Intensive outpatient treatment requires individuals to obtain at least nine hours of group and/or individual therapy per week, divided up into three-hour sessions, three to five days a week.

IOP is suitable for individuals who:

• Are functioning well independently in society
• Have a stable home life
• Have a support network
• Are able to maintain their sobriety on their own

Individuals in IOP treatment usually will have successfully completed a more intensive treatment program such as residential treatment (RTC) or partial hospitalization (PHP). Some individuals may use IOP as their primary therapy program. However, all individuals entering IOP must have successfully completed a detox program, have a strong support system, and reliable transportation, and must not be at risk of self-harm or threatening harm to others in order to be enrolled in intensive outpatient treatment.

Intensive Outpatient Rehab provides more structure and a more intensive level of care than a standard outpatient program, while still accommodating the individual’s home and work life.

Standard outpatient treatment is considered part of the maintenance phase in recovery as individuals can attend individual and group sessions on a weekly or bi-weekly basis and will most often continue for six months or more.