Are you like many people and struggling with depression, anxiety, mental illness, or a substance use disorder? Are you interested in group therapy, individual therapy, and getting addiction treatment?
If so, an intensive outpatient or IOP treatment clinic might be right for you. The reality is that more people than ever are suffering from mental health issues.
Whether triggered by the pandemic or unconventional times, the good news is that there’s help out there in the form of IOP programs for those looking to get their lives back on track after a serious mental illness or behavioral health disorder. To understand more about the benefits of IOP therapy, read on.
How IOP Works
Getting into any type of recovery can be scary and overwhelming. But it can be exciting, too. The reality is that many people are benefitting from IOP therapy and finding new hope for the future.
If feeling more like yourself again or helping someone you love is important to you, it’s a good idea to understand the basic options when it comes to getting help. IOP therapy, which is the same as intensive outpatient treatment, is a highly structured and intense form of regular therapy that can address most mental health issues.
A great treatment option for anyone who has outside responsibilities but needs intensive treatment, IOP programs mean you’ll get basically the same services you might in a typical residential program but be able to go home at night and on weekends.
IOP programs are generally structured around banker’s hours and take up as much time as a full-time job. In these programs, you’ll have a combination of group and individual therapies and acquire a treatment team.
You’ll have a psychiatrist, nurses, staff, therapists, and others all helping you to make decisions about your treatment and progress as you work through substance use or other serious issues. Many people are able to work at night or continue online schooling while in IOP programs. Others use their time off to spend time with friends and family members.]
Providing Supports
One of the best ways to ensure a healthy recovery is to have a solid support system behind you. In an IOP program, you’ll have not only a team of therapists, case managers, and social workers but also the other people you meet who are on recovery journeys of their own. Unfortunately, part of recovery often means breaking off toxic relationships and old friendships.
If you’re feeling alone while you work to make healthier choices, having a new group of friends dedicated to healthy relationships who understand what you’re going through can be an enormous help.
Easing Transitions
Your IOP treatment will include a fantastic transitional plan with tools and resources that will help you to transition back into your normal life and meet your goals. Instead of leaving a residential rehab without any professional support, you’ll be able to maintain your connections with your IOP team and even slowly transition back into daily living. In many cases, instead of trying to start over on your own, you’ll even have the option to attend things like weekly groups and meetings with other grads of the IOP program.
At the end of the day, there is hope for recovery from addiction, most mental illnesses, and anxiety through the right IOP treatment program.
Start with talking to your therapist, doctor, or another health care provider about ways an IOP program could be the answer to getting you on the path of long-term recovery. Best of luck to you as you begin your journey toward a healthier future. You matter and deserve to be the best possible version of yourself.
