Licensed Professionals Drug & Alcohol Rehab Programs

Specialized addiction treatment programs provide services that are tailored to the needs of a specific group, like licensed professionals who have unique challenges when it comes to recovery. This page will cover what occurs in a licensed professional rehab program, describe treatment approaches used in the program, and discuss aftercare possibilities.

What Is an Impaired Professional Addiction Treatment Program?

An impaired professional addiction, or substance use disorder (SUD), treatment program is one that is designed to meet the unique needs of licensed professionals. Examples of such professionals are:

A licensed professional may want to join such a treatment program because there are unique challenges they face. They may serve patients, which can lead them to experience vicarious trauma.¹ This means they can experience symptoms similar to those of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) from caring for patients with PTSD.¹

Credentialed professionals may also struggle with work-life balance or compassion fatigue, which can cause burnout. Compassion fatigue is a decrease in compassion from a build-up of handling patient distress.² Furthermore, addiction of professionals can impact the quality of care they provide clients and patients, and may even endanger them.³

Addiction treatment focused on credentialed professionals can help them cope with such unique stressors.

What Happens During Professional Addiction Treatment Programs?

Like other addiction treatment programs, licensed professional treatment programs are comprehensive, with treatment plans that are tailored to the individual. Various levels of care exist depending on a person’s needs.

Levels of care can be divided into these areas:^4-6

• Medical detoxification: Medical detox is the first step for someone who has developed a physical dependence on a substance; it is the safe removal of the substance from the body. Under the supervision of medical providers, the process usually involves medication that has similar effects on the body as the substance of misuse–it  is administered in tapering doses to slowly wean the body off the substance. Medications are also often used to manage withdrawal symptoms during the detoxification process. It is important to note that detox does not constitute treatment but rather clears the body of the substance prior to the person entering treatment.
• Inpatient: Inpatient addiction treatment involves residing at the treatment facility 24/7. This setting is suited for someone with a more severe SUD or an SUD and a co-occurring mental health condition or serious medical condition.
• Partial hospitalization programs (PHP): Drug and alcohol PHPs provide intensive services like inpatient programs; however, people are able to live at home and attend treatment for about 4 to 8 hours per day.  PHPs are a fit for those who need intensive treatment but do not require round-the-clock care.
• Intensive outpatient programs (IOP): IOPs for drug and alcohol addiction also involves living at home and commuting to services but generally less often than in PHPs.This level of care is a fit for someone whose SUD is not as severe and has a supportive, drug-free, home environment. Many IOPs offer evening or weekend services for those who have to also work or attend school.)
• Outpatient treatment: Outpatient addiction treatment programs are also often referred to as outpatient therapy or counseling and occur a few hours per week. Outpatient treatment is a fit for someone who has a mild SUD or who has recently completed a more intensive treatment program and is focused on relapse prevention.

Treatment Approaches in Professional Rehab Programs

There are various types of therapy used in addiction treatment that may be used in all treatment programs, not just for those tailored to credentialed professionals. These therapies include:^7-11

• Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT): CBT works from the idea that thoughts, emotions, and behaviors all influence each other. Therapy focuses on changing unhelpful thought patterns and learning coping skills such that a person can experience more positive emotions and engage in healthier behaviors. One possible negative thought pattern among licensed professionals could be that they are not “supposed” to have the problems that they treat in others. CBT can help them to see that no profession is immune to psychiatric conditions and that their personal experience can even help them to have compassion and empathy for those they serve.
• Motivational interviewing (MI): Those dealing with addiction often have inner conflicts about their use–while they want to stop using, there are also some benefits they gain from it. Motivational interviewing helps people to weigh the costs versus benefits of substance use to help them get closer to readiness for change. Returning to work can be a significant motivator for credentialed professionals because of the time, education, and work that went into earning their licenses.
• Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT): DBT is a structured form of therapy that includes training in skills like mindfulness, interpersonal communication, and distress tolerance.) This therapy strategy is a fit for those with an SUD and co-occurring severe mental health conditions.) Strengthening these skills is important for those in professions that require mental focus.
• Contingency management (CM): CM is a commonly used strategy in SUD treatment and involves giving financial rewards for attaining goals like reducing use or maintaining abstinence. Research has found CM to be particularly effective in treating SUDs, which can help credentialed professionals to maintain abstinence and return to work.
• Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR): EMDR therapy is a treatment protocol used to treat PTSD that involves brain stimulation to reprocess traumatic memories such that they don’t continue to cause distress. One study has found that EMDR can be successful in reducing symptoms associated with vicarious trauma in a group setting.

Different therapy strategies can be used in the context of individual or group therapy. Often, in a rehab program, a person participates in both modalities.⁶ Individual therapy involves meeting one-on-one with a therapist. In this environment, a person can discuss something they are not comfortable addressing in a group setting. The environment is also conducive to silent time for the person to more deeply reflect on their experiences more deeply, gain insight, and release emotion.

Group therapy, on the other hand, involves multiple people sitting in a circle with one or two therapists facilitating the discussion between group members. It provides a sense of universality and peer support and can be especially conducive to improving interpersonal communication.¹²

Furthermore, licensed professionals like physicians can, understandably, worry about stigma and treatment’s implications on their careers.¹³ Group therapy can be a place where professionals can share ideas with each other on how to navigate re-entry into the workplace.

What Happens After Completing a Professional Addiction Treatment Program?

Once licensed professional addiction treatment is completed, continued participation in aftercare programs, also known as follow-up care or continuing care, is important to maintain the progress made in treatment and help reduce risk for relapse.⁵ Most programs recommend participating in aftercare for at least 1 year after rehab completion.⁵ A person’s care team recommends the types of aftercare that may be best suited for them.

One example of an aftercare program is called sober living. This can help someone transition from rehab to independent living because it involves staying at an alcohol and drug-free environment.⁵ Sober living also includes counseling that is provided on-site.⁵

Another example of aftercare is participating in a 12-Step group like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or Narcotics Anonymous (NA). These are peer-led groups, not led by licensed therapists, where those dealing with SUDs come together to support each other.¹⁴ Such peer support participation has shown to increase chances of long-term abstinence.¹⁴

Yet another example of aftercare is individual counseling in which the therapist can help the person prevent relapse by continuing to learn and practice coping skills.⁴ Therapists also often encourage participation in a 12-Step group at the same time.⁴

Does Health Insurance Cover Professional Addiction Treatment Programs?

Yes, using health insurance to pay for rehab is possible. Your insurance company can tell you what types of programs are covered by your plan and which specific licensed professional rehab facilities are in-network versus out-of-network.

The team at River Oaks can also help you to verify your insurance benefits. You can call one of our admissions navigators at to get the information, guidance, and support you need.

Finding a Professional Rehab Program Near You

At River Oaks Treatment Center in Tampa, Florida, we are proud to offer a drug rehab program for professionals, one of the various specialized rehab programs we offer. In addition to helping you with issues like vicarious trauma, compassion fatigue, and work-life balance, we can also help prepare you to return to your professional life and practice while you are in recovery.

It is never too late to seek help, and licensed professional rehab programs can help you get on the path to recovery. One study of more than 900 physicians who completed treatment found that 78% were able to maintain abstinence and 72% returned to work without restrictions.¹³

Please call us at — we are here 24/7 to answer questions and connect you with the right program for you.

Other Specialized Addiction Treatment Programs

• Veterans
• First Responders
• LGBTQIA
• Christian Recovery Program
• Young Adults
• Sexual & Domestic Trauma Support
• Married Couples Program
• Impaired Professionals
• Chronic Mental Illness