Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOPs) in Massachusetts
What Is an Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)?
Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOPs) in Massachusetts are designed for individuals struggling with substance abuse and behavioral health issues, such as drug addiction, alcohol addiction, or co-occurring behavioral disorders. At Sameem, unlike most IOPs, the schedules and programs of IOPs are tailored to each individual in the program. For example, two participants who enter the program on the same day may attend some groups on relapse prevention, but may diverge in other groups based on their clinical history (e.g., trauma or depression), age, or gender.
IOP participants typically attend the program for 3 to 5 days each week, and the frequency of attendance decreases as they become more confident in maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOPs) are a great option for individuals who fall under the following categories:
- Those who have just completed residential detox or an in-patient facility program.
- Individuals who have been struggling with substance or alcohol abuse and require more support than they typically receive in their daily lives but don't want to opt for a detox or in-patient facility.
- People with commitments such as work, studies or parenthood, who need to focus more on returning to a healthy lifestyle but hope to avoid stepping away from their responsibilities for a residential program.
Here are some benefits of choosing Sameem:
- Our 40 years in practice mean that our programs have a proven track record of creating a foundation for long-term sobriety and healthy behavior.
- Our programs are delivered by experienced licensed clinicians.
- We offer customized comprehensive treatment for each individual based on their unique needs.
- We provide access to a strong support network of people who share similar interests and issues.
CALL TO GET STARTED TODAY
Get Started Today
We know that overcoming addiction is challenging and requires the courage and strength to acknowledge that help is needed. With over 40 years of experience, our team of professionals at Sameem Behavioral Health understands how to help individuals overcome substance abuse.
Seeking assistance and support is a significant step towards recovery, and it is essential to remember that you are not alone in this journey. Many people have gone through similar difficulties and have come out stronger on the other side. With the right resources and support, you can overcome addiction and lead a healthy, fulfilling life.
A Unique Approach to Alcoholism & Drug Addiction Treatment: Sameem's IOP
Sameem's IOP design is unique. Unlike traditional IOPs, our ongoing groups include both IOP participants and experienced members in long-term after-care recovery programs. This integration fosters a supportive community, where individuals benefit from peer support while guided by a trained therapist.
A number of years ago, Sameem adjusted our approach to focus on “long-term, integrated group therapy,” which our experience shows is cost-effective and clinically superior to traditional group settings.
By
long-term, we mean that our IOP groups integrate with our ongoing after-care group therapy practice. Sameem conducts many groups each week that have met for years, and serve as effective after-care for former IOP patients. These on-going groups last far longer than an average IOP. Some have been ongoing for more than 10 years. Some patients, by no means all but a meaningful number, choose to remain in these groups for years. It becomes part of their own ongoing mental health practice. Currently at Sameem, 38% of our group therapy participants have attended at least 3 years. The percentage attending more than 12 months exceeds 50% of the total participation. Successful groups build identities of their own over time, and participants value them and prioritize their time accordingly.
At Sameem, IOP patients participate in our standard groups along with the veteran members. Because most of the standing group members joined under similar circumstances and now have months and years of successful sober living behind them, they are in a position to offer sympathetic listening and support.
This is, of course, a peer support model pioneered by 12-step programs, but with a crucial difference: the presence of a trained therapist to direct the discussion and provide guidance to patients.
Give us a call today at 617-964-1060 or connect with us online to get started and learn more about our addiction treatment services.
Alcoholism & Drug Addiction IOP: Tailored Treatment Plans
Long-term groups and integration with IOP patients – facilitate a unique, highly valuable outcome: the ability to provide customized IOP experiences. When two patients enter the same day, they can be assigned to different groups based upon demographics (age, gender, etc.), clinical history (trauma, cocaine use, etc.), or other considerations. Some groups, of course, may be appropriate for both of the new IOP patients – groups focused on early sobriety or relapse prevention, for example. Each patient, however, has a unique, customized experience supported by long-term participants and a trained therapist.
Furthermore, this system broadens the range of people patients encounter during a typical week, increasing the opportunity to meet someone with whom they identify, and reducing friction that can sometimes occur with over-exposure to a small group of people during intense experiences.
This integrated, customized group model improves a common patient experience in most IOP settings, which one of our participants memorably described as “six guys, six days to six weeks sober, staring at each other and wondering how they will get their drivers’ licenses restored.”
What To Expect
IOP Treatment Design
At Sameem's, clinicians understand that every client has different needs and requirements when it comes to treatment. Therefore, they customize the treatment plan for each individual based on their unique needs to ensure the best possible outcome. The personalized treatment program includes a variety of therapeutic activities and aims to help individuals achieve a balanced and healthy lifestyle. Therapeutic activities may include:
- Individual therapy – one-on-one therapy sessions to provide therapy and discuss progress and challenges individuals are facing and how to overcome them.
- Group therapy – Group therapy helps our clients learn from their peers, share their stories, and build social skills in a compassionate and supportive environment.
- Family therapy – The entire family unit can benefit from sessions with a therapist who can help them explore personal issues and learn how to support their loved one in recovery best.
- Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) – MAT uses proven medications that curb the feeling of withdrawal and cravings during the recovery process.
- Drug & Alcohol Testing – For patients assigned to testing programs, or who request regular testing in order to demonstrate their continued progress, we can provide on-site testing with reliable results.
- Skill-building exercises – skills, and exercises individuals can use to recognize and deal with feelings of withdrawal, cravings of addiction, and behavioral issues
- Relapse prevention – While relapse prevention is a key part of all our treatment programs, the IOP allows clients to practice these skills in real-life situations.
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) – CBT helps our clients identify and challenge any negative thoughts or behavior patterns that can lead to substance use issues.
- Additional therapies and skills - there are a number of others skills and therapies used depending on an individuals treatment program, they may include:
- Healthy coping skills
- Coping skills
- Distress tolerance skills
- Problem-solving skills
- Interpersonal effectiveness skills
- Skills to decrease/cease substance use
- Dialectical thinking skills
- Mindfulness skills
- Emotion regulation skills
This is not an exhaustive list, and additional services like music therapy, meditation, and trauma therapy may be introduced to support clients further as they build healthy coping skills for long-term recovery.
What To Expect
Objectives and Outcomes of an IOP
Our goal is to help our patients build lives in which they feel
- optimistic about their futures
- grateful for the lives they have today
- connected to their closest friends or family and
- able to achieve goals they set for themselves.
We approach this in several ways:
Our intensive outpatient program aims to equip individuals with the necessary tools and coping skills to overcome addiction and/or mental health challenges while promoting overall well-being. We strive to help our clients integrate the skills they've learned in treatment into their daily lives without feeling overwhelmed or isolated. Our program provides clients with the tools to manage their sobriety and behaviors actively, putting into practice skills such as managing cravings, avoiding triggers, handling medications, and coping with stressful situations.
The expected outcomes of our IOP treatment will vary depending on each patient's individual needs. However, some common goals of the program include:
- Stopping the use and abuse of alcohol and/or drugs
- Stopping unsafe thoughts and behaviors
- Reducing mental illness symptoms such as depression and anxiety
- Improving daily life and living a healthy and productive lifeDeveloping coping and problem-solving skills
- Becoming more present and active at home with family, in school, at work, and in other social circles
- Avoiding isolation and getting on the path of relapse
- Staying close to your support system
Our compassionate and experienced staff know how to guide our clients towards a life of health, wellness, and joy.
7 Benefits of Addiction IOP Programs
1. IOP Patients typically spend less money on the same research-backed, expert-led comprehensive treatment than do patients in residential programs.
2. Patients participating in an IOP continue to attend work or school and live in their own homes.
3. Recovering in outpatient care allows patients to develop and maintain a more extensive network of family and friends who can support their recovery as they return to daily life.
4. Outpatient care offers a considerable advantage over less focused after-care as it can help people avoid relapse for those who just completed an in-patient treatment program.
5.
Offers a more flexible schedule so patients can still be a parent, student or employee during their recovery.
6.
Outpatient care offers more autonomy to pursue individual interests and commitments while leveraging a structure and building skills while they develop new routines and avoid relapsing.
7. IOP offers a higher level of care which is individualized so one can rapidly start their journey to recovery.
Get Started Today
We know that overcoming addiction is challenging and requires the courage and strength to acknowledge that help is needed. With over 40 years of experience, our team of professionals at Sameem Behavioral Health understands how to help individuals overcome substance abuse.
Seeking assistance and support is a significant step towards recovery, and it is essential to remember that you are not alone in this journey. Many people have gone through similar difficulties and have come out stronger on the other side. With the right resources and support, you can overcome addiction and lead a healthy, fulfilling life.
Ready to Make
a Change?
If you are ready to start your road to recovery from drug or alcohol addiction, Sameem Behavioral Health offers comprehensive care options to address the unique needs of each client. To start your journey to recovery today, call Sameem Behavioral Health at 617-964-1060.
We accept most insurance providers and can help you understand and maximize your coverage to minimize out-of-pocket expenses.