While everything may seem fine now, your drug habit will catch up to you sooner or later. An intensive outpatient treatment is one of the best ways to secure your future and regain control over your life. You don’t want to end up in the hospital, behind bars, or in a fatal accident, so you need to keep reading to find out how an IOP can help you overcome your addiction for your well-being and your loved one.
Table of Contents
What is an IOP?
Patients in IOPs commute to a treatment center multiple times weekly to receive psychotherapy like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), group therapy, and holistic therapies. Over time, these therapies give patients the skills, contacts, behavioral health, and emotional health necessary to quit drugs and stay sober for life. In contrast to inpatient programs, patients do not spend the night at the treatment facility in an IOP program.
Benefits of IOPs
Flexibility
Inpatient programs have very rigid schedules, which doesn’t work for some patients. Thankfully, patients don’t have to stick to an inflexible plan in an IOP. Many rehab facilities have morning, afternoon, and evening sessions. This allows patients to schedule treatment sessions at times that work for them. Enrolling in an IOP means you don’t have to worry about missing work, school, or other obligations to get the addiction treatment you need.
Lower Cost Compared to Inpatient Treatment
Inpatient programs include food, lodging, round-the-clock supervision, and various other services. These services are expensive, so inpatient treatment programs must increase their prices accordingly. Patients only pay for their therapies in outpatient service programs, so an IOP is an excellent option to save money on high-quality addiction treatment.
Opportunities To Practice Recovery Skills
One of the primary functions of addiction therapy is to provide patients with helpful coping skills to resist cravings, remain calm, and avoid self-destructive behaviors. Patients must practice these skills to deal with difficult situations in everyday life. Individual and group therapies allow patients to learn about mental health, ask questions, and participate in exercises to develop practical recovery skills.
Structured Support and Accountability
The early stages of recovery can be challenging to endure. Even if you’ve already gone through detox, you will still experience a whirlwind of emotions as your mind adapts to sober life. Patients in IOP can check in with their therapists and peers several times weekly. This consistent support makes recovery much more bearable and prevents relapse.
What To Expect in an IOP
Assessment and Individualized Treatment Planning
Every patient starts their journey with a unique set of circumstances. In your first session, your therapist will talk to you to learn more about your personality, feelings, and experiences with drugs or alcohol. With this knowledge, the addiction professionals in an IOP will help you craft a recovery plan that works for your situation.
Individual Therapy
One-on-one talk therapy is a significant component of the addiction treatment process. During talk therapy, you will discuss your drug use, triggers, current challenges, and other pertinent information with your therapist. These conversations will help you and your therapist understand your problems so that you can work together to fix them. Therapists apply a combination of psychotherapeutic techniques based on their professional judgment and the patient’s needs.
Group Therapy
In group therapy, a handful of patients discuss their experiences, practice coping strategies, and attend relevant educational presentations under the guidance of an addiction professional. Every group member gets to speak during group sessions, and the leading therapist will moderate the conversation to maintain a safe and respectful environment. After a few group therapy sessions, patients typically form close bonds and try to keep each other accountable.
Alternative Therapies and Activities
Your physical, mental, and spiritual health can significantly impact your happiness and long-term success. If you don’t have healthy hobbies, then you will be more likely to fall back into bad habits. Illinois Recovery Center offers yoga, meditation, and other holistic treatments to help patients find new coping mechanisms and become healthier than ever before.
What To Consider When Selecting an IOP
Specialized Programs
You will likely spend several weeks or months in an IOP. Thus, choosing an IOP with the programs that suit your needs is essential. Standard specialized programs include gender-specific programs, family therapy, medication-assisted treatment (medication management), long-term sober housing, and treatment for co-occurring disorders.
Cost and Insurance
You don’t want an addiction treatment program to put you in a bad financial situation, so you need to weigh the cost and benefits of any treatment program before spending your hard-earned money. Fortunately, many insurance plans cover a wide range of addiction treatment programs. Suppose you’re not sure about the affordability of a program. In that case, you should speak to a treatment service representative at the treatment facility to determine your eligibility for insurance coverage or financing options.
Professional Recommendations
The wrong addiction treatment program may hinder your success, but picking the right program isn’t always easy. Addiction therapists help patients overcome their drug problems every day, and they have the expertise necessary to help any patient find the right path forward. With that in mind, you should book a session with a reputable addiction therapist if you’re having trouble choosing a treatment program.
Overcoming Common Challenges in an IOP
Managing Cravings and Triggers
As you go through addiction treatment, you may experience intense cravings occasionally. Moreover, you will undoubtedly encounter people, places, and situations that can trigger your urge to use drugs daily. To maximize your odds of success in an IOP, you must ensure you have gone through detox and live in a safe environment. You should also cease contact with anyone who uses or enables your drug use. If your home environment doesn’t facilitate sobriety, you may want to enroll in an inpatient treatment program.
Addressing Underlying Health Conditions
Many people who struggle with addiction use drugs and alcohol to cope with physical pain or co-occurring mental disorders. Maintaining lifelong sobriety will be difficult if you fail to address these problems. Therefore, you must be open about any underlying health conditions with your therapist to help you find suitable treatment options for your mental health treatment and discuss it with your family members if necessary.
Building a Support System for Ongoing Recovery
If you want to stay sober for the rest of your life, you cannot simply resume your old lifestyle after completing an IOP. With that in mind, your therapist will coordinate with you to develop a unique, continuing higher level of care plan for your total recovery process and relapse prevention. The professionals at Illinois Recovery Center are very familiar with addiction resources across Illinois, so they can give you a referral to support groups, residential treatment facilities like sober living accommodations, government programs, national institutes, substance abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and other resources in your area.
The Next Steps After Completing an IOP
Your next steps will depend heavily on your progress and circumstances. Many patients enroll in standard outpatient treatment programs to continue their therapy sessions as they return to everyday life. By the time you make it through an IOP, your therapist will know you very well, and they will recommend the best course of action for your unique situation.
An IOP Can Change Your Life Forever
A lousy dose or one extra drink can ruin your life. It is impossible to enjoy a safe and happy life if you’re constantly under the influence of drugs and alcohol. While trying to quit drug dependency on your own is admirable, you will have difficulty staying sober in the long run without the proper coping mechanisms. An IOP at a reputable addiction treatment center is your best shot at kicking your drug abuse habit for good. Your life is too valuable to devote to drugs and alcohol, so if you want a brighter future, you need to contact Illinois Recovery Center immediately to learn more about effective IOPs in your area.
Please note Intensive Outpatient Programs for substance abuse or substance use disorders are not currently offered on-site at Illinois Recovery Center. However, we plan to integrate this treatment modality into our addiction care services soon.
