Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)

The intensive outpatient program (IOP) at The Recovery Village at Palmer Lake offers continued support and increased independence for those recovering from drug or alcohol addictions. 

What is IOP? In a full continuum of care (medical detox through outpatient treatment), this type of treatment is essentially the last step before outpatient. On a more technical level, the American Society of Addiction Medicine defines intensive outpatient care as a program that provides at least nine hours of services per week to adults. 

An intensive outpatient program is a level of care that provides clients with daytime medical support and counseling while they adjust to increased freedom and free time. IOPs are not suitable for everyone in recovery but are ideal for people who have completed an acute program (like inpatient care) or partial hospitalization. An IOP may also be effective for those with a strong support system and a more mild addiction. Some patients may begin with an IOP instead of entering straight into an inpatient rehab program. 

Participating in an IOP provides those in recovery with a smooth transition from inpatient to outpatient care without the high risk of relapse. During The Recovery Village at Palmer Lake’s intensive outpatient program, clients continue to attend scheduled appointments at the facility to keep them connected to the recovery community. 

Intensive Outpatient Program for Co-Occurring Disorders

In any IOP, mental health counseling and treatment should always be a key component. Mental health disorders and substance abuse are often interconnected issues, with one spurring — or exacerbating the effects of — the other. For real recovery to happen, the physical and mental aspects of addiction must be treated simultaneously.

Each client in The Recovery Village at Palmer Lake’s intensive outpatient program receives care for co-occurring mental health issues like depression and anxiety. As they regain their physical health through daytime medical support, IOP clients can also participate in individual and group counseling to work through any mental and emotional struggles they face as they continue to recover.

In addition to therapy sessions, The Recovery Village at Palmer Lake’s location alone can be conducive to healing from co-occurring mental health issues. Nestled in beautiful Colorado, this renowned center offers serene mountain and lake views, as well as indoor and outdoor amenities that promote a peaceful beginning to each client’s recovery journey.

Intensive Outpatient Treatment

There are numerous different types and levels of drug and alcohol rehabilitation, and IOP rehab is near the end of a full continuum of care — as it provides less supervision when compared to partial hospitalization or inpatient programs. IOP rehab for drug or alcohol addiction prepares clients for outpatient care, and eventually, sober living with an aftercare plan.

 In The Recovery Village at Palmer Lake, patients in the intensive outpatient program receive a treatment plan that focuses on substance abuse and mental health counseling. These two issues are treated side by side to help people recover from addiction and co-occurring mental illness during their time in our Colorado-based program. Here, a team of clinicians, doctors and addiction professionals guides clients through structured daytime therapy and provides them with strategies for sobriety to incorporate after graduating from treatment. Regardless of whether treatment occurs in Colorado or surrounding areas, treatment in this level of care is not nearly as intensive as inpatient or partial hospitalization programs.

Is an Intensive Outpatient Program Right for Me?

When clients are ready for an intensive outpatient program, they should be physically well enough to not require daily medical supervision. Medication management and support are offered in IOP, but physical recovery is not generally the main focus. IOPs take into account co-occurring mental disorders and the emotional aspects of addiction as clients work with therapists and in groups to regain their mental wellness in recovery.

Intensive Outpatient Therapy

In higher levels of care like residential treatment and partial hospitalization, therapy has a greater focus on physical well-being. By the time clients are well enough for IOP, therapy focuses on mental wellness, emotional support and building actionable strategies for sobriety.

Intensive Outpatient Program vs. Inpatient Rehab

The most obvious difference between an intensive outpatient program and inpatient rehab is that in an IOP, patients can return home at night. In contrast, those in an inpatient program live at a treatment center for the duration of their treatment. As you might expect, those in an inpatient program also receive more services than those in an IOP do. For instance, IOPs offer nine or more hours of service per week, and services are often delivered during the evenings or weekends. Services may, at times, be provided during the day or before/after work. 

In comparison, inpatient rehabs offer around-the-clock care and supervision, and patients receive clinical services, including medical care. IOPs can meet the needs of those with co-occurring addictions and mental health conditions but do not offer medical care in the way that inpatient care does. 

Intensive Outpatient Program vs. Outpatient Rehab

Just as there are differences between IOP and inpatient care, there is also a difference between IOP and standard outpatient care. Outpatient services are less involved than IOPs — often having fewer than 9 hours of service per week. 

Outpatient programs typically represent a step-down from IOP. After completing an IOP in Colorado, patients may enter into an outpatient program, which offers less intensive services but helps them stay on track with their sobriety. 

Intensive Outpatient Program Guidelines

While each IOP is different, intensive outpatient program guidelines generally dictate two things: clients must be in good physical health and able to participate in nine hours of on-site therapy per week. Being in good health usually requires a client to undergo medically assisted detox and inpatient care before participating in an IOP. While it is recommended that a client participates in the full continuum of care (medical detox through outpatient), The Recovery Village at Palmer Lake does not require clients to have completed higher levels of care. Some clients may have undergone treatment in another Colorado addiction treatment center before coming to The Recovery Village at Palmer Lake. 

Intensive Outpatient Program Near Me

If you are seeking treatment in a Colorado intensive outpatient program and don’t know where to turn, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) offers a treatment locator tool to search for an addiction treatment program near you. The tool gives a list of providers available within a certain radius of your zip code. The list contains important information, such as the types of treatment offered and the kind of payment accepted by each provider. 

If you are located in the Denver or Colorado Springs area and are interested in the intensive outpatient program at The Recovery Village at Palmer Lake, call our facility today. A caring representative will talk through your situation with you and recommend either an IOP or a different level of care. Your recovery is possible — call today to get started on the path toward healing.

Editor – Abby Doty

Abby Doty graduated from Hamline University in 2021 with a Bachelor's in English and Psychology. She has written and edited creative and literary work as well as academic pieces focused primarily on psychology and mental health. Read more

Medically Reviewed By – Jenni Jacobsen, LSW

Jenni Jacobsen is a licensed social worker through the Ohio Counselor, Social Worker and Marriage and Family Therapist Board. She has seven years of experience working in the social work field, working with clients with addiction-related and mental health diagnoses. Read more