When seeking treatment for addiction, finding the right level of care is crucial for long-term sobriety. Some people start with a residential or inpatient program, as they offer some of the highest levels of care. If you suffer from a severe addiction and untreated mental illness, you may need to start with this type of program, too.
However, more people are starting their recoveries with an intensive outpatient program (IOP). These programs offer a lower level of care than a residential or inpatient program, but they’re still highly structured and include more hours than a standard outpatient program. Most IOPs require their clients to meet most days of the week for several hours.
Entering treatment can be scary, but we find that knowing what to expect can help clients prepare themselves for the journey ahead. Below is a breakdown of how you can expect to spend your time in an IOP in Lehigh Valley.
Why Choose an Intensive Outpatient Program
Before we start with a typical day in an IOP, let’s explore the reasons why you should choose this type of program over others. Live-in treatment options provide the highest level of care, as they separate people from their triggers and offer 24-hour monitoring. This allows people in recovery to focus all of their attention on getting better.
While live-in programs work well in theory, they aren’t feasible for everyone. Some people have work or family commitments, while others can’t leave behind everything for several months at a time. Not to mention, live-in care can be very expensive because it includes full-time monitoring, food and boarding.
For individuals who need structure and support but can’t commit to a full-time program, an IOP is an excellent alternative. You still get intensive treatment most days of the week, but you get to live at home. Ideal candidates for IOPs have a strong support system and a safe, sober home.
The benefits of choosing intensive outpatient treatment are:
- Flexible schedules that allow you to work part-time or maintain responsibilities at home
- Individualized treatment that is tailored to your unique needs
- Group and individual treatment sessions
- Comprehensive treatment plans that include medication management, relapse prevention, life skills training, nutrition counseling and more
- Cost-effective, as there are no fees for food, housing or monitoring
What Your Time in an IOP Will Look Like
Each treatment facility is different, so it’s important to ask about the unique schedules of the programs you are interested in. However, most IOPs follow a similar schedule where clients spend about 10-12 hours each week in therapy. Here is what will be included in your days:
Group therapy
Group therapy is the backbone of most IOPs. Some studies show that group therapy is just as effective as individual therapy in treating substance use disorders. This type of support is invaluable because it gives clients the opportunity to share their experiences in a safe and supportive setting where they receive empathy, comfort and constructive feedback.
Another benefit to group therapy is that it can help reinforce healthy ways of interacting with others. Addiction is an isolating disease where drug and alcohol users mostly interact with other substance users. For people in recovery, a group therapy setting is the first place in the healing journey where they get to witness positive behaviors associated with recovery.
There are different types of group therapy such as:
- Skills development groups
- Psychoeducational groups
- Relapse prevention groups
- Refusal training groups
- Family groups
Individual therapy
Individual therapy is another core part of IOP in Lehigh Valley. This type of therapy focuses on the underlying causes of addiction, such as trauma or mental illness. You can expect to dig deeper into your personal issues, particularly regarding issues that you’re not comfortable sharing in a group setting.
Most clients at Recovery Cove start with more individual sessions on the front end of their treatment plan. We make it a priority to match clients with the right therapist - someone who they can build a close, honest and trusting relationship with. This makes it easier to open up, explore uncomfortable issues and heal on a deeper level.
Complementary therapies
Many IOPs offer complementary therapies such as yoga, art therapy, meditation and mindfulness. These treatments are an excellent addition to evidence-based practices because they allow people to tap into nonverbal ways of healing.
The treatment team at Recovery Cove encourages our clients to embrace a holistic approach to recovery. Recovery Cove Addiction Recovery Easton PA believe that the mind, body and spirit are all linked. While medications and counseling are important, they only address certain aspects of the healing process. A whole-body approach treats the symptoms of addiction, as well as the underlying contributors to substance use.
Support groups
Most intensive outpatient programs recommend that clients participate in peer support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous. Some treatment centers even host these meetings on-site so that clients have an easier time getting to them.
We understand that some people have mixed feelings about 12-step groups, but all we ask is that they give it a try. There are other programs to explore as well, but the 12-step approach is one of the oldest, most effective and most trusted approaches. It gives you the opportunity to surrender the addiction, process each step of the recovery process and move forward with healthier habits.
Medication-assisted treatment
We also recommend finding an IOP that offers medication-assisted treatment (MAT). This is a commonly used treatment approach that is backed by research. It combines the use of medications with counseling and behavioral therapies to treat substance use disorders, most commonly alcohol use disorders and opioid use disorders.
Withdrawal from alcohol and opioids can be extremely uncomfortable and intolerable at times, and MAT can make a huge difference. These FDA-approved medications manage withdrawal symptoms, curb cravings and stabilize physiological functioning. You can stay on the medications for an extended time to manage cravings, increase treatment retention, improve quality of life and reduce overdose and other health-related complications.
IOP in Lehigh Valley: Receive Structured Care While Living at Home
Recovery Cove offers personalized outpatient treatment services in Pennsylvania. Our flexible program allows you to live at home while receiving high-quality care. You’ll attend therapy at our facilities, participate in group and individual therapy and have access to complementary therapies like yoga.
Our treatment center also offers MAT in-house. We have a doctor on staff who meets with clients on a regular basis and helps them with their medication needs. We also provide family support groups on the third Wednesday of every month to keep families connected during the recovery process. Having a network of support is crucial to healing.
To learn more about our outpatient services, contact Recovery Cove today.
