One of the earliest decisions when seeking addiction treatment is the choice between inpatient and outpatient treatment. Outpatient is often a more attractive offer because it is more flexible. People can attend outpatient treatment at scheduled times and otherwise continue living a relatively normal life. This is in contrast to inpatient treatment, where clients are required to stay at an addiction treatment facility for the duration of their formal treatment.
Even with the knowledge of outpatient programs being more flexible, people still wonder, “Will an intensive outpatient program suit my lifestyle?” Perhaps the more pressing question is whether outpatient is the best option to realize your recovery goals. Nonetheless, part of meeting those goals involves finding a treatment option that works for you. Intensive outpatient programs, or IOPs for short, are one of the best options to explore.
Find out more about La Fuente Hollywood’s West Hollywood, California intensive outpatient program by calling 888.903.9898.
What Is IOP?
IOPs are a type of outpatient addiction treatment that addresses substance abuse disorders and mental health challenges. A few features that define IOPs include:
- Group therapy sessions
- Individual therapy sessions
- Life skills classes
- Support groups
IOPs tend to involve around 10 hours of treatment per week. Those hours are usually spread across multiple days so that clients access treatment for between 2-3 hours each day. Unlike inpatient treatment, IOPs do not have clients stay overnight or remain on-site around-the-clock. People return home or go to school or work after treatment sessions end.
Part of the care delivered through IOP focuses on the root causes of addiction. Therapy and skills classes help people work through trauma, relapse prevention, emotional regulation, self-identity, and self-esteem, among other things. Many IOPs also support people in connecting to further education or vocational opportunities in situations where addiction has limited people’s professional outlook.
Balancing Your Lifestyle and IOP
To figure out if your lifestyle and IOP can fit together, first define what your lifestyle is. Do you work full-time? Are you going to school? Do you have family responsibilities? If you answered yes to any of those, chances are IOP is certainly a more realistic option for you than inpatient treatment. Nonetheless, an IOP will alter your lifestyle. Committing 10 hours per week to an IOP is really non-negotiable if you want to get the most out of your treatment.
Another factor to consider concerning your lifestyle and IOP is the length of treatment. Most IOPs last anywhere from eight to 12 weeks. It is not meant to be a quick fix and is a big commitment. Not completing a full round of intensive outpatient treatment means you are much less likely to meet your recovery goals. Thus, you need to ask yourself: can I carve out 10 hours each week for up to 12 weeks?
One last point to note about balancing your lifestyle and IOP pertains to detox. Typically, even an intensive outpatient program does not provide the level of support and oversight necessary to detox safely. Some withdrawal symptoms border on life-threatening. Therefore, IOPs are best for people who have already completed detox.
IOP Accommodations to Fit Any Lifestyle
One option that is becoming increasingly popular is virtual IOP. The schedule and time it requires from people are largely the same as any other IOP. The difference is that a virtual IOP is conducted over the phone or with video calls.
People who opt for virtual IOP don’t have to worry about traveling to and from a treatment center and may find it easier to fit treatment sessions into their lifestyle. This can be a great option though some people may feel that the virtual setting results in a weaker level of accountability.
Discover IOP at La Fuente Hollywood
Contact 888.903.9898 to learn more about IOP offerings at La Fuente Hollywood.
