Intensive Outpatient Program

Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) at Stonington Institute

This program is offered through the Trails Corner Recovery Center, and treatment includes individual, small group and family therapies. We also provide educational groups, and groups related to early recovery and post-treatment acclimation into the work environment and community.

The program includes both admission to the Intensive Outpatient Program and food/lodging at The Inn at Trails Corner.

The Intensive Outpatient Program runs six hours a day, Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Sample IOP Schedule

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• Individual consults with the psychiatrist and/or clinician/case manager are scheduled throughout the program day in a way that is least disruptive to the client’s participation in the program.
• Service levels will vary based on IOP status.
• Education group topics vary based on established curriculum.

What is IOP Treatment?

In general, an Intensive Outpatient Program can be used to help treat mental health disorders or provide outpatient chemical dependency treatment. While we focus on returning patients to a sober environment, our medical treatment takes into account you as a person, too. Treating a substance use disorder includes treating the whole person through individual therapy and group therapy sessions, as well as providing the education and skills needed to return to a healthier lifestyle afterwards.

In a residential program, patients stay overnight to receive treatment. At an IOP, patients will receive evidence-based treatment options for a few hours a day throughout the week and then be allowed to return to their community or sober living environment at night.

Structure is important in recovery, but the added freedom allows patients to maintain familial and community responsibilities while also getting the help they need at a treatment facility.

Do substance abuse outpatient programs work?

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, outpatient substance abuse treatment works, especially when part of the Continuum of Care. They state that “Successful treatment for addiction typically requires continual evaluation and modification as appropriate, similar to the approach taken for other chronic diseases,” meaning that the longer a patient remains in these types of care (IOP and PHP), the relapse rate begins to decrease.

The numbers for this type of treatment back that up, too.

Admission Criteria

For admission to the Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) program, the client must:

Be medically stable:

• Have had a recent bout of acute alcohol and/or drug abuse with a clearly documented history of excessive use of alcohol and/or drugs, and currently is unable to control this use;
• Meet the Level II.5, II.1 or I ASAM criteria for partial hospitalization treatment; and
• Have a condition indicating that he/she has restorative potential, would benefit from a partial hospital/IOP chemical dependency treatment program, and that the goal of changing behavior could not successfully be accomplished in a less intensive treatment setting.

Review a complete list of Admissions Criteria here.