If you or someone you love is seeking addiction treatment, knowing the difference between outpatient program and intensive outpatient program is crucial. Often, many rehab centers offer both. However, learning how they benefit patients helps you decide on the best level of treatment for your individual needs.

Outpatient Treatment

Overall, outpatient treatment is a part-time program. During this program, the patient lives at home and visits the facility for specific therapy sessions. For example, you’ll likely attend counseling at least four times a week as well. Each session typically lasts two to four hours.

While outpatient rehab requires a time commitment, it doesn’t provide around-the-clock care. Therefore, it’s often desirable for people trying to establish careers or with busy lifestyles. Fortunately, they don’t have to veer from their demanding schedule to reach successful recovery.

However, Outpatient rehab alone might not provide enough structure or support for preventing relapse. Often, people’s careers, social activities or home lives trigger substance abuse. If you don’t get out of a bad routine, you may have trouble staying sober. In this case, a more rigorous addiction treatment program is often necessary.

Difference Between Outpatient Program and Intensive Outpatient Program

An intensive outpatient program, or IOP, doesn’t require living at a facility. However, it demands more time and attention than a regular outpatient program. Think of an IOP as a bridge between inpatient rehab and outpatient therapy.

Overall, an IOP is appropriate for people who need a higher level of care but are still able to function at home. It’s also ideal for patients transitioning from a more demanding treatment program to one which provides more freedom.

How To Choose Between Them

An individual with a severe addiction disorder may benefit from an inpatient program. Often, going through detox and living at a rehab facility lowers the chances of relapse. Above all, by transitioning from IOP to an outpatient program, you can maximize the likelihood of success.

However, for some people, 24/7 monitoring isn’t necessary. The best way to determine the level of treatment for your situation is through an intake assessment. Qualified intake specialists perform a comprehensive evaluation to determine an addiction treatment program that works for your individual needs. It’s best to be as honest as possible to determine a proper diagnosis. Proper diagnoses lead to proper addiction treatment which leads to lasting sobriety.

At Steps to Recovery in Levittown, PA, we can help you weigh the difference between an outpatient program and intensive outpatient program. We offer a variety of effective, comprehensive addiction recovery services, including:

No matter which option you choose, you’ll make the most of your time with us. For more information about the difference between outpatient program and an intensive outpatient program, contact Steps to Recovery at 267.209.7312. It’s never too late to get help. Make the first step today.