When cost is a factor (and when isn’t it?), finding affordable outpatient treatment in Orange County, CA can be a challenge. Look no further as we offer an excellent, compassionate outpatient program at Northbound Treatment Services, located in Garden Grove.
What Is An Outpatient Program?
Outpatient treatment involves scheduled therapy sessions—individual, group, and sometimes family—for several hours per day, multiple days per week. Patients return home after each session. Outpatient programs are a step down from more intensive care, such as residential treatment. They are designed to build resilience and lasting sobriety in the environment where life is actually lived.
Outpatient programs offer a practical, cost-effective, and real-world-integrated path to recovery. This makes it a sustainable choice for those with mild to moderate addiction severity and a stable living situation.
7 Reasons to Choose An Outpatient Program
- Significantly Lower Cost
Outpatient programs are far less expensive than inpatient/residential treatment because you are not paying for 24/7 room and board, meals, and round-the-clock care. They are often covered by insurance plans.
- Maintain Daily Responsibilities (Work, School, Family)
Outpatient programs allow you to:
- Work or go to school without taking an extended leave.
- Care for children or family members.
- Fulfill other critical daily obligations that would be disrupted by a residential stay.
- Practice Recovery in “The Real World”
This is a key therapeutic benefit.
- Immediate Application: Patients learn coping skills in therapy and can immediately practice them in their real-life environment—dealing with triggers, stress, and relationships as they arise.
- Build a Support Network at Home: Building a sober support system within your existing community (e.g., local recovery meetings, sober friends, family involvement) is an important step.
- Identify Challenges: Issues that might be hidden in a residential treatment setting (like specific people, places, or stressors) can be addressed directly in therapy.
- Continuum of Care
- For many, an outpatient program is not the first step, but an important next step.
- Stepping down to an outpatient program from detox or residential care provides continued structure and support to prevent relapse during the vulnerable transition back to daily life.
- It reinforces lessons learned in higher levels of care with increased personal freedom and responsibility.
- Family and Community Integration
- Healing family dynamics is a core part of long-term recovery.
- Patients remain connected to church, healthy friendships, and clubs, which can be protective factors.
- For Those with a Stable, Supportive Home Environment
- If someone has a safe, substance-free home and a supportive family, outpatient treatment can be highly effective. The home becomes part of the recovery foundation.
- Privacy and Discretion
- It allows for a greater degree of privacy. You can attend treatment without colleagues, neighbors, or extended family necessarily knowing, as your daily routine appears largely unchanged.
When Is Outpatient Treatment Not Recommended?
Understanding the limitations is important. Outpatient is generally not suitable if you:
- Have an unstable, unsafe, or substance-using home environment.
- Have a severe addiction or history of relapse requiring 24-hour structure.
- Have acute medical or psychiatric conditions (e.g., severe withdrawal risk, active psychosis, high suicidality) that need constant monitoring.
- Need the structure of a residential setting to make progress.
Types of Outpatient Programs
- Standard Outpatient (OP): 1-3 days per week, 1-2 hours per day. This is best for early-stage substance use recovery or as long-term aftercare.
- Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP): Typically 9-20 hours per week (3-5 days, 3-4 hours/day). Provides substantial structure while allowing for work/school.
What Happens in Outpatient Treatment?
Organization
- Frequency: Usually 3-5 days per week.
- Session Length: 2-4 hours per day. May be in the morning, afternoon, or evening to accommodate work/school.
- Program Duration: Typically 8-12 weeks. May vary based on individual needs.
- Components: Each session is a mix of different therapeutic activities.
Core Values
- Accountability: The group and counselors hold you accountable for regular attendance and participation.
- Confidentiality: What is said in group stays in group. This creates a safe container for sharing.
- Peer Support: You are not alone. Bonding with others on the same journey is a powerful healing factor.
- Skill-Building, Not Just Talk: The focus is on acquiring concrete tools to navigate life sober.
- Initial Assessment & Individualized Treatment Plan
- A therapist meets with you for an assessment.
- A customized treatment plan is created with your input, setting recovery goals.
- Group Therapy
Groups are facilitated by trained therapists and are process-oriented, with psychoeducation. Skills development groups teach practical tools such as:
- Relapse Prevention
- Coping Skills
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) or Other Therapy
- Process Groups
- Specialty Groups
- Individual Therapy
You meet one-on-one with your primary therapist or counselor weekly or bi-weekly to dive deeper into personal issues that may be uncomfortable to discuss in group.
- Family Therapy / Education
Sessions include key family members or partners since addiction is a family disease.
- Medication Management (if needed)
For those with co-occurring mental health disorders (e.g., depression, anxiety, bipolar), a psychiatrist or medical provider may manage medications.
- Drug Screening / Urine Analysis
Where used, the purpose is to ensure accountability and safety.
- Introduction to 12-Step / Peer Support Networks
Programs may require attendance at external support groups like AA (Alcoholics Anonymous), NA (Narcotics Anonymous), SMART Recovery, or Refuge Recovery to help you build a sober support network in the community.
- Christian Faith-based Counseling
Northbound’s LINKS program places an emphasis on Christian-based counseling for those wishing to participate. It incorporates the role of faith into problem-solving and working through the challenges that recovery presents.
A “Day in the Life” of an Outpatient Program
An evening program from 7-9 pm might be organized in this way:
7:00 PM: Check-In and Mindfulness. A brief check-in on each member’s current state (cravings, stress, successes). A short mindfulness exercise follows to center everyone.
7:30 PM: Psychoeducational Group. Various relevant topics are presented and discussed.
8:00 PM: Process Group. The therapist opens the floor: “Who has encountered a trigger this week and how did you handle it?” Members share real-life experiences and receive feedback and support.
8:45 PM: Goal Setting. Each person states a small, recovery-oriented goal for the next 24 or 48 hours. The therapist offers reminders and words of encouragement.
Seeking Help and the Path to Recovery at Northbound
At Northbound, we have extensive experience helping patients overcome their substance addictions, and with a Christian faith-based track for those wishing to participate.
We offer a wide range of evidence-based therapies, counseling, and trauma-informed support to assist you in your healing. We personalize each treatment plan around the needs of our patients.
The first steps are detoxification and stabilization, under 24-hour medical supervision in our Withdrawal Management center for whatever time you may require.
Our inpatient residential program offers 24/7 live-in treatment for substance abuse. Our outpatient treatment provides a flexible step-down from our residential program, allowing you to live at home and participate for several hours a day.
For more than 30 years, Northbound Treatment Services in California has been at the forefront of providing lifesaving, compassionate residential care and specialized services to help people from all walks of life feel better, discover themselves, and live free from addiction.
We have facilities located throughout California to help guide you on your recovery journey. Reach out to our admissions team now.
Author
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Program Director
Amanda has been working in the behavioral healthcare field since 2011. During her career, she worked her way through various positions in behavioral healthcare and finally earned a position as a program director over 10 years ago. Amanda initially graduated with her license in vocational nursing and an associate degree with completed certifications in substance use and abuse. Amanda has continued on in her education, and she obtained her bachelor’s degree in the science of nursing obtaining a BSN, and her RN licensure. With a primary background in nursing and medical care, and a proven track record in leadership positions in Behavioral Healthcare, Amanda is the perfect person to manage the daily medical and clinical services of a healthcare treatment facility.
As the Executive Director of Northbound, she utilizes her personal recovery experience coupled with her professional experience to oversee the clinical, medical, and the overall operational function of the organization. She believes that above all else the quality of client care should be the top priority for all the employees at Northbound. She pushes clients to find passion in recovery and to gain meaningful and impactful messages in the group programming to provide lasting recovery.
Amanda has a 17-year-old son. She has a passion for fitness and enjoys Rock Climbing and backpacking in her free time. Her passion for the outdoors plays a major role in her content creation in the daily programming for the schedule at Northbound.
