Are you struggling with co-occurring mental health and substance abuse issues? Then a mental health IOP might be the perfect type of treatment program for you. This middle-of-the-road option allows you to continue working and taking care of your family while still receiving intensive treatment.
In this article, we break down everything you need to know about mental health IOPs, focusing specifically on mental health IOPs in Los Angeles.
Curious to learn more? Call La Fuente Hollywood Treatment Center at 888.903.9898.
What is an Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)?
Intensive outpatient programs, often referred to as IOPs, are a form of outpatient treatment for those dealing with substance abuse issues, mental health challenges, or a combination of both.
Although similar programs have been around for about 150 years, it’s only within the last 20 years that they’ve garnered recognition as a valuable treatment avenue.
The term “intensive” denotes the commitment of clients, who dedicate around 10 hours per week to their IOP. Time in treatment is spent participating in individual therapy sessions, peer support groups, and holistic healing practices such as yoga or meditation.
A distinctive feature of IOPs is that clients return home once their daily sessions conclude. This sets them apart from residential treatment programs.
At the same time, IOPs demand a more substantial time commitment than standard outpatient therapy. In this regard, IOPs are an excellent middle-of-the-road solution for clients with significant substance abuse or mental health issues who do not require 24-hour monitored care.
Mental Health IOPs
Mental health IOPs are designed to help clients confront concerns like depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
They do so by offering consistent, targeted support in a clinical setting. This takes the form of traditional individual or group therapy, peer support groups, and holistic practices like meditation, yoga, or art therapy. Through these sessions, clients learn coping skills they can use when feeling stressed or depressed.
These types of programs are ideal for those who:
- Have been struggling with mental health issues for a long time
- Need help transitioning from residential treatment to living at home
- Cannot take time off to attend residential treatment
- Cannot afford residential treatment
- Want to attend sessions with family members
- Have a stable home life
- Have a dual-diagnosis or co-occurring disorder (when mental health and substance abuse exist together).
Addiction Treatment IOP
While some treatment centers exclusively provide mental health IOPs, the majority of these programs are designed to address both mental health and addiction.
This two-pronged approach recognizes that substance use disorder is a complex issue encompassing both mental and physical components. In fact, about half of the people who have a mental disorder will also have a substance use disorder at some point in their lives and vice versa.
Attempting to address only the physical aspects of substance use without tackling the underlying mental health issues is a recipe for failure. In other words, effective treatment requires a comprehensive approach that considers addiction from multiple perspectives.
What to Expect from a Mental Health Intensive Outpatient Program
A mental health IOP program typically involves about 10 hours of treatment per week. Each treatment center is different. Some schedule three to four hours of treatment a couple of days a week. Others schedule two hours per day over five days.
La Fuente Hollywood Treatment Center’s IOP runs from 9 am to 12 pm, Monday through Friday, over a period of eight to 12 weeks. We believe this schedule helps maximize the effectiveness of treatment while still allowing our clients to attend to work, family, and social commitments.
Aside from the intensive treatment schedule, expect a deep dive into the root causes of your mental health challenges.
Through individual and group therapy sessions, family counseling, and peer support groups, you’ll have the opportunity to explore trauma and triggers in a supportive atmosphere.
Moreover, you’ll learn coping skills to help manage anxiety, panic attacks, or depressive episodes going forward. By the end of treatment, you’ll be better equipped to handle life’s challenges in a healthy, constructive way.
Benefits of Attending a Mental Health IOP Los Angeles
With its year-round pleasant weather and breathtaking scenery, there are all kinds of reasons to attend an outpatient program in California. While the Golden State is known for hosting some of the country’s best treatment centers, Los Angeles truly stands out when it comes to mental health IOPs.
La Fuente: Your Home for Mental Health IOP in Los Angeles
La Fuente’s Los Angeles IOP blends mental health and substance use treatment into one comprehensive program. We offer the most up-to-date, evidence-based treatments.
These include:
- Dual-diagnosis treatment
- Motivational interviewing
- Dialectical behavior therapy
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy
- Family systems therapy
- Mindfulness
- Therapeutic yoga
- Relapse prevention therapy
Besides our cutting-edge treatment approaches, we pride ourselves on being one of the few LGBTQ-exclusive treatment centers in the United States. This focus allows us to create a safe, non-judgmental atmosphere where community members can address LGBTQ-specific issues including discrimination, prejudice, internalized homophobia, family rejection, and more.
To learn more about our mental health IOP in Los Angeles, give us a call at 888.903.9898.
