Substance abuse counseling Every level of counseling listed above requires less time commitment as you go down the list. You can participate in any or all of these addiction treatments. It will vary from facility to facility, but, generally speaking, treatments take place several days a week for a few hours every day. Times are often flexible. This is often the best treatment plan for those who are able to hold down a job or who have small children--people who cannot be away from their everyday lives in large chunks while they recover. It’s also a popular choice for students who are struggling with addiction. While this is a great option for many patients, some people struggle in outpatient care because they are still surrounded by people and places that support or caused their substance abuse.