Rehab is professional treatment that helps people stop using alcohol or drugs and build a life in recovery. It can include medical detox, therapy, medication when appropriate and planning for life after treatment. Rehab looks different for each person, and the right level of care depends on your health, history and goals.
Safety first: Withdrawal from alcohol or sedatives, such as benzodiazepines, can be dangerous. If someone has a seizure, severe confusion, trouble breathing or signs of an overdose, call 911. For a mental health or suicide crisis, call or text 988.
Call (561) 340-7269 to talk with our admissions team.
Stages of Change: Getting Ready for Rehab
Most people don’t wake up one day fully ready for treatment. The stages of change model, developed by researchers James Prochaska and Carlo DiClemente, describes how people move toward changing a behavior like drinking or drug use.
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| Stage | What it can sound like | What can help |
|---|---|---|
| Precontemplation | “I don’t have a problem.” | Honest, caring information without lectures or pressure |
| Contemplation | “Maybe I’m drinking too much, but…” | Weighing the pros and cons of change; talking it through with a professional |
| Preparation | “I need to do something soon.” | Making a plan: calling admissions, getting an assessment, arranging time off |
| Action | “I’m in treatment and trying new ways to cope.” | Structured treatment, support and new daily routines |
| Maintenance | “I’m working to keep my recovery going.” | Aftercare, support groups and relapse prevention skills |
Change is rarely a straight line. Many people move back and forth between stages, and some return to alcohol or drug use along the way.
A relapse doesn’t erase what you’ve learned. It can be a signal to adjust your plan or get more support.
You don’t have to feel completely ready to start. Motivational interviewing is a counseling approach built for this. It helps people explore mixed feelings about change and find their own reasons to move forward, whatever stage they’re in.
How the Rehab Process Works
Rehab looks different for everyone, but most people move through some version of these steps. Not everyone needs every step.
1. Assessment and intake
Treatment starts with a full assessment by medical and clinical staff. They’ll ask about:
- The alcohol, drugs and medications you use, and how much, how often and for how long
- Your physical and mental health, now and in the past
- Any past treatment
- Stress and support in your life, such as work, family, money or legal issues
Your care team uses this to recommend where to start. Our admissions team can review your insurance with you before you begin.
2. Medical detox
If your body depends on alcohol or drugs, stopping suddenly can cause withdrawal. Medical detox lets doctors and nurses watch your symptoms and manage them safely.
Detox treats physical dependence, but it’s only a first step. Therapy works on the thoughts, habits and triggers behind substance use.
3. Treatment
This is what most people picture when they hear “rehab.” Depending on your needs, treatment can include:
- Individual therapy, group therapy and family education
- Meeting with a doctor about your medical care and medication options
- Learning about addiction, mental health and coping skills
- Building connections with peers in recovery
- Preparing for life at home, at work and in your community
4. Aftercare planning
Before you leave, your team helps you build an aftercare plan. It may include follow-up appointments, counseling in your community, support groups and a plan for handling triggers.
5. Ongoing recovery
Recovery continues long after treatment ends. Over time, appointments may space out. Many people keep going to support groups and stay connected with others in recovery.
Levels of Care at The Recovery Village Palm Beach
At The Recovery Village Palm Beach at Baptist Health, many people start at a more structured level and step down as they make progress. The care team sets the length of stay based on each person’s needs.
| Level of care | What it is |
|---|---|
| Medical detox | Medically supervised withdrawal management |
| Intensive inpatient | Highly structured inpatient care with close medical and clinical support |
| Residential | You live on campus and focus on therapy and recovery, away from daily triggers |
| Partial hospitalization (PHP) | Structured treatment with more independence, often a step down from residential |
| Intensive outpatient (IOP) | A step-down level of care |
| Aftercare planning | A plan for continued support after you leave |
For mental health conditions, we offer residential care, PHP and IOP. Many people have both a substance use disorder and a mental health condition, such as depression, anxiety or PTSD. Dual diagnosis care treats both at the same time.
What Happens in Therapy
Therapy helps you connect your thoughts and feelings to your substance use and build new ways to cope. Detox clears substances from your body, but therapy works on the reasons behind the use.
Therapies at our Lake Worth campus include:
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
- Cognitive processing therapy (CPT) for trauma
- Individual and group therapy
- Family education
- 12-step based programming
Therapy can help you spot triggers, plan for cravings, manage stress and hard emotions, and repair relationships. It can also treat mental health conditions that often occur alongside addiction.
Therapy can feel uncomfortable at first. That’s normal, and sticking with it gives new skills time to take hold.
Rules and Daily Life in Rehab
Every rehab has rules. They help keep everyone safe and focused on recovery. Common rules include:
- No alcohol, drugs or unapproved medications on site
- Respect for staff and peers
- Active participation in therapy and groups
- Honesty with yourself, your peers and your care team
- Visits arranged with the care team’s approval
Each program has its own policies on phones, visits and outings, and staff explain them at admission. Our guide to what to expect in rehab has more details.
Between sessions, you can use our swimming pool, two fitness centers (one for women only), half-court basketball, sand volleyball, walking trails and meditation garden. An executive chef prepares meals in a full-service kitchen, and residents share double rooms. PHP and IOP clients may join staff-led outings, such as 12-step meetings and community recovery activities.
How to Make the Most of Rehab
Treatment gives you tools, but you decide how to use them. These habits can help you get the most from your time in rehab:
- Be honest about your use and your struggles
- Participate fully, even when it’s uncomfortable
- Stay open to new ideas and ways of thinking
- Ask questions when something doesn’t make sense
- Follow your treatment and aftercare plans
- Lean on your support network
Rehab FAQs
What is the difference between rehab and therapy?
Therapy is one part of rehab. Rehab is a full treatment program that can include medical detox, therapy, medication management, education, peer support and aftercare planning.
Therapy focuses on your thoughts, feelings and behaviors. In rehab, therapy works alongside medical care and daily structure, so you can focus on recovery in one place.
What is a rehabilitation center?
A rehabilitation center is a licensed facility that treats substance use disorders, and often mental health conditions too. Depending on the center, it may offer medical detox, inpatient or residential care, partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient programs.
Look for accreditation and state licensing. The Recovery Village Palm Beach is accredited by The Joint Commission and licensed by the Florida Department of Children and Families.
How long does rehab last?
There’s no set length. Your care team sets the length of stay based on your needs, including your substance use, physical and mental health, and progress in treatment.
Many people move through more than one level of care, such as detox, then residential care, then PHP or IOP. Support continues after treatment through your aftercare plan.
Does rehab work?
Addiction is a chronic, treatable condition, much like diabetes or high blood pressure. Rehab gives you medical care, therapy, skills and support, but recovery is a process, not a single event.
Progress looks different for everyone. It can include fewer cravings, better health, stronger relationships and a plan for handling setbacks. A return to use can be a signal to adjust treatment, not a reason to give up.
How much does rehab cost?
The cost of rehab depends on the level of care, how long you stay and your insurance benefits. Programs with more medical support or longer stays usually cost more. Our admissions team can review your insurance with you and talk through payment options before you start, so you know what to expect.
Do I have to be ready to quit before I go to rehab?
No. Many people start treatment feeling unsure or ambivalent, which is normal and fits the stages of change.
Treatment can help you sort through mixed feelings, build motivation and set your own goals. What matters most is being willing to take a first step, such as calling for an assessment.
