What is an intensive outpatient program?
An intensive outpatient program (IOP) is structured treatment for addiction and mental health that meets a few times a week. You come in for group and individual therapy, then go back to work, school or home.
It’s a common next step after detox, residential care or our day program. It’s also a good starting point for people who need more than weekly therapy but can’t step away from their responsibilities.
Who IOP is for
IOP can be a good fit for adults who:
- Need more structure and accountability than standard outpatient therapy
- Are stepping down from inpatient, residential or day treatment
- Are working through substance use along with anxiety, depression or other mental health concerns
- Can live safely at home or in a supportive recovery setting while in treatment
When a different level of care fits better
We may recommend more support than IOP if you:
- Need medical or psychiatric supervision around the clock
- Are in an acute substance-related or mental health crisis
- Don’t have a safe, stable place to live
- Need medical detox or inpatient stabilization first
Your assessment at admission tells us which level of care fits you best.
What a typical week looks like
Most clients attend 3 to 5 days a week, and each session runs about 3 hours. A full program usually lasts several weeks, depending on your progress.
We run morning and evening tracks, so you can choose the one that fits around work, school or caregiving. Each session combines:
- Group therapy with people working on the same things you are
- One-on-one time with your counselor
- Practical skills work you can use the same day, at home, at work or in your relationships
Your care team checks in regularly and adjusts your plan as you go.
Therapies we use
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) helps you spot and change thought patterns and habits tied to substance use.
- Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) builds skills for handling strong emotions and distress.
- Trauma-informed care makes room to work through past trauma safely.
- Family therapy helps repair relationships and strengthen your support at home.
- Dual diagnosis treatment treats depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder or PTSD at the same time as addiction.
- Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) uses medications like Suboxone or Vivitrol to ease cravings, alongside therapy.
If 12-step meetings or another spiritual path is part of your recovery, we support that too. Many clients combine our program with 12-step or non-12-step groups, and we can help you find local meetings.
What we treat
Our IOP treats addiction to alcohol, opioids (including heroin, fentanyl and prescription painkillers), cocaine, methamphetamine, benzodiazepines, marijuana, prescription stimulants and sedatives, and more than one substance at once.
Who IOP Is Right For
IOP works well for people who need more support than a standard outpatient program but don’t need the intensity of PHP or residential care — often because they’re stepping down from detox or inpatient treatment and need continued care while managing work or school, or because they have a co-occurring condition like anxiety or depression that benefits from a structured but flexible setting.
Why This Level of Care Matters
Nationally, an estimated 40.3 million people had a substance use disorder in 2020, and nearly 3 million Americans age 12 and older meet criteria for an opioid use disorder. IOP is built for people who don’t require medical detox or 24-hour supervision, but who do need more structure than weekly therapy alone can offer.
PHP or IOP: which is right for you?
| PHP (Day Treatment) | IOP | |
|---|---|---|
| Treatment time | About 5–6 hours a day, 5 days a week | About 3 hours a session, 3–5 days a week |
| Schedule | Weekdays, during the day | Morning or evening |
| Work or school | Usually paused or reduced | Usually continues |
| Best for | Getting stable with daily support | Building on progress while living your life |
If you’re not sure which fits, our team can help you decide after a short assessment.
Relapse prevention is built in
Recovery has to hold up in real life. Our IOP spends a lot of time on relapse prevention: knowing your triggers, handling cravings and stress, and building routines that support you. If you’ve been through treatment before, or relapsed after it, this is a solid place to rebuild.
Insurance and cost
Most major plans cover IOP when it’s medically necessary. We work with Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, Harvard Pilgrim, Humana, UnitedHealthcare, UniCare and others. We check your benefits for you, so you know what’s covered before you start.
Check your insurance. It’s free and doesn’t commit you to anything.
How to start
Call or send your insurance details
Talk to our admissions team at (877) 920-6583, or use the insurance form. We check your benefits for you.
Confidential assessment
A short conversation about your substance use, mental health and treatment history, so we can recommend the right level of care.
Choose your track and start
Pick morning or evening sessions. We handle the paperwork and coordinate with your insurance.
After IOP
When you finish IOP, you leave with an aftercare plan. That may include ongoing outpatient counseling, continued medication management, peer support groups, or sober living for extra accountability.
Questions about evening treatment
What is an intensive outpatient program?
An intensive outpatient program (IOP) is structured addiction treatment that meets several times a week for a few hours at a time. It's more support than weekly therapy, and less time than a day program, so you can keep up with daily life.
How many hours a week is your IOP?
Most clients come 3 to 5 days a week, and each session runs about 3 hours. A full program usually lasts several weeks, depending on your progress.
Do you have evening IOP sessions?
Yes. We run both morning and evening tracks. The evening track covers the same clinical care for people who can't step away during the day.
What's the difference between PHP and IOP?
Both are outpatient, so you sleep at home. PHP (day treatment) is more hours and daily contact, usually five days a week. IOP is fewer hours and more independence, and many people move into IOP after PHP.
Can I go to 12-step meetings while I'm in IOP?
Yes. Many clients combine our clinical program with 12-step or non-12-step support groups, and our team can help you find local meetings that fit your schedule.
Does insurance cover IOP in Massachusetts?
Most major plans cover IOP when it's medically necessary, including Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, Harvard Pilgrim, Humana, UnitedHealthcare and UniCare. We check your benefits for you before you start.
Do I need a referral?
No. You can call us directly. Referrals also come from therapists, doctors, hospitals and detox programs.