When you’re considering therapy options, you have to consider what type of therapy program will help you the most. You’ll likely find a variety of choices, including residential treatment, partial hospitalization programs (PHPs), intensive outpatient programs (IOPs), and conventional outpatient treatment.

This guide is intended to help you better understand who an intensive outpatient program (IOP) is most useful for, and to see the benefits of considering an IOP for your mental and physical well-being.

Why choose an IOP?

An IOP offers stability and continuity of care after inpatient treatment

A residential or PHP DBT-based program, like those offered by THIRA Health, creates an environment where you can focus for most, if not all, of the day on your mental health. When you complete a program like that, conventional outpatient therapy at once a week cadence may feel like it’s not enough.

An IOP is an ideal choice for people who need more support than a single weekly or biweekly session, who also have daily life responsibilities like school, work, and caretaking. With an IOP, you can find a balance between life and therapy:

• You live at home.
• You have regular therapy sessions multiple days a week.
• You can go to work or school.
• You have access to an individual and group therapist, and phone support between sessions.
• You can use DBT skills with friends and family.
• You can practice DBT with fellow participants, all going through similar struggles, who get where you’re coming from.

An IOP creates a balanced continuity of care. It’s important to engage with everyday life after intensive depression treatment, but an IOP provides the stability you need to maintain and even expand on your therapy progress from residential or PHP treatment.

An all-gender IOP provides a broader perspective and real-life practice

An all-gender IOP is particularly helpful for expanding your ability to navigate life. First, you’ll hear from people of different backgrounds, ages, and genders, on what they’re experiencing and how they cope. This broad range of perspectives can be a valuable resource for reflection, self-understanding, and learning to manage your mental health; because you’re hearing from a wider variety of people, you can gain a broader range of insights and ideas.

Additionally, in everyday life, you’re going to encounter a wide variety of people. You’ll need to manage mental health symptoms no matter who you’re around or who you’re interacting with, even if those people actively trigger your symptoms.

In an all-gender IOP, you’ll have a chance to practice the DBT skills that will help you cope with people who are more representative of the world outside the therapy room. With the variety of experiences you’ll gain in your IOP, you’ll be better equipped for real-life interactions.

An IOP keeps you connected both in therapy and in your daily life

Research shows that community is integral to healing, and an IOP offers you two kinds of community in one program: the community of the IOP and a sustained connection to the community you have in your daily life.

With morning or afternoon sessions that last several hours, multiple days a week, an IOP is immersive in the therapeutic process. You can build strong connections with your therapists and fellow participants as you practice meaningful life skills, while still maintaining your everyday connections. You’ll also have phone access to your therapist between sessions, giving you a sense of support even when not in the therapy room.

An all-gender IOP also keeps you in touch with your existing community. You can stay on track with your home and work responsibilities. You can enjoy time with friends and family and relax with the comforts of home every day of the program.

What happens in an IOP program?

In an IOP, whether it’s virtual or in-person, you’ll have access to:

• Multiple sessions per week, usually lasting 3 hours.
• Individual therapy each week.
• DBT-based group therapy to practice DBT skills together.
• Family support to help you integrate therapy progress into daily life.
• On-call therapist phone support between sessions.

An in-person IOP may also incorporate holistic therapy approaches like mindful movement and artistic expression to enhance the healing experience.

THIRA Health offers a variety of DBT-based IOP options in Bellevue and throughout Washington

All of the IOPs at THIRA Health use DBT, through individual and group sessions, to help people manage anxiety, depression, mood instability, major life changes, emotional sensitivity, eating disorders, self-harm, BPD, suicidal thoughts, and more.

Each IOP is tailored to best support a specific audience, allowing THIRA to provide comprehensive mental healthcare that makes the most sense for your unique identity and experiences.

In-person teen girl IOP

This DBT-based IOP in our Bellevue, WA, offices is designed to support the unique needs of teen girls and female-aligned individuals. This IOP can support teens struggling with a wide variety of disorders, and includes expressive art, therapeutic movement, and family involvement to support the use of DBT skills at home.

All-Gender Virtual IOP (morning and evening options)

THIRA’s All-Gender Virtual IOP provides DBT-based care for adults 18+ of all genders throughout Washington. Morning sessions meet Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM PST. Evening sessions meet Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 4:00 to 7:00 PM PST. The program includes individual therapy, group therapy, DBT skills training, and family support.

Virtual adult women and gender expansive individuals IOP (morning and afternoon options)

Our virtual IOP for women and gender expansive adults provides specialized care throughout the state of Washington. It blends DBT-based individual and group therapy, DBT skills training, and family support, offering much more than standard IOP programs. We offer morning and afternoon options to maximize our availability, supporting you no matter what your schedule demands.

Looking for an IOP near you?

Whether you’re looking for continuity of care after completing a residential or PHP program, or you’re looking for more support than conventional outpatient therapy, THIRA Health’s IOP offerings can provide the care you’re looking for. To talk to our intake team and get started on creating a life worth living, call (833) 248-2421 or contact us on our website.