Is It Right For You?
Virtual alcohol treatment is shaking up the way people get help for alcohol use and other addiction or mental health treatment. Say goodbye to the days of taking off weeks from work and commuting to and from daily programs! It’s the same quality of care in a traditional rehab program, just in a format that lets you fit recovery into your life on your terms.
Centered Recovery’s virtual alcohol treatment is a game-changer for anyone who’s balancing a busy schedule, whether it’s work, family, or personal commitments. Whether it’s individual counseling sessions, group support, or skills-building tools, everything is available right at your fingertips.
Who Needs Virtual Alcohol Treatment?
Honestly, a lot of people are seeking virtual alcohol treatment, and for good reason! As more and more people are living in this digital era of connection, treatment is expanding to online platforms too. Virtual alcohol treatment programs are beneficial for people who live in more remote areas, those who are outside of regular driving distance to be able to attend our program, and those whose schedules don’t allow for in-person attendance for other reasons.
Do any of these reasons sound familiar as to why you feel you “can’t” find treatment?
- Busy executives who need our services but can’t take extra time out of their day to commute to in-person attendance
- Those in specialized fields such as actors, attorneys, or medical professionals who may need extra anonymity in their recovery journey but still want quality care and programming
- Parents of children with busy school or sports schedules that require lots of shuttling from one place to another
- People who may be ill or recovering from a contagious illness such as the flu or Covid-19
- People with a lack of reliable transportation to commute regularly
- Those with work schedules that end or begin too close to traditional IOP programming times
- Those outside of the Atlanta Metro area who may have limited resources in their local area for treatment options
And don’t worry about your privacy either – through privacy law-compliant technology, we are now able to include people in groups and individual therapy sessions that are fully interactive. Some virtual programs include only pre-recorded videos, where you can’t engage with the facilitator or ask questions. Your recovery journey is unique to you, and no amount of well-intentioned pre-taped videos is going to be able to replace the ability to speak to and get real-time responses from a professionally trained group leader and other clients in your shoes!
What are the Benefits of Virtual Alcohol Treatment?
Treatment That Fits Your Life
One of the best parts about virtual treatment is how flexible it is! You can do individual therapy or group sessions from your couch, which is a big plus if your schedule is packed or if getting to an in-person center feels overwhelming. Centered Recovery will match you with a licensed therapist who “meets” you online to dive into topics like managing stress, navigating social situations, and building coping skills—all key to recovery.
Personalized Programs
Recovery is not one-size-fits-all. Everyone’s journey is different, so most online treatment programs, like ours, tailor their approach to what you need most. Virtual programs help you set clear, achievable goals, and your therapist works with you to create a plan that feels doable.
Accountability In Real Time
Many virtual treatment programs have tools that make staying on track easy, from daily check-ins to goal-tracking, and continuing care events. Plus, weekly video sessions with your therapist provide an individual space to talk about how things are going. It’s all about creating structure and keeping you accountable without having to rearrange your whole life!
Community and Connection
Recovery can feel lonely, and one of the biggest benefits of virtual treatment is that you don’t have to go it alone. Online groups allow you to connect with others going through similar challenges and feel safe in your own space to do so. It’s a great way to swap advice, share wins, and feel understood by people who get it!
Flexible, Affordable, and Private
Virtual alcohol treatment has many perks! Often, it is less expensive, and because it’s online, it offers a level of privacy that can be reassuring if you’re not quite ready to share your journey with everyone. Plus, since everything happens online, you have way more flexibility in fitting it into your life!
How Successful is Virtual Alcohol Treatment?
The good news is that research shows that virtual alcohol treatment is proving to be just as effective as traditional, in-person rehab—and for some, it may even be better! A study published in JAMA Network Open found that virtual programs for alcohol use disorder delivered similar outcomes to in-person treatment. In both programs, reports showed significant reductions in drinking days and heavy drinking episodes after six months, highlighting that virtual treatment offers just as effective support!
Most people love virtual alcohol treatment because of the convenience it offers, especially for those in rural areas or with busy schedules. A 2020 study in Substance Abuse revealed that virtual treatment correlated with improved engagement and lower program dropout rates. This makes sense as people could attend sessions from the comfort of their homes without worrying about commuting! Plus, the online format can foster a sense of privacy and ease that encourages participants to open up about their struggles—a critical component for successful recovery.
Centered Recovery’s virtual treatment is particularly effective in supporting people with co-occurring mental health challenges, such as anxiety or depression, which can be common alongside alcohol use disorder. A study from Telemedicine and e-health found that programs integrating therapy for both substance use and mental health issues led to even better outcomes, reducing relapse rates and improving overall well-being. At the end of the day, whether you choose in-person or virtual alcohol treatment, the preference is yours and you will receive high-quality care either way!
Elevating Your Virtual Alcohol Treatment
At Centered Recovery, we strive to do everything within our power to make our virtual alcohol treatment run as smoothly as possible. However, there are a few things you can do on your end to get the most out of your experience and have a truly meaningful online IOP treatment program! After conducting virtual alcohol treatment as part of our program for almost six years now, we have learned the best tricks for you at home to elevate your virtual experience!
Find a comfortable, quiet place to participate
If you have a family or others sharing living space with you, you’ll want to go to a private room or bedroom to join our groups. You likely won’t feel comfortable answering or asking questions if others can hear you, and you will want to join in the discussions!
Wear headphones or earbuds
Sometimes we can’t help distractions and noise coming from elsewhere in the house, but we can limit our ability to hear it. Headphones will help limit missed words or interactions due to the doorbell, dogs barking, or kids being kids.
Keep your camera on for the duration of the group
Our group facilitators want to see you and our clients want to interact with you! Keeping your camera on engages more connection and conversation.
Wear comfortable clothing
Be comfortable! Good choices are yoga clothing, joggers, relaxed-fit shorts, and t-shirts so that you can sit back and focus on what is important – you!
Put off chores for another time
When you’re participating from the comfort of your own home, it can be tempting to try and get a few chores out of the way, such as starting dinner or working on the laundry. Studies show that we don’t really multi-task, no matter how good we believe we are at it. Instead, we do something called “task switching”, which means you may be missing out on key elements of the group that you need!
Centered Recovery’s Virtual IOP Program
Centered Recovery offers virtual alcohol and drug treatment for clients struggling with alcohol or substance use disorders at the intensive outpatient (IOP) and regular outpatient (OP) levels. We introduced our online program in January 2019, so our facilitators and therapists are already well-versed in how to provide quality virtual programming services to our clients. Our online program is easy to participate in from any phone, smartphone, or computer, right from the comfort and safety of your own home!
No one enjoys virtual classes where the facilitator neglects the camera or audio or all you do is stare up the nose of the presenter. That’s why we invested in state-of-the-art video and audio equipment including multiple 4K video cameras and professional-grade RODE microphones for a high-quality virtual experience. Multiple cameras capture different angles so you can view the facilitator and class participants at all times. Our microphones don’t miss a sound whether there’s an intense discussion about acceptance or a beautiful note played during our meditative sound bath. Interactive SMART TVs allow our facilitators to use a digital whiteboard that is highly visible to both in-person and virtual participants. Digital projectors capture handouts and literature so that you can read along with the group with ease!
Getting Started with Centered Recovery’s Virtual Program
The process for enrolling in online addiction treatment is simple. A physical examination and drug test are conducted either at our Roswell office or at your local lab. You are provided a group schedule with the special access link to join all of our available groups, and a welcome packet with key information about our program and your journey with Centered. You are also provided with the email addresses and phone numbers of your Recovery Team who will help you along the way!
Once you have completed admission, you are free to join our virtual alcohol treatment groups for your IOP program right away! We have new clients who begin on any day of the week, so have no fear that you are starting late or you won’t understand what is being discussed. Our comprehensive program was written specifically to allow clients to join on any day, any week, and still be able to follow along and quickly grasp the dialogue and conversations. You may wish to be an observer for the first group to get a feel for how the class operates, or you may decide to jump right in and introduce yourself–either option is appropriate!
Remember, your addiction recovery or mental health journey is about you. Like most programs, you get out what you put into it! But if you are ready to get serious about your own mental and physical health and are willing to be present and engaged during groups with Centered, you will quickly find that this program is the “missing piece” you have been searching for!
Contact Centered for Virtual Alcohol Treatment Today
Recovery is a personal journey, and there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. However, if you’re seeking a solution that offers flexibility, accessibility, and top-tier care, Centered Recovery’s virtual alcohol treatment program is a great place to start.
With our proven mindfulness-based approach and dedication to client success, you can begin your path to sobriety with confidence. Contact Centered Recovery today at 1-800-556-2966 to learn how online treatment options can help you reclaim your life. The path to recovery is just a call away!
Written by Jennifer Lopes, BS Psy
