Addiction treatment outpatient options: What to expect

Outpatient addiction treatment lets you get professional support without stepping away from your life. You can stay at home, keep working, and attend therapy sessions around your schedule – while starting to address what’s driving your substance misuse.

Castle Health offers outpatient addiction treatment across the UK and Europe, combining therapy, clinical expertise, and practical strategies that fit around your life.

What are addiction treatment outpatient services?

Outpatient treatment means you stay at home, keep working, and attend therapy sessions around your schedule. Appointments are confidential, and if you are working, your employer isn’t informed unless you choose to tell them.

In the UK, outpatient rehab is available through private funding, health insurance, or the NHS, though public waiting times can be longer, running from 12 weeks to over a year.

Outpatient services can come in many different forms, including:

  • Therapy: Regular one-to-one or group sessions with an addiction therapist to understand patterns of use and practical ways to manage them.
  • Online therapy: Appointments by video from home, useful if travel, work hours, or privacy are concerns.

How do I know if I need outpatient rehab treatment?

Outpatient treatment exists for the time before things become unmanageable, when substance use or mental health is starting to shape your decisions, your mornings, and your limits: even if nobody else has noticed yet.

An assessment isn’t a commitment. It’s a conversation about what’s happening and whether therapy would help. Our team can assess if this is the right option for you.

Is outpatient addiction treatment the best option for you?

Outpatient treatment works best when you can maintain safety and stability while living at home. It requires commitment and a supportive environment. Consider home-based recovery support if:

You have a stable home and mild to moderate addiction

You’re not experiencing severe withdrawal symptoms or medical complications, and you have a supportive home environment to return to each day.

When privacy is a primary concern 

Some people, particularly professionals, will actively avoid residential treatment because of the time away and visibility. Outpatient treatment – especially online – allows them to get help without it being apparent to employers or wider networks.

You have work, school, or family responsibilities you can’t leave

Home-based therapy sessions can take place in the evening and on weekends, so you can get support without putting your life on hold.

You have mild to moderate co-occurring mental health conditions

If you’re managing depression, anxiety, or low-level stress alongside substance use, outpatient programmes can coordinate both in one place. Where mental health needs are more complex, our team will assess whether a higher level of care is more appropriate and be upfront with you about that.

When someone isn’t ready for residential treatment – Some people aren’t at the stage where they’ll accept inpatient care. Online therapy or sessions with a private therapist in person can be an entry point to accepting help, building trust, engagement, and motivation. 

When cost is a genuine barrier to residential treatment, outpatient programmes for addiction and outpatient mental health treatment are significantly more affordable than inpatient programmes. For people who can’t access residential care financially, private therapy can be a realistic and still highly meaningful way to begin recovery. 

When geographic access to residential treatment is limited, someone in a rural or remote area, or outside the UK, may not have easy access to a residential facility or even to an English-speaking therapist, but can access therapy support digitally.

You’ve just finished inpatient treatment

Online addiction counselling provides continued therapy and support as you return home and resume normal life.

Contact us

What addictions are treated in an outpatient setting?

The addictions we treat include:

  • Alcoholism
  • Cocaine addiction
  • Cannabis addiction
  • Heroin addiction
  • Ketamine addiction
  • Ecstasy dependency
  • Opioids and prescription medication dependency
  • Gambling addiction
  • Gaming dependency
  • Social media addiction
  • Sex and porn addiction

An initial assessment helps decide if outpatient treatment is appropriate and what support you might need. If a higher level of care is safer, this will be explained clearly. Everyone is different, and the Castle Health team is here to provide the treatment that best suits you.

What to expect during outpatient treatment at Castle Health

Outpatient treatment at Castle Health starts with talking through your history and what you need from treatment. We will discuss your treatment option, and you can choose from a range of individual therapy sessions or treatment programmes, including:

 

  • Free screening: A free support screening with one of our trained treatment advisors is the simplest way to understand what kind of help is right for you or your loved one. The 30-minute conversation is completely confidential and carries no commitment; its only purpose is to point you in the right direction. We’ll be in touch within 24 hours with recommendations tailored to your situation.
    • 28-day programme: Our programme is aligned with the 12 Step philosophy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT) and motivational interviewing. You can continue living at home, working, and going about your days as you normally would, while receiving daily support from an addiction specialist. 
    • One-to-one therapy: Individual therapy at Castle Health offers one-to-one sessions with accredited addiction specialist therapists. Using evidence-based approaches, sessions focus on understanding the underlying causes of addictive behaviour, changing problematic thought patterns, and building practical coping skills. Treatment plans are personalised, with flexible packages of 5 or 10 sessions to suit your needs.
    • EMDR sessions: Designed for people whose addiction is rooted in unresolved traumatic experiences. Using specialist approaches including Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (TF-CBT) and Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR), our therapists work to process distressing memories and address trauma and addiction together, rather than treating them separately.
    • RESET programme: The Reset Programme offers five one-to-one online sessions with an accredited addiction therapist, designed to help you understand your personal patterns, behaviours, and motivations. Your therapist will guide you through different recovery paths, from self-guided strategies to outpatient therapy, and work with you to build practical tools and a flexible, long-term plan for maintaining sobriety and developing healthier habits.
    • Group therapy: Group therapy at Castle Health runs weekly, guided by experienced facilitators in a safe and supportive environment. Available online, sessions bring together people at similar stages of recovery to share experiences, offer mutual support, and grow together. You can choose between 12 sessions over 12 weeks or condensed into 6 weeks with two sessions per week, depending on what works best for you.
    • Family therapy: Supports the people closest to someone in recovery, recognising that addiction affects the whole family. A family support group is also available for those whose loved one is in continuing care.
  • Couples therapy: Helps partners rebuild relationships affected by addiction, using evidence-based techniques tailored to each couple’s circumstances. Available face-to-face or via secure video call, sessions focus on rebuilding trust, improving communication, and developing healthier relationship patterns together.
  • Recovery coaching: We offer professional recovery coaching to provide guidance, accountability, and motivation for individuals after addiction treatment. Our experienced recovery coaches work closely with you to help build resilience, maintain sobriety, and develop healthier coping strategies. Whether you’re transitioning from rehab or looking for additional support, our coaching services are tailored to meet your unique needs.

Here’s what to expect during the admissions process:

Your first conversation with Castle health

Most people are surprised by how straightforward the initial assessment is. It’s 90 minutes, and it’s mostly just talking.

We’ll ask about how drinking or substance use is affecting your work and relationships, what you’ve already tried, and what’s making you hesitant. You don’t have to have answers prepared. You won’t be asked to label yourself or commit to anything on the day.

If you decide to go ahead, what you tell us shapes everything. Your treatment plan is built around your routine, your concerns, and what you actually want from support.

What happens in your first session?

You’ll meet your therapist, talk through what your week looks like, and you’ll start to map out what’s been happening and what patterns of use you are dealing with.

There’s no pressure to commit to abstinence. No expectation that you’ll have the right words. Just an honest conversation about where things are. 

Receiving weekly support

Most people attend one or two individual therapy sessions a week, plus group sessions. In your one-to-one sessions, you’ll work through what’s driving your substance use and start to address the underlying causes.

Each week is practical. You bring what’s happened, look at the patterns, and plan what to do differently.

Group sessions offer something different: the experience of hearing from people at various stages of recovery, and the realisation that you’re not navigating this alone.

Access to specialist treatment

Our team includes consultant psychiatrists, addiction specialists, therapists trained in trauma work, and recovery coaches. They’re here to provide calm, knowledgeable care for you and your family.

If past trauma is part of why you use substances, you’ll find open, honest, and specialist help. We have therapists trained in EMDR to support you in a non-judgemental way. Our goal is to connect you with the right person who understands what you’re facing and who can provide the right treatment to manage your individual needs.

How long does outpatient treatment last?

Many people start with sessions for 4-6 weeks, then review progress and either continue as they are, extend the programme, space sessions further apart, or step down to occasional follow-ups.

How much does outpatient addiction treatment cost in the UK?

A four-week outpatient programme at Castle Health typically costs between £3,000 and £4,000, depending on the level of support you need. As you’re not paying for accommodation or round-the-clock care, it’s considerably more affordable than residential treatment.

Many of our patients access treatment through private health insurance. Coverage varies depending on your policy and provider, but Castle Health works with most major insurers. If you’re unsure what your policy covers, our team can help you navigate that before you commit to anything.

What if I relapse during outpatient treatment?

Relapse doesn’t mean you’ve failed, and it doesn’t mean treatment stops. Outpatient care happens in real life, alongside the same pressures and situations that were there before you started.

If you drink or use during treatment, we don’t start from scratch. We look at what happened, what was building beforehand, and what support would help. Sometimes that means more frequent sessions. Sometimes it means adjusting the plan. Either way, you keep going.

If relapse happens after treatment has ended, our team are on hand to provide the help you need.

During your treatment, you can also connect with a Recovery Coach through our coaching programme. They will act as a guide and mentor during your recovery to help you stay on track and access support long-term after your treatment is finished.

Take the next step

while they still have stability at home and at work. When you’re ready, our team can help you understand what support is available.

Our team will listen to what’s been happening, answer your questions honestly, and help you work out whether outpatient care is the right fit. If it isn’t, we’ll tell you that too and let you know your options.

If you’re unsure whether outpatient treatment is the right fit, speak to your GP or get in touch with our admissions team. We’re here to talk through your options without any obligation.

Frequently asked questions

Where can I book an assessment for outpatient addiction treatment?

The quickest way is to contact us through our website at Castle Health. We begin with an initial discussion to help you decide if our outpatient treatment is a suitable option for you. After this, we can invite you for further assessment if required.

Is outpatient treatment right for opioid addiction?

Potentially, yes. Outpatient drug treatment for opioid addiction could be the right decision for you if the circumstances are right. If it’s a good fit for you, we will create a personalised plan to make sure you get the right specialist care. 

If your addiction is severe and your therapist recommends it, you will be guided towards inpatient treatment. This will be the best choice if a safe, medically-managed detox is required.

Where can I find drug or alcohol addiction outpatient treatment near me?

Castle Health offers support across the UK, including locations in London, the Midlands, Scotland, and more, with both in-person and online services. We also have outpatient clinics in the Netherlands, Sweden, and Ireland, as well as outpatient services for people living in Finland and Malta.