How Do I Choose the Best IOP Care?

Many people struggling with substance abuse need help to get sober, some more than others. An intensive outpatient program (IOP) is for people who require some medical and therapeutic assistance but whose condition is not severe enough to require full-time care. But any kind of rehabilitation process can be intimidating at first. Getting sober isn’t easy, and it can feel overwhelming. An IOP is a good place to start, but how can you know if it’s right for you? What can you expect from this type of outpatient care?

The staff at Enlightened Solutions is here to offer a glimpse into our IOP program to help you answer those questions.

How to Choose the Best IOP Care

One of the great things about Enlightened Solutions is the way we can customize our treatment options to fit the unique needs of each client. By “unique needs,” we are referring to your current physical and mental health status, your history of substance abuse, how far along you are in achieving your sobriety goals, and so on. The staff will want to know whether you are taking any medications for any additional physical and mental health concerns, as this may affect the type of treatment methods used. Your history is kept thoroughly confidential.

If you have successfully finished a medical detoxification process and are physically stable enough not to require full-time care, an IOP may be a good fit for you. The hours per week that you receive care are flexible, depending on your responsibilities in daily life as well as your overall health and progress. Some people require multiple types of therapy, while others may do fine with just one. Others may want to put in a day’s worth of treatment once or twice a week, while others may be able to do an hour or so at a time, a few days a week. No matter which treatments you receive, counseling is always available to you.

Choose the Most Appropriate Support

Community is vital for recovering from addiction. For the times when you are struggling to believe in yourself and keep working toward a sobriety goal, having a support network can keep you from giving up – or even relapsing. The people in your network can help remind you that the outcome you’re working toward is worth the present challenges. Whether it’s group therapy or individual therapy (we recommend both), people who are further along in their sobriety journey can share the wisdom they’ve gleaned, as they’ve been right where you currently are.

Some of the support programs we offer include:

• Codependency groups
• Anger management and grief groups
• Relapse prevention
• Body image disorder groups
• Sober living preparation groups

Learning New Coping Strategies

There are all kinds of reasons people turn to substance abuse. It can be a mix of genetic and environmental factors, making certain groups of people more vulnerable than others. However, our experience is that many people turn to substances as a coping mechanism for life’s challenges, be they tragic circumstances or as a means of self-medicating depression or anxiety.

A critical part of recovery is developing the skills needed to cope in healthy ways that don’t involve healthy substances. This doesn’t look exactly the same for everyone. Some people may benefit from breathing exercises or keeping a recovery journal, while others may need a prescription for antidepressants and regular meetings with a therapist or 12-Step group. Whatever coping strategies work best, Enlightened Solutions specializes in a holistic approach to overall wellness. This includes eating a healthy diet (which you can learn to prepare yourself), getting regular exercise and sleep, developing healthy boundaries, learning new life skills for home and the workplace, and more.

These strategies are meant to be taken with you whenever your treatment ends. Treatment never fully ends when the program does; it’s a lifelong practice to help you build a healthier future. These skills can teach you how to avoid triggers or cope with them if they can’t be avoided. They can also teach you how to stay clean during peak moments of difficulty (perhaps around certain holidays or grief anniversaries) or when you’re alone and bored. Figuring out answers to these questions and developing a plan of action can help keep you on the sober path for the rest of your life.

IOP Care at Enlightened Solutions

There’s no doubt about it: Overcoming addiction is hard, and few people achieve it without taking a few backward steps before successfully moving forward. We are all about progress over perfection. An IOP allows you to address problem areas without judgment in order to live free of chemical dependency in a safe, supportive environment.

Our team is here to offer assistance wherever you need it, helping you connect with people in your community or connect you with resources to start building a new one. Treatment plans are flexible, so in the event that you feel you are not thriving in the one you are currently in, we can make necessary changes to ensure you are getting the care you need.

Our goal is to not only treat the substance addiction itself but to uncover the reasons it developed in the first place. Our approach is all about the whole person, not just physical health. We believe proper health includes mental, emotional, and spiritual health as well. The programs at Enlightened Solutions are geared to help you in those areas.

Getting sober is hard work, but it’s a lot easier when you have the right care and emotional support system. Fortunately, Enlightened Solutions offers both. From medical detox, residential, and outpatient care programs, including an IOP, to group and individual therapy, all rooted in a holistic approach to wellness, we have helped many people overcome the effects of addiction. With outpatient care and support, you can achieve sobriety and experience wellness in all aspects of your life. To learn more about our comprehensive, whole-person approach, call us today at (833) 801-LIVE to speak with our staff and learn which treatment program is right for you. Sobriety is well within your reach.