Addiction Recovery & Aftercare: Support Groups & Programs After Rehab
A person’s recovery journey doesn’t end once they’ve completed rehab. Aftercare plays an important role in what happens after rehab to support sustained recovery success. This page will help you understand how rehab aftercare can help you maintain ongoing sobriety and facilitate your recovery efforts.
What Is Rehab Aftercare?
Rehab aftercare programs, also referred to as continuing care, offer ongoing recovery support and relapse prevention strategies to help people after they’ve completed a more intense rehab program.1 It can mean stepping down to a less supportive form of treatment or engaging in any number of additional support interventions that help people solidify the gains they’ve made in their rehab program.1
Before completing rehab, you will receive a customized aftercare plan that includes support to assist your recovery, monitor your progress and symptoms, and respond to a return of symptoms, if they occur.2 Aftercare provides a form of treatment in itself as well as a form of post-treatment monitoring.2
Types of Alcohol Rehab Aftercare
There are various types of alcohol rehab aftercare that can aid in recovery. People typically participate in one or more of these interventions to maintain recovery and support their ongoing sobriety.2
These can include:3,4
- Sober living.
- 12-Step or other self-help meetings.
- Individual, couples, family, or group therapy.
- Attending alumni programs offered by your rehab.
Sober Living After Rehab
Sober living homes are drug and alcohol free residences designed to support people in recovery as they transition back to their daily lives after completing more intense treatment efforts.3 They can be beneficial to those who lack supportive home environments, have recently completed residential treatment, are participating in outpatient programs, or are looking for an alternative to formal treatment.3
Residents themselves pay for rent and other costs, participate in daily tasks such as house chores, and usually engage in 12-Step groups or other forms of peer support.3 Sober living homes do not provide formal treatment services; rather, they rely on a social approach to recovery.3
Outpatient Aftercare Programs
Utilizing outpatient treatment as a form of aftercare means that people live at home but travel to an outpatient rehab center on a set schedule.4 It is less intense than inpatient care or other, more supportive forms of outpatient care like partial hospitalization programs, as people usually only attend treatment 1–3 times per week.4
Outpatient treatment for aftercare can help people solidify the gains they’ve made in their previous rehab program, provide ongoing therapy, allow them to continue to build on and practice recovery skills, and provide necessary social support.1,4
Rehab Aftercare Support Through Alumni Programs
Alumni programs are forms of aftercare offered by various rehabs. They are designed to provide ongoing support to people who have completed one of their treatment programs.1
Making the transition back to daily life can be challenging. By providing the opportunity to stay connected to rehab staff members and program participants, rehab alumni programs can provide valuable social support, access to resources, and encouragement to help people stay on track with their recovery.
AA & Other Recovery Meetings
Recovery support groups, also known as self-help groups, often play a crucial role in comprehensive addiction treatment and aftercare.2,5 These groups can be especially helpful for ongoing recovery by providing mutual support and encouragement, and connecting people with others who know what it’s like to be in the same shoes. 1,5 They can also be especially beneficial when combined with other aftercare options.1,5
Common examples of support groups include:5
- Alcoholics Anonymous (AA).
- Narcotics Anonymous (NA).
- Cocaine Anonymous (CA).
- SMART Recovery.
12-Step groups are built around a structured recovery process that rely on a higher power, the fellowship of the community, and working through the 12 Steps with the assistance of a sponsor.5
Building an Aftercare Plan: Preparing Yourself to Leave Rehab
An aftercare plan is a type of treatment plan that is developed by rehab staff in conjunction with the participant.6 As with your initial treatment plan in rehab, an aftercare plan will include interventions designed to meet your specific medical, mental, social, occupational, family, and legal needs.6 You will work together with rehab staff to identify the aftercare options mentioned earlier, such as sober living, 12-Step or other support groups, or therapy that fit your lifestyle and circumstances.
Some of the things to consider when formulating an aftercare plan include:
- Your unique needs, preferences, and goals.6
- Whether you will be taking medications to support your recovery.7
- Your living environment and level of social support at home.4
- Your insurance and financial considerations.
As preparing for life in recovery can be challenging, it’s a good idea to have an aftercare plan in place while you’re still in rehab rather than waiting until after discharge. Some people also consider life coaching for after rehab as a way to support themselves throughout this process.
Getting a Sponsor
People who choose to participate in 12-Step mutual support groups are encouraged to get a sponsor to support them as they work through the 12 Steps of recovery.7 It can help to have a more experienced partner in recovery who knows the challenges and struggles you may face, who can offer guidance, and who you can call to help you deal with any triggers or provide recovery advice.7 Research shows that having a sponsor is associated with increased involvement in 12-Step programs and leads to improved recovery outcomes.7
How to Support a Loved One in Their Continued Recovery
If your loved one is struggling, it can be hard to know how to help. Here are some tips that can help you support a loved one in their continued recovery:8
- Educate yourself about addiction recovery so you understand what your loved one is going through.
- Maintain an empathic and encouraging attitude.
- Check in with them periodically and ask if they want to talk about any feelings or needs they’re struggling with.
- Encourage them to seek professional help when necessary or attend support groups like AA if they’re not already doing so.
- Take good care of yourself and your needs. Consider attending counseling or self-help groups for family and friends of people with alcohol addiction, like Al-Anon.
Get Aftercare Support
If you or a loved one are nearing the completion of a rehab program, it’s important to have an aftercare plan in place. You should talk to your rehab about finding aftercare support and developing a proper aftercare plan. You might consider researching mutual support groups like AA online, finding an individual therapist, or reaching out to us at if you’re interested in participating in one of our outpatient treatment programs.
Our facilities offer evidence-based care that also includes:
Start the Recovery Journey
Dealing with addiction can take time and often requires ongoing effort and support, but treatment can help people maintain abstinence and resume productive functioning in their daily lives.6 A comprehensive aftercare plan can help you cement the skills you’ve learned in rehab and help you stay on the path to recovery.1
Please call us at to connect with an admissions navigator about your recovery options. We can help you understand more about using health insurance to pay for rehab, and explain how to start or continue your recovery journey. A brighter tomorrow is possible with a phone call today.