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Last updated on May 4th, 2022 at 10:05 am

Your guide to how to find the rehab clinic that is right for you.

Choosing a rehab clinic is like selecting where you are going to spend the next month or two of your life. You want to take your time and make the right decision. Of course, you can call the team at Help4Addiciton to narrow down those choices, but the final decision will always be yours.

With that in mind, here are our top tips for choosing the right rehab clinic for you.

Using Consultation Services to Choose a Rehab Clinic

First off: we would recommend you use a rehab selection service to give you insight into what you need to know. Our experts will talk you through all the choices, and all the things you might take into consideration to make that choice.

Based on the information you discuss with us; we will use an extensive network we have cultivated since 2012 to find the best rehab clinic to match your expectations. We will make a handful of recommendations, from which you can narrow it down to your favourite.

Below are some of the ways that you can choose a rehab clinic from the options we recommend.

 making a sensible decision.

We have all seen hospitals so overflowing that nurses lose track of patients[v] and that is the last thing we want to happen to us during our recovery. To prevent it, check on the patient to staff ratio and be sure it’s nothing to balk at. NICE recommends 1 nurse to 8 patients maximum[vi].

Proximity to Home

For some people, a rehab clinic near home is necessary so they can travel back and forth at the end of the day. In outpatient treatment, this is certainly true. As an inpatient, however, some people find that removing themselves from the reach of their social group really helps them to recover faster.

Whichever suits your needs better, choosing a rehab clinic based on location will narrow down your choices a little.

Inpatient or Outpatient

Some people have ongoing work commitments that stop them from moving into a residential rehab clinic. Some people have responsibilities to their children, people they care for, or even elderly neighbours. If this is the case, then outpatient treatment might suit you better.

On the other hand, if you want to be removed from the social group and triggers that led you to use in the first place, then inpatient treatment in a private residential rehab facility will suit you best.

Treatment Plan Length

The different drug addictions take different lengths of time to treat. When you get in touch with a rehab clinic for an initial appointment, they will be able to outline a rough treatment plan for you. Cost per week and the number of weeks recommended can all play a large part in the decision of which rehab is right for you.

Typically, rehab treatment plans last for detox plus seven days of treatment, detox plus two weeks of treatment, or detox plus 28 days of treatment. Treatment can last for three months, if you can afford to stay in rehab that long. You might also receive secondary treatment or aftercare help for anything up to a year after you finish rehab.

Type of Addiction

Those that suffer from mental health problems or that carry a dual diagnosis of mental ill health and addiction, would be best served to pick a rehab clinic with additional mental health support. Similarly, if your addiction is to stimulants, you are going to do better with treatment options inclusive of the matrix model[vii]. If you are addicted to cannabis or to a sedative prescription medication, then psychotherapy with CBT sessions will suit you better.

Reputation and Accreditation of the Clinic

All treatment centres in the UK should be fully registered and inspected by the Quality Care Commission or Health Improvement Scotland. You should be able to get copies of any inspection reports[viii]. Rehab clinics have a responsibility to provide a certain level of care for patients[ix], so be sure to pick a place with full accreditation.

You should be able to find consumer reviews and testimonials that tell you if the rehab clinic has what you need or not. Maybe you found three places that look perfect, but the reviews say only one of the three have exemplary customer service, then a review comes in handy for splitting the hairs.

Staff and Certification

Make sure that the centre has fully qualified medical staff and specialist counsellors. Look at individual areas of expertise to see if there is someone who specialises in any needs you may have. At a minimum, they should have 400 hours plus of therapy training if they are qualified counsellors[x].

For example, if you are hearing impaired and need a member of staff that can use sign language, this could really narrow down your search for the right rehab clinic. You might also look for members of staff that are qualified and specific areas of recovery. If you are recovering from an eating disorder, for example, you probably want a rehab clinic focused on eating disorders rather than addiction.

Remember to Compare Rehab Clinics

When you have worked through all the points above, you should be left with a reasonable range of choices in a clinic. Of these last few choices, feel free to call around, ask as many questions as you need to, or track down online reviews to compare them. You don’t have to be stuck with one you don’t like, not when there are hundreds of options in rehab centres in England and Wales.

Where to get Help Choosing a Rehab?

If you have analysed all the data above and you still feel unsure in your decision, you can call a rehab selection service like ours to advise you.

For free independent and confidential advice on choosing the best rehab solution for your alcohol addiction call us today on 0203 955 7700.

 

[i] https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156433

[ii] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6289265/

[iii] https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/addiction/counseling-and-addiction-how-therapy-can-help

[iv] https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/emdr-what-is-it

[v] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK493175/

[vi] https://www.nursingtimes.net/news/workforce/new-guidance-on-ward-staffing-levels-retains-18-ratio-21-12-2016/

[vii] https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/02791072.2000.10400224

[viii] https://www.cqc.org.uk/sites/default/files/documents/how_cqc_regulates_final.pdf

[ix] https://www.cga.ct.gov/2007/rpt/2007-R-0183.htm

[x] https://www.counselling-directory.org.uk/profquals.html

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Are all rehab clinics the same?

No, there are several different types of rehab, all of which help you recover from addictions, tackle mental or emotional problems, and generally get back to good health.

What are the types of rehab clinic?

You can go into a full time, residential rehab clinic on the NHS. You can join a private residential rehab clinic. You can go to dayhab and you can go to a part-time, or quasi-residential, rehab centre.

What rehab clinic has the best chance of treatment success?

Full time and private residential rehab centres have marginally increased success rates because the client is removed from real life situations that may inspire drug or alcohol use.

How do I choose which rehab clinic is best?

If you want to go away from home to recover, choose a private facility or a residential one. If you want to stay home while you recover from addiction, seek day treatments at a part time clinic.

What should I consider before I choose rehab?

What facilities, therapies, medical professionals, and amenities are available in the rehab centre you want to attend. Whether or not you want to be full time or part time should also be considered.

What types of therapy can I get in a rehab clinic?

You can get rapid eye movement treatments, group and one-on-one therapy sessions, psychotherapy, art therapy, and plenty of other holistic and psychological treatments.

How much does rehab cost?

You can get rapid eAbout a thousand pounds per week as a full time residential and private rehab clinic. Prices may be more than this and, if it is a high-end centre, can be up to £10,000 per week.

Can I choose a rehab clinic that gives free treatment?

You might get free rehab from the NHS. Waiting lists are excessively long and they will try every other route first. You will have to prove nothing else is working before they will fund it for you.

How long should I spend in rehab?

You should be prepared to spend 28 days in a residential rehab clinic. This time increases to three months in a part time clinic and becomes anything up to a year when you include aftercare.

What is the aftercare?

 When choosing a rehab clinic, you should consider the aftercare programs they have. These are the facilities in place for when you emerge from addiction treatment and try to go back to the real world. Support is most needed at this point.

Author

Nick Conn

Nicholas Conn is a leading industry addiction expert who runs the UK’s largest addiction advisory service and is regularly featured in the national press, radio and TV. He has been clean himself since 2009 and has worked in the Addiction and Rehab Industry for over a decade. Nick is dedicated to helping others recover and get treatment for drug and alcohol abuse. In 2013, he released a book ‘The Thin White’ line that is available on Amazon.

Doctor’s View

Yer gets what yer pay fer. More or less.

But some cheap and cheerful centres do very good work while some palaces are best avoided.

I make my judgment on whether there is a counsellor training department and a research department with careful studies of outcome for patients. And on simple issues of professionalism in punctuality and politeness.

If the person answering the phone is helpful and informative, there’s a good chance all will be well further down the line.

Patients and their families often want a rehab close to home or one miles from anywhere. They’re misguided on both counts.

Quality is what matters.

If the place looks good and feels good it probably is good. A happy centre is likely to have a fine product. Because the patients will be motivated.

Reading testimonials is a mug’s game. Just like following up references for staff. Trust your gut instinct, not bits of paper or telephone calls with people frightened of being sued for misrepresentation.

Some American rehabs have offshoots in the U.K., with polished PR and marketing. If that’s what you trust, I wish you sweet dreams.

Medically Reviewed By:

Dr Robert Lefever

Dr. Robert Lefever is a world leading addictions specialist. He is the foremost expert for addiction treatment. He has personally been in recovery from all substances since the 12th October 1984.

He created the first rehab in the UK to look at all addiction in 1986. Dr. Robert Lefever wrote with Professor Geoffrey Stephenson the masters degree course in addiction psychology at London South Bank University, this was the first of its kind and one of the most highly regarded courses that a therapist can do today.

Robert is also a TED speaker, author, composer and still remains an addiction treatment counsellor.
Last Medically Reviewed On: 7/7/2021
Due to be Reviewed On: 7/7/2023