When your adolescent needs mental health treatment, you will face several important decisions, including the level of care required and how treatment fits into your life. Residential treatment programs are common; however, inpatient treatment is not always needed. Still, outpatient mental health treatment is sometimes insufficient to meet your adolescent’s needs. For teens who do not require 24-hour supervision but need intensive treatment, an intensive outpatient program (IOP) specifically designed for adolescents and teens can meet your adolescent’s needs.
The IOP for mental health at Beyond Healthcare provides structured and individualized care for teens who are stepping down from a higher level of care or need a higher level of care than outpatient mental health treatment. Our IOP allows your adolescent to receive the treatment and support they need without falling behind in school. Because they are at home on nights and weekends, they have access to much-needed family support. Contact us at 833.698.0453 to learn more about our IOP for your teen.
What Is an Intensive Outpatient Program?
An intensive outpatient program provides mental health treatment with a higher intensity than traditional outpatient care. IOPs offer therapy and other services such as nursing, medication management, case management, social skills training, and family counseling in a group setting. All of these interventions are tailored to the individual needs of your adolescent.
At Beyond Healthcare, our IOP consists of nine hours of programming per week, including group therapeutic sessions, individual therapy, and a combination of activities such as art therapy and recreational therapy. Our program is designed to provide your adolescent with the structure and support they need.
The Benefits of an Intensive Outpatient Program for Mental Health
There are numerous benefits to IOP treatment for your teen’s mental health. An IOP offers inpatient-level care and structure with outpatient-level support, making treatment more accessible and affordable. An IOP for mental health provides simultaneous treatment for co-occurring mental health disorders and behavioral issues. The following is a closer look at the main benefits of an IOP for mental health:
- Flexibility – An IOP allows you to fit treatment into your existing schedule so that your family can maintain routines as much as possible.
- Family therapy – Beyond Healthcare’s IOP includes family counseling and support to help heal damaged relationships, open the lines of communication, and ensure that you are involved in your teen’s treatment and progress.
- Real-life practice – An IOP allows your teen to practice the skills and techniques they are learning in treatment right away, helping master and incorporate them into daily life.
- Peer support – Group therapy led by highly-trained therapists allows your teen to receive and give peer support to others struggling with the same challenges, which reduces anxiety and feelings of isolation.
At Beyond Healthcare’s IOP, your adolescent is closely monitored by doctors and professional mental health providers. They receive targeted, individualized therapy through evidence-based and holistic approaches to treatment. Treatment begins with a comprehensive assessment designed to identify your adolescent’s challenges and strengths.
Can Your Adolescent Benefit from an IOP for Teens?
An IOP for teens is a treatment option that provides highly structured mental health treatment several hours per day, multiple days per week. At Beyond Healthcare, our IOP for adolescents ages 11-17 offers comprehensive mental health treatment with flexible scheduling so that regular routines are not interrupted, and your adolescent does not fall behind at school.
If your adolescent’s mental health symptoms impair their daily functioning or make life feel unmanageable, IOP provides the support your adolescent and family need. An IOP for teens benefits those who exhibit one or more of the following:
- Significant changes in sleeping or eating patterns
- Persistent feelings of anxiety, depression, hopelessness, or irritability
- Difficulties at school or refusal to attend school
- Loss of interest in activities they once enjoyed
- Self-harm or suicidal or homicidal thinking
- Antisocial behavior or isolation
An IOP for mental health also benefits those being discharged from an inpatient or partial hospitalization program (PHP) who are not ready to reintegrate fully into daily life or need more support than basic outpatient treatment.
Therapies Used in an IOP for Teens
Licensed therapists will develop individualized therapy plans for each teen in the program. Some common therapies include these evidence-based methods:
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) – CBT can help your teen uncover negative behavior and learn ways to build positive coping mechanisms when confronted with negative emotions. It can also help them become aware of their own thinking patterns and how to adjust them for improved functioning.
- Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) – DBT helps your teen learn to manage negative emotions, regulate their emotions, and develop healthier relationships with those around them.
- Behavior modification – This technique teaches your teen alternative behaviors and reward systems to replace maladaptive behaviors.
- Family counseling – Family counseling helps lessen the strain on family relationships and encourages open communication. Additionally, it helps family members learn how to better support each other.
- Strengths-based approaches – Strengths-based approaches recognize and build on each individual’s innate strengths. It helps your teen to focus on their positive qualities and use them as a foundation for recovery.
- Multimodal therapy – This type of therapy utilizes various approaches to help your teen explore their emotions, attitudes, and behaviors.
- Movement therapy – Movement therapy helps your teen build self-esteem and find positive outlets for their energy.
- Trauma treatment – Trauma treatment helps your teen find healthier ways to manage and process their traumatic experiences.
Beyond Healthcare’s IOP runs after school three days per week (Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday) for three hours per session (4 p.m.- 7 p.m.).
Contact Beyond Healthcare to Find an IOP for Your Teen
If your adolescent’s mental health symptoms have become unmanageable, the intensive outpatient program at Beyond Healthcare provides the treatment and support needed. A comprehensive assessment identifies your teen’s strengths and challenges and directs their treatment plan.
Contact our team at 833.698.0453 to learn more about our IOP for teens.
