INTENSIVE OUTPATIENT PROGRAM

1. INTENSIVE OUTPATIENT PROGRAM Orange County

2. About • Intensive outpatient programs (IOPs) are a vital component of the continuum of drug and alcohol addiction care. They offer a mid-way point for addicts that do not feel they require the level of treatment that a residential facility offers, or a logical next step for those leaving residential treatment who are not able to commit to more time in a sober living facility.  • At Sunset Shores, we are proud to offer one of the top-rated intensive outpatient therapy programs in Orange County, California. Our program offers a wide range of therapies and activities to provide our patients with the best possible chance at recovery, all while they maintain their normal life living with their loved ones at home.  • An IOP is often the best option if you are not able to commit to residential treatment due to work or family responsibilities, but we have found that many of our prospective patients are not fully aware of what an intensive outpatient program is or whether it would be a good fit for them. So, we decided to take a deep dive into IOPs to clear up some of the confusion and help you understand exactly how an IOP works and how it could help you through your addiction.

3. THE CONTINUUM OF CARE • To understand what an intensive outpatient program is and how it fits into the addiction recovery process, we first need to understand what the ‘Continuum of Care’ is in the context of substance addiction treatment. Since the 1980’s, the dominant treatment model for addiction has been a 28-day stay in an inpatient facility, possibly followed with a stay in a sober living facility. This was not based on any clinical research and has not been proven to have effective results.  • ‘Continuum of care’ is a term that is widely used across the medical industry to describe an ongoing system of care for treating chronic disease, whereby patients are provided with the level of care that they require based on their current status, and are then moved up or down to a more or less intensive level of care as needed. For addiction recovery, the continuum of care functions in the same way, acknowledging that addiction is a chronic disease and providing the right level of care at the right time, no matter how long a patient has been going through treatment.

4. Stages

5. WHAT IS IOP? • Simply put, an intensive outpatient program is a structured program of therapy, counseling, and activities that is designed to offer the efficacy and experience of a residential addiction treatment program without the commitment to living on-site. This means that people with family responsibilities, or people who cannot take the amount of time of work that inpatient rehab would require, can still benefit from intensive addiction treatment therapy. • IOP programs, while structured and intensive, usually offer a level of flexibility when it comes to booking your appointments for individual therapy or counseling. They may even allow you to switch to a different group therapy session time, if possible. Too many people put off addressing their substance addiction because they “don’t have the time” for residential treatment. While we think that your health and wellbeing should always come first, we understand that your career and family are essential too. That’s why we offer an intensive outpatient program that is as flexible as possible.

6. How long is an IOP? • The duration of intensive outpatient treatment is much like the length of a piece of string. As part of the inherent flexibility of IOPs, they can last anywhere from a few weeks all the way up to a year. Generally, the minimum recommended length of intensive outpatient therapy is 90 days. However, any treatment is better than no treatment. Similarly, walking away from treatment before you feel ready to cope with long term sobriety is never a good idea. • For longer treatment programs that last 90 days or more, you will generally start out with daily sessions for the first few weeks, slowly transitioning into a less frequent schedule until you are only attending a few therapy sessions each week.

7. Can you detox in IOP? • The short answer to this is no. Detoxing should be the first stage of recovery for addicts dealing with severe substance use issues, particularly those using physically addictive substances like alcohol, heroin, or other opioids. Outpatient programs are not well-suited to dealing with the symptoms of detox, as patients undergoing detox should have constant access to medical care. • Generally, outpatient addiction programs will either require or advise that patients undergo detox before they begin IOP treatment, particularly if they are heavily addicted and attempting to quit without detox could pose a health risk. At Sunset Shores, we are partnered with nearby residential rehab and detox facilities that we can refer you to if you need to complete a detox program before starting treatment with us.

8. Advantages Disadvantages • By continuing your normal life while attending the program, you risk being exposed to the same stressors and triggers that caused you to use in the first place. • Without the restrictions of inpatient rehab, you may still have access to the substances that you have a problem with. • Your access to therapists and counselors is more limited in outpatient programs and must be scheduled in advance.  • You will not benefit from the same level of community support and extra activities that are available in inpatient programs. • Outpatient treatment offers flexible scheduling options for therapy sessions so you can fit them around your responsibilities. • For parents that cannot afford to take a month away from their children, outpatient programs offer the best chance of success while being able to remain at home. • If you are not able to take the time off work for residential treatment, or cannot afford to, then intensive outpatient programs will allow you to work while you recover. • IOPs are generally significantly less expensive than residential treatment, often offering the best level of care that some people can afford.

9. THE GOALS OF OUTPATIENT THERAPY • Commit to a Plan By making the decision to enter into an outpatient addiction treatment program, you have already made the most crucial step in your recovery journey. The next step is to define a clear plan of action and commit to it. This is particularly crucial in IOPs, where you will be exposed to triggers and have access to substances while not in sessions. Getting through treatment while maintaining your normal life to some extent will absolutely require you and your counselors to have very clear rules and guidelines, and a timeline that you can commit yourself to. • Learning Coping Skills One of the most common reasons for recovering addicts to relapse is stress or emotional triggers. After a successful treatment program, they find the return to normal life to be too much and fall back into old habits. That is why learning coping skills is one of the most important goals of intensive outpatient therapy. Your therapist and counselors will teach you how to manage the stressors of your life while you are in treatment, and equip you with coping techniques that you can continue to apply throughout your life after treatment.

10. THE GOALS OF OUTPATIENT THERAPY • Establishing Goals While it may seem redundant to have one of your goals going into an intensive outpatient program be ‘establishing goals’, it is actually a vital aspect of recovery. The road ahead in sobriety can feel murky and daunting when you do not have clear goals in place. Addiction recovery is not just about quitting using drugs or alcohol. It’s about rebuilding your life. Outpatient counselors and therapists will make it a priority to identify goals, both small and big, that you can set for yourself and achieve during treatment and beyond. • Creating Good Habits Replacing bad habits with good ones is a highly effective method for addressing the habitual aspect of addiction. Through counseling sessions, you will be encouraged to explore your interests and find new ways to fill your time and occupy your mind in a healthy way. While you will not be provided with access to new activities in the same way as residential treatment, your therapists and counselors will certainly encourage building new habits and will work closely with you to support that process.

11. WHAT TO EXPECT IN AN IOP • Group Therapy Just because you are not living in a treatment facility, it doesn’t mean that you will not have an opportunity to find support from others that are going through what you are. Group counseling sessions will be an integral part of your IOP experience. In group sessions, you will be encouraged to share your experiences with one another and grow and learn together. • Individual Counselling Naturally, the cornerstone of your treatment will be regular one-to-one counseling and therapy sessions, generally with the same counselor or therapist. This will be where you define your sobriety goals, create a treatment plan, discuss your progress, and work through any difficulties that you’ve encountered. Individual sessions are also where you will learn the majority of your coping skills.

12. WHAT TO EXPECT IN AN IOP • Support Groups One of the best resources for lasting sobriety is support groups. 12-step programs and other addiction support groups and programs are pivotal to lasting sobriety. During your intensive outpatient therapy program, you will be introduced to support groups in the area and encouraged to attend regular meetings and find a sponsor to guide you through your treatment process and beyond. • Complementary Therapies Some intensive outpatient programs also offer other types of therapy that are not directly related to addiction treatment, but which can help to deal with underlying emotional issues and perhaps even turn into a healthy new habit. These may include things like art therapy, music therapy, equine therapy, and many more.

13. Contact Us • Address: 2700 NEWPORT BLVD NEWPORT BEACH CA 92663 • Contact number: 949-401-6460 • Website: https://soberlivingoc.com/ Thank You