Rehab Visitation Rules

Can Rehab Patients Have Visitors?

Having a healthy support system is an essential component of recovery, and family involvement in the treatment process can be beneficial by encouraging you to make changes, stay in treatment for longer, and have successful outcomes. Most rehabs recognize the benefits of visitation and will often incorporate them into your treatment plan. However, visitation rules may differ among treatment facilities and include many factors to protect the recovery process.

Treatment teams will allow visitations when it is deemed most effective and when it will not interfere with your progress. They can also ban visitations, depending on the circumstances. Examples of when visitations are not allowed typically include the following:

• During detoxification
• The first month or so after entering inpatient rehab
• If family and friends are negative influences
• If safety is an issue in your relationship

During early recovery treatment, your attention must focus on healing and learning the necessary skills to stay sober long-term. For some people in rehab, seeing family and friends can trigger cravings and lead to relapse.

If your recovery treatment team is open to visitations as you progress, therapists will have expectations for family and friends who genuinely want to support your recovery, including:

• Making positive comments and compliments
• Participating in education about addiction
• Being sober or in recovery
• Attending mutual support groups for families and friends
• Receiving treatment for themselves if needed

With a healthy support system, you have a greater chance of maintaining long-term abstinence. Unfortunately, having someone who supports your substance misuse can have just as much influence.

Are There Visitation Rules When Visiting Someone In Rehab?

Yes, there are visitation rules and regulations when visiting someone in rehab. The exact regulations may vary from one rehab to the next. They may also vary from patient to patient after a complete assessment to determine if visitation is beneficial or may hinder recovery.

Standard visitation rules in addiction treatment include:

• You can only see visitors during the facility’s regular visiting days and hours.
• You can only meet a specific number of visitors simultaneously.
• You must remain in a specific area during visitation.
• Visitors must receive approval from the treatment program staff.
• Visitors must behave appropriately and respectfully.
• Visits must have therapeutic benefits.

Visitors cannot randomly arrive at the rehab and expect to spend time with you. They must follow the rehab’s process and procedures. In addition, you must consent to visiting with someone, or they will receive a denial of their request for a visit.

Can I Bring Things For My Loved One In Rehab?

Many therapists and treatment team members allow someone to bring you a gift in rehab if it offers therapeutic benefits. The gift will likely need approval from the treatment team to ensure it doesn’t impede your recovery. Examples of therapeutic gifts may include:

• Journals
• Recovery books
• Art supplies
• Photographs
• Puzzle books
• Encouraging cards
• Blankets

Gifts that offer encouragement can also motivate someone to stay in treatment longer. The more time they spend in treatment, the more likely they will experience successful outcomes. Items to avoid bringing your loved one in rehab include:

• Any item that contains alcohol, like mouthwash or sanitizer
• Vaping supplies or e-cigarettes
• Narcotic or non-narcotic medicines
• Pornography or other addictive items
• Video games, DVDs, or televisions
• Inappropriate clothing or outfits
• Food or drinks

Any item that could allow someone to continue an addiction or that will distract them from making progress in their recovery is prohibited. If you have questions about what to bring or not bring to your loved one in rehab, contact the rehab facility directly before trying to take it with you.

Can Children And Pets Visit?

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) reports there are federal guidelines for treatment programs that recognize the importance of children visiting parents who are in treatment. Because a parent’s addiction significantly affects a child’s well-being, they should be able to visit as long as they remain under the supervision of their parent who is in treatment. If an additional parent or guardian is present, they can also assist in supervising. If available, parents and children may attend family therapeutic services to address parenting or other issues that may affect recovery.

Many people identify their pets as family members and find great emotional support from their pets. Therapists recognize the benefits of introducing pets into a person’s recovery. Animal-assisted therapies have a positive effect on the following:

• Reducing treatment drop-out rates
• Increasing motivation to change
• Reducing psychological symptoms
• Increasing program completion rates

However, just because pet visitations have benefits doesn’t mean all rehabs will approve a request. Visitation rules regarding pet visits must consider other factors, such as how the animal will react to other patients, how well it behaves inside the facility, and whether the amount of time you spend with your pet during visitation is beneficial.

How To Create A Positive Visit

Visits from family and friends who support recovery can be meaningful and part of the reason people remain in treatment to learn how to avoid a relapse. Positive visits occur when family and friends see and encourage you for a specific period. Visits can be even more beneficial when they include education and therapeutic activities to increase their knowledge and skills to support your recovery. Ways to make a positive visit include the following:

• Have a positive attitude
• Communicate effectively
• Avoid responding in ways that trigger negative emotions
• Engage in positive activities together
• Make personal changes that support recovery

Family members and friends must learn to take care of themselves physically and mentally so they can offer you the support you deserve. Therapists can help families achieve this goal by teaching them recovery skills through specific types of counseling, including:

• Psychoeducation teaches them about the disease of addiction.
• Telephone coaching before the visit.
• In-person coaching before or after the visit.
• Cognitive-behavioral therapy to learn skills to maintain recovery.
• Introduction to 12-step facilitation and peer-support groups for families and friends, like Al-Anon.

Positive rehab visits end with everyone feeling good and more excited about a sober future together.

What Are Other Ways To Communicate With Someone In Rehab?

Visiting someone in rehab may not always be possible. The treatment center may be too far away, or the addiction rehab visitation policy may prevent visits at any stage of recovery. Fortunately, there are other ways to communicate, like making phone calls during set days and times or writing letters.

Receiving visits and calls from family and friends often depends on how well you are doing in treatment. Family and friends must have patience when seeking contact. They may contact your therapist to express their desire to communicate with you when necessary.

Final Points On Rehab Visitation Rules

Your recovery must be a priority, which means following the rehab visitation rules even if they are not what you prefer. You will likely find the rules are set for a reason: to support your ability to maintain abstinence.

If you are ready to take the next step towards sobriety, you can learn more about local treatment facilities or contact a treatment provider to explore your rehab options. Once you’ve decided on a facility, you can contact them directly to ask about their visitation policies.

Remember that seeking treatment for substance use disorders can change your life and put you on a path to a healthier, happier future.