There is no single way that substance use disorders occur. There are no two people with identical needs. Fortunately, professional addiction treatment comes in many forms. The choice between outpatient and inpatient rehab is only the beginning. If you think outpatient treatment is for you, consider additional choices. One of them is an intensive outpatient program (IOP).
Choosing an IOP usually depends on certain factors to be considered by you and the intake team at the rehab facility. Reach out to Northpoint Ashwood Recovery to learn more about the differences between an IOP and other treatment options, learn how to decide on a course of treatment, and answer any other questions you may have about substance use treatment. Call 888.341.3607 or fill out our online form.
Intensive Outpatient Program for Rehab
An outpatient program provides addiction treatment to people who live at home and visit the facility on a set schedule, often after work and school hours. Outpatient treatment is ideal for those who:
- Have a solid at-home support network
- A home with no substances
- Are limited by inflexible work or school schedules
- Have no prior relapses
- Do not have a co-occurring disorder
However, an intensive outpatient program can still work even if a person has a severe substance abuse disorder. Because the time commitment and amount of overall therapy per week are much more significant in an IOP rehab, people with more severe addictions can live at home and still receive the level of care they need.
What Is an IOP?
When you enroll in an intensive outpatient program for rehab, you commit to a ramped-up version of outpatient therapy. This additional commitment translates to an increased number of hours you spend in the program. Whereas a regular outpatient program is between eight and 12 hours per week, an IOP can require two to five hours, four or five days per week. An IOP usually requires about the same number of hours that a part-time job does.
In an IOP, you have an expanded time frame to receive additional therapies or therapies of longer duration, attend more support groups, and learn more skills. For example, you can engage in:
- One-on-one therapy
- Group therapy
- Support groups
- Life skills classes
You can also:
- Practice emotional regulation
- Learn how to communicate more effectively
- Engage in family therapy to begin healing those relationships
- Practice mindfulness and meditation
- Take classes about relapse prevention
- Address underlying trauma
Benefits of Rehab in an IOP
When you are thinking about your intensive outpatient program options, consider some of the many positives:
- The longer duration increases positive long-term recovery outcomes.
- There is evidence of a higher retention rate in IOPs than in lower-intensity outpatient rehab.
- The intensity and duration of the program allow clients to forge lasting bonds with their peers, which can often endure throughout a lifetime of recovery.
- Accountability benchmarks are more demanding because of the daily transition back home, and IOP graduates credit their successes to that factor.
- While receiving intensive treatment, clients can still maintain their ties to family, friends, school, and work.
- Programs that do not require residence are less costly, but an IOP still offers a high level of care.
Evidence-Based Treatment in Ashwood Recovery’s Rehab IOP
To learn more about your intensive outpatient program options at Ashwood Recovery, call us at 888.341.3607 or upload our online form. We can help you develop a successful recovery plan using behavioral therapies such as:
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Family therapy
- Art therapy
- Group therapy
Don’t delay; take the first step toward a brighter future today.