Retorno’s Outpatient Clinic is geared for adults over 18 who wish to stop using drugs, alcohol, or gambling but are unable to do so without help. This population, unlike the clients who enter our rehab facilities, is able to continue a somewhat productive life and is able to commit to such a program.

The outpatient program consists of:

• 2-3 visits per week (according to need) for a total of 7-9 hours of therapeutic work per week
• Private sessions with a clinical social worker
• 12-step groups
• Private sessions with drug counselors who are recovered addicts
• Therapeutic groups with a social worker
• Therapeutic horseback riding

About the Outpatient Clinic

No other treatment center in Israel provides outpatient services like Retorno. The outpatient program provides an answer to a phenomenon that we at Retorno have been witness to in the last few years. Many families have approached us for help dealing with family members who are high-functioning (or were high-functioning until recently) and highly intelligent, but are unable to stop their addiction.

The inpatient framework, with their emphasis on teaching patients how to function on a day to day basis, are not suitable since they require patients to attend daily. Outpatients clinics run by the state are also not suitable since they require patients to attend daily and the clinics function at hours that prevent patients from working. These frameworks provide therapeutic treatment, but the emphasis is on behavioral-cognitive therapy and not more intensive dynamic therapy suited for high-functioning, intelligent patients.

The outpatient unit at Retorno has built a program targeted towards this population. We are approached by many different families (religious, secular, younger, older, Israelis, Olim, Ashkenazim, Sephardim and varying levels of the socio-economic spectrum), but all the potential patients found suitable for our program are high-functioning and highly intelligent.

Prerequisites

Patients are required to be clean of alcohol and drugs for two weeks prior to starting the program and are required to undergo spot testing for alcohol and drug use.

Payment

Unfortunately, due to the fact that there is no precedent for such a program in Israel, we receive no governmental support. As a result, the only clients we are able to receive for treatment are those who have the ability to pay for the treatment.

Since our treatment is intensive and diverse, it is expensive. We would like to be able to provide this service for all patients who are suitable for the program and are, therefore, seeking sponsors who would be willing to support patients who need therapy and cannot afford it.

For further information, please contact Sharon Elkins, director of the Outpatient Clinic at Retorno, at 054-720-4361 or email shelkins@gmail.com