How to Choose the Best Intensive Outpatient Treatment Program for You (and Your Family)

Whether you’re transitioning back into daily life after a substance use rehabilitation program, or struggling to manage addiction but not able to take an extended leave of absence to seek inpatient treatment, you want the right level of support to continue your healing and sustain the changes you’re making. An intensive outpatient program, or IOP, is a treatment option that allows you to remain at home while you participate in an intensive course of individual and group treatments that supports you without significantly disrupting your daily life. 

If you’re considering the IOP option for yourself or someone you love, you should look for a supportive program that prioritizes your health and provides the flexibility you need to balance your recovery journey with your daily life. Here are some important considerations to keep in mind when you evaluate the options available.

Look for quality of care

In a recovery journey, you want to work with a team of the highest-quality experts who use evidence-based interventions to support and guide you. You should look for a program that provides:

• Integrated team of psychologists and psychiatrists who are experts in substance use disorders, relapse prevention, family therapy and mental health conditions.
• Intensive individual and group therapy programming using proven treatments such as Motivational Interviewing, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Relapse Prevention, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
• Access to pharmacotherapy approaches to treat alcoholism, alleviate opiate addiction and manage medication.
• Balanced holistic approach that includes mind/body components to deepen healing.
• Inclusion of family and loved ones in family therapy sessions to explore old dynamics and patterns and increase the network of support.

For those seeking an IOP option in the New York area, The Program at Williamsburg Therapy Group provides the highest quality of care available. Our tightly integrated team consists of all doctoral-level psychologists and psychiatrists, who are highly regarded experts in the field.  Our comprehensive program includes intensive individual and group therapy using a full range of evidence-based treatments to help each person and their families learn, grow and thrive in recovery.

Ask for a personalized treatment plan

Each person’s recovery is highly personal, shaped by their individual experiences and history. That’s why an IOP that offers only a one-size-fits-all approach may not be the best option. What works well for one person may not work at all for someone else. For example, you may respond to mindfulness-based practices like meditation, while someone else may need treatment for past trauma. A personalized approach helps you develop strategies that work best for you in the situations you are likely to encounter and ensures you have opportunities to address important issues that could lead to poor outcomes and relapse.

You should look for an IOP that personalizes your treatment plan to meet your specific needs and interests. Your plan should take into account your substance abuse history, your home environment, your work environment, your personal beliefs and your preferences.  

When you come to The Program at Williamsburg Therapy Group, we work closely with you to tailor a  treatment plan that is personally relevant and motivating so you can achieve your goals and sustain your recovery.

Get the flexibility to make it work

One of the advantages of a good IOP is that it offers more convenience and flexibility than other treatment options. An IOP should fit into your schedule so you can continue to manage your day-to-day commitments at work and at home, while also providing the structure and support you need on your recovery journey.

For those living in the New York area, The Program at Williamsburg Therapy Group requires just 9 clinical hours every week, including skills-based group therapy, individual therapy and mindfulness-based meditation, as well as optional mind/body components such as yoga, massage, and somatic experiencing.

Seek out an active recovery community

Connecting with others in a supportive community lets you know you’re not alone, helps you counter the desire to isolate and encourages you to apply the insights and practice the new skills you’re learning in treatment. A thriving recovery community that enables strong peer support is a key component of the best IOPs. 

Facilitated by a psychologist, our group therapy helps you explore the nature of your substance use, explore traumatic experiences from the past, and develop healthy coping mechanisms and self-management techniques that replace substances/habitual behaviors and increase your self-esteem and confidence.

Find the best-fit IOP for you

When you’re evaluating IOP options, look for these qualities to find the program that is a best fit for you. Bringing together the highest quality of care with personalized treatment plans and flexible programming, a convenient and beautifully appointed location for residents of New York and a thriving recovery community, the Program at Williamsburg can help you master tools, practice relapse prevention, discover meaning, and move forward with confidence.

To learn more about The Program at Williamsburg, please contact us or call us at (347) 765-0904.

MEET THE AUTHOR

Naomi Ben-Ami, Psy.D.

Licensed Psychologist

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