It’s a wonderful feeling when a loved one reaches the point where they will accept help. But what type of help is the right fit?

Many families go back and forth between inpatient and outpatient programs. On one hand, an inpatient program provides day-to-day care in a structured setting, away from distraction. On the other hand, an outpatient program offers more flexibility, which is ideal for those who have work or family obligations.

Filling the Gap with an IOP

There is another type of care that we want to discuss with you today: an intensive outpatient program or IOP. The River Source delivers these services on an outpatient basis to meet the needs of patients who fall in between traditional inpatient and outpatient levels of care. Treatment in an IOP is more amplified and structured than an outpatient program but more flexible than an inpatient program.

For instance, our outpatient substance abuse treatment is available during the day, afternoon, and evening hours (hours vary based on our three locations). The hours are flexible so patients can continue going to work or school or take care of family.

What is Treatment Like?

Patients are expected to attend treatment three or more days a week. What we hope to see our patients do is take care of their daily responsibilities and then spend their free time in treatment. With this consistent routine, patients have ample time to work on their recoveries. The structured schedule also helps patients fill their time with healthy activities and behaviors rather than harmful ones.

As a holistic treatment center, our IOP includes a variety of alternative treatment services, such as:

• Personal growth coaching
• Nutritional classes
• 12-step meetings
• Family counseling
• Naturopathic treatments

IOPs are Not for Everyone

It’s important to know that IOPs are not for everyone. While the appeal to IOPs is obvious, there’s a reason why we conduct pre-assessments before accepting patients into this program. If you are interested in this program for your loved one, we will consider such factors as:

• What substance they are addicted to
• How long they’ve been addicted
• How much of the substance they use
• Co-occurring conditions
• Family support at home

The River Source is committed to providing patients and their families with comprehensive treatment services that meet the most unique needs. We recognize that not everyone can stop their life for 30, 60 or 90 days to attend treatment. We don’t want any barriers to stand in the way of receiving treatment, as some treatment is always better than no treatment.

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