Inpatient vs Outpatient - A Guide to Private Mental Health Facilities in Alberta

Inpatient, also known as residential, treatment means you live at a treatment facility full-time for a set period, often 30, 60, or 90 days. The key features of an inpatient mental health program are:

• 24/7 care and supervision
• Structured daily schedules (therapy, groups, meals, rest)
• Removal from everyday triggers and stressors
• Highly immersive and intensive

Inpatient may be right for you if you require very close monitoring, your substance use or mental health struggles feel unmanageable, your home environment isn’t supportive or safe, and/or you benefit from complete separation from daily responsibilities. Inpatient care can be life-saving for people who need stability before they can focus on long-term healing.

On the other hand, outpatient treatment, such as Brick House Recovery Centre’s Intensive Outpatient (IOP) Mental Health Program, allows you to live at home, continue working, and/or remain connected to your family and community while attending scheduled therapy sessions and programs during the week. The key features of an IOP program are:

• Flexible scheduling
• Individual and group therapy
• Ability to work or attend school
• Real-world practice of recovery skills

An outpatient treatment program may be right for you if you have a stable and supportive home environment, you’re motivated to work on recovery while staying in your routine, and/or you want to rebuild your life alongside treatment. Outpatient care focuses on helping you recover while staying connected to your family, job, and community.

At Brick House Recovery Centre, we specialize in flexible private mental health outpatient programs designed for professionals and individuals who want help with Burnout, Depression, Anxiety, ADHD, OCD, Psychosis, and Bipolar Disorder, alongside any co-occurring addiction issues, if applicable. One of the benefits of choosing a Mental health IOP is the ability to get help without stepping away from your life entirely.

Outpatient treatment supports:

• Returning to work or staying employed
• Maintaining family connections
• Practicing coping tools in real situations
• Building long-term independence
• Community-based and supported healing
• A flexible approach that can increase or decrease intensity as required
• Virtual program accessibility for those living remotely or travelling

For example, Brick House Recovery Centre offers two streams of care for Mental health treatment in Alberta. Both options allow clients to return home at night, staying connected to their families and their routines:

Recovery doesn’t always mean disappearing from your life; it can mean learning how to live it differently with evidence-based support every step of the way.

There’s no “better” option, only a better fit. You might consider:

• How severe your symptoms feel right now
• Whether your environment supports your recovery
• Your work and family responsibilities
• What level of structure helps you succeed

Many people even move between levels of care, starting with inpatient and transitioning to outpatient, or beginning outpatient and increasing support if needed.

The most important thing is not which path you choose, it’s that you take one. At Brick House Recovery Centre, we walk alongside you to assess your needs, create a personalized recovery plan, support your mental, physical, and emotional well-being, and to help you rebuild confidence and purpose

Whether you’re exploring treatment for yourself or someone you love, understanding your options is the first step toward hope.