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Rapid Care for When Life Becomes Too Much to Handle

Call Our St. Louis Mental Health Center: 314-388-2225

If you’re reaching a breaking point – or other options don’t seem to be working – IOP therapy can help you turn things around fast.

Call now to learn about this little-known option for healing trauma… and we’ll get you into a program as soon as possible.

What Is IOP Exactly?

IOP (intensive outpatient program) is a unique blend of focused group therapy and personalized care. It provides an escalated level of support for when one-on-one visits with a therapist or psychiatrist don’t quite cut it.

Sometimes life throws more at us than we’re able to handle. Even the strongest people can be overwhelmed by the loss of a loved one, severe depression, health challenges, broken relationships, or traumatic experiences.

IOP therapy is designed to help you get through those tough periods.

You’ll receive immediate, intensive support… while still being able to live at home during treatment. This means you can stay connected to your community and support systems while receiving the care you need.

Unlike traditional therapy – which can go on for years – IOP is a short-term intervention. The goal is marked improvement in as short a time as possible.

When life is “slipping away from you”, you can’t afford to wait. We’re here for you. Give us a call and start your healing journey today…

Plural Healthcare has one of the best Psychologists in Missouri. He always knew what to say to help me move forward past my problems. Their Intensive Outpatient Program has been one of the best experiences in my life. I look forward to participating in it every week.

If you ever want to move past your problems with the help of an experienced and knowledgeable therapist, you should come here.

– K.B.

How Does the IOP Process Work?

At Plural Healthcare, you are the center of care. Our treatment team is here to make sure you’re given all the tools needed to reach your goals.

1. Private Consultation

Everything starts with an assessment by a trained clinician. They’ll get to know you and see if our level of care fits your needs. If so, we’ll get you into our program right away, and can prescribe meds as necessary.

2. Personalized Care

Based on the goals you want to accomplish, we’ll develop a tailored plan to get you there. This plan will be revisited by the therapist weekly to ensure you quickly arrive where you want to be.

iop-group-session

3. Group Therapy

Most of your care will take place in a small group setting, led by a licensed therapist. Your group is a safe, welcoming space. You’ll gain support and community from others facing similar challenges.

Seal of CARF Accreditation
CARF International accreditation demonstrates a program’s quality, transparency, and commitment to the satisfaction of the persons served. CARF International is an independent, nonprofit accreditor of health and human services.

A Compassionate & Experienced Staff

Our program providers have decades of experience treating just about every condition that has been known to hold someone back from reaching their potential. They’ll here to help you quickly turn things around.

Lead therapist, Emily Vallarta, has 15+ years experience helping people heal from wide range of mental health challenges. She’s developed a unique, proven IOP curriculum – adapting concepts from specializations such as CBT, DBT, Rational Emotive Therapy, Humanistic Therapy, Person-Centered Therapy, and more.

Emily believes in treating and honoring each individual as a whole and unique being… and helping produce fast results for distress relief. She conducts groups that allow for deeper processing and where members can learn from one another in an inclusive, supportive, and even… at times… fun environment.

Finding the right care for your mental health is important. We’re here to help you find a therapist, psychiatrist, support group or other resources you need. Call us today at 314-388-2225.

Group Therapy for Life’s Challenges

No matter what mental health crisis you’re facing, IOP can help you find stability and inner peace again. It’s an effective option for a variety of circumstances…

  • Moments of Challenge or Crisis: Sometimes life throws more at us than we’re able to handle. The loss of a loved one, a toxic work situation, or a traumatic experience can overwhelm even the strongest people. IOP is an option to help get through those tough periods.
  • Caretaker Burnout: Being the “go-to” person for a child, aging parent, individual with disabilities, or other loved one can be a taxing and lonely role at times. When you’re worn out from caring for others, IOP provides a safe place for support and healing.
  • Discharge From Inpatient Care: When you leave an inpatient care facility, such as a hospital or PHP program, IOP is there to smooth the transition back to regular life.
  • Stepping-Up From Outpatient Care: Regular visits to a therapist or psychiatrist may not be enough to meet your needs. IOP is a focused program to help those facing major depression, anxiety, PTSD, and other mental health challenges.
  • Medication Changes: Switching or transitioning off of antidepressants, anxiety meds, or other medications can be difficult. Symptoms can include headaches, dizziness, trouble sleeping, anxiety, irritability and more severe depression. Attending IOP can help you manage those symptoms and support you in the transition.

Unlike a hospital or residential program, you’ll still be able to live at home during treatment. This means you can stay connected to your community and support systems while receiving the care you need.

To find out if IOP is right for your unique situation, contact us today…

Call for a Free Consultation

To learn more about how IOP may help you, call us today for a free consultation. We’ll spend some time getting to know you and your situation. And we’ll help you determine what mental health care is best for you.

Phone: 314-388-2225

680 Craig Rd, Suite 103
Creve Coeur, MO 63141

    Frequently Asked Questions

    If you’re wondering whether IOP may be right for you, below are answers to the most common questions we receive. Don’t see your question? Just call our office at 314-388-2225, and we’re happy to give you the information you need.

    What is IOP?

    IOP is a short-term, intensive treatment designed to get results fast – no matter whether you’re struggling with trauma, treatment-resistant depression, severe anxiety, PTSD, or other major mental health challenges.

    Most of your treatment will take place in a small group setting. These sessions are led by a licensed therapist. And they’re designed to help you (1) work through the specific challenges you’re facing right now in your life, and (2) empower you with actionable skills you can use to transform your situation.

    Being a part of a supportive group can provide you strength, courage, and insight no matter what you’re going through.

    Will attending IOP cure my depression, anxiety, or PTSD?

    No. Any program or treatment that promises a complete cure is being dishonest with you. And we’re not interested in giving you unrealistic expectations about what’s possible with treatment.

    That said, IOP is designed to help give you fast relief, empower you with practical tools, help you navigate your current challenges, and turn your situation around in a short period of time. Those who commit to their treatment do often see dramatic results… starting in their first couple sessions.

    How does IOP compare to traditional therapy?

    Intensive outpatient treatment is not like traditional psychotherapy or regular medication management with a psychiatrist, which can go on for years. That kind of treatment is more about “maintenance” – keeping someone on the move forward instead of backward. Instead, IOP is a clear-cut intervention. The goal is marked improvement in as short a time as possible.

    How short? The exact amount of time varies person to person depending on their needs/progress. But typically, people can expect to be in the program (and see results) over 6-10 weeks.

    How does IOP compare to inpatient care or a partial hospitalization (PHP) program?

    IOP does have some similarities to PHP or a residential program. Both provide an elevated level of care for serious mental health challenges. You’ll get direct, personalized support from a full treatment team (therapist, care coordinator, psychiatrist, etc.). And you’ll have multiple treatment sessions over the course of the program.

    A big difference is that with PHP or inpatient care, you’ll typically sleep overnight at the facility you’re being treated at. (This can often include round-the-clock care from your treatment team.) With IOP, however, you’ll be able to live at home during treatment. This means you can stay connected to your community and support systems while receiving the care you need.

    What’s right for you? It depends on your situation and how severe your symptoms are. Call our office today. We’ll discuss your situation and help you decide which level of care is best for you. (And if you do need an elevated level of care, we’ll refer you to another trusted provider in our network.)

    How does the IOP process work?

    Once you’ve determined that IOP may be right for you, we start by having you establish goals that you want to meet. We take those “stated goals” to the treatment team. This team is comprised of a therapist, psychiatrist, care coordinator, and any other relevant staff. The team takes your goals and develops a specific treatment plan with organized steps and interventions. Your progress is monitored by the team on a regular basis.

    Most of your treatment will take place in a group setting. This includes 3 sessions per week; each 3 hours in length. You’ll also meet one-one-one with a psychiatrist and therapist as needed. Reach out today to get more information.

    What areas can IOP help with?

    Here are some common challenges that people seek out help with in IOP therapy:

    • Anxiety
    • Depression
    • Suicidal Thoughts
    • PTSD
    • Past Trauma
    • Bipolar Disorder
    • Grief and Loss
    • Burnout
    • Mental Health Crisis
    • Work Challenges
    • LGBTQ Issues
    • Medication Transitions

    How soon can I get started?

    As soon as possible! When you call our mental health center, we’ll ask a few questions to see if IOP might be a good fit for your situation. Then we’ll try to get your psychiatric assessment scheduled in as few as 1-2 business days. This assessment is used to to help create your custom treatment plan. And it allows us to get authorization from your insurance for IOP – so you can get into the group sessions right away.

    Do I need to take off work to do IOP?

    We recommend it, but taking leave of work is not a requirement.

    IOP is different than being in a hospital or residential program. You’ll be able to still live at home and continue your day-to-day routines while getting treatment. And since most group sessions take place in the evening, you may choose to keep working while going through IOP.

    However, most people find it helpful to take a break from the stresses of their job or school. That way they can better focus on their treatment. If you need to take leave for mental health reasons, we’re here to help take care of all necessary paperwork.

    Is IOP covered by insurance?

    Yes. IOP is covered by most major private insurance plans. We can take both in-network and out-of-network plans. We also have self-payment options for those without insurance.

    We believe in being upfront about financial costs. After your free consult, we’ll confirm coverage with your insurance and provide you with a detailed financial estimate (based on your insurance plan, deductible, and out-of-pocket maximum). Contact us today for more information.

    Note: IOP is unfortunately not yet a covered treatment by Medicare or Medicaid. And we’re unable to accept those plans (including supplemental plans).

    Do you provide IOP care for children or adolescents?

    In the future we may create specific groups to help kids and teens. For right now though, we require people to be at least 18 years of age to join our program.

    My loved one is struggling with their mental health… can I get them into your program?

    We’re here to be a resource for you and your loved ones. And if you’re wondering if IOP may help someone you care about, please don’t hesitate to reach out for more information. However, we do ask that your loved one contacts us as well.

    We believe in a person-centered approach, where individuals are treated with dignity and take responsibility for their own care. IOP is not a passive treatment that just happens to someone. And it’s important that our clients are fully enrolled in their treatment.

    That’s why prefer each client to speak with us directly. They need to decide for themselves that IOP is right for them… and have confidence that it can help them reach their goals. Then they will be committed to participating in the program and will be more likely to see positive results.

    Is IOP is right for me?

    IOP provides focused treatment to those facing serious mental health challenges. And it’s not for everyone. However, if you’re at all curious about how it may help you – or if you just want to get a bit more information – please call us today for a free consultation.

    We’ll spend some time getting to know you and your situation. We’ll help you determine what mental health care is best for you. And if IOP is a fit, we’ll get you into a program as soon as possible.

    Note: If IOP doesn’t end up being right for you, don’t worry. We have a trusted network of providers we can refer you to based on your specific needs.