Why Choose Residential Treatment?
Residential treatment is often the right choice when someone needs 24/7 medical and emotional support, distance from an unsafe or triggering environment, more structure than outpatient care can provide, help managing withdrawal symptoms or cravings, treatment for both addiction and mental health at once, or a full-time commitment focused entirely on recovery. It’s also a common stabilization step before moving into PHP or IOP.
A Typical Day in Residential Treatment
Every day follows a structured schedule that supports stability and healing:
- Morning check-ins, including vitals, medication when prescribed, and daily goal-setting
- Group therapy on addiction education, coping skills, relapse prevention, and emotional regulation
- Weekly individual therapy to work through personal challenges
- Afternoon programming, including guided groups, psychoeducation, and dual diagnosis support
- Meals and structured downtime to rest, reflect, and recharge
- Holistic activities like mindfulness, movement, and other wellness practices
- Evening groups for reflection, connection, and preparing for the next day
Your Personalized Treatment Plan
Your care plan is tailored to your needs and updated regularly as you progress. It includes a full intake evaluation, individualized treatment goals, evidence-based therapies (CBT, DBT, trauma-informed care), dual diagnosis treatment when needed, and regular clinical reviews to adjust your plan over time. Your treatment evolves as your needs evolve, not the other way around.
A Safe, Supportive Space to Heal
Our residential setting includes comfortable shared or private rooms depending on availability, a calm, home-like environment free from drugs and alcohol, respectful community guidelines, 24/7 monitoring for safety and emotional support, and staff who understand the challenges of early sobriety. You’re never alone here.
Your Residential Care Team
Behind every stable day in treatment is a coordinated team working together on your care, which may include addiction-trained physicians or nurse practitioners, registered nurses, licensed mental health clinicians, case managers, behavioral health technicians, and dual diagnosis specialists. That team communicates regularly about your progress, reviews your plan on an ongoing basis, and stays with you as you move from residential into PHP, IOP, and outpatient care.
How We Involve Family and Loved Ones
Recovery doesn’t happen in isolation. When it’s safe and appropriate, involving loved ones can strengthen long-term outcomes through family therapy sessions, education on addiction, communication, and boundaries, and guidance on how to support recovery at home. We also help you plan for supportive relationships after residential treatment through step-down levels of care and aftercare planning.
Who We Treat
Our residential program supports adults who have moderate to severe substance use disorders, recently completed detox and need continued stabilization, experience repeated relapse or loss of control, live in stressful or unsafe home environments, need 24/7 support while managing cravings, or have co-occurring disorders such as anxiety, depression, PTSD, or bipolar disorder.
Therapies We Use
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), trauma-informed care, dual diagnosis treatment, and medication-assisted treatment using medications like Suboxone or Vivitrol when opioid or alcohol use disorder is part of the picture.
How to Choose a Residential Program
Not all programs are the same. Here’s what to look for: licensing and accreditation (make sure the facility is state-licensed and uses evidence-based practices), therapy options (CBT, DBT, trauma therapy, relapse prevention, dual diagnosis services), co-occurring treatment (addiction and mental health treated at the same time, not separately), family involvement (how your support system can participate), and aftercare planning (continued support through PHP, IOP, and outpatient treatment). GBAC meets all of these, and we’ll help you compare options honestly.
Why Choose GBAC
- A treatment approach grounded in compassion and science. Evidence-based therapies, trauma-informed care, and individualized plans built to help you rebuild your life, not just your sobriety.
- A full continuum of care. Residential → PHP → IOP → outpatient → aftercare, with the same team the whole way, so you’re not starting over at each step.
- Local and accessible. Based in Needham, easily reached from Boston, Cambridge, Newton, Brookline, Waltham, Framingham, and MetroWest.
- More connection, more support. A smaller program size allows for more one-on-one attention and deeper group connection, and many clients stay connected long after treatment ends.
Insurance and Cost
Many clients use commercial insurance to cover most or all of the cost of care. We offer free, confidential insurance verification, help understanding deductibles and co-pays, and clear explanations of any out-of-pocket costs before treatment starts. Cost varies depending on length of stay, level of clinical or medical support needed, and your insurance coverage. Check your insurance; it’s free and doesn’t commit you to anything.
How to Start
Call or send your insurance details
Talk to our admissions team at (877) 920-6583, or use the insurance form. We check your benefits for you.
Confidential assessment
A conversation about your substance use, mental health, and history, so we can recommend the right level of care.
Start treatment
We handle the paperwork and coordinate with your insurance, and plan your next step down in care as you progress.
Questions about residential treatment
What does a residential treatment specialist do?
Your residential care team, which may include addiction-trained physicians or nurse practitioners, registered nurses, licensed mental health clinicians, case managers, and dual diagnosis specialists, coordinates your daily care and adjusts your treatment plan as you progress.
What happens after residential treatment?
Most clients step down to a day treatment program (PHP), then intensive outpatient (IOP), then standard outpatient, with aftercare planning built in before you leave residential care.
What is the difference between rehab and residential treatment?
"Rehab" is a general term that can mean any level of addiction care. Residential treatment specifically means living on-site with 24/7 support, as opposed to outpatient levels of care where you live at home.
How do I prepare for residential treatment?
A full intake evaluation happens at admission, where we'll go over what to bring, what to expect in a typical day, and how family or loved ones can be involved. You don't need to prepare alone; our admissions team walks you through it.
What should I pack for a residential treatment program?
Comfortable clothes for several days, toiletries, any prescribed medications in their original bottles, your insurance card and ID, and a journal if you'd like one. Our admissions team will give you a specific list before you arrive.
Do you accept clients from outside Boston or Massachusetts?
Our program is based in Needham, MA, and we primarily serve clients from across Greater Boston, including Wellesley, Newton, Waltham, and Dedham. Contact our admissions team to discuss your specific situation.