For many who attempt the road towards recovery, there is a sense of breaking from the familiar, the routines, lifestyle, relationships, and our identity of life thus far. It is no wonder than that when an addict attempts the road to recovery; they are attempting to change their way of life and to change their familiar self, which can inevitably cause feelings of anxiety to brew beneath the surface. It is as if they become lost to themselves and are plunged into the futile attempt of finding who they are. Thus, it has become evident that among those who abuse or who are dependent on substances lay core existential issues of the human condition.

Existential questions are those that question our very self in life and who we can become, thus when the addict begins his journey to recovery and these questions arise it is important to work with these from a holistic framework. A customized intensive outpatient program would focus on these kinds of issues as they pertain to the client’s issues. The therapist’s frame of reference controls the content of the material provided by the patient. Thus, in a rapid, managed care oriented day and age it seems that treatment for substance abuse may overlook some of the core existential issues that lie at the heart of chemical abuse and dependency which will ultimately prevent the recovery of the whole person. A customized intensive outpatient program that treats the whole person is a key treatment option for substance abuse. These client’s issues lie beyond their maladaptive behaviors, thus it is important to not just focus on behavior changes, but focus on the overall healing of the whole person.