Rapid Care for When Life Is Too Much

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 training 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 about keeping someone on the move forward instead of backward. Instead, IOP is a clear-cut intervention. The goal is a noticable improvement in as short a time as possible.

How short? The exact amount of time varies person to person depending on their needs/progress. Most of our clients report seeing a noticeable impact right from the first sessions. And people can expect to be in the program (and see results) for 6-10 weeks.

That said, we are huge believers in the power of individual therapy. And we’ll work with you to help you find the ideal therapist for your needs. This gives you the opportunity to further process the discoveries and lessons you gain in the IOP group sessions. And it ensures you’ll receive ongoing care and support after you complete IOP.

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 group therapy:

Some cases (such as severe bipolar disorder or PTSD) may be beyond our level of care. If we’re not the right option for you, we’ll refer you to a trusted provider in our network who may be a better fit.

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 the group sessions take place on three afternoons a week, you may choose to keep working part-time 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. Our IOP is in-network for most major private insurance plans (including Aetna, Anthem, BCBS, Beacon, Cigna, and United Healthcare*). We also accept out-of-network plans and 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.

* We are in-network with UHC starting 5/1/24

Is IOP covered by Medicare/Medicaid?

Unfortunately, IOP is not a covered treatment by Medicare or Medicaid for mental health facilities like ours. So we’re unable to accept those plans. However, we do offer self-payment options for those not covered by insurance. If you believe IOP may help your situation, please contact our office today to learn more.

Does Plural Healthcare offer virtual IOP?

We do not. Based on our clinical experience and the latest research, we believe in-person programs produce better outcomes.

1. Research Supporting Virtual IOPs Is Not Conclusive Enough. Initial research on virtual IOPs may be promising, but we would like to see larger studies that combine data from multiple IOP providers (including a diverse range of geographic areas, treatment approaches, and program types).
2. In-Person IOP Provides a Better Environment for Treatment. Attending in-person helps shift you into the right frame of mind for healing. And it gives you a comfortable and distraction-free space to focus.
3. In-Person IOP Enables Stronger Group Connections. Attending IOP in-person lets you connect with other group members on a deeper level than if you were talking through a computer screen. The more you connect with others in the group, the more you discover, grow, and heal.

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 are 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 each person is fully enrolled in their treatment.

That’s why prefer clients 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.