No two people have the same expectations when it comes to drug and alcohol rehab. The question, “Do I need gender-specific care?” is a very personal one. There is no right or wrong answer, and the truth is you may not know as you go into treatment that it is something you want. There are benefits to it, though, that are worth considering.
What Is Gender-Specific Treatment?
It’s pretty straightforward. Gender-specific treatment is programs geared to your gender, whether male or female. They treat men and women in separate programs. How that works depends on the type of treatment. For example, someone in a residential treatment program that is gender-specific would live in an environment with only women. A person in a gender-specific group would meet and discuss their addiction with other women going through the same challenges. Gender-specific programs will also have features that benefit the designated sex when it comes to personal growth and recovery. There is some indication in general that gender-specific health care is preferential. For drug and alcohol treatment, though, limited research seems to state that it is a personal preference. There may be benefits to asking, “Do I need gender-specific care?” though.
What Are the Benefits of Gender-Specific Treatment?
The road to recovery is likely different for men and women just because they experience life in different ways. They both face unique barriers. Working in a gender-specific program ensures that you share with peers who face the same challenges, not just as a woman or man but as a mother or father, wife or husband, and brother or sister. Women, for example, may experience sexual or physical trauma that most men don’t see. Women also have health concerns that are different from men, such as pregnancy or certain forms of cancer. A woman might need onsite childcare or a live-in situation that includes children, too. Men, on the other hand, may have more anger or aggression issues. They also can experience sexual or emotional trauma, but it will be unique to their sex and not something they may feel comfortable talking about in front of women. You may wonder how gender-specific treatment is different than other kinds of treatment. The most obvious difference is that they separate men and women clients. There may be other differences, too, though. For instance, a women’s program may focus on common factors that affect them like poor self-esteem or physical or sexual abuse. A men’s plan may not have the same focus, but, instead, work on issues that may impact their addiction.
Do You Need Gender-Specific Care?
That’s a question only you can answer but talk about it with your care provider to see if they offer it. The Ranch PA, situated on 15 acres of rolling hills in Pennsylvania, does have women’s and men’s rehab options. Services at The Ranch PA include:
- Drug and alcohol treatment
- Dual diagnosis treatment
- Pain management
- Individual and family therapy
- Psychodrama
- 12-Step and Non-12-Step
- Motivational Interviewing
We work with clients that have a dependence on a variety of substances, as well, including opioids, alcohol, benzos, cocaine, meth, heroin, and marijuana. The Ranch PA works to build emotional awareness and resilience in both our men’s and women’s programs. Our focus is neurobiological, meaning we understand that addiction is a brain disease and offer clinically sound treatment programs such as cognitive behavioral therapy. With this evidenced-based approach to healing, we help you identify triggers and control them. Our men’s and women’s gender-specific treatment programs are in Hanover, PA. The men’s treatment center is a residential program, and the women’s option is designed for long-term recovery. There are also outpatient services available for men at The Ranch PA. If you are asking, “Do I need gender-specific care?” give The Ranch PA a call at 717.969.9126 and find out more about what that might mean for you.
