The Admission Process

Here, we will briefly outline the admission process. If you do conclude we’re the best rehab for you, you will need to be informed in advance – and this first step forward can sometimes discourage people. It may seem scary or intrusive, but it needs to be neither.

First, you may contact our representatives at (855) 942-3797. Alternatively, you may fill out our admission form, in which case we’ll come in contact with you. In either case, once we do come in contact, our representatives will:

• Ask clear, specific questions surrounding your addiction. You can expect discretion and empathy; many of us have had our close bouts with addiction, so we understand.
• Explain the available programs that may best fit your needs. Every journey to recovery is a commitment, and you may have other obligations. Our recommendations will reflect this, and together we’ll find the program that best suits you.
• Explore your financial options. Every rehab comes with a cost, which we understand may seem daunting. Our representatives will review your insurance plan and recommend ways you may finance your recovery.
• Explain which items you may bring. Many personal items may be therapeutic, and we highly encourage that you do bring such items with you. Others are prohibited, however, as they might inhibit your recovery.
• Make arrangements. Once everything is in order, we will make arrangements for your travel and relocation to our facilities. It’s never pleasant to make such arrangements yourself, and we understand that well.

Harmony Ridge Programs

Past the admission process, our programs come with a different focus, treatment settings, and intensity. They do follow the typical rehab recovery structure; they begin with detox, proceed to treatment, and conclude with aftercare. However, offering different programs for the middle stage allows us to better personalize your recovery, and best tailor it to your needs.

In order, our programs are as follows.

#1 Detoxification

The very first step for most addicts is detoxification. It is a crucial part of rehabilitation in which it allows the individual to cleanse their body of the substances they’re addicted to, and proceed with treatment.

This stage can be quite challenging for many. Withdrawal symptoms and cravings are often too severe to handle naturally, and for this reason we strongly recommend medication-assisted treatment (MAT) whenever necessary. In combination with consistent counseling, therapy sessions, psychiatric supervision, and medication management, our detox stage should be as painless, comfortable, and safe as possible.

#2 Residential program

With detox in order, the first step of treatment for more severe cases comes in our residential program. This program is typically best for those who require hospitalization, and can afford to dedicate all their time to treatment.

Our residential program requires that you live within our residential facilities for its duration. As you do, you will be given a daily schedule to follow, and will receive daily treatment at our clinical building. Throughout the program, you will be under medical supervision, and will have 24/7 access to all relevant staff for support. Once you have made sufficient progress, you may conclude the program; exact durations will vary considerably.

#3 Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)

Once you complete a residential program, or should your case require less clinical care to begin with, you may next consider our IOP. IOPs typically serve as the middle ground between intensive care and autonomy, as you won’t require 24-hour supervision or have strict daily routines to follow.

Because IOPs typically outline decent progress, they can afford to specifically focus on the deeper underlying conditions that may fuel addiction. Sessions last for approximately 2 to 4 hours a day, 3 to 4 days a week, and will focus on:

• Individual therapy sessions; personal settings tend to allow individuals to best open up and express themselves. Should a mental health disorder also be present, dual diagnosis treatment will also occur at this stage.
• Group therapy sessions; in contrast, group dynamics allow the individual to socialize and vocalize their struggles. This essential part of all therapies adheres to 12-step program modules – following AA’s guidelines for alcohol addiction, and being inspired by them for drug addiction.
• Pharmacotherapy; finally, some medication may still be necessary to treat addiction symptoms themselves or underlying conditions. Despite moving away from clinical settings, our IOP takes utmost care to provide such support as well.

What Comes After Intensive Outpatient Program West Virginia?

All of our programs will begin to build an individualized relapse prevention plan. During them, you will acquire:

• Trigger management skills; coping with cravings is a prevalent challenge, both during and after treatment. Our therapists will focus on helping you identify, avoid, and manage addiction triggers in your everyday life.
• Nutritional education; malnutrition is often present in addictions, and can inhibit recovery. To maintain a healthy body post-rehab, you will receive nutritional education to remain self-sufficient.
• Improved self-reliance; each case of addiction differs, but most cases of relapse have poor mental health and self-reliance in common. After physical healing concludes, our programs strongly focus on psychological and emotional healing to boost your resilience and allow you to thrive post-rehab.

These principles culminate into our aftercare program, which will build on those foundations. Through it, you will be able to socialize with your peers and continue attending therapy sessions if you need them. You will maintain open communication channels with our therapists, and you will be encouraged to join alumni programs and find a sponsor. These and other therapeutic frameworks will strive to allow you to remain abstinent, sustaining the new life you have earned.

The 4 Stages of Alcohol and Drug Rehab Recovery

Going through them in order, perhaps you have noticed that all our programs seek to progressively cater to the 4 stages of rehab recovery. This is, of course, no coincidence; from the best intensive outpatient program West Virginia has to offer to supportive aftercare, our licensed medical professionals and therapists will personalize each and every recovery along these lines of progress.

To make this section easier to understand, here we will use VeryWellMind’s classification of these stages:

1. Treatment initiation
2. Early abstinence
3. Maintaining abstinence
4. Advanced recovery

In order, these correspond to the following steps of our programs.

1. Treatment initiation; detox. First, treatment initiation begins with detoxification. For this step, our medical detox center will offer a safe and welcoming environment, where your body can flush away the addictive substances.
2. Early abstinence; personalized care. With detox concluded, early abstinence begins with rehabilitation programs. Here, you will be admitted to any of the above programs depending on your unique needs and the levels of care you require.
3. Maintaining abstinence; case management. As you achieve initial abstinence, the next challenge lies in maintaining it. To help you meet it, all of our programs focus strongly on case management, which ensures you receive exactly the support your unique case requires.
4. Advanced recovery; relapse prevention and aftercare. Finally, once your rehabilitation concludes successfully, you will likely require aftercare to remain abstinent. Relapse prevention is a fundamental part of all our programs, which aftercare champions.

Types of Addictions We Treat

Simply put, a key reason for our keen focus on personalization is that there are so many different addictions. In addition to highly personal factors, such as addiction severity and duration, each substance requires a different approach to handle.

To address this, we at Harmony Ridge Recovery offer treatment for a wide array of addictions across our programs. From inpatient programs to our intensive outpatient program West Virginia trusts, we treat the following:

• Alcohol; an increasingly prevalent addiction with its unique cultural challenges, alcohol addiction can be just as destructive as any drug addiction.
• Ambien; approved by the FDA to treat insomnia and other sleeping problems, Ambien can still be highly addictive.
• Barbiturates; popular, but equally addictive depressants which treat insomnia, anxiety, and other physical and mental ailments.
• Benzodiazepines; another type of depressants which treat an array of mental and sleep disorders, Benzodiazepines also carry a high risk of addiction if misused.
• Opiates; the subcategory of opioids which spearheads the ongoing nationwide opioid crisis, opiate addiction is among the most common drug addictions today.
• Fentanyl; a synthetic opioid whose primary medical use is as a painkiller, Fentanyl is very prone to misuse as well.
• Stimulants; a broader drug category, primarily used to treat ADD and similar disorders, stimulants include a variety of drugs which can become highly addictive. This category includes household names like Adderall, Ritalin, Concerta, and others.
• Marijuana; legal in some states and illicit in others, marijuana can also fuel addictions beyond its medical uses.
• Cocaine; an illicit drug and a known stimulant, cocaine is a highly addictive substance which can seriously endanger the individual.
• Heroin; with over 800,000 Americans having reported past-year heroin use in 2018, and that number being estimated to have increased since, heroin is a very potent and highly dangerous substance to become addicted to.
• Meth; among the most commonly used illicit drugs, Methamphetamine is extremely addictive as a potent stimulant.

The Importance of Holistic Therapy

In addition to the above, we at Harmony Ridge Recovery offer expansive holistic therapy across all of our programs. We firmly believe that the mind needs to heal alongside the body, and holistic therapy principles allow us to put this belief into practice. It is this focus that makes us confident we can provide the best, most efficient intensive outpatient program West Virginia has to offer.

Still, holistic therapy may sound hollow or may be contested. Indeed, public discourse doesn’t paint it in the most flattering light quite yet. However, research does, so here we may go through it.

What is holistic therapy?

First, let us briefly define holistic therapy to explain our related offerings. Holistic therapy holds that the body and mind are indivisible, and they both need to heal simultaneously. The American Psychological Association calls this the “mind-body meld”, and cites a study that should begin to prove its efficacy:

“Researchers at Boston University School of Medicine and McLean Hospital used magnetic resonance imaging to compare levels of the neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) before and after two types of activities: an hour of yoga and an hour of reading a book. The yoga group showed a 27 percent increase in GABA levels, which evidence suggests may counteract anxiety and other psychiatric disorders.”

Yoga is not alone in this principle. It may be the most famous and most studied, but will typically come alongside holistic therapy types like:

• Art therapy
• Biofeedback
• Guided meditation
• Reiki and tai chi
• Spiritual therapy

Does holistic therapy work for an intensive outpatient program West Virginia?

With definitions in order, here we can discuss the crucial part; its efficacy. First, we may note that the National Institute of Health (NIH) explores “complementary and integrative health approaches”, which very closely align with holistic therapy principles. NIH’s research on the subject should offer some initial reassurance:

• National Health Interview Survey (CDC and NCCIH)
• National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (CDC)
• National Home and Hospice Care Survey (CDC)

Next, we may cite other health professionals to further illustrate its effectiveness.

• VeryWellMind asserts that “[holistic therapy] often incorporates other empirically validated therapies such as CBT and brief dynamic psychotherapy”. In addition, they assert that “techniques such as acupuncture, yoga, and deep breathing have also been effective for many purposes”, citing research which corroborates this point.
• HealthLine also notes that “there’s an emerging and growing body of research around the benefits of holistic therapy”. To illustrate this, they cite ample peer-reviewed research that “suggests that holistic therapy can help improve overall mental well-being and may offer benefits”.
• The Australian & New Zealand Mental Health Association supports holistic therapy as well. They assert that it can facilitate introspection, “address any underlying causes of your mental health problems”, and “help you find new ways of coping with stress or negative feelings”, among other benefits.

Relapse is Not The End of Recovery

Despite the positive effect holistic treatment can have for many, relapse is sadly quite common. Chronic relapse is a very existent phenomenon, which requires due care. Unfortunately, even the most robust aftercare programs may not prevent a return to addiction.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) quantifies relapse rates for substance use disorders (SUDs) at 40-60%. This figure does show some signs of slowly decreasing as new treatments emerge, but will likely remain high for some years to come.

What must be stressed here is that relapse does not signify a failed recovery. NIDA explains that “the chronic nature of addiction means that for some people relapse, or a return to drug use after an attempt to stop, can be part of the process”. They continue to assert that “relapse serves as a sign for resumed, modified, or new treatment”.

This we have to agree with as well. These rates may seem discouraging, but relapse can serve as just another step to recovery. We have seen this unfold many times before, from both our inpatient and intensive out patient programs, here in West Virginia. Every time, it was our patients’ persistence and resolve to retry that eventually paved the way to success.

In brief, relapse can be a natural step of the process, as you finally solidify your abstinence from substances and reclaim your life. It should not dismay you, but only strengthen your resolve – and we will be there to support you if it happens.

What Makes Our IOP Stand Out From the Others?

Having covered our programs and addiction treatments, here we may finally explore what may make Harmony Ridge Recovery the ideal ally for your journey to recovery. In regards to our IOP specifically, here are 3 key features that make it the intensive outpatient program West Virginia trusts.

#1 Treatment Tailored To Your Needs

All of our programs offer an expansive array of therapies. If one does not yield the best possible results, we will explore another – or selectively apply the principles of the ones which do resonate with you.

Considering the nature of addiction, behavioral health services are a key to recovery. IOP treatment can be used to treat the following disorders:

• Bipolar disorder (including mania)
• Unipolar depression
• Eating disorders
• Self-harm
• Substance use disorders
• Transitional treatment for patients just released from psychiatric or residential treatment

Toward this end, we offer traditional therapies like:

• Individual therapy, where private sessions can allow you to safely and comfortably open up about your rehabilitation challenges.
• Group therapy, whose group dynamics will allow you to socialize and vocalize your concerns to your peers.
• Family therapy, where you and your loved ones can begin to mend your relationships and establish aftercare foundations.
• Art therapy, as a means of therapeutic self-expression to facilitate better emotional recovery.
• Motivational interviewing, which centers on you and your needs instead of your therapist’s external view.

In addition, and particularly in cases of dual diagnosis, we also offer various types of psychotherapy, including:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT); the golden standard of addiction psychotherapy today, this type combines cognitive and behavioral therapy principles. It also informs other therapy types in its own right.
• Dialectic Behavior Therapy (DBT); better known as “talk therapy”; this type also enjoys some fame and appeal among professionals. It primarily centers around developing coping mechanisms, which will also help strengthen aftercare programs.
• Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT); a type of psychotherapy strongly influenced by CBT, this type also centers on cognitive and behavioral healing.
• Eye-Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR); a very prominent emerging therapy type, EMDR consists of 8 robust phases of therapy. Its primary focus lies in recovery through disassociation, influenced by behavioral therapy.

#2 A Place of Serenity – Surrounded by Gorgeous Mountains of West Virginia

The second differentiator from programs of our peers is our unique location. Unlike dense and busy cityscapes, our facilities are surrounded by the idyllic West Virginia countryside. Since pictures are worth a thousand words, you may visit our photo gallery to see its beauty for yourself.

Needless to say, such locations do wonders for one’s mental wellbeing. For everyday life they offer serenity, allowing you to reconnect with nature and your inner self. This is not simply our own view, but a documented scientific fact; among others PsychologyToday finds there are ample benefits of such settings to rehabilitation.

In addition, our location allows for several therapeutic activities, such as picnics and group outings. Simple walks through nature can offer a wealth of psychological benefits, WebMD finds, such as:

• Improved sleep
• Stress relief
• Improvement in mood
• Increased energy and stamina
• Increased mental alertness

#3 Insurance Policies That Can Cover Your IOP at Harmony Ridge

Unlike many of our peers, we deeply understand that rehab costs may be a serious burden on many families. Especially in such financially trying times, our philosophy mandates that we make our programs as affordable as possible.

Our intensive outpatient program West Virginia most prefers accepts the following insurance providers:

• Humana Insurance
• Blue Cross Blue Shield
• Tricare Insurance
• PEIA Insurance

Still, it’s noteworthy that your plan’s exact coverage may still vary. The Affordable Care Act and the Mental Health Parity And Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) do mandate that all plans cover behavioral health treatment, mental and behavioral health inpatient services, and SUD treatment. However, factors like addiction duration, prior addiction history, treatment duration, and exact services required may factor into final costs and coverage.

An outpatient treatment program is generally more affordable. If you’re considering outpatient treatment, but don’t feel confident in the recovery process, you have additional options. The average length of treatment at an outpatient treatment program is 30 days, but this depends on your recovery timeline.

The benefits of standard outpatient programs include psychotherapy and detoxification (or medication-assisted treatment). Treatment services may vary.

This is when you want to look at a more intense treatment for drug abuse. Behavioral health treatment works as a shield for substance abuse treatment.  Early recovery is attainable through alternative therapies. One such alternative would be intensive outpatient program treatment (IOP). But, what is IOP treatment, what does it treat, and is it the right form of treatment for your situation?