Typical factors affecting the best choice of rehab centers are location, type of treatment available (inpatient or outpatient), cost, aftercare options, and amenities. However, it is vital to understand the differences when considering gender-specific or co-ed rehab centers before the final choice.
Statistics show that about 21 million people in the United States struggle with addiction. The addiction treatment demand is prompting the development of gender versus co-ed rehab centers.
Why Is Gender Rehab Helpful During Detox?
While gender-specific or co-ed rehab centers offer similar services, this next level of service option can benefit specific populations, especially in detox. For example, trauma, domestic violence, or other violence against a particular gender can trigger hesitation, fears, and anxieties that may deter or prevent a successful detox. As a result, with detox being such a crucial beginning step in recovery, the benefits of gender versus co-ed rehab are additional steps for relapse prevention.
Other benefits address the differences in men’s and women’s detox needs surrounding addiction. Consequently, men typically use larger dosages and ingest more frequently than women. Gender versus co-ed rehab allows for these differences, including how men and women metabolize drugs and alcohol. Offering a gender-specific opportunity in detox programs provides a unique opportunity to concentrate on gender-specific detox issues.
Benefits of Co-Ed Rehab
Those deciding whether to attend a gender-specific or co-ed rehab center need to know the advantages and disadvantages of each. Co-ed rehab centers allow men and women to attend treatment in one facility.
Inpatient or residential services are in one facility, although men and women do not share rooms. Both sexes participate in group therapy together and other life skills educational opportunities. Gender versus co-ed rehab would only provide female individual counselors for female patients and the same for men. However, research points to the proven fact that typically men and women do well in a co-ed treatment setting, providing different viewpoints.
The National Institutes of Health states co-ed treatment is safe and cost-effective in most circumstances. Ultimately, an assessment and evaluation by a healthcare or mental health professional can shed light on which alternative would be most beneficial in each case.
Co-Ed Treatment Helps Improve Crucial Social Skills Between Genders
A proven benefit of co-ed treatment is the development of social skills between genders while in recovery. Treatment is preparation for coping in the real world as a sober individual, regardless of gender.
Communication, social, and relationship skill building between genders may be valuable in deciding on gender-specific or co-ed rehab. Therefore, the interaction between genders in a co-ed treatment setting may benefit life after recovery.
Real-World View Discussions at Co-Ed Treatment Centers
Gender-based opinions and conversations can broaden the scope of understanding in group therapy situations. For example, in women’s rehab, they can discuss unique gender-specific topics they may not be comfortable expressing in co-ef rehab. Discussing these experiences and challenges helps prepare those in treatment for the future challenges of living a sober lifestyle.
Furthermore, these conversations enhance relationship-building skills. Developing compassion and empathy for others of both genders will be beneficial in future relationships.
Challenges of Co-ed Detox
Considering an individual’s comfort level is essential when deciding on gender-specific or co-ed rehab. Co-ed treatment can be challenging if gender negatively affects an individual. Past trauma, violence, domestic violence, or sexual abuse involving a specific gender may be a detrimental trigger for some.
While addressing trauma and other stressful situations is essential during treatment, this can begin with individual therapy. Those uncomfortable with a co-ed setting in rehab may isolate and not participate in activities that are beneficial for their recovery. In deciding whether gender versus co-ed rehab is best for a loved one, relapse prevention is another consideration.
Distractions can affect achieving recovery, but resolution for all personal issues must happen somewhere down the road. Following professionals’ advice may help determine the best form of treatment.
Gender-Specific Rehab’s Benefits
When deciding on gender versus co-ed rehab, the benefits of gender-specific treatment must be an essential consideration. Addiction affects women differently than men, and women have an increased chance of experiencing childhood trauma and violence in their relationships.
Women experience a strong stigma about staying home to be homemakers and mothers. Open discussions In gender-specific treatment can avoid shame, guilt, and anxiety. Sexual tensions in a co-ed setting can be the reason for avoidance of acceptance and openness while in a group setting.
Vulnerability can be challenging in a co-ed situation so gender-specific rehab can be beneficial. Men may not want to admit to the reasons for their addiction because they believe it may seem like a weakness. Fear of judgment from the opposite sex can cause a stressful environment and prevent fruitful discussions that may promote successful recovery.
Gender versus co-ed rehab allows fewer distractions and less chance of inappropriate romantic relationships developing in treatment. Romantic relationships in treatment increase the chances of relapse. For this reason, gender-specific rehabs have been very successful.
Sensitivity towards gender-specific issues is more apt to be productive in this setting. Pregnancy and addiction are examples of an issue men may not understand or have concerns for.
Explore the Options of Gender Versus Co-ed Rehab in Tennessee
The benefits of gender-specific rehab may outweigh the cons, but some factors may be more attractive with co-ed rehab. Detox West in Tennessee can offer professional advice for each individual, depending on each personal situation. We offer all types of programs but understand how one program might address individual factors that are very important.
Contact us to discuss your thoughts and questions about gender versus co-ed rehab today.