Intensive Outpatient Treatment
An Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) is an alcohol or drug rehab program that is designed to help recovering addicts reintegrate into society and lead fulfilling lives. As the name suggests, participants in an IOP receive intensive therapy in an outpatient setting. Recovering individuals learn relapse prevention strategies to lead them toward a drug-free future.
At Boca Recovery Center, we offer an intensive outpatient rehab program that follows a structured schedule. Unlike inpatient or residential rehab, participants in our IOP do not need to stay overnight or reside at community housing. Recovering individuals can continue living at home or in a sober living facility or group home while receiving addiction treatment. Participants in our IOP are required to attend the program 3-5 days a week (a minimum of 9 contact hours of therapy are required). Our intensive outpatient rehabilitation program allows recovering individuals to receive comprehensive addiction rehab while leading productive lives in the real world.
I’m not telling you it’s going to be easy. I’m telling you it’s going to be worth it – Anonymous
The Intensive Outpatient Program at Boca Recovery Center can help people struggling with drug addiction, alcoholism, eating disorders, and other dependencies. Recovering individuals can continue living their day-to-day lives without round-the-clock supervision. Participants in our IOP spend more time in therapy compared to a standard outpatient program. This significantly increases the chances of recovery without relapse. Find out more about Boca Recovery Center’s intensive outpatient program. Call us today on (855) 637-1331.
In this article, we explore intensive outpatient programs and how they work. We introduce you to the different therapies offered as part of IOPs. We help you decide between residential drug treatment and intensive outpatient addiction treatment. Last but not least, we answer some frequently asked questions.
What is an intensive outpatient rehab program?
Inpatient drug rehab requires recovering individuals to reside on-site for an extended period, ranging from several weeks to several months. Outpatient treatment allows participants to live at home, but the treatment may not be intensive enough to achieve and maintain sobriety. Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOPs) are the middle path with advantages of both inpatient and outpatient rehab. IOPs enable people to continue living at home while receiving in-depth addiction rehab. They are sometimes used as a step-down from inpatient programs to help recovering individuals seamlessly adapt to normal life with their family and community.
During an intensive outpatient program, addicts learn coping skills and relapse prevention strategies to help them stay clean.
For instance, let’s say a person is trying to overcome severe alcoholism or cocaine addiction. They would benefit from live-in treatment at an inpatient drug rehab center, but the treatment may be cost-prohibitive. Also, the recovering person may have work and family commitments that do not allow them to spend 4-12 weeks at a residential addiction rehabilitation facility. An intensive outpatient program can overcome these challenges and provide access to treatment while allowing the addict to continue residing at home.
Intensive outpatient programs provide a high level of care without commitment to full-time inpatient addiction treatment.
The 5 Stages of Addiction Treatment
Addiction is a chronic disease that affects the mind and body. People with addictions engage in compulsive behaviors despite harmful consequences. However, addiction is a treatable medical condition. Many effective strategies are available to manage substance use disorders. A recovering addict requires a comprehensive array of services to address their needs and achieve long-lasting sobriety. The American Society of Addiction Medicine defines five levels of addiction treatment:
- Level 0: Prevention and early intervention.
- Level 1: Outpatient drug rehab.
- Level 2: Partial hospitalization or intensive outpatient programs.
- Level 3: Inpatient addiction treatment.
- Level 4: Medically-managed intensive residential treatment.
What to expect with an IOP?
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) says intensive outpatient programs should provide 9 to 20 hours of therapy every week. The number of hours can vary from facility to facility, but in general, you can expect to participate in 10-12 hours of individual and group therapy per week. Participation in a 12-step program is also encouraged. IOP sessions are conducted at the Boca Recovery Center facility. You will need to visit 3-5 times per week for at least 3 hours at a time.
What type of therapies are offered in an IOP?
An Intensive Outpatient Program includes many elements and each has its purpose. Some of the core services and therapies offered as part of an IOP are listed below.
Group counseling and therapy
Group therapy forms the foundation of an intensive outpatient rehab program. Studies have shown group therapy is as effective as one-on-one therapy and helps balance the cost of individual counseling. During group therapy sessions, participants learn communication skills and healthy social experiences that do not involve drugs or alcohol. Group sessions establish an environment that supports recovering addicts but also confronts them. It introduces structure and discipline into what are often chaotic lives. Healthy interactions are reinforced. The therapeutic milieu encourages members to share information, help each other, and practice new behaviors. Group therapy sessions can last from 30 to 90 minutes. The group size usually varies from 8 to 15 members.
Individual counseling
One-on-one therapy sessions are an important supportive measure to group sessions during an intensive outpatient rehab program. Individual counseling sessions address a recovering addict’s urgent issues and their current efforts to maintain abstinence. Each therapy session usually lasts between 45 and 50 minutes as a scheduled part of the IOP. At Boca Recovery Center, clients are assigned a counselor to establish good rapport and a collaborative alliance. The counselor reviews reactions to group therapy topics and goes over the treatment plan and coping strategies. Sensitive issues that are difficult to discuss in the group are also addressed.
Complementary therapies
Many intensive outpatient programs complement traditional therapies with a more holistic approach. This can include things like art therapy, music therapy, fitness classes, yoga, and meditation. These complementary treatments allow recovering addicts to heal in nonverbal ways. Sessions are typically conducted in a group format with an experienced therapist leading the group.
Medication management
Medications target specific aspects of substance use disorders. Some medications provide relief from withdrawal symptoms. Some medications help prevent relapse by causing an uncomfortable adverse reaction when a person uses an illicit drug. Medication management is a critical component of intensive outpatient rehab. It serves as an adjunct to lifestyle changes and functional restoration. The IOP team at Boca Recovery Center identifies the need for medication and also monitors medication compliance.
Support groups
Recovering addicts who are participants in an intensive outpatient program can benefit significantly from joining peer support groups like Narcotics Anonymous or Alcoholics Anonymous. The 12-step programs advocated by these support groups provide a structure for recovery that complements the formal treatment. Meetings are held at various times and venues, making it easy for people to fit them into their schedule.
Intensive Outpatient Programming or Residential Addiction Treatment: Which one is right for me?
Ideally, Intensive Outpatient rehab is a good choice for people who have a safe and supportive home environment. This means there are encouraging family members who are committed to their recovery efforts.
On the other hand, if a recovering individual lives with people who use drugs or drink excessively, residential drug rehab is a better option for them. In this case, living at home during an IOP would expose them to triggers for relapse. An inpatient addiction rehab center will remove access to drugs or alcohol.
Intensive outpatient programs are also not recommended for individuals with severe, long-standing addiction or co-occurring mental health disorders. Such people typically require inpatient or residential treatment with 24-hour supervision and an immersive recovery environment.
Addiction treatment is not a fix-all. The support of family and friends plays an essential role in drug rehab. Supportive family members are critical to the success of an intensive outpatient drug rehab program.
FAQs about Intensive Outpatient Treatment
How long is the Intensive Outpatient Program?
At Boca Recovery Center, we realize that every person is different. Our Intensive Outpatient Program is designed to meet your unique needs. The length of the IOP will depend on the severity of your addiction and any co-occurring mental health problems. In general, IOPs usually run for 8 weeks, but it can be more or less depending on your situation.
Am I eligible for an Intensive Outpatient Program?
The Intensive Outpatient Program at Boca Recovery Center is designed to help people struggling with substance abuse or co-occurring mental health disorders associated with illicit drug use. Your eligibility for our IOP will be determined by a mandatory intake assessment as part of the admission process. Based on this assessment, the Intensive Outpatient Program will be personalized to meet your needs. During the assessment, we will gather information about your medical history and psychosocial status. You will be asked to participate in an interview and fill out some questionnaires. You may need to undergo a urine test or breath analysis. The more honest you are about your substance use, the more effective your treatment plan will be.
Are family members or friends allowed to attend intensive outpatient sessions?
Research shows that family involvement in addiction rehabilitation treatment is associated with a higher success rate of long-term recovery. At Boca Recovery Center, we make a concerted effort to include supportive family and friends in the Intensive Outpatient Program. Family members receive education and information as well as guidance about resources available to them. The aim is to provide family members with information that can help their loved one in their recovery.
Does the intensive outpatient program include detox?
Your initial clinical assessment will determine whether you need medically-supervised detoxification. If a drug detox is required, it will be included in your customized treatment plan and you will receive it before starting the IOP.
Why choose Boca Recovery Center for Intensive Outpatient Programming?
An Intensive Outpatient Program will play a critical role in your recovery from addiction. That’s why it’s important to choose the best IOP that meets all your needs. Here’s why you should choose the IOP at Boca Recovery Center:
Accessible treatment
Public addiction treatment programs often have long waiting lists. At Boca Recovery Center, you can start your journey to sobriety without a long wait.
Personalized care
Every individual is unique and a fixed treatment plan may not be effective for everyone. Our treatment plan is tailored to your individual needs. We monitor your progress and make changes to your treatments as needed.
Medical management
Along with group and individual therapy sessions and complementary therapies, we have a team of physicians to provide medical treatment for any issues related to substance abuse or co-occurring mental health problems.
Evidence-based treatment
At Boca Recovery Center, we practice research-based medicine and offer treatments with proven efficacy.
Social support
Our Intensive Outpatient Program provides recovering addicts with a strong support system to build and strengthen their network. Developing healthy connections with people who are going through the same thing plays an important role in remaining sober.
Ongoing treatment
The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) recommends at least 90 days of therapy for recovering individuals to achieve the best outcomes. At Boca Recovery Center, you can start an IOP and transition to standard outpatient care after 4-8 weeks.
If you or a loved one could benefit from the intensive outpatient rehab program at Boca Recovery Center, get in touch with us today at (800) 516-4357. If you have additional questions, please contact us and we’ll do our best to answer them.