What are Rehabs
Written by: THE BALANCE
Medically reviewed by Dr. Sarah Boss, MD
Last updated: January 19, 2026
Fact checked
Quick Summary
  • A "rehab" is a term used for intensive, highly-supervised programs designed to help individuals recover from psychiatric issues and addictions by giving them the tools they need to lead a healthy life.
  • The word "rehab" is short for "rehabilitation," which means "restoring health." The goal of rehab is to help someone break away from substance abuse or mental health issue using a series of evidence-based psychotherapies and medication management.
  • In addition to restoring a person's health, the real aim of these facilities is to help them get to a much better place where they enjoy living without any barriers, restrictions, or safety concerns.

Mental health issues can come in many forms, and so does recovery. A “rehab” is a term used for intensive, highly-supervised programs designed to help individuals recover from psychiatric issues and addictions by giving them the tools they need to lead a healthy life. These facilities can be the best place for you or a loved one to safely step down from addiction or fight a chronic mental health condition affecting their life for a long time.  However, with so many different types of rehabs available across the country, it’s natural to get confused about choosing any one of them.

The word “rehab” is short for “rehabilitation,” which means “restoring health.” The goal of rehab is to help someone break away from substance abuse or mental health issue using a series of evidence-based psychotherapies and medication management. In addition to restoring a person’s health, the real aim of these facilities is to help them get to a much better place where they enjoy living without any barriers, restrictions, or safety concerns.

Rehabilitation centers employ a variety of experts, depending on the services they provide. A typical care team in a mental health rehab includes trained and licenced psychiatrists, psychologists, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nutritionists and dieticians, care coordinators, intake specialists, case managers, holistic therapists, and many others. All these experts coordinate and collaborate every day with a unanimous aim: to help a patient seek recovery. (source: NIDA, 2018)

So what kind of rehabs are there? Rehabs are categorized depending on various factors, such as age, gender, facilities, and the disorders they treat.

According to the intensity, duration, and quality of treatment programs offered, a rehab can either be:

Long-term Residential

This type of rehab offers 24/7 care in a residential setting outside of a hospital. The typical stay in a long-term residential rehab is between six to twelve months, and it involves regular socialization with the staff members and other residents. Each client can access group therapy sessions, individual counseling, educational programs, nutritional counseling, and more. (source: SAMHSA, n.d.)

Short-term Residential/ Inpatient

These rehabs adopt the 12-step approach to addiction or mental health recovery. Offering a more intensive treatment framework than long-term residential rehabs, these facilities welcome individuals with different substance use disorders and mental health issues. The treatment in an inpatient rehab typically lasts from three to six weeks and is followed by outpatient therapy and support groups.

Outpatient

Outpatient rehab centers allow clients to live at home while visiting the facility regularly throughout the week to receive treatment. The rehab offers many of the same programs residential facilities provide, such as educational courses and therapy sessions, except for staying on-site for the night.

Luxury

Luxury rehabs stand out from conventional inpatient and outpatient treatment centers on many grounds. First, these rehabs have a higher staff-to-client ratio, allowing them to provide individual care to each resident as and when needed. The treatment modalities are more advanced and take place under the supervision of top experts from across the country. Residents in these rehabs live in luxurious private accommodations and access personal chefs and drivers, housekeeping, and other amenities like pools, spas, fitness centers, saunas, and more. (source: FindTreatment.gov, n.d.)

Addiction and mental health rehabs are different depending on the age groups they treat.

Children and Adolescent Rehabs

As per the National Institute on Drug Abuse, treating children and adolescents with addiction or mental health issues is much more complex than adults. This is because the younger age group is slower to acknowledge that they have a problem and are likelier to direct the conversation to topics glorifying substance use. Hence, the treatment programs need to be more comprehensive and the staff members delivering them need to practice more patience and perseverance. Treatment in children and adolescent rehabs also differs as most adult medications are not safe for use in younger populations. These rehabs are also much more interactive with the family members of their clients and regularly invite them to participate in family therapies and sessions to improve recovery outcomes. (source: NIMH, n.d.)

Rehabs for the Elderly

Most rehab centers providing treatment for addiction and mental health issues cater to the younger adult populations. Aging individuals often feel left out and believe that the treatment fails to address their specific concerns and needs. Such people can join elderly rehab homes, offering programs that focus more on the individual needs of their age group. Such rehabs also consider the ongoing medical issues that potentially compromise the clients’ health and provide specialized care to tend to these problems. The treatment approach in these rehabs is more comprehensive, compassionate, and slow-paced to accommodate aging individuals with dementia or cognitive impairment.

Adult Rehabs

Adult rehabs usually cater to individuals over the age of 18 years, providing in-depth assessments, detoxification, therapeutic care, and aftercare, depending on their personal needs. These rehabs cater to all genders and provide them with a compassionate and non-judgmental environment to live and recover. The facilities also incorporate several programs catering to the needs of these adults, such as employment-seeking training, life skills training, and family therapy, that allow them to navigate life better.

Certain rehab centers cater to specific genders or communities to offer them more tailored treatment that focuses on their problems and issues. These rehabs include: (source: NIMH, n.d. (Medications))

Men’s Rehab

Men have specific addiction and mental health treatment needs, typically associated with male stereotypes and cultural roles. Many men also hesitate to enter treatment for fear of being judged or considered weak. Men’s rehabs offer gender-specific programs to cater to these specific issues to make their clients feel more accepted and comfortable. These rehabs acknowledge how men may require more time than women to voice their emotions and struggles and provide therapy that makes this process easier. Moreover, men’s rehab relies more on treatment methods that address their specific thought patterns instead of just introspection.

Women’s Rehab

When it comes to seeking treatment for substance abuse or mental health issues, women have their own specific needs that differ from men. Hence, women’s rehabs offer women-specific programs that allow them to seek recovery in a safe and supportive environment while being sensitive to their societal roles. These rehabs also serve as a haven for women who have experienced sexual, physical, or verbal abuse at a man’s hands and do not feel safe discussing these events or seeking treatment in a group that includes male patients. Mothers suffering from addictions can also benefit from the gender-specific treatment programs offered by these rehabs.

In gender-specific treatment, women will likely receive unconditional support and love while recovering from their underlying mental health disease. These women-only rehabs also allow different women with similar issues to empower one another and build a robust support system that gives them the skills they need to live happily and healthily after recovery. (source: APA, 2020)

Different types of rehabs cater to various mental health issues and behaviors. Some of these rehabs include:

Substance Abuse Rehabs

Substance abuse rehabs specifically cater to individuals fighting different types of addictions. This may include addictions to: (source: NICE, 2023)

  • Opioids like heroin, morphine, and oxycodone
  • Painkillers
  • Prescription drugs, like antidepressants
  • Alcohol
  • Marijuana
  • Hallucinogens

These rehabs are different from others as they usually begin with detoxification. This process involves cleansing the body of an offending drug by abruptly stopping the drug use in a patient. Detox processes take place under medical supervision and include the provision of medications to cut back on cravings and manage withdrawal symptoms in a better way. Following a detox, every client goes through weeks of behavioral treatment and therapies that address the root cause of addiction and prevent it from returning.

Mental Health Rehab

A mental health rehab and recovery center aims to introduce a positive difference to the lives of its clients. It helps them build essential community links and acquire strategies that support their reintegration into a wider community. Each mental health rehab uses a specific model of care that follows an integrated approach in which clients, their families, and therapists are all involved in the recovery process. Some common types of psychiatric illnesses that a mental health rehab treats include:

  • Depression
  • Anxiety disorders
  • Bipolar disorder
  • Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
  • Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
  • Panic attacks
  • Grief and loss
  • Mood disorders
  • Personality disorders
  • Affective disorders
  • Phobias

Eating Disorders Rehab

Eating disorders rehabs provides individuals with a controlled but mutually supportive environment where they can devote their concentration and energy toward eating disorder recovery. The specialist team at these rehabs comprises dieticians, therapists, and support workers that provide treatment programs tailored to different types of eating disorders, such as anorexia and bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder, and more. Unlike substance abuse rehabs, eating disorder rehabs do not require medical detox. Alternatively, the treatment programs in these facilities incorporate individual and group therapy, educational workshops, holistic treatments, and diet management. (source: WHO, 2023)

Dual Diagnosis Rehabs

These rehabs are a combination of substance abuse and mental health rehabs as they simultaneously cater to both types of issues. Surveys suggest that people with a mental health disorder are twice as likely to develop an addiction as others and require a specialized and more intensive treatment program to recover. A dual diagnosis rehab provides higher care to such individuals while simultaneously treating all co-occurring issues for a faster and smoother recovery.

FAQs

What are rehabs beneficial for?

Addiction and mental health rehabs provide a safe, secure, and supervised place for people to recover from their long-lasting issues. It comes with highly experienced and trained staff members who are prepared to guide you through different recovery steps using evidence-based treatments. Moreover, rehabs also serve as a great place to meet other people with similar issues and develop a support system that supports your recovery. The environment is judgment-free and comes with no pressure or triggers.

How long are rehabs?

Rehabs offer different treatment programs of varying lengths, depending on the nature and severity of the underlying issue and the appropriate time duration required to address it. Most of these facilities advise seeking treatment for a minimum of 28 days for a wholesome recovery. These treatment programs can, however, extend up to 90 days and even more depending on client needs. (source: NCBI Bookshelf, 2023)

How do drug rehabs work?

Drug rehabs begin treatment with a pre-admission assessment which aims to recognize the extent and severity of addiction in an individual. The evaluation also involves drug testing and specific blood tests to evaluate the current health status better. Depending on these results, a team of specialists collaborates with the client to develop an appropriate treatment plan. A standard addiction treatment plan begins with detoxification and moves to behavioral therapy and aftercare services.

How do rehabs detox you?

The detox process involves abrupt stoppage of the substance use until the body stops craving it naturally. The process occurs in dedicated detox units where clients undergo supervised withdrawals. They may have access to therapies and medications to ease the intensity of their withdrawal symptoms. Some rehabs have a therapist on hand to provide emotional support as and when required. The entire process typically takes 4 to 7 days, during which the staff members check on the detoxing individuals every few hours to ensure their safety.

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