How to Choose the Right Rehab Centre

A rehab facility that gives clients 24-hour attention is, for most people, the best way to treat an addiction. While resources like Alcoholics Anonymous, publicly provided counselling and support groups can all be beneficial, none of them are as immersive and dedicated as a Toronto rehab treatment centre.

But not all rehab treatment centres are equal. They have different resources, different philosophies and different programs. If you’re considering a rehab centre for yourself or a loved one, it’s recommended you research multiple options to find the most ideal fit. 

In this article, we examine the characteristics that make different rehab centres unique from one another, and go through the things you should look for when choosing the best option. 

Is the Rehab Centre Public or Private?

One major decision you’ll have to make is whether you’d like a private or public rehab centre. Generally speaking, private rehab centres have more amenities and can dedicate more time to each client. But while the care is usually better, the price tag reflects it. Whereas public rehab is entirely or partially covered by OHIP, a stay in a private rehab centre may cost over $500 per night.

How Much Does it Cost?

Though it’s generally true that public means free and private means paid, there is still a wide variance among the cost of different rehab centres. And while everyone wants the best care for themselves or a loved one, for many people, price matters. To find out what a treatment program will cost, contact the institution you’re interested in.

How Large is the Facility; How Large is the Staff?

Technically, there’s no regulation preventing a hotel from calling itself a rehab centre and filling every room with someone trying to overcome an addiction. But in a building with 500 units, it would be difficult to ensure everyone received the attention they needed without keeping a massive staff on board. Rehabs that limit the number of rooms to keep a positive employee to client ratio tend to provide better care. When selecting a rehab centre, ask how many rooms there are.

What’s the Education and Experience of the Staff?

Does the treatment centre just provide access to counsellors, or does it also have therapists on site? While counsellors are helpful, therapists are educated and professionally trained for the job. But even among therapists there are varying degrees of education and experience. It’s a good idea to check out a rehab’s website to see who’s working there before making a decision. 

What are the Grounds of the Rehab Centre like?

Where is the rehab centre located? Is it somewhere beautiful and scenic, or downtown in a metropolis. Recovering from addiction often means taking a break from your ordinary life, so seclusion is a plus, as is space for personal reflection. There’s also a belief that nature can have a therapeutic effect on people, so somewhere outside the urban sprawl is especially good.

What Programs are Available?

The first thing you’ll need to know is whether a rehab centre treats the specific addiction you’re looking to get help for. Beyond that, it’s good to know the length of the available programs and what each program entails. Different treatment providers have different philosophies, and it’s good to familiarize yourself with those philosophies when choosing a centre. For example, some may provide family therapy or support for a client’s partner. 

How are the Rehab Programs Structured?

Talking to representatives from a rehab centre, or obtaining informational material, can give you a sense of what being a client is like. You can see schedules and optional activities to get a sense of how much time a client spends alone, how much they’ll spend in a group, and how much they’ll spend one-on-one with therapists. 

What Amenities Does the Treatment Centre Have?

When a person stays at a rehab centre, the centre becomes their temporary home. So beyond the treatment itself, it matters what the place is like. Do clients have private rooms? Are there recreational activities around? Is there a gym to use for exercise? A pool? Though none of these things may seem essential to recovery, they each contribute to creating a positive experience, and that absolutely matters. 

Is Aftercare Provided?

Does the rehab centre you’re looking at provide care once the client completes their stay? Ongoing support is incredibly valuable to the recovery from addiction. If clients are able to tap resources once they’re reimmersed in their real lives, they are generally more likely to maintain the gains made during their stay.