Before enrolling in an intensive outpatient program (IOP), it’s natural to want to know what your daily schedule will look like and how addiction treatment will affect your current routine, especially if you are employed or you’re enrolled in college.
IOP is a very flexible treatment option that allows many people to complete rehab while still maintaining personal responsibilities and/or their employment at the same time. Here’s what an IOP schedule looks like and what you can expect from this type of treatment program. But first, the basics.
IOP Basics
IOP stands for Intensive Outpatient Program, which is a type of outpatient addiction treatment for people in recovery. There are several differences between IOP and residential drug rehab, but the main difference is that clients do not live onsite at the rehab center while enrolled in IOP. Instead, they live at home or in a sober living home and attend therapy sessions several times a week at an outpatient treatment location.
IOP is a robust treatment program that provides flexible and comprehensive care. It also allows for close personal monitoring to address any potential issues before they lead to a full relapse. Although IOP is different than a residential rehab program, it is just as recovery-focused and works best when clients have access to a safe and sober home environment, such as a sober living home.
What Does an IOP Schedule Look Like?
Here’s what you can expect when you’re enrolled in IOP at Eudaimonia Recovery Homes. A more detailed explanation is provided below the chart.
| Weekly IOP Schedule | ||
| Monday | Morning session: 9 a.m. – noon | Evening session: 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. |
| Tuesday | ||
| Wednesday | Morning session: 9 a.m. – noon | Evening session: 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. |
| Thursday | Morning session: 9 a.m. – noon | Evening session: 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. |
| Friday | ||
| Saturday | ||
| Sunday | ||
*IOP clients are either enrolled in a morning session or an evening session, not both.
**Individual therapy sessions are not shown on the chart above but are scheduled on a case-by-case basis.
IOP Treatment Environment
Our IOP locations in Austin and Houston are warm, inviting, and relaxed. Staff members collaborate with each client to provide personalized care and guidance on the journey to sobriety. Breaks are built into each IOP session to allow time for rest and personal reflection and a comfortable treatment environment is designed to help you connect with other clients and share support.
Group Therapy Sessions
IOP is an eight-week program that meets Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays for a total of 24 group therapy sessions. Eudaimonia offers a morning IOP session (9 a.m. to noon) and an evening IOP session (6 p.m. to 9 p.m.). Clients are encouraged to remain in one session group, either morning or evening, but we will work with you to ensure you can complete the program if additional flexibility is needed.
Each session lasts three hours total and is comprised of a 90-minute Education Group followed by a 90-minute Process Group.
Education group is focused on topics that are important for success in early recovery, such as:
- Social skills
- Problem-solving
- Cognitive restructuring
- Thinking errors and corrections
- Relapse prevention
- Family dynamics
- The biology of addiction
- Post-acute withdrawal syndrome
- Stages of change
- HIV/AIDS
- STI/STD
- Hepatitis C
- Tobacco awareness
Examples of discussion topics you’ll cover.
During Process Group, clients are encouraged to discuss all aspects of their personal recovery experience with the clinical staff in a group setting. Clients share at their discretion, but we encourage active participation in treatment for the best results.
Individual Therapy Sessions
Clients participate in individual therapy sessions a minimum of three times throughout the eight-week program. They are also encouraged to schedule additional individual therapy sessions with our staff as needed. This can provide extra support if a client needs assistance working through personal issues related to their addiction.
Discharge Planning
IOP staff members at Eudaimonia work closely with each client, their family members, and other support individuals to complete discharge planning. Our goal is to help each client establish a sustainable and structured sober lifestyle. This often includes a plan for relapse prevention and continued treatment so they are prepared to thrive in sobriety after completing IOP.
Is IOP Right for Me?
There are many different options for addiction treatment and several factors to consider when choosing a rehab program. A doctor or an addiction treatment professional can help you determine what type of addiction treatment is right for you based on the severity of your addiction, your circumstances, and your treatment needs.
Anyone in recovery can benefit from an IOP program, but good candidates for this type of addiction treatment program may include:
- People who have already completed a residential drug rehab program
- People who are enrolled in a sober living program
- People who are recovering from severe substance use disorders
- People who have struggled with chronic relapse in the past
Before you pick days/times, confirm does insurance cover IOP for your plan and network.
Enroll in IOP at Eudaimonia Recovery Homes Today
IOP can also be combined with other recovery support services such as sober living or a peer recovery support program. For more information on the IOP schedule at Eudaimonia or additional recovery support services we offer, please call (512) 363-5914 to speak with an admissions representative today.
