Intensive Outpatient Treatment (IOP) for Alcohol Addiction
Intensive Outpatient Programs, or IOP, are treatment programs that combine the benefits of inpatient treatment with the benefits of outpatient treatment. Intensive Outpatient provides evaluation and alcohol treatment services at significantly lower costs than inpatient rehab. It’s suitable for individuals aged 18+, seeking treatment for alcohol and drug abuse. IOP is mainly recommended for addicts who don’t need medically-supervised detoxification or who have previously completed detox and need additional rehab and support.
Intensive Outpatient Goals
Although IOP is not inpatient, it still takes a big time commitment. It is usually at least 3 days to multiple weeks long, and therapy is done 2-4 times a day or even more, often slated around work or college. The major focus of intensive outpatient treatment programs is relapse prevention.
Other goals and aspects of IOP treatment include:
- achieving and retaining sobriety
- addressing the actual reasons that caused the addiction
- help to build up a support network
- identifying mental health issues
- employing new and positive lifestyle and behavioral changes
- improve coping strategies
- improve willpower
- community-based support systems
- learning new problem-solving skills
What Goes On During Intensive Outpatient Alcohol Treatment?
During intensive outpatient treatment, patients see a physician, individual and family group counselors, and accredited psychologists. IOP is filled with individual and group therapies, consultations, educational lessons, psychotherapy, behavioral therapy, etc.
IOP gives patients the possibility to enroll in treatment and continue living at home and stay employed in the community. Using this method, you have enough time to put into practice your new sobriety skills and to recover from alcoholism in a protected setting, helping you to establish a successful substance-free life.
Check out these articles about Intensive Outpatient Treatment to learn more.
