Adolescent IOP: Helping Teen's Mental Health In Utah

The door slams, the line goes dead, the engine of the car starts, and your teen is gone again- whether emotionally distant or staying physically away, you are left feeling scared, confused, angry and at a complete loss. You love your teen, you know their potential, and yet every interaction feels like a minefield, and the feelings of helplessness just keep getting bigger. If your teen is struggling with their mental health, either because of social situations, difficulty with school, challenges with emotional regulation, or exploring their identity, you likely feel out of your depth in supporting them. Maybe you’ve tried weekly therapy for your teen, or maybe they have tried inpatient care and need more than weekly therapy as they adjust to life outside treatment. Regardless, Intensive Outpatient Programs (adolescent IOP) for youth might be the support your teen and family need.

What is an Adolescent “IOP”?

IOP stands for Intensive Outpatient Program. These programs provide a step between weekly therapy (which may not be enough for your teens needs) and inpatient care (which may be more than your teen needs) by providing 6-8 hours of structured, evidence based therapeutic interventions each week. An adolescent IOP focuses on the specific needs and challenges that come with adolescence, including identity development, emotional regulation, developing self efficacy and self compassion, and interpersonal skills. Red Willows Adolescent IOP provides several forms of therapy each week to support the mental health of youth in Utah. Each week, clients in the adolescent IOP participate in:

Individual therapy with a licensed therapist. These sessions are scheduled on days when group therapy isn’t happening to ensure clients are getting individual support for their goals throughout the program.
Group therapy led by masters level clinicians. Group therapy includes three sessions a week. Each session is 2 hours long and split into two parts- the first is called “psych ed” where clients learn about mental health topics through lessons provided by clinicians. The second half is processing and offers space for clients to talk about their problems, challenges, successes and receive support from group members and clinicians. The combination of learning about mental health topics and the support of group members who “get it” provide an environment rich for personal development.
Case management, as needed, for developing goals and solving practical problems. Case management is one of the services Red Willow Counseling Adolescent IOP’s offers that sets our program apart- but many people don’t know case management is or what it provides. Case management is a collaborative process where the client and case manager assess the problems the client is facing, develop goals to solve the problems, and then explore how to make achieving the goals possible.
Family support and collaboration to support youth and family development. Family support takes many forms at Red Willows Adolescent IOP- everything from education regarding mental health, family therapy as needed, and Family Days where family members come to a group session.

Is an Adolescent IOP Right for Me?

Assessing for what level of care your child needs can be challenging, but our team at Red Willow Counseling can help. If you aren’t sure if your teen needs more support than weekly therapy, reach out to our team for a free consultation- we can review your child’s needs, history, goals and current level of well being to assess the level of care they need.

Typically, adolescents who would benefit from IOP:

are struggling to get to weekly therapy– it feels like a drag and often the adolescent seems bored or unhelpful
find that weekly therapy helps, but they are struggling to see real change in their experience or behavior
need more skill building education and practice for developing social relationships
are stepping down from a higher level of care like inpatient treatment

What Makes Red Willow Counseling’s Adolescent IOP Different

Red Willow Counseling provides IOP for a variety of needs (Recovery IOP for adults with addictions, or our Mental Health IOP for adults who need support for struggles related to mental health)- our team has run IOPs since 2017, and are experienced in this type of therapeutic intervention. We also provide case management when needed, which is a service many IOPs do not provide. We have found case management to be one of the most effective components of IOP- providing the scaffolding for success after IOP ends. Case management offers the benefits of setting a goal and working towards it, the self efficacy and self esteem of goal achievement has lasting benefits for adolescents seeking support.

Is IOP Effective for Adolescents?

The short answer is yes- the research regarding IOP in general show significant benefits, including the benefits of receiving education about mental health topics including communication, shame and guilt, emotional regulation and more. Additionally, IOP provides the “sandbox” for adolescents to practice the skills they are learning in group- including communication skills, identifying emotions. But people who attend IOP often report that the biggest benefit is the processing portion of group- where clients can talk about their problems, worries and successes with the support of group members. For adolescents, this social connection can be even more powerful as adolescence can be a socially isolating time for many youth, especially those dealing with mental health challenges.

Adolescent IOP: The Next Step In Mental Health Support For Youth

If you are at the point where you are feeling lost, disheartened, overwhelmed, hopeless or confused regarding your teen’s mental health and not sure where to look, contact our team at Red Willow Counseling. We are dedicated to helping you find a solution that works for you and your family, and can help find other resources if, for some reason, the Adolescent IOP at Red Willow isn’t the most supportive level of care. The teen years can be challenging for the whole family, and you can start the journey of finding support- we are here to help.

Intensive Outpatient Programs are an integral part of many patients’ drug or alcohol recovery process. These programs help patients work through their triggers and withdrawal symptoms to improve their relationship with substances. However, after the program is over, there may need to be additional services or aftercare to help someone keep up with the habits they have learned.

Red Willow offers IOP because we know that proper therapy and evidence-based practices help those with addictions. In this blog, we will discuss how aftercare can help enhance what was learned in IOP and how proper support is crucial to recovery.

Why Aftercare Is Essential

Sticking to what you learn in rehab or IOP can be difficult when you are thrust back into your normal life. Aftercare can help many people stick to their new routines and work through the peer pressure they may experience.

Relapse Prevention

The biggest benefit of seeking care after completing an Intensive Outpatient Program is to prevent relapse. The goal of IOP is to give patients the tools they need to resist a substance or heal their relationship with a substance. Relapse is more common when no support or additional care is being provided. Addictions are hard to kick when others around you are causing pressure or temptation.

Staying with others who are sober, attending therapy, or working to learn more about addiction can help lower the risk of relapse.

Support Network

A group of supportive people has been shown to help those with addiction avoid relapse. Family, friends, peers, and co-workers can help people avoid triggers, combat social pressure, and be a shoulder to cry on when times get tough. Seeking additional therapy after IOP helps provide people with a circle of other IOP graduates who better understand the unique struggles of addiction.

Types Of Aftercare

Working with an individual therapist is not the only option for aftercare. Doing personal tasks like exercising, socializing, getting a new job, or changing diet can be considered forms of aftercare. Following a routine and gaining other healthy habits will help lower the risk of relapse. Here are some additional options that are more structured to help continue the journey of recovery.

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Aftercare needed after IOP

Therapy

Meeting with a therapist each week or every other week can help all kinds of people deal with stressors in their lives. Red Willow offers multiple recovery services because we know that well-rounded care is the best way to change your habits. Meeting with the right therapist can help patients develop better coping skills, provide an unbiased opinion, and teach patients more about the brain.

Therapy is important in aftercare because you will experience new stressors after getting out of IOP. Dealing with problems in real-time can be stressful. Counselors and therapists will carry a calm demeanor that is helpful during distress.

Sober Living House

Those who were previously living with members who may not support their sober habits may be at higher risk for relapse. Staying away from alcohol, drugs, or other substances can be hard when you are constantly surrounded by it. Sober living houses are a good transition back into sober life by living with people who are working towards a common goal.

Continued Education

When under the influence of any substance, the body and brain can experience lifelong alterations. Keeping up on new research, learning about addiction, and how to make the body and brain healthier after addiction is considered aftercare. There are many ways to continue education on addiction issues and recovery practices. Check out our resource page on specific topics.

More Tips For Recovery

It is hard to predict what could be triggering or become a setback after IOP, which is why aftercare is important. Different methods are available for different people and unique needs. Here are some other activities that can be paired with other aftercare methods.

Get more frequent exercise
Join a group (book club, yoga class, knitting club, etc.)
Find more friends who support a sober journey
Continue to learn how substances affect the brain
Educate others on what you have learned
Journal about your feelings and struggles
Take up a new hobby to fill some downtime

IOP From Red Willow Counseling And Recovery

The history of Mental Health Awareness Month

Seeking Intensive Outpatient Therapy is not a sign of weakness. We want all types of people to know that they can seek help for their mental health and physical health at any time. With two locations, Red Willow Counseling and Recovery can help patients learn more about addiction or how to cope with mental illness.

No matter at what stage you are in your journey, our specialists are excited to help you. Reach out to us to schedule an appointment or have a consultation with our team.

Intensive Outpatient Programs are utilized for those who struggle with mental health or substance abuse to provide them with resources and help them learn to live a non-dependent life. Red Willow Counseling And Recovery offer programs for different individuals to help them tackle new challenges and face fears with confidence.

IOPs help those with addiction, substance abuse, or mental illness be able to find joy in a life that is not ruled by these issues. Participants are able to get the help and therapy they need while holding a job, visiting family and friends, and owning their own homes.

Rehabilitation that requires patients to live on-site and be under 24/7 surveillance can be overwhelming and lead to severe reactions and a less smooth transition back to normal life. IOPs help people learn to cope with their illness while dealing with the stressors of the world and have support systems throughout their recovery. IOPs are most successful when patients have a safe home environment and one that is free of triggers for relapse.

Intensive Outpatient Programs For Substance Abuse

Substance abuse patients often seek the treatment of Intensive Outpatient Programs while working their jobs or raising families. Treatment methods will vary from facility to facility but Red Willow Counseling and Recovery focuses on group therapy, medication management, tools that will help you avoid substance relapse and resources for the long-term.

Individual therapy, family therapy, and group therapy can all be helpful for those struggling with substance abuse. Therapy can help break down triggers and trauma that may cause someone to fall into substance abuse. Therapy can help you understand yourself and begin to heal.

Many substances can be addictive beyond just drugs, but Red Willow has seen that regular drug testing is an effective long-term recovery tactic. Our drug tests are verified by an outside laboratory and getting these results helps us to be able to help those who have relapsed seek recovery.

Intensive Outpatient Programs For Mental Health

Those who don’t need inpatient hospitalization can still benefit from therapy and monitoring through an intensive outpatient program. Those with mental illness who seek IOPs will learn more about independence, social wellness, family and relationship health, and better fulfillment in work or hobbies, all while navigating a mental illness.

IOPs are recommended for patients with mild or moderate symptoms because patients in IOPs still need to function outside of a treatment center. Our team at Red Willow gives you the daily schedule on our website before you even are processed and signed up for the IOP. Our groups take place on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday.

Benefits Of IOPs

If you feel that an Intensive Outpatient Program is right for you or a loved one, here are some things you can gain from utilizing the resources in an IOP.

The biggest benefit of IOP is the flexibility it gives patients. IOPs help people to keep a job, continue school, raise children, and have healthy relationships. This flexibility gives people the freedom to take charge of their health while also being able to have support from outside family and friends.

IOP gives patients the real-time opportunity to practice skills they learn in sessions. Going out into the bustling world or dealing with stressors while in therapy gives you real-time experience to implement tools learned in IOP.

IOP is more private than residential treatment. Because you can live your normal life while getting help, it may be less obvious that you are struggling. IOPs also offer individual therapy, which will help keep your individual experience private from others who are seeking help.

IOPs have been proven to have a higher success rate than residential or inpatient rehabs. Because patients have the opportunity to work on what they are learning outside of the facility, these patients are better equipt to overcome their struggles or addiction.

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Other Resources From Red Willow

Red Willow Counseling and Recovery offer many resources for those struggling with addiction, mental health, PTSD, and more. We have additional reading and resources for different issues on our website as well as other therapy outside of IOP.

We also have locations in Salt Lake City and Park City, UT to help multiple different patients gain access to better care. You can book an appointment right now on our site at either of our locations. Or call our IOP number at 385-202-5315.

What is an Adolescent “IOP”?

Is an Adolescent IOP Right for Me?

What Makes Red Willow Counseling’s Adolescent IOP Different

Is IOP Effective for Adolescents?

Adolescent IOP: The Next Step In Mental Health Support For Youth