If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction and in need of help, there are many options available to you. Understanding these options will help you know which one is the best course of action. This knowledge is invaluable as you strive to get life back on track and find the appropriate support.
What is an Intensive Outpatient Program For Those Seeking Help?
An intensive outpatient program or IOP is usually one step of many during a treatment plan. An IOP is typically the next step on a patient’s journey after a partial hospitalization program or PHP. A residential program or inpatient program will remind you of a hospital setting, but an IOP is different. Instead of being restricted like in a hospital, they will be able to get back to their regular life while still getting the help and support they need.
Is an Intensive Outpatient Program Right For Me?
That is a complex question that you will likely need to talk to a professional about to get the correct answer. Sometimes it is important to do an inpatient addiction treatment program before transitioning down to an intensive outpatient program. It may be the right choice for some people to start at this level if individual circumstances are examined and considered. Working with a professional will help you take your needs into consideration and create a treatment program that will support your healing and recovery.
Reasons for Intensive Outpatient Treatment
There are many reasons that someone may benefit from intensive outpatient treatment. This kind of treatment is especially useful for people with mild addiction and a low level of mental health concerns. People who use this kind of treatment should have a stable support system in place in their personal life. Clients who require a detox step in their program should look for a different kind of program as intensive outpatient programs do not typically offer them.
What to Expect from Outpatient Treatment
This kind of treatment utilizes a lot of group therapy for many reasons. Working with your peers will give you the opportunity to both give support and receive it from many sources. You learn to communicate effectively. It is also good practice for interacting in a social setting without the use of drugs or alcohol.
In intensive outpatient treatment, clients learn necessary coping skills that will help them maintain their recovery even after the program ends. You may even be able to find a program that offers help with finding housing and employment. An IOP should help you develop and maintain a support system after the program ends and help you increase your problem-solving and coping mechanisms.
Inpatient residential programs and intensive outpatient treatments use many of the same treatment models. Using evidence-based therapy models is the best way to move down the path toward long-term recovery and sobriety. You may experience therapy models like cognitive behavioral therapy or other similar models. Depending on the program, you may also see a 12-step program worked into the plan.