Drinking more than you planned
You set a two-drink limit and it stops mattering once the first one is gone. Tolerance has climbed, and the amount that used to work no longer does.
Alcohol treatment · Arlington, VA
Outpatient alcohol treatment in Arlington, Virginia
Alcohol counseling, PHP and IOP, and medication-assisted treatment with naltrexone, Vivitrol, and Antabuse — for adults in Arlington, Washington, DC, and Northern Virginia who want to stop drinking without stepping away from their life.
- Most insurance accepted
- Day & evening IOP tracks
- Telehealth for Virginia residents only
Medically reviewed by the VABH Medical Team
When treatment helps
Drinking patterns we treat
You don't have to hit a bottom to qualify for alcohol treatment. Most people who start with us are still working, still parenting, and still holding it together on paper.
High-functioning drinking
Career intact, mortgage paid, nobody at work suspects a thing — and you're still drinking every night to shut your head off. High-functioning alcohol use is one of the most common patterns we treat in Arlington and DC professionals.
Morning shakes, sweats, or anxiety
Tremor, nausea, racing heart, or panic that clears after a drink are withdrawal symptoms. They mean your body has become physically dependent and a medical taper may be needed.
Binge and weekend drinking
You may go days without alcohol and then drink dangerously in one sitting. Binge patterns carry real risk even without daily use.
Failed attempts to cut back
Dry January, tracking apps, rules about only drinking on weekends — repeated attempts that don't hold are a clinical signal, not a character flaw.
Drinking on top of anxiety or depression
Alcohol is the most common self-treatment for anxiety, depression, PTSD, and insomnia. Treating only the drinking leaves the reason for it in place.
How we treat alcohol use
Medication, therapy, and structure — together
Alcohol is one of the few substances with strong FDA-approved medications behind it. We use them, and we pair them with the therapy that makes them stick.
Medication-assisted treatment (MAT)
Naltrexone (oral or Vivitrol injection) blunts the reward from drinking and reduces cravings. Acamprosate supports stability after you stop. Antabuse (disulfiram) creates a deterrent reaction. Our medical staff may prescribe and monitor all three — always alongside therapy, never instead of it.
Alcohol counseling & individual therapy
Weekly one-on-one sessions using CBT and motivational interviewing to map the specific situations, thoughts, and feelings that precede a drink — and build responses you can actually use at 6 p.m. on a bad Tuesday.
Group therapy & relapse prevention
Process groups and structured relapse-prevention planning with people in the same position. Groups run mornings and evenings so treatment fits around work.
Withdrawal screening & detox coordination
Every assessment screens for withdrawal risk. If you need medically supervised detox first, we coordinate placement with a vetted partner and hold your outpatient spot for the day you step down.
Dual-diagnosis psychiatric care
Board-certified psychiatric evaluation and medication management for the depression, anxiety, PTSD, bipolar disorder, or ADHD that so often sits underneath heavy drinking.
Family therapy & education
Sessions that repair communication, set workable boundaries, and teach partners and parents what support looks like when it isn't policing.
Levels of care
Alcohol treatment programs, from PHP to aftercare
Most people aren't sure which level of care they need — that's what the assessment is for, and you can step up or down as things change.
- 015 days/week · ~6 hrs/day
Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP)
Our most structured outpatient alcohol treatment. Full-day programming with daily groups, individual therapy, and medical oversight while you sleep at home. Best right after detox, after a residential stay, or when weekly therapy hasn't held.
- 023–5 days/week · day or evening
Alcohol Intensive Outpatient (IOP)
Several sessions a week with morning and evening tracks so you can keep working. The most common level of care for people who are stable at home but need real structure.
- 03Weekly · ongoing
Outpatient alcohol counseling & aftercare
Weekly therapy, ongoing naltrexone or Antabuse management, relapse-prevention groups, and alumni support that keeps structure in place after formal programming ends.
- 04When withdrawal risk is high
Medical detox (vetted partners)
Alcohol withdrawal can be medically dangerous. When a supervised detox is the safe first step, we coordinate it with trusted providers and take the guesswork out of the handoff.
Across the river from Maryland
Convenient for Maryland commuters
Our Arlington center is a short drive from Montgomery County, Prince George's County, and the broader Maryland suburbs. Many clients choose in-person PHP and IOP here because the commute is manageable and the program fits around work. Telehealth is available for Virginia residents between in-person visits.
Common questions
Alcohol treatment questions, answered
How long is outpatient alcohol treatment?
PHP typically runs 2–4 weeks, IOP commonly 6–12 weeks, and weekly outpatient counseling continues as long as it's useful. Most people move down through the levels rather than finishing at one, and your plan is reassessed as you go.
How much does alcohol treatment cost, and does insurance cover it?
Most major insurance plans cover outpatient alcohol treatment, including PHP and IOP. Our admissions team verifies your benefits and tells you your expected cost before you commit to anything. If you're uninsured, we'll walk through self-pay options.
Do I need detox before starting?
Not always. If you drink daily in large amounts or have had shakes, sweats, seizures, or hallucinations when stopping, you may need medically supervised detox first — our assessment screens for that and we coordinate placement with a vetted partner.
What medications do you use for alcohol treatment?
Naltrexone (oral or the monthly Vivitrol injection), acamprosate, and Antabuse (disulfiram). Which one fits depends on your drinking pattern, liver health, other medications, and your own goals — including whether you want to stop entirely or reduce.
Can I keep working during treatment?
Yes. Our IOP has both morning and evening tracks specifically so Arlington and DC professionals can get real treatment without stepping away from work. PHP is a bigger time commitment, and we can help you understand FMLA options if you need them.
Do you offer telehealth for alcohol treatment?
Yes, for Virginia residents — our clinicians are licensed in Virginia, so telehealth is available statewide. In-person care at our Arlington center is open to Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, DC residents.
In-person alcohol treatment at 5400 Shawnee Road, Arlington, VA for VA, MD, and DC residents. Telehealth for Virginia residents only.
Get help today
Talk to someone who's done this before
Whether you're calling for yourself or for someone you love, the first conversation is free and completely confidential.
- Admissions — 24/7(571) 586-2883
- Location5400 Shawnee Road, Arlington, VA
Insurance accepted
Insurance coverage for alcohol treatment
Alcohol use disorder treatment is a covered behavioral health benefit under most commercial plans — Anthem, CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, Aetna, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, Optum, Sentara Health Plans, UMR, and Johns Hopkins Health Plans. Send us your card and we'll break down your copay, deductible, and approved days of care before your first session.
Don't see your plan? Call us — we also work with out-of-network benefits and self-pay.