An IOP (intensive outpatient program) is a type of mental healthcare that is considered one step up from traditional outpatient therapy where you see a therapist once or maybe twice a week in their office. In an IOP program, you will probably spend two to three hours a day, three to five days a week, in both group and individual therapy.
IOPs are employed in two different ways. One is when routine outpatient therapy doesn't seem to be sufficient and the patient may be at danger for hospitalization. A step-down from a higher level of treatment, like inpatient acute care or inpatient residential, is the alternative. IOPs are used as a step-down to assist patients in returning to their normal life after receiving inpatient therapy.
Though IOPs originated as a treatment for substance use disorders, they are now used for several different kinds of conditions that may require more attention than is possible in once-weekly therapy. Some different kinds of IOPs PTC offers include:
Intensive outpatient programs are called that because they are, well, intensive. Treatment typically involves three to four hours of therapy per day for three to five days a week, for a duration of about four to six weeks.
The sessions will usually consist of a combination of individual and group therapy to help individuals better cope with any emotional or behavioral issue they may be facing. If you are on any psychiatric medications, you will meet with a psychiatrist for medication management and assessment.
Depending on what brings you to an IOP, or depending on the individual IOP, the type or modality of treatment may vary, but what follows are some of the most common ones we use at PTC.
12-Step Facilitation: Though the 12-step model was originally developed for Alcoholics Anonymous, the approach is also used for people with drug misuse, eating disorders, and other compulsive disorders. In the 12-step model, individuals begin working through the steps under therapeutic supervision. A major advantage to this program is the ease of ongoing support for individuals through their ability to attend AA meetings in the community afterward, continuing their work from the IOP.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): CBT is based on the idea of giving people coping skills when confronted with triggers, as well as on helping reframe cognitive distortions that lead to those behaviors that are maladaptive, unhelpful, or harmful. CBT is a particularly good match for intensive outpatient programs because people are still in their normal situations and so can test out the new skills right away.
Motivational Approaches: Our approaches such as motivational interviewing or motivational enhancement therapy are designed to discover someone’s ambivalence towards treatment and help them change their behaviors.
The therapy is kind—acknowledging that substances or behaviors had served some purpose for the client at some point in their lives—but also directive, using strong encouragement to confront one’s behaviors that are not aligned with their desired outcomes or values.
Therapeutic Community: This is a step down from residential. This approach is “community as method,” using any social interaction to guide change and help people find better skills once they are back in their original community.
Matrix Model: The Matrix Model was founded in the 1980s to address the widespread cocaine and stimulant problems at the time. It integrates several different approaches, including CBT, 12-step, and motivational enhancement to target change. The full program is 16 weeks and combines individual sessions with psychoeducational sessions, relapse prevention sessions, and family and social support groups.
To request a call back, please submit your information by filling this form and one of our staff will get in touch with you.
