Intensive outpatient treatment also called intensive outpatient program (IOP), is a step down from our day treatment program for individuals with substance use disorders (SUD) and mental health disorders who do not require round-the-clock supervision or care. It allows individuals to continue their treatment while living at home and maintaining other aspects of their life.
IOPs require fewer treatment hours than day treatment, and participants meet three to five times weekly for three to four hours daily in the evenings. Intensive outpatient treatments can last eight to 12 weeks, depending on individual treatment needs and progress. The ultimate goal of our IOP is to help individuals understand and manage their addiction and mental health conditions, master positive coping skills, regulate emotions, and improve self-awareness and self-esteem.
What to Expect From Intensive Outpatient Treatment?
Our intensive outpatient treatment programs are crafted to suit all our participants’ needs. Upon admission, you will be assigned a case manager, who will work with you to assess your situation and develop a treatment plan that best fits you. This treatment plan usually includes a combination of individual and group therapies to help you work through challenges such as relapse prevention, develop communication skills and change maladaptive thought processes and attitudes.
Our program is different from a traditional 12-step treatment program. We provide an integrated system of care that incorporates the best clinical and medical practices, comprehensive patient measurement and engagement tools, and systems that ensure everyone receives a complete, individualized course of treatment. Because we consider addiction as a multi-faceted disease that impacts various aspects of an individual’s well-being, we provide an array of behavioral therapies, physician-directed care, and medication-assisted treatment when needed. This combination is more effective than any non-12-step approach.
Types of Therapies Provided
IOP utilizes various therapies to address different aspects of an individual’s addiction or mental health condition. These include:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) – This form of psychotherapy focuses on identifying and changing maladaptive thought processes, beliefs, and perceptions that negatively influence behavior and emotions. CBT is one of the most common and best-studied psychotherapy.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) – This is also based on CBT but is specifically adapted for people with very intense emotions. DBT aims to help individuals understand and accept difficult feelings, learn skills to manage them, and make positive life changes.
Trauma-Informed Care
Trauma-Informed Care – This strategy examines the relationship between substance abuse and trauma to avoid retraumatizing the individual and prevent traumatic relapses. It focuses on recognizing and increasing resiliency, empowering oneself, learning to love oneself, asking for help, and taking good care of oneself.
Self-Care
Self-Care – This group therapy teaches individuals how to care for themselves and make a conscious effort to do things they will benefit from, such as eating healthy, sleeping well, exercising regularly, maintaining mental health, and establishing healthy relationships.
Family Therapy
Family Therapy – This therapy helps individuals and family members improve communication and resolve conflicts. It also helps them find effective ways to support each other during recovery and create a safe space for healing. While in treatment, individuals participate in both individual and family therapy sessions.
Conflict Resolution
Conflict Resolution – This group therapy aims to help individuals improve communication, problem-solving, and conflict-resolution skills. It teaches how to respond effectively to powerful emotions, manage anger and conflict without violence and see a different perspective.
Psychotherapy Process Group
Psychotherapy Process Group – This group therapy helps individuals process their daily struggles, worries, fears, and anxieties. Through peer support and therapist feedback, individuals increase their awareness about themselves, the world, and how they relate to others. This process helps individuals understand what has to be changed in their personal lives
Psychoeducation and Life Skills
Psychoeducation and Life Skills – This group therapy aims to help individuals learn more about themselves, understand the reasons behind their actions, acquire specific coping skills, and identify necessary changes for a healthy recovery. Individuals learn skills that help them make amends with others, embrace change, identify and manage triggers, and improve emotional regulation.
Men and Women in Recovery
Men and Women in Recovery – This group therapy is designed to help individuals find their voice as they process gender-specific topics relating to stereotyping, sexism, racism, social stigma, prejudice, and discrimination.
Recovery Management
Recovery Management – Individuals learn skills conducive to long-term recovery by learning how to create a life with meaning and purpose, identify and effectively manage internal and external triggers, and adhere to professional and educational commitments.
Recreational Therapy
Recreational Therapy – This method uses recreational activities to help individuals with addiction and mental health conditions. Some recreational therapies Turning Point Centers provides include art, music, yoga, mindfulness, and meditation. Recreational therapy enables individuals to explore their feelings, increase self-awareness, and uniquely express themselves.
Shame Resilience
Shame Resilience – This group therapy engages individuals on a cognitive, behavioral, and interpersonal level. It helps them recognize shame as a universal experience, understand where it comes from, and encourage them to be open and vulnerable in discussing their feelings to embrace their authentic selves.
Experiential Education
Experiential Education – This group therapy is based on learning by doing. Individuals participate in activities that foster self-acceptance, identify strengths, challenge areas that need emotional growth, improve communication skills, develop a sense of belonging, and promote overall emotional wellness.
Individual therapy sessions are held multiple times a week, while group therapy sessions are held for 25 hours weekly. These therapies collectively help individuals address the root causes of their addiction and mental health conditions and embark on a healthier, active life.
Benefits of Intensive Outpatient Treatment
Similar to day treatment, flexibility is one of the main benefits of IOP. Individuals continue to work, study and spend time with their loved ones while getting the help they need to ensure a successful long-term recovery.
Other benefits of IOP include:
Opportunity to practice skills learned during treatment in real-time
Opportunity to practice skills learned during treatment in real-time – As IOP allows participants to return home after treatment, they can practice the skills learned during treatment in real-time.
Higher level of care
Higher level of care – IOPs provide a higher level of care than traditional outpatient treatment.
Affordable
Affordable – IOP is relatively less expensive than inpatient and day treatment as it includes no accommodation costs and fewer treatment hours.
The Ideal Candidate for Intensive Outpatient Treatment
Although intensive outpatient treatments are appropriate for anyone with an addiction and/or mental health disorder, it’s also ideal for individuals who:
- Are self-motivated to recover
- Do not need round-the-clock supervision and care
- Cannot commit to full-time treatment due to obligations at work, school, and home
- Have a good support system at home
- Wish to engage in a higher level of care than traditional outpatient treatment
What Happens After Intensive Outpatient Treatment?
After the completion of IOP, individuals will be advised to step down to a lower form of care, such as general outpatient treatment, or engage in aftercare programs to sustain long-term recovery. All of our program graduates are eligible for free lifetime aftercare at Turning Point Centers. We understand that staying sober requires constant engagement within the recovery network. As part of our promise to stay connected with our alumni, we’ve placed importance on establishing strong roots in the communities we’ve helped build.
If you or a loved one is struggling with an addiction and/or a mental health disorder, please contact a member of our professional team. Our admissions advisers are happy to spend as much time as necessary answering your inquiries and assisting you in identifying the most suitable treatment program for you. We are here to assist you in any way possible.
