If you have ever considered rehab to help change your relationship with alcohol – there is good news. With these changing times and the possibility of telehealth and online therapy, there are more options than ever.
Most of us are familiar with the traditional models of treatment; an in-patient facility for 30 days with options for 3–6 months longer in sober living or a half-way house. There are also private pay rehabilitation centers that look very different, with specialized services such as Shiatsu by the pool, equine therapy and private chefs. Another option might be IOP – Intensive Outpatient Therapy where an individual attends classes and group sessions for several hours a day vs. living full time at a facility.
Now, there is a new model that is available. My guest on the podcast this week is Robin McIntosh, co-founder of Workit Health, an alternative to the traditional form of rehab.
Workit Health addresses many of the barriers to entering treatment:
- Money – Workit Health is covered by most insurance and is a fraction of the cost because there is no facility for upkeep
- Stigma – Workit Health does not require that you meet with your HR department or share with extended family that you are entering treatment (you may choose to do so, but unlike leaving for 30 days, there is greater anonymity).
- Time – you don’t have to leave for 30 + days. This can be a huge deterrent for some people
- Waiting – I have been on the frustrating end of trying to find a ‘bed’ for a treatment center. With online telehealth, there is no waiting period.
Workit Health has a combined approach which includes screening for medication assistance, harm reduction goals, and group therapy.
I am excited to know this option is out there – I am deeply invested in bringing you more tools, more choices and, ultimately, more freedom. I hope you will take a close look at online rehab and see if it might be the right for you or a loved one.
Robin McIntosh is the Co-Founder and Chairperson of the Board of Directors of Workit Health, an innovative harm reduction-based treatment program.
Robin spent much of her young life struggling with substance use and eating disorders. After years of relapse, multiple stays at in-person treatment, and a post-rehab drinking binge that led to her being cut off by her family, she got into long-term recovery and built a stable life. Several years into her recovery, Robin and a sober friend looked around at the people they had lost to the traditional treatment system and the friends who were still struggling. Together, they decided to create a better way to recover—evidence-based, readily accessible, and grounded in harm reduction. They founded Workit Health in 2015, and now the company treats alcohol and opioid use disorders, as well as a range of co-occurring conditions via our telehealth app.
Now 16 years alcohol-free, Robin’s years leading an addiction treatment company combined with her lived experience as a woman with substance use and eating disorders give her a unique perspective on recovery.
Find out more about Workit Health
