

Patient Testimonial:

“I recently underwent treatment for substance abuse and PTSD at Salt Lake Behavioral Health. The treatment team was phenomenal. It was imperative that I addressed my trauma at the same time as my substance abuse as they walk hand in hand and one fuels the other. The team did a great job of pushing and encouraging me to dig deeper into my trauma, teaching me how to cope and live with it in a healthy way. All while making me feel safe and cared for. Thank you to everyone on my treatment team.”