INTENSIVE OUTPATIENT PROGRAM (IOP)

What is it?

An Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) is a short-term, skills-focused level of care, typically 3–5 days per week for ~3 hours per day. You’ll participate in therapist-led skills groups and receive medication review as needed. IOP is ideal when weekly therapy isn’t enough—or as a step-down after PHP or inpatient treatment.
Benefits

  • Faster symptom relief with structured, evidence-based skills
  • Opportunities to work through problems with peers who share similar experiences
  • Access to psychiatric providers who can manage medications, when needed
  • Clear goals, progress tracking, and a plan for what comes next

Who it’s for (typical indicators)

  • Worsening depression/anxiety, panic, OCD-related distress, PTSD stabilization, or ADHD-related impairment
  • Frequent crises, missed or impaired performance at school/work, or difficulty using skills between weekly sessions
  • Safe to live at home; no immediate medical detox or 24/7 supervision needed

Core elements you’ll see in IOP

  • Skills groups: CBT (thought/behavior change), DBT skills (mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, interpersonal effectiveness), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), behavioral maintenance, and sleep hygiene (CBT-I principles)
  • Goal setting & accountability: short-term goal planning with weekly check-ins
  • Medication management: psychiatric evaluation and adjustments when appropriate
  • Family Support Group: one-time group for family members to understand the necessity of changes you make while attending IOP
  • Case management: school/work notes, access to community resources, and aftercare services
  • Measurement-based care: we use evidence-based assessments to support overall quality of services provided

What to expect (sample 3-hour block)

  • Check-in & safety scan (20–30 min)
  • Skill of the day (45–60 min) – teach & practice
  • Break (10 min)
  • Application & coaching (45–60 min) – role-plays, planning, troubleshooting
  • Wrap-up (10–15 min) – home practice plan & supports

Length of stay & outcomes

  • Patients typically attend IOP for 6–8 weeks, during which they may choose to take time off from work or school.
  • Discharge includes a written plan, follow-up appointments, and behavioral maintenance strategies.

Expectations

  • Attendance matters. Patients are expected to be on time for groups and to alert the front desk when a conflict or barrier occurs.
  • Safety first. If risk escalates, we’ll coordinate a higher level of care immediately.
  • Not a detox program. Our IOP works best for individuals with co-occurring (dual) diagnoses who are in active remission.



Not sure if IOP is right for you? Call 901-752-4900 to schedule an evaluation, or request an evaluation onlineofessional evaluation is required to make a formal diagnosis and appropriate treatment plan.