Recovery Resource Center
Recovery glossary
Use this page when a treatment, sober-living, mental-health, family-support, or faith-related term needs a plain explanation before you keep reading.
How to use it
Start with the word that is slowing you down.
Definitions stay plain, practical, and connected to deeper articles when you need more context than a short answer can provide.
Good to know
- The glossary explains terms. It does not replace assessment, therapy, medical care, or detox guidance.
- Definitions here are educational and not individualized clinical advice.
- Use the related article links when a short definition is not enough for the decision in front of you.
Popular starting points
O
Levels of care
Outpatient treatment
Outpatient treatment is a non-residential treatment level where the person lives elsewhere and attends scheduled therapy, counseling, or recovery programming. The amount of structure can vary widely, so it is important to ask how much support is actually provided.
Also searched as: outpatient care, outpatient program
P
Levels of care
PHP (partial hospitalization program)
A partial hospitalization program is a higher-intensity non-residential treatment level that often involves several treatment hours on multiple days each week. It provides more structure than IOP or standard outpatient care, but it is still distinct from sober living and from inpatient treatment.
Also searched as: php, partial hospitalization
R
Levels of care
Residential treatment
Residential treatment generally refers to a live-in clinical treatment setting where treatment and supervision are built into the environment. It is different from sober living, which is recovery housing rather than licensed clinical treatment.
Also searched as: residential rehab, inpatient rehab
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S
Housing and support
Sober living
Sober living is a structured recovery-housing environment designed to support abstinence, accountability, daily routine, and connection to outside recovery supports. It is housing, not detox, psychotherapy, medical care, or licensed residential treatment.
Also searched as: recovery housing, sober home
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