Not sure how long you need to stay in rehab? Read here about how treatment durations work, from 28-day programmes to extended care. At Abbington House, we help you decide what’s right for your recovery.
Finding the Right Treatment Length for You
If you’re thinking about going to rehab, one of the first questions you might have is:
“How long do I need to stay?”
It’s a natural question, especially if you’re trying to manage work, family and other commitments. And it can come with a lot of anxiety: Will I be away too long? Will a short stay even help? What if I need more time than I planned?
The truth is, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. At Abbington House, we don’t believe in rigid timelines; we believe in personalised recovery.
Whether you need a reset or a longer-term space allowing you to address deeper challenges, we’re here to help you figure out what makes sense for your life and your recovery.
The “Perfect” Length of Stay Will Be Whatever’s Right for You
Rehab isn’t just for ticking boxes or completing a set number of days because you’ve been asked to. Rehab is the opportunity to stabilise, reflect and begin building the foundation for long-term change.
Some people come to rehab expecting to stay for a few weeks, and find they need more time. Others may only have a short window available, but still benefit hugely from a focused, structured break from substances.
What matters most is not how long you stay, but how a clinic utilises that time to ensure you leave feeling supported, safe and ready for life after rehab.
Typical Rehab Durations in the UK
Below is a quick breakdown of common programme lengths in the UK, and what each one is usually best suited for:
7–10 Day Stabilisation or Detox
- Often used for crisis intervention or medical detox
- May not provide enough time for therapy or deeper reflection
- Can be a starting point, but usually followed by further treatment
28-Day Residential Rehab (Standard Programme)
- The most common initial length of stay
- Ideal for people who need structured time away to stop using and begin recovery
- Includes group therapy, one-to-ones, holistic care and planning for aftercare
- Can be extended if needed
Learn more about our residential rehab programme
6–12 Week Extended Rehab
- Better suited for people with complex needs: dual diagnosis, trauma or repeated relapses
- Allows time to build trust, regulate emotions and explore deeper issues
- Encourages sustainable habit formation and nervous system repair.
3–6+ Month Long-Term Treatment
At Abbington House, most people begin with a 28-day stay, but many choose to extend once they feel the benefits of longer support.
- Sometimes needed in cases of severe addiction, chronic relapse or unstable home environments
- Focus shifts toward reintegration, life skills, and community building
- Less common, but vital for some individuals especially with co-occurring mental health conditions.
What Affects How Long You Might Need?
Every person’s journey into and out of addiction is different, so it makes sense that treatment should be too.
Things we consider when helping you decide include:
- How long you’ve been using and what substances are involved
- Whether this is your first time in treatment
- Any previous relapses or treatment attempts
- Mental health history (e.g. trauma, anxiety, depression, ADHD)
- Your support system at home
- Your readiness and goals
- Time and financial availability.
Some people need to stop and stabilise. Others need time to unpack what’s been driving their substance use. We help you find that balance, without judgment or pressure.
The Abbington House Approach
We don’t tell you how long you need to stay, we help you discover it together.
Before you arrive, we’ll start with a clinical and therapeutic assessment to understand your needs. From there:
- You’ll begin with a 28-day programme (or longer, if already agreed)
- Your therapist and support team will review your progress regularly
- If more time is needed, we’ll discuss this collaboratively, with you fully involved
- Extensions can be arranged if it feels helpful, but never forced
We understand that you may be trying to plan around work, childcare or financial limits. We’ll talk you through what’s realistic and support you in making the best decision for your situation.
Learn more about our admissions process
Is 28 Days Enough?
Sometimes absolutely. For many people, a 28-day stay provides enough time to:
- Detox and sleep properly again
- Understand addiction as a health condition, not a moral failure
- Learn healthy coping tools and start applying them
- Rebuild hope, confidence, and motivation
- Plan your next steps.
But for others, 28 days is just the beginning. If you’re dealing with trauma, co-occurring mental health conditions, or longstanding addiction patterns, you may benefit from a longer stay.
That doesn’t mean something’s wrong with you it just means you’re giving yourself more space to heal properly, without rushing through it.
What If I Can’t Stay for Long?
We understand that not everyone can put their life on pause for months and we won’t ask you to.
Even a short stay can help.
If you can only commit to two or three weeks, we’ll focus on stabilisation, emotional support and relapse prevention planning. And you’ll leave with a clear plan for continuing your recovery, including:
- Free aftercare for one year
- Ongoing therapy referrals
- Peer support group recommendations
- Personalised relapse prevention plan.
We don’t believe in all-or-nothing recovery. Sometimes, the most important step is just getting started.
What Happens After Rehab?
No matter how long you stay at Abbington House, we’re still with you after you leave.
All clients receive 12 months of free weekly aftercare, either in person or online. You’ll also have access to our team if you need to talk or get support with any bumps in the road.
Read more about our aftercare programme
Still Not Sure What You Need?
That’s okay. You’re not expected to know everything before you get here.
If you’re unsure how long you can stay, or how long you should stay, our team is happy to talk it through with you. No pressure. Just support, guidance, and straight answers from people who genuinely care.
Speak to the admissions team or call us now for a confidential chat about your options
