Entering a drug or alcohol rehab program can be intimidating, especially if it’s your first time in treatment. If you’re beginning an inpatient or residential treatment program, your rehab center may restrict visits from loved ones for the first few weeks.
Visitation policies at New England rehab centers vary. Some substance abuse treatment centers can be more restrictive than others and may require that every visitor you receive be approved by your treatment team.
Even so, drug rehab centers like Recovering Champions encourage family involvement in the treatment process through visits, phone calls, family education, and family therapy.
Building and healing relationships with loved ones can support your addiction recovery and help you prepare for a fulfilling, addiction-free future.
People Who Can Visit You In Rehab
Every treatment facility is subject to have different policies regarding contact with family and other loved ones during rehab.
A rehab center may require that you create a list of visitors who you’d like to be able to visit you during your treatment stay. You and your treatment team can then discuss this list, which may require pre-approval from your treatment team prior to visitation.
People who can visit you in drug rehab may include:
- immediate family (e.g. parents, siblings)
- spouses
- children
- romantic partners
- friends
- extended family
Visiting someone you care about in rehab can serve many purposes. It can offer comfort and it can provide a chance to make amends. Visitors may also come to participate in family therapy or couples therapy.
All of these can be beneficial during the treatment process to promote personal growth and provide social and emotional support.
When To Visit A Loved One In Rehab
Rehab centers may not allow visits during the first few days or weeks of an intensive rehab program. This is considered in the best interest of both those who enter rehab and their loved ones.
During the first few days and weeks of treatment, residents generally need some time to adjust and get acquainted with their surroundings. Depending on where someone is in their treatment process, they may also need time to heal before visits are permitted.
Visits are generally not recommended during the medical detoxification process. Undergoing detox can be a highly uncomfortable and potentially dangerous process, and having visits during this time may cause greater upset to all parties.
Our treatment staff at Recovering Champions welcomes discussions with our residents regarding visitation during their stays.
We understand how important it is to have a voice in the treatment process. Our treatment staff can discuss with you how we approve visitation, when you can receive visitors, how often, and for how long.
Preparing For A Visit In Rehab
Visiting a loved one in rehab, or receiving visitors, can be very emotional. For visitors, it can be difficult to know how to behave around those in early recovery, or how to provide support in a way that doesn’t undermine the reality of their struggles.
Residents in a rehab program may also feel some anxiety. What if your visitor says something triggering? What if they do something that feels unsupportive? It’s normal to have these worries.
One way both visitors and patients in a rehab setting can prepare for a visit is to set boundaries. These boundaries may include the length of the visit, appropriate topics of discussion, and agreeing to leave the rehab center if the visit becomes uncomfortable for the patient.
Try to have an open heart and an open mind while preparing for a visit. Substance abuse hurts not only those who are struggling, but also the people who care about you the most.
If you’re worried about an upcoming visit, consider talking to a counselor or therapist to create a plan for what you want the visit to look like and how to assert yourself if a situation becomes stressful.
Visiting Loved Ones In Drug Rehab During COVID-19
During the COVID-19 pandemic, treatment centers across the country have adapted visitation policies to comply with safety guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other government health agencies.
At Recovering Champions, protecting the safety and wellbeing of our facility’s residents, staff members, and visitors is our top priority during this precarious time.
We understand that the coronavirus pandemic has caused a dramatic increase in the amount of people struggling with drug and alcohol abuse, a rise in drug overdoses, and reduced access to life-saving treatment.
Recovering Champions is dedicated to creating a lasting community of care that is safe and supportive for those recovering from addiction.
Contact us today to learn more about our visitation policies during rehab, and how we can help you or a loved one in the New England region begin your addiction recovery journey.
