If you or a loved one are facing serious mental health challenges, attending IOP (intensive outpatient program) may be just what’s needed.
IOP is one of those “hidden gems” in mental health that many people could benefit from at some point in their life. Some lucky ones might have a good psychiatrist or therapist that recommends IOP to them. But unfortunately, many people aren’t aware such an effective treatment option exists.
This guide is here to explain what mental health IOPs are, how they work, and why more people may benefit from them.
IOP is a short-term, intensive treatment designed to get results fast – no matter whether you’re struggling with depression, anxiety, PTSD, or other major mental health challenges.
Intensive outpatient treatment is not like traditional psychotherapy or regular med management with a psychiatrist, which can go on for years. That kind of treatment is more about “maintenance” – keeping someone on the move forward instead of backward. Instead, IOP is a clear-cut intervention. The goal is marked improvement in as short a time as possible.
How short? The exact amount of time varies person to person depending on their needs/progress. But typically, people can expect to be in the program (and see results) over 5-12 weeks.
IOP is there to help when it feels like your mental health is spiraling out of control. You may be able to identify your problem or tell you’re at a breaking point. But the problem is still getting worse or not going away. Challenges people work through inside IOP include…
If you’re “sick and tired of being sick and tired”, IOP can help you build the skills you need to overcome stress and challenges of life. Call our office today to schedule a consultation.
As life-changing as IOP can be, it is not right for everyone. Different situations require different levels of treatment. To help see whether IOP is appropriate for your needs, it’s helpful to compare it to other treatment options.
In general, the more serious your situation, the more intensive treatment you need.
Spectrum of Care for Mental Health
Self Care -> Outpatient Care -> Intensive Outpatient Care -> Inpatient Care
This spectrum is much like with physical health. When you’re in great shape, you only need an occasional visit with your doctor for a checkup (outpatient care). But if someone is suffering from heart failure, they need to get immediate treatment in the hospital (inpatient care). Mental health is the same way. There are different levels of care for different situations.
Let’s take a closer look at the common treatment options for mental health:
This is the least intensive level of treatment. And it’s what most people think of when they think of when it comes to mental health care. (“Outpatient” means you’re not staying overnight in a hospital or residential program.)
Most often, care takes the form of weekly/monthly visits with a therapist or psychologist. Perhaps you’re working through anxiety, depression, or past trauma. Or maybe you’re looking to grow as a person and improve a relationship. Either way, having the support of a skilled therapist can help you on your journey.
Outpatient care can also include other forms of self-care and personal growth such as working with a coach, attending seminars, or going on a retreat.
For the majority of people, outpatient care is a great option. There’s no shame in getting the help you need to live a happy, fulfilled life. We all face challenges and struggles. And we need the support of others to help us achieve our goals.
On the other end of the spectrum you have inpatient care. This means going full-time into a psychiatric hospital, residential facility, or other center.
While that may sound extreme, having a safe place away from the stresses of life can be helpful. And, patients will have direct support 24 hrs a day from a team of psychiatrists, therapists, and other medical staff. This care can be life-saving, especially in moments of crisis such as:
Depending on the situation, a person may stay at a facility overnight, a few days, a few weeks, or even longer. The goal, however, is to help people stabilize quickly. Providers want to get their patients to a safe, stable place. Then they’re able to get back to their lives and receive support from outpatient care instead.
IOP is a blend of inpatient and outpatient care. It provides the focused, immersive support of inpatient treatment with a relaxed and comfortable outpatient environment.
This means you can stay connected to your community and support systems while receiving the care you need. And it makes IOP a good treatment option for a variety of situations, including for those on leave from work or school, those needing more support than weekly therapy, or those coming out of hospitalization.
Unlike regular therapy, IOP is an escalated level of treatment for when one-on-one visits with a counselor or psychiatrist don’t quite cut it. (Often, a provider will determine if this level of care is appropriate and evaluate you for a referral.) The program also has a defined time period lasting anywhere from a few weeks to a couple months at the most.
Here are a few situations where IOP can be especially helpful:
Moments of Challenge: Sometimes life throws more at us than we’re able to handle. The loss of a loved one, getting laid off, or other traumatic experiences can overwhelm even the strongest people. IOP is an option to help get through those tough periods.
Caretaker Burnout: Being the “go-to” person for a child, aging parent, individual with disabilities, or other loved one can be a taxing and lonely role at times. When you’re worn out from caring for others, IOP provides a safe place to go to for support and healing.
Discharge From Inpatient Care: When you leave an inpatient care facility, such as a hospital or psych ward, IOP can help smooth the transition to a meaningful life.
Stepping-Up From Outpatient Care: Regular visits to a therapist or psychiatrist may not be enough to meet your needs. And IOP is a focused program to help those facing serious cases of depression or anxiety, PTSD, and other mental health challenges.
Medication Changes: Switching or finding the right antidepressants, anxiety meds, or other medications can be difficult. Symptoms can include headaches, dizziness, trouble sleeping, anxiety, irritability and more severe depression. Attending IOP can help you manage those symptoms and support you in the transition.
Regardless of why you may join IOP, the program can help you find stability and inner peace. And it can help build foundational mental health skills to help you face the stressors and triggers in their life.
The goals of each IOP will vary depending upon the issue the program is designed to treat. And care is customized to each individual’s specific goals, needs, and challenges. In general though, there are two main types of IOP programs:
1. Dual Diagnosis or Substance Abuse IOP: These programs are directly focused on helping those in rehab or who struggle with substance abuse disorders. In the group, people will learn tools to help them maintain sobriety and identify possible triggers for relapse.
2. Mental Health IOP: These programs provide treatment for a range of mental health struggles – such as PTSD, depression, anxiety, and more. The groups provide skills and insights to help people navigate these challenges and start living with more inner peace again. (This is what we offer at Plural Healthcare.)
Note: Attending a mental health IOP may still be appropriate for some people struggling with substance use. And it can help address the underlying issues leading people to use drugs and alcohol as a coping method. Give us a call at 314-388-2225, and we’ll help you find the care that’s right for your situation.
The requirements for IOP are straightforward. You must have a mental health diagnosis from a licensed clinician to be considered for admission. That means a psychiatrist, physician, therapist, or nurse practitioner needs to determine if the level of care is clinically necessary. And they must recommend IOP as the appropriate care for your situation.
At Plural Healthcare, the first step in our treatment process is a detailed evaluation with a clinician. We use this to ensure IOP is right for you and to craft a personalized treatment plan. Call today to schedule an appointment.
Often, insurance companies have their own requirements for admission to the program (and to continue attending IOP). These guidelines can vary depending on what insurance you have or what state you live in, but they generally include things like:
Depending on which insurance plan you have, the facility may be required to obtain prior authorization based upon clinical documentation. If the insurance company determines that IOP is medically necessary, then they will approve an initial number of authorized visits.
Sometimes the facility may need to provide a review to the insurance periodically either to obtain more sessions or determine the appropriate care after discharge. Some insurances also require an update if a member misses any sessions.
Note: Not every IOP program is the same. The following is largely based on our programs here at Plural Healthcare. But it should also be true of other quality mental health IOPs.
IOP is not a one-size-fits-all treatment. Everything is customized to your specific needs and goals. That’s why you’ll always start by consulting with a trained professional.
They’ll speak with you to learn more about you and your situation, discuss your goals, explore whether IOP is the right option for you, and if appropriate, get your insurance details (to get your treatment authorized and covered by insurance).
Note: If IOP isn’t a good fit for you, we’ll recommend or refer you to other mental health programs, clinicians, or resources so you can get the care you need.
This consultation helps craft a “blueprint for treatment” – what the treatment team uses to help guide you to a better place in your life.
This plan is highly structured and divided up into parts. The first part is filled out by you upon admission into the program. The second part is filled out by the therapist along with the medical director.
When you are admitted into the program, you’ll fill out:
There are no right or wrong answers here. In fact, the answers may change in the middle of treatment. That’s great! It means you’re growing. The important thing is to just keep moving forward.
After you attend your first week of group sessions, you’ll have a one-on-one psychosocial assessment) with the therapist. This will allow the therapist understand your full history, determine where you’re at, and see how to get you to where you want to go.
Your therapist will then then meet with the medical director and care coordinator to fill out the second part of the treatment plan. This includes specific interventions to provide, necessary education and tools, medication management, and more.
Your treatment team will also meet weekly to monitor your progress, assess needs, and change goals if needed. In other words, we’re constantly looking to see how we can best support you.
The IOP schedule is typically 9 hours per week of therapy in a group setting (split into 3-hour sessions). These 3-hour sessions are usually on a consistent schedule of 3 days per week.
Since the group sessions are only a few days a week, some people admitted may remain working at their jobs. However, most choose to go on work leave to better focus on their treatment.
Additionally, people may have one-on-one consultations with our therapist and psychiatrist… as well as regular sessions with their own therapist.
The focal point of treatment takes place in a group therapy setting led by a therapist.
This intensive counseling is designed to help provide effective coping skills and address whatever challenges people are facing in their life. Whether someone is dealing with severe depression, anxiety, or past trauma, it’s imperative that they can identify triggers to their symptoms. Then they can develop healthy habits and address the root issues.
At first, being in a group may not sound ideal to some people, especially those with social anxiety. But keep in mind that the group will be led by a trained therapist in a structured, small-group setting. The therapist will be there to lead the group and to support you every step of the way.
The group also provides a platform for those in the program to be heard. And they can receive support from both the therapist and others. Research shows multiple benefits to therapeutic treatment in a group setting.
Benefits of Group Therapy
Effective IOP groups will usually have anywhere from 6-15 people. And the curriculum will vary depending on the size of the group and type of IOP program.
Smaller groups are often designated for therapists who work with a “here-and-now” model (sharing raw, honest thoughts and feelings about what’s happening in the moment). Larger groups are typically designed for psychoeducation (with a specific curriculum of tools, coping strategies, and more).
At Plural Healthcare, we aim for a group size of 6-8 people. And we rely on a mix of different therapy models such as here-and-now, education, and mindfulness.
It’s critical that your therapy works alongside the medications prescribed by your psychiatrist. With intensive outpatient treatment, medication alone may not be enough to get you to a better place. Therapy alone might not either, in some cases. And it sometimes requires a dual approach, combined with your own efforts.
Under normal circumstances, visits with the psychiatrist for medication management will occur 1-2 times a month. Although this depends on where you’re at. Sometimes an IOP member may find themselves mentally in a severe place or run into issues with their current meds. In that case, you may need to see a psychiatrist more frequently.
We’re in regular communication with your doctor regarding your treatment. This ensures that every time you make adjustments or have issues with medications, your IOP treatment doesn’t skip a beat. It’s meant to be a “flow of care” from start to finish, with your treatment team working together to help you heal.
Although most of the care in IOP takes place in a group setting, you will benefit from seeing a therapist one-on-one. This gives you a chance to reflect with the counselor individually on topics covered in group, and discover how they might apply to our own situation.
If you’re already working with a therapist, you will continue to meet with them throughout your treatment. And if you don’t already have one, we’ll make a referral to a trusted clinician in our network based on your needs.
This is for two primary reasons.
Growth and healing doesn’t just happen inside the group sessions or in conversations with the therapist. It comes when you apply what you learn to your life. In fact, this is a big part of what makes IOP so effective. You stay connected to your normal life and your local support communities.
This allows you to:
That final point is so important that we make it a priority to help you strengthen and improve your support network during our program. We provide ongoing family education as well as opportunities to have a loved one join you for a group session.
As strange as this may sound, a major goal of IOP is to get you out of the program. IOP is an immediate, short-term treatment. It’s designed for people in moments of challenge. But we don’t want you to live in “survival mode” and be in IOP forever. We want to get you back on your feet.
Here at Plural Healthcare, we call this getting “back to self-care”. This is where you can use the tools you got in IOP to thrive and live a meaningful life.
There are two important notes about this though:
First, we’ll work with you to prepare you for discharge. The clinical staff will help decide when it’s time to transition out of IOP – based on how you’re doing, your progress toward your goals, and your current needs.
You’ll also work together to create an actionable transition plan – one that will help you avoid relapsing into old behaviors and that will ensure you are supported going forward.
Second, you’ll still have our support as you leave the program. We’ll follow up with you approximately at two weeks and at two months after discharge. And your treatment team will help you transition to whatever care you need next.
This often means connecting with an individual therapist or psychiatrist who will help you going forward. (We’ve built up a network of trusted clinicians. So if you’re not working with someone already, we can directly refer you to another provider in the area.)
Some clients may occasionally be dealing with a serious life crisis that requires a higher level of care. And if that’s necessary, our treatment team will work with an appropriate inpatient facility to make sure you get the help you need.
In our experience though, most people in IOP see major improvement. They’re able to step-down to other outpatient treatment options and continue their journey back to self-care.
If you’re dealing with depression, anxiety, PTSD, trauma, or other serious mental health challenges that stop you from living a meaningful life, our IOP program can help.
Let’s Take the Next Steps Together
We understand taking the first step is difficult. There is no shame or guilt in asking for help or more information. We are here to support you in any way we can.
If you’re looking to see if IOP treatment is right for you, or just want more information, contact us now.
