Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)

IOPs are services EQ Perspectives offers to teens 13-18. They help young people with challenging mental health conditions when routine outpatient treatments aren’t enough.

An IOP requires attendance from 4pm-7pm, 3-5 days a week. The program administrators coordinate with your child’s school regarding their attendance. They also ensure that patients have time to complete their school homework.

Some teens go into an IOP because they need ongoing support after completing a partial hospitalization program (PHP). Partial hospitalization requires visiting the hospital each weekday from 9am to 3pm. In other cases, teenagers enter an IOP when they don’t make enough progress with less intensive treatments.

The IOPs offered by EQ Perspectives provide benefits to teens 13-18 and those outside this age range who are still in high school. IOPs help young people with various mental health disorders, including:

• Major depressive disorder (MDD)
• Anxiety disorders
• Eating disorders
• Trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Substance use disorder (alcohol and drug misuse)
• Bipolar disorder
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
• Other mood disorders
• Suicidal intentions

These conditions are common in young people and can devastate their school life and prospects.

Adolescence is a confusing time of significant change, mentally and physically. Teens are pressured to do well at school and fit in with others. They might also have to deal with issues like bullying, poverty, family breakdown, and ill health.

IOPs support young people in considerable distress and help prevent hospitalization for mental health problems.

IOPs, like PHPs, teach teenagers about emotional intelligence. They learn how to name and understand the varying emotions people feel in different situations and develop smart emotional responses.

Emotional intelligence is vital, but sadly, it’s often absent in adolescents affected by mental health disorders. The EQ Perspectives team takes various approaches to teaching emotional intelligence, including activities, group work, and guided reflection.

Areas IOP therapy sessions cover include:

• Building resilience
• Forming healthy relationships
• Resolving conflict
• Identifying core values
• Personal validation
• Setting goals
• Learning coping skills
• Improving self-esteem

The EQ Perspectives team thoroughly evaluates your child before they begin an IOP. The team also designs a personalized treatment plan for your child. This can include examining the specific triggers of negative thoughts and actions and looking at the underlying causes of poor mental health.

Call EQ Perspectives today or book an appointment online to learn more about how an IOP can benefit your teenager.