What is IOP in mental health, and is it the right type of program for your needs? People with mental health disorders often find it difficult to sort through the different levels of care when it comes to finding quality treatment, so we’re going to help clear it up for you.
Montare Outpatient specializes in treating people who do not need to move into a facility while undergoing structured care for their mental health. We employ a staff of skilled and licensed therapists who understand the negative impact that mental illnesses have on your life. Attending the therapy modalities we offer helps you minimize your symptoms and begin to feel more joy in life. We also offer prescription medications to help ease symptoms of poor mental health.
What Is IOP in Mental Health (Intensive Outpatient Program)?
What type of care a person receives for mental health disorders proves important. In 2021, one in five U.S. adults experienced a mental illness during the year. One in twenty adults had a serious mental illness, and about one in 6 children aged 6-17 had a mental health disorder.
What is IOP in mental health and how does it work? Outpatient means that you do not live in a residential facility. Your need for treatment for mental health disorders can be addressed by traveling to a facility for daily sessions and then returning to your home afterward.
IOP is the middle level of outpatient treatment programs. The highest level is a Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP), which requires more hours per week. The lowest level is an Outpatient Program (OP), which only requires one or two appointments per week.
Several types of therapy are offered as part of a menu of evidence-based and holistic therapy modalities in IOP. Each one provides ways for the person to identify how they feel, think, and act, and connect all of that to their resulting behaviors.
Who Benefits from IOP?
IOP in mental health benefits some people better than others. If they have a stable home life and do not need round-the-clock care, then IOP is a better fit than residential care. When someone enters residential care, the cost escalates because they are being cared for 24/7. IOP can work best for someone who is looking for a treatment plan that is budget-friendly.
If someone needs to work their way through different levels of outpatient care, IOP centers work well. They can move on to a lower level of care without traveling to a new location. The types of therapies and many of the counselors remain the same.
How Does IOP Differ from Other Mental Health Treatment Options?
In terms of outpatient care, IOP offers therapy sessions for half a day several days per week. This is less time required than PHP, which meets for full days several days per week. OP only requires therapy attendance once or twice a week. Someone attending IOP has been determined to best get their needs met through half-days of appointments.
IOP also differs from residential care because it does not require the individual to move into a facility.
Key Components of an IOP Program
The key components of IOP treatment are the types of therapies people attend. Upon entering the program, each person is matched with the therapy modalities that will most help them improve their mental health. Choices include:
- Individual Therapy
- Group Therapy
- Holistic Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy
- Family Therapy
- Ketamine Therapy
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy
- TMS Therapy
- Neurofeedback Therapy
- Vibroacoustic Therapy
Each person being treated will also discuss options for prescription medications that help improve their symptoms of mental illness.
Benefits of IOP in Mental Health Care
Going to IOP care for treatment provides several types of benefits. Outpatient levels of care offer concrete ways to sort through the history and triggers for your mental health symptoms and help you reframe the world. You learn to recognize your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors and how they impact your life. Reframing them and pointing them in positive directions helps you improve your mental health.
If you have personal or professional responsibilities you cannot avoid, like childcare, a job, or going to school, IOP fits your schedule. You have time for treatment and time to take care of other important requirements in your life.
Finally, IOP provides an opportunity to enjoy peer support. In group therapy or other interactions with fellow participants, people learn to participate in the give-and-take of peer support. As a result, they feel understood and learn from the experiences of others.
When Should You Consider IOP?
When your mental health has become compromised enough that it negatively impacts your daily life, it’s time to think about getting treatment. If you find yourself in need of care but don’t require being in a facility 24/7, IOP is the type of program to explore. If your home life is comfortable and not toxic, taking advantage of the specialized care you need during daytime or evening appointments makes sense. An assessment by a mental health clinician or the admissions staff of a treatment center will determine if IOP is right for you.
Contact Montare Outpatient Treatment Center in Los Angeles, CA
Now that you know what IOP is in mental health, you likely feel it’s worth exploring to see if this level matches your specific needs. Montare Outpatient created a program for outpatient treatment that is a cut above the rest. Our staff has years of experience and believes in bringing compassion to the table when treating you. We offer a judgment-free zone where you learn to heal your mental health.
Contact us now and find out the answer to any questions you have. Let Montare Outpatient be the healing light you need to move past the limits that mental illness places on your life.
Published: 3/12/2025
