A person in the pits of chemical dependency or in any kind of disorder will sooner or later want to recover. What would you do if this person is someone close to you? What more if you are this person?
Nowadays, there are many treatment centers readily available to help anyone recover from different kinds of disorder. Usually, this management centers would need you to admit yourself in an institution where you can be watched by your attending physician. You collect no parts from the outside world, leaving your work or whatever it is that you do in idle.
One of the very problems admission to an institution is how would one get back on his or her normal routine. This is where Intensive Outpatient Program comes in.
What is Intensive Outpatient Program or IOP? It is a program that is being used importantly as a treatment service. People experiencing substance abuse problems who wants recovery are given this kind of treatment service. This kind of clinical service has been developed throughout the early 1900s as a way of response to the popular managed care institutions. In this kind of program, the patient is given a stronger level of treatment compared to the level of treatment that was usually available for outpatients.
Let us see the workings of IOP. Usually, there is one physician leading individuals being grouped together. Usually, the group meets with the physician 2 to 5 times a week for 2 to 3 hours at a time. In this kind of program, patients and the physician work hand in hand to accomplish successful treatment. The patient is being inquired on her goals and objectives which will be included by the physician on the patient’s treatment plan. This working hand in hand creates feeling of control not just for the physician but also for the patient. The perception of being in control creates a positive outlook according to various studies. In most cases, positive outlook leads to positive results.
What are the advantages does IOP brings? Aside from giving the patient treatment while not taking them away from their regularl routine, it also increases management of stress, compliance in treatment, achieving goals, and coping skills. Also, this program also takes into account the relationship between the patient and the family. What’s more special about this program is its way of treatment. It looks into the special need of the individual. Whatever special needs you think is necessary for you, you can always find and IOP program that will suit you.
There are many features of an IOP program. However, common programs can always include the following:
• The Counseling of the Individual. For faster recovery, the patient will be assigned to a counselor that would cater his or her needs.
• The Counseling of the Family. One of the most affected in an individual’s disorder is its own family. In this type of IOP program, the relatives will be educated about the disorder being inflicted on their loved one. Thus in the course, makes a supportive relationship for the patient.
• Group Counseling. In group counseling, the patient will not feel alone in the fight to recover.
• Disorder Education. The patient and the family will be given different workshops and knowledge concerning whatever disorder they are facing and the how can they be able to recover.
• 12 Step Programs. This is the very popular program known for its use of the 12 steps.
Currently, there are quite a number of specialists who argue that IOP is more helpful than individual therapies especially in substance abuse or chemical dependency treatment. Although on an remarkable note, IOP can also be used on another type of problems such as eating disorders and so on. However, the thing that really matters is that for the individual to recover. After all, in this type of difficulty, you can never tell when you will be afflicted.
Intensive Outpatient Program is very helpful in treatment of borderline personality disorders, eating disorders, self-injury, chronic mental illness, as well as many others despite its popularity in addiction treatment.
