How an Intensive Outpatient Program Fit Around My Job—and Still Helped Me Heal

I wasn’t falling apart. But I wasn’t okay.
I used to think treatment was for people whose lives had exploded. Mine hadn’t. I still showed up to work every morning, met deadlines, hit targets. I paid my mortgage on time. I had friends, a partner, a gym membership. From the outside, I was doing fine. High-functioning, they’d call it.

But on the inside? I was unraveling.

My anxiety spiked every morning before I even left the house. I drank every evening just to come down. I knew I was using too much—but I also knew I couldn’t just step away from my life. I couldn’t disappear for 30 days or tell my boss I was checking into rehab.

I wasn’t looking for escape. I was looking for something sustainable. What I found was an intensive outpatient program that met me where I was.

I Thought Treatment Meant Disappearing. IOP Proved Me Wrong.

I’d never heard of an intensive outpatient program (IOP) until the night I opened a dozen tabs and searched “treatment I can do while working.” I didn’t even know if that existed. What I found at Greater Boston Addiction Centers stopped me mid-scroll.

An IOP is structured. It’s real therapy, real accountability, real change—but without the full-time residential stay. I didn’t have to quit my job or explain a long absence. I could work during the day and attend sessions in the evening.

That single detail—that I could stay employed—was the thread that pulled me in. And once I started? I realized how badly I needed it.

Looking for an intensive outpatient program in Boston?

IOP Gave Me Back My Voice

The first week, I barely talked in group. I told myself I didn’t belong. I hadn’t lost a job or a license. I still had a life.

But sitting in that room, something cracked open. Because it wasn’t about who had lost more—it was about who was tired. And I was tired.

Tired of hiding, of managing the optics, of knowing I was better than the way I was living. That first time I spoke in group, I admitted something out loud I’d never said before: “I don’t think I’m okay. And I don’t want to keep living like this.”

Nobody flinched. Nobody gasped. They just nodded.

The Hidden Cost of Being “Fine”

High-functioning addiction is lonely as hell. You’re not bad enough to set off alarm bells, but you’re not okay either. So you live in this purgatory where asking for help feels dramatic, and staying the same feels like slow death.

I didn’t drink to black out—I drank to blur the sharp edges. I told myself I was managing. But if you need a substance to feel like yourself, are you really managing?

That’s the question IOP helped me face. Without shame. Without ultimatums. Just a slow, steady invitation to get honest.

What a Week in IOP Looked Like

My schedule looked like this:

• Monday, Wednesday, Thursday evenings: IOP group therapy sessions, each about three hours
• Daytime: Regular work schedule, which I kept without interruption
• Individual therapy sessions: Once per week, scheduled flexibly
• Optional extras: Mindfulness workshops, family sessions, recovery skills groups

It wasn’t always easy—but it was possible. I could show up for my job and still show up for myself.

Looking for an intensive outpatient program in Needham?

IOP Didn’t Just Fit My Schedule—It Changed It

I used to plan my evenings around wine. Now I plan them around myself. My body, my energy, my actual needs. That shift? It didn’t come from willpower. It came from structure, support, and finally feeling safe enough to stop pretending.

Group helped me feel less alone. Therapy helped me understand my patterns. And gradually, the need to numb lost its grip. I learned how to breathe before reacting. How to ride out urges without giving in. How to rebuild trust—with myself first.

What I’d Tell Someone Like Me

If you’re functioning on the outside but barely holding on inside—this is for you.

You don’t have to wait for a catastrophe. You don’t need to earn help by falling apart. You’re allowed to want something better even if your life still looks okay.

IOP didn’t rescue me from rock bottom. It caught me before I got there.

Frequently Asked Questions About IOP

What exactly is an intensive outpatient program?

An intensive outpatient program (IOP) is a structured form of treatment that offers group therapy, individual counseling, and recovery education—typically several days per week for a few hours per day. Unlike inpatient rehab, IOP allows you to live at home and maintain work or school obligations.

Can I still work full-time while in IOP?

Yes. Many IOPs, including the one at Greater Boston Addiction Centers, are designed with evening or flexible schedules that accommodate full-time employment. You don’t have to choose between healing and working.

Do I need to have a “severe” problem to qualify?

No. IOP is appropriate for many people—especially high-functioning individuals who are noticing substance use impacting their mental, emotional, or physical health. You don’t need to hit a dramatic low to benefit.

Is IOP covered by insurance?

In many cases, yes. Most major insurance plans provide coverage for outpatient services like IOP. Greater Boston Addiction Centers can verify your benefits and walk you through what’s covered.

How do I know if this is the right level of care?

If you’re struggling but don’t need 24/7 medical supervision, IOP can be a powerful middle ground. It’s more intensive than weekly therapy but still lets you stay in your life. A phone assessment can help determine what level of care fits best.

Ready to take the next step?

Call (877)920-6583 or visit Greater Boston Addiction Centers’ IOP page to learn more about our intensive outpatient program services in Boston, MA.