Flexible, evidence-based treatment for substance use and dual diagnosis, with support for mental health — designed to fit your life while delivering real clinical results.
What Is an Intensive Outpatient Program?
An Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) is a structured level of care for substance use and dual diagnosis. Specifically, it provides multiple therapy sessions per week while you continue to live at home. As a result, IOP fits around work, school, or family responsibilities — without sacrificing clinical depth.
IOP typically runs 3 to 5 days per week, with sessions of about 3 hours each. Importantly, the schedule is flexible. For example, we offer morning and evening tracks so that your treatment hours match your real life.
Most major insurance covers IOP, and our admissions team handles the benefits check at no cost to you. In short, IOP offers a strong middle path — more intensive than weekly therapy, less restrictive than residential care.
Who Benefits from IOP?
Our intensive outpatient program in San Diego is ideal for individuals who:
- Are stepping down from PHP or residential treatment and need ongoing structured support
- Have a dual diagnosis requiring integrated mental health and addiction treatment
- Need more than weekly therapy but cannot commit to a full-day program
- Want to maintain work, school, or caregiving responsibilities during treatment
- Are experiencing moderate symptoms of depression, anxiety, PTSD, bipolar disorder, or substance use
What Happens During IOP?
Each week in our IOP, you participate in a balanced mix of clinical programming:
Individual therapy — Work one-on-one with a licensed clinician. Sessions focus on your specific symptoms, goals, and history. As a result, the work is personalized rather than generic.
Group therapy — Connect with peers facing similar challenges. Group is where many people experience their biggest insights, because hearing your own story reflected by others is profoundly clarifying.
Medication management — When appropriate, our medical provider works with you to assess and adjust medications. Specifically, this includes mood stabilizers, antidepressants, and medications for substance use disorder when indicated.
Skills-based programming — Practical training in CBT, DBT, mindfulness, and relapse prevention. Importantly, you practice each skill in the program and then test it in your real life between sessions.
How Long Does IOP Last?
The duration of our intensive outpatient program varies based on individual clinical needs, but most clients participate for 6-12 weeks. Treatment length is determined collaboratively between you and your clinical team, with regular progress assessments guiding decisions about step-downs or extensions.
Some individuals enter IOP as their primary level of care, while others transition into it after completing PHP. Either way, the goal remains the same: building the skills, insights, and resilience you need for sustainable recovery.
What Conditions Does Our IOP Treat?
Refresh Recovery’s intensive outpatient program addresses a wide range of mental health and substance use conditions, including:
Does Insurance Cover IOP?
Yes — intensive outpatient programs are covered by most major insurance plans, as IOP is recognized as a medically necessary level of behavioral health care. Refresh Recovery and most treatment facilities accept most insurance, including PPO, HMO, Medi-Cal, and Medicare plans.
Our admissions team can verify your insurance coverage quickly and confidentially, so you know exactly what to expect before treatment begins.
Why Choose Refresh Recovery's IOP in San Diego?
Refresh Recovery is a California State-approved dual diagnosis treatment center that has earned national recognition for compassionate, innovative care. Our IOP combines clinical expertise with genuine human connection — because recovery is not just about treating symptoms, it is about rebuilding a life worth living. Located in San Diego, we offer a healing environment where evidence-based treatment meets the restorative power of community.
IOP Program Frequently Asked Questions
What is an IOP program?
An intensive outpatient program (IOP) is structured treatment for substance use and co-occurring mental health conditions that you attend several days a week while living at home. At Refresh Recovery, IOP runs 3 to 5 days a week, with sessions of about 3 hours, on morning or evening tracks.
Is IOP for substance use or mental health?
Both, together. Our IOP is built for substance use and dual diagnosis, so alcohol or drug use and conditions such as anxiety, depression or trauma are treated by one team with one plan.
Can I work while in IOP?
Usually, yes. IOP is designed to fit around work, school and family, which is why we offer morning and evening schedules.
How is IOP different from PHP?
PHP is more intensive, with 5 to 6 hours of programming five days a week. IOP has fewer hours, and many people step down from PHP to IOP as they stabilize. See our PHP vs IOP comparison.
What if I need more support than IOP?
An assessment looks at safety, withdrawal risk and symptoms. If a higher level of care is safer, we refer to trusted partners for detox or inpatient care and help you step back into outpatient treatment afterwards. Read which level of care you need.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
Contact Refresh Recovery to learn how our intensive outpatient program can support your recovery journey in San Diego.
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