Signs You or Your Teen Need More Than Weekly Therapy — When IOP Is the Right Step

An IOP is a structured treatment for mental health disorders and substance use disorders. Unlike residential care, with an IOP you join sessions during the day and return home in the evening. At Hopewell Health, our IOP runs Monday to Thursday, and lasts between 8-12 weeks.

Each session integrates evidence-based therapies and wellness activities that are tailored to you, based on your medical history, needs, and goals. Our therapies include:

• Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
• Interpersonal Therapy
• Music Therapy
• Art Therapy
• Yoga and mindfulness
• Experiential activities

The goal of IOP is to help you regulate emotionally and build healthy coping skills. We have programs specifically designed for teenagers, as well as for adults.

People tend to seek an IOP because it offers intense therapeutic support, while providing the flexibility to work or study. It also means you can live independently, stay close to your home and community, and integrate the skills you learn directly into your life.

IOPs are proven to reduce substance use and mental health symptoms; they also have a high retention rate. People generally report feeling satisfied with IOPs, having positive relationships with staff, and gaining valuable self-development insights.

IOP sits above weekly therapy on the continuum of care, which means that it delivers more intense care on a more frequent basis. Neither is “better” than the other; which one you choose depends on the severity of your disorder, how stable you feel, and other factors that inform the best route forward for your recovery.

Weekly Therapy

• Summary: Typically one-hour, 1:1 therapy sessions with a licensed counselor
• Structure: Guided conversations to identify and process trauma, understand emotions, and develop healthy coping mechanisms
• Targeted for: People who function well on a daily basis, and people who may have finished previous therapeutic programs
• Duration: Weeks to months, months to a year

IOP

• Summary: A structured program that runs throughout the week, delivering care for a few hours a day
• Structure: A combination of evidence-based therapies and wellness activities to build stability and skills for healthy thinking and behaviors
• Targeted for: People who are stable but require more than weekly therapy, and people who have finished a Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP)
• Duration: Up to 20 weeks

Getting therapy is a sign of strength. Knowing when you need a different form of therapy shows self-awareness. The tell-tale signs that an IOP could be a worthwhile switch from weekly therapy include:

For adults

• Feeling unsafe
• Struggling to complete basic daily tasks
• Mental health or addiction symptoms are getting worse
• Deteriorating relationships
• Being unable to perform like before at work
• Feeling like coping skills from weekly therapy don't meet needs
• Thoughts of suicide or self-harm

For teenagers

• Feeling unsafe
• Lack of motivation
• Mental health or addiction symptoms are getting worse
• Changing friendship groups
• Underperforming at school
• Isolating or not participating in hobbies
• Thoughts of suicide or self-harm

Keep in mind that it may be harder for young people to articulate what isn't working for them with weekly therapy. It's worthwhile paying attention to their behaviors that may say more about what's happening than their words.

Weekly therapy isn't a magic fix for anyone, but it should show that you're making progress. If you feel stuck or worse because of weekly therapy, that's the biggest sign to change to another type of care.

IOPs as an alternative to weekly therapy, or as a standalone treatment option, have a lot of benefits. These include:

• Flexibility. Continue working or studying while receiving care, and return home in the evening to maintain your familiar routine and sense of safety.
• Access to personal support networks. See friends and family while in an IOP, which can boost your motivation and increase the likelihood of you finishing the program.
• Apply skills in real time. Going from an IOP back to your home life means you can easily transfer new learnings and skills into your daily activities.
• Bring family to sessions. Where appropriate, you can bring family members into IOP sessions to work on relationship dynamics and to celebrate your progress.
• Wellness activities. IOPs tend to offer yoga and meditation, which complement evidence-based therapies and strengthen your mental and physical health.

These benefits do not automatically make an IOP the right next step for you, however, they should be considered in your decision process. Remembering that weekly therapy is just one of many treatment options available to you means you have more accessible, flexible, and potentially more effective treatments.

At Hopewell Health Solutions, we believe that everyone can heal. We have a tween IOP (for ages 8-12), a teen IOP (for ages 13-17), and an adult IOP to help anyone who is suffering with a mental health disorder or substance use disorder. All our care is tailored to each individual and age group, taking into account social environments and pressures.

We have a team of licensed clinicians who provide evidence-based therapies, prioritizing comfort and progress while always working to make you feel safe. We also have different mindfulness practices to nurture physical and mental well-being, and keep you engaged with treatment.

Our centers are based across Connecticut in Glastonbury, West Hartford, East Hampton, and Westbrook.

We've already helped many people of all ages and backgrounds transform their lives. There's always hope for healing. Contact us today.