When you’re struggling with a mental health condition, it’s important to get help from professionals. But the last thing you want or need is another struggle — including trying to balance the treatment you need with the daily responsibilities you need to keep up with at work, school, or home. In situations like this, outpatient treatment programs can be the perfect solution, giving you access to intensive and effective therapy and medication management on a regular basis but still being able to go home or back to work after treatment. People have many options for getting help, including an IOP for mental health. But what, exactly, is an IOP, and how does it work?
Let’s explore the basics of this treatment program and why it might be a good fit for you or your loved one. Moment of Clarity’s California intensive outpatient program for treatment just might be the best way for you to get the help you need, when and where you need it.
Mental Health Treatment That Works
What Does IOP Mean in Mental Health?
Let’s start by defining and then explaining the concept of this particular type of treatment that can effectively help people with a wide variety of conditions and mental health struggles. As its name implies, an intensive outpatient program, or IOP, for mental health is a more intense version of outpatient treatment. This means that patients in an IOP should expect regular, vigorous mental health treatment sessions frequently for weeks at a time. However, once treatment is completed, they will return home, meaning they can still keep up with their other obligations. They’ll live at home, still be available to work or go to school, and meet their obligations at home with family members. However, they’ll come back to a mental health facility several days a week during this program for therapy and treatment.
What Is the Difference Between an Inpatient and Outpatient Facility?
Simply put, inpatient mental health facilities require patients to live at the center during their time in treatment. This can be a vitally important way of getting 24/7 support, monitoring, and access to medical and mental health professionals for those who are unable to live at home or stay on their own due to being in danger, according to United Healthcare. Outpatient facilities, on the other hand, provide a less intensive and more flexible option for getting mental health treatment without the need to live at the center. There are various levels of outpatient care available, including virtual outpatient treatment, but the common link is someone in an outpatient program won’t live at a treatment facility — they’ll simply go there frequently for appointments as needed.
How Long Does an Intensive Outpatient Treatment Last?
At Moment of Clarity’s intensive outpatient program for residents of Anaheim, Orange County, Sanat Ana, and surrounding areas, most patients commit to a short-term program of at least 30 days. Our clinicians assess each patient and determine if a longer IOP mental health treatment plan is a good idea, ranging from 90 to 200 days. The length of this treatment simply depends on the patient, including their past struggles, current needs, and future goals. We’ll work closely with you or your loved one to determine the ideal treatment length and customize the program, including its therapies and accompanying medications, to find the best fit for you.
What Should I Expect in an Intensive Outpatient Treatment Program?
Before we explain what to expect during an IOP mental health treatment plan, let’s explore who might be a good fit for this kind of help. According to GoodRx, the following types of people could benefit most from an intensive outpatient treatment program:
- People diagnosed with a mental health condition who require more frequent treatment but not inpatient help.
- Those with a strong support system, such as friends and family members.
- Patients who are stable enough to work or go to school but still need support.
- People who are motivated to attend treatment programming and follow the plan.
During IOP mental health treatment, Moment of Clarity’s experts will work with you on one-on-one counseling, couples therapy for mental health conditions, and group therapy sessions. We’ll also manage your medications if required for your mental health conditions. You’ll come to our mental health treatment center in Santa Ana for several hours at a time, several days a week, during your IOP.
The National Alliance on Mental Illness says there are clear benefits of IOP treatment, including the ability to get intense levels of mental health help similar in many ways to inpatient treatment without needing to disrupt their whole schedule or where they live. This type of program can also give more direction for your treatment, with more support from our therapists and mental health experts than from a single weekly therapy session.
Call Moment of Clarity and Get Help with Our IOP for Mental Health
Moment of Clarity is a recognized leader in effective, compassionate outpatient mental health treatment in California. Our experts are well-versed in the latest and greatest treatment methods for a wide variety of mental health disorders, including:
- Anxiety.
- Autism.
- Bipolar disorder.
- Borderline personality disorder.
- Depression.
- Trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
- Schizophrenia.
- Schizoaffective disorder.
- Suicidal ideation.
- Eating disorders.
We offer a comprehensive range of outpatient treatment options, including IOP mental health treatment and online IOP teletherapy, all provided with a focus on trauma-informed care and compassionate help for you or your loved one. Mental health struggles can seriously affect you in all parts of your life, but they can be treated, and we can help. Don’t wait to get the treatment and support you need — call us today at 949-625-0564.
External Sources
- GoodRx — How an Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) Works for Mental Health Treatment
- United Healthcare — Understanding the Differences Between Inpatient vs. Outpatient Care
- National Alliance on Mental Illness — The Value of Structured Outpatient Treatment
