Adult Intensive Outpatient Program

IOPs are generally not optimal for individuals with severe medical complications, those who are experiencing extreme withdrawal symptoms, or those who are struggling with severe addiction and/or co-occurring disorders. Residential detoxification plays a central role in the recovery process and should be considered in cases where the individual is experiencing significant discomfort or safety concerns. IOP provides a higher level of care than a standard outpatient program, but does not provide the 24-hour supervision and support that is offered at an inpatient facility.

Some other questions to consider include:

• Are you in need of additional support in your recovery?
• Would you benefit from learning additional coping and communication strategies? 
• Are you committed to recovery but unable to commit to a residential-style program? 
• Would you like to change the impact that drugs or alcohol have in your life? 
• Are you experiencing symptoms that are interfering with your well-being?  

Suitability of IOP is determined during a comprehensive clinical assessment with a master’s-level clinician. The clinician will listen to your concerns, gather information about your symptoms and past experiences, and help you determine what treatment options would be most effective in helping you reach your goals.

Inpatient has some drawbacks, however. It is generally associated with a higher financial cost, and for some individuals, being away from jobs, pets, loved ones, and other aspects of their lives can be a barrier to getting care. Participants are generally not able to continue individual therapy with the same clinician after discharging from an inpatient program and are transferred to another program and new therapist for ongoing care. This can be difficult for individuals who are connected with their clinician or who are working on processing difficult content.

IOP differs from inpatient programming in that individuals participating in IOP return home after their program each day. In some cases, IOP can provide a more flexible and cost-effective solution to recovery care. Individuals in IOP are able to continue with many aspects of their daily lives. They are able to stay in their homes, and tend to family and job responsibilities. Participants may opt to enroll in IOP if traditional outpatient programming is not providing enough support for their sustained recovery, and IOP may be used as a step-down after inpatient hospitalization to help ease clients back into a daily routine. 

IOP provides more structure and support than traditional outpatient programming but is not as structured and controlled as a residential stay. Individuals completing IOP are often able to continue individual psychotherapy and group therapy sessions at the outpatient level-of-care with the same clinician. This can be beneficial for individuals who are working through highly complex or personal issues, such as trauma.