The main difference between a Christian based rehabilitation and the traditional addiction rehabilitation is that the Christ based approach is centered on Jesus Christ and his varied teachings. The strength of their faith and the spiritual strength so gained by focusing on Jesus Christ and surrendering to his will continues to drive the addicts to achieve recovery from substance abuse and addictions.

Although the centrality of the treatment at a Christ based treatment center is Jesus Christ, it does not mean they have totally abandoned the techniques as followed at their more traditional counterparts. Differing with the Christ based rehab; the approach at a traditional treatment center is more scientific in nature with a major focus on the physical and psychological aspects of the treatment. The spiritual aspect, which usually has been adversely affected in the addicts, is never really touched upon. As a result, this approach had a good success rate in helping those addicts recover who were spiritually well off despite their addiction, but in those cases where the person had been adversely affected in the spirit also, it almost always failed, especially in preventing a relapse.

It is also a well recognized truth that it is not possible to treat a person by just focusing on the spiritual aspects alone. Treating the physical and psychological aspects of the treatment is equally important. The craving in a person addicted to a certain drug or alcohol can be so strong that even the most devout believers in Christ would succumb to it. They do need medical support to help them with these craving. Hence, rather then reinventing the wheel, the Christ based treatment incorporated the best methods of the traditional approach for the physical and psychological treatment of the addicts while focusing on the spiritual aspects of the treatment. This not only resulted in the faster recovery of the addicts, but also helped them stay sober and avoid a relapse.

When a person addicted to drugs or alcohol walks in for treatment at a Christian based rehabilitation center, he is welcomed with open arms and is provided with an environment full of love, understanding and support so that the person is not intimidated by the atmosphere at the center. At no time is the person looked down upon and is never pointed at accusingly. When they meet a faith counselor they are made to understand the whole rehab process and the centrality of faith, the Bible and Jesus Christ to the whole recovery process.

The addicts coming in for Christian drug rehab treatment usually harbor deep-seated feelings of shame and guilt because of their addictions. However, at a Christ based center, they realize that God is all forgiving for his children and wants us to tread the path of righteousness. This lifts their spirit, gives a boost to their self-esteem and drives them harder towards the path of recovery and sobriety. The one-on-one counseling with a faith counselor, the pastoral counseling session, the peer-group therapy sessions and the regular attendance of the open church services, all combine to help and support an addict to finally come out of the dark dungeons of addictions.