Intensive Outpatient Mental Health Treatment
What is intensive outpatient mental health treatment?
As the name suggests, this kind of care is extremely intense. Instead of showing up for treatment once or twice a week, you will spend the majority of each day at the treatment center. Unlike inpatient programs, however, intensive outpatient mental health treatment does not require you to sleep at the facility. Instead, you can go home at night. People often choose this option when they have to take care of family or work responsibilities outside of the program.
Intensive outpatient mental health treatments and therapies
Our program includes treatment for a range of mental health disorders, from anxiety and depression to bipolar disorder, schizoaffective disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, and more.
While you go through treatment, you’ll benefit from:
- Group therapy and support groups with others in your program
- Nutritional support for eating disorders
- Psychiatric care for medication management
- Individual sessions with trained counselors
- Physical treatment for co-occurring disorders
The range of therapies we offer to treat these conditions includes individual, group, and couples therapy and a variety of evidence-based therapies to support mind-body-spirit, including, yoga, mindfulness training, art therapy and grief counseling.
In group therapy, you can get insight from people who are experiencing the same issues. Other than helping you stay accountable, support groups can also give you advice about how to manage specific problems.
Additionally, an intensive outpatient program can help you uncover the underlying causes of your mental health disorder. In trauma therapy, you can address difficult experiences from the past that worsened your mental health. As a result, you can gain a better understanding of who you are today.
IOP mental health treatment is also ideal if your mental health symptoms put your physical health in danger. You may also choose an intensive outpatient program if you’re transitioning from residential treatment to normal life. By using an intensive outpatient program, you can get used to having a healthy life on your own while you’re still supported by your team.
How Is an Intensive Outpatient Program Different Than Other Outpatient Programs?
There are a variety of reasons why people choose to go to an IOP instead of a traditional outpatient program. In each program, you can get behavioral health services for your ongoing mental and physical disorders. The real difference is in the intensity of each program.
With a typical outpatient program, you go to treatment centers for part of each day. Often, you only have to be at the center for a few hours on a couple of days each week. Instead of going to the center, you may even go to support groups in your area or attend virtual therapy.
Treatment Around Your Schedule
When you go to an intensive outpatient program, you are at the center during working hours. You can take part in individual and group therapy. Normally, you will be at the treatment center for all or most of each day. While you are at the treatment center during the day, you still sleep at home at night. Your exact schedule depends on your personal needs.
With intensive outpatient and outpatient care, you never have to sleep at the treatment center. You will generally use these programs if you have mild or moderate symptoms. If you have severe mental health issues, intensive treatment options are not ideal for you. Instead, your doctor will most likely want you to get added support during inpatient treatment.
Sometimes, attending an inpatient treatment program is impossible for clients. Many people have family and work obligations they need to take care of. In these cases, intensive treatment care may be better than inpatient care. An intensive outpatient program offers similar group therapy and behavioral health services, but it does not require around-the-clock residency.
Benefits of intensive outpatient mental health treatment
Because mental health conditions often develop gradually, many people don’t realize how much it impacts their overall lives. By going to an intensive outpatient program, you can get treatment and stop your mental health problem from taking over your day-to-day life. Through an IOP, you can enjoy some of the following benefits.
You Can Recover Completely
Mental health disorders are not always permanent conditions. In fact, studies show many people can recover completely if they’re given the right treatment. Through intensive outpatient treatment, you may be able to completely overcome your condition. At the very least, you’ll be able to receive the treatment and support you need to have a healthy, fulfilling life in long-term recovery.
You’ll Enjoy a Flexible Schedule
Intensive outpatient care allows you to have a flexible schedule. If you need to take care of work or family responsibilities, you can handle these activities after your treatment is finished each day. In residential treatment programs, you are not allowed to leave until the program is complete.
You’ll Receive Intensive Care
Through intensive outpatient mental health treatment, you can get the intensive outpatient care you need to recover. Many people benefit from getting treatment, support groups, and one-on-one care in an intensive environment. With in-depth support, you can increase your chances of recovering completely.
You’ll Enjoy Greater Privacy
Often, workplaces will ask why you need time off. Sometimes, people don’t want to tell their workplace that they’re going for inpatient care for mental health treatment. When you get intensive outpatient care, you don’t have to stop working completely. As long as you can rearrange your schedule, you can take care of your outside responsibilities while you get intensive outpatient care.
You’ll Save Money
At an inpatient center, the center has to pay staff members to work during the night. They also have to spend money on food and housing. When you go to an intensive outpatient mental health treatment program, the treatment center doesn’t have to cover these costs. As a result, intensive outpatient care is generally cheaper than inpatient programs.
Do I qualify for intensive outpatient mental health treatment?
Intensive outpatient mental health treatment programs are ideal for people who have mild to moderate symptoms of mental illness. If you have severe symptoms, you most likely need an inpatient program instead. Talk to your doctor about which treatment option is best for you.
We also have in-house psychologists and therapists who can help diagnose your condition and guide your decision.
Even if you need treatment for co-occurring disorders, you can still qualify for an intensive outpatient program. We partner with nearby facilities to provide high-level, dual-diagnosis care. Through these programs, a coordinated team of providers can treat all of your conditions at the same time to help you achieve a long-lasting recovery.
Most insurance providers will cover intensive outpatient mental health treatment. There be rules, however, about referrals. For example, many insurers require a doctor’s referral before you can sign up for a program.