Qualities to Look for in an Addiction Treatment Facility
Whether you are facing crippling depression and anxiety, an ongoing substance use disorder, or both, you know it’s time to get help.
Who will help you?
While many substance addiction treatment centers are qualified to help, you’ll want to find one where you feel respected and comfortable. This will help ensure your willingness to stay the course of treatment even when it gets tough. There’s a lot on the line. How do you move forward?
What to Look for in a Substance Use Disorder Facility
When you are facing a challenge like addiction, you need to trust that the people you’re turning to for help have the qualifications and resources you’ll need. There are several factors to consider before choosing a treatment center:
- Do they provide effective treatment?
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention state that effective substance use disorder treatment must include:
- Addressing all of your needs, including any physical health complications
- Addressing your mental health and any underlying disorders present
From here, the treatment center you choose must be able to offer highly skilled and licensed professionals who have a background specifically in substance use disorder (SUD) treatment.
- Do they treat you with respect?
The team of people you’ll work with will provide diagnoses and recommendations that you may not want to hear. It can be a scary and vulnerable process, so you’ll want to work with people who make you feel safe. You can learn a lot about a treatment facility’s team by asking to talk with them and tour the facility. You might want to ask the following questions about the people who will be treating you:
- What type of education do they have?
- Do they solely focus on helping those with SUD?
- What type of research have they been a part of in the past?
- What type of therapies and techniques do they use?
- How much experience do they have?
When you feel confident in your treatment team, you’ll have an easier time committing to the recovery process they recommend.
- Are They Non-Judgmental?
Many people who work for treatment centers have direct, personal experience with addiction. They know first-hand the challenges recovery brings and what you need to help you succeed. They know that addiction does not define you and that you have much to offer the world. They will make you feel empowered to reclaim your life and move forward.
If you feel any sort of judgment or negativity coming from the person or people you’ll be working with, that’s probably a sign to look elsewhere for treatment.
- Do They Offer Real-World Solutions?
A counselor’s job is to listen and communicate with you about your addiction and the challenges you are facing. At the same time, they have to be realistic. That is, they need to provide you with real-world recovery skills that can support you in difficult situations. What happens when your boss is on your case? How do you deal with bad relationships that are causing you pain? When you choose a professional who can offer effective solutions to difficult times, you gain confidence that you really can fight this battle and win.
- Do They Offer Support for Mental Health?
Many people with addiction are crippled by mental health challenges, including PTSD and depression. Your counselor needs to be able to recognize the underlying presence of these conditions so they can offer the kind of help you need.
Look for a professional who offers strategies for managing mental health disorders, including PTSD, depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and anxiety, among others. Without co-occurring treatment, you may find it impossible to move your mental health and physical health forward in a positive way.
Our Team Is Ready to Help You
At Iron Bridge Recovery Center, we have some of the most well-trained, compassionate professionals who are ready to remain by your side and guide you on the path of well-being. It’s up to you to take that first step in reaching out to us.
When you are ready to find a substance abuse counselor in Chester, VA, you need our team, and we are here to support you. Contact us now.
