Many people who know that they need help for substance use disorder feel like they are unable to take time away from their careers and families. Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOPs) from EHN Online can help. Here are the answers to 8 important questions about our IOPs.
1. WHAT ARE INTENSIVE OUTPATIENT PROGRAMS (IOPs)?
Intensive Outpatient Programs are a unique option for those struggling with addiction or a mental health disorder and are commonly known as an effective alternative to inpatient treatment.
IOPs use evidence-based therapies and provide useful recovery tools for long-lasting results. Frequent therapy sessions allow for intense treatment, so your recovery efforts can stay top of mind, while the flexible timing of sessions allows you to maintain your current work or personal responsibilities. For many, Intensive Outpatient Programs can be a beneficial and effective alternative to inpatient rehab treatment programs.
2. IS AN IOP RIGHT FOR YOU?
Everyone’s experience with addiction is different, just like everyone has unique circumstances surrounding their ability to receive treatment.
For many, IOPs can be a game-changer. Not only can they offer flexible hours and the convenience of accessing treatment from the comfort of your own home, but they also provide a range of additional benefits. For example, group-based therapy sessions are an important part of recovery, but this could be intimidating for someone with social anxiety. Being able to join group calls remotely and in a comfortable space could help increase your ability to fully benefit from these sessions. Additionally, continuing to live at home while in treatment can allow you to stay close to supportive loved ones that play a large role in their stability and comfort.
Despite its many advantages, IOP is still not for everyone. If you are experiencing severe symptoms of addiction and are unable to abstain from substance use for the full 8 weeks of treatment, it is best to consider an Inpatient Treatment Program. But if are unable to commit to inpatient due to financial difficulties or family and work obligations, an IOP can be an effective alternative to learn the skills and develop the support you need to begin recovering from addiction.
Look inward to determine if your current level of severity will allow you to reap the full benefits of an Intensive Outpatient Program. You might consider enrolling in our IOP if you are:
- Having increased difficulty functioning at work
- Experiencing symptoms triggered by specific events or situations
- Noticing increased feelings of depression, anxiety or stress
- Relying more on substances to cope with your daily life
- Wanting to re-evaluate your coping skills to maintain your recovery
- Feeling like your current approach to recovery and well-being isn’t working
3. WHAT IS INCLUDED IN OUR ONLINE ADDICTION RECOVERY PROGRAM?
EHN Online’s Intensive Outpatient Programs were born out of our Canada-wide network of expert-led inpatient facilities. This means that our approach to online treatment follows the same methods and high standards as the rest of our offerings. IOPs include:
- 9 hours of group and individual therapy sessions for 8 weeks
- Access to EHN’s online platform and app for consistent access to tools, progress tracking, wellness reminders and schedules
- 10 months of Aftercare programming to maintain progress
- Optional family educational sessions to support loved ones and help them understand the nature of addiction
- The ongoing support of our Canada-wide Thrive alumni community
4. WHAT TYPES OF THERAPY ARE INCLUDED WITH AN IOP?
The 8-week curriculums are designed to give you a thorough understanding of the underlying causes of addiction and/or mental health disorders, as well as a variety of skills and techniques for recovery. The programs include:
- Psychoeducation on addiction and/or mental health
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
- Dialectic Behavioural Therapy (DBT)
- Relapse Prevention Techniques
- Group therapy sessions
- Individual therapy sessions
- Healthy living practices
- Support with the tasks of daily living
- Personalized recovery plans
- Family support
- Homework and exercises
- 10 months of Aftercare
5. WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AN INTENSIVE OUTPATIENT PROGRAM AND A WELLNESS APP?
While our Intensive Outpatient Programs do include a full year of access to our app as a key part of treatment, they are so much more than that.
Working with a counsellor, you’ll design a personalized recovery plan that you can access anytime, anywhere. Set custom reminders, log your emotions and progress, and create your own gratitude list.
An Intensive Outpatient Program with EHN Online uses an app as a supplement to our face-to-face (over Zoom) group and individual therapy sessions, while most subscription-based wellness apps offer only text messaging and tools for self-regulation. When a rehabilitation program has regular check-ins and sessions, it increases the likelihood of maintaining accountability and builds ever-important connections with therapists and others within the recovery community.
In a nutshell, IOPs provide the accountability and personal connections that an app cannot.
6. WHAT IS THE ENROLLMENT AND TREATMENT PROCESS LIKE?
A typical IOP experience can look like:
- Admissions Assessment to find out which IOP is a good fit for you. This can be done over the phone with one of our admissions coordinators or online through our enrollment form.
- Develop Your Recovery Plan with our team to make sure your needs are met.
- Begin Treatment by joining daily group sessions and weekly individual therapy meetings. Here, you will learn about the nature of addiction, discuss your struggles, connect with others, and dig deep into your personal experiences.
- Complete your 8 weeks of intensive outpatient therapy and graduate from your program having learned new coping skills.
- Continue with 10 months of Aftercare, our online weekly group sessions. Here, you can review important skills, discuss any difficulties you may be experiencing, and continue building relationships with others.
- Join our Alumni Network and find ongoing support and friendship. Participation here is optional but strongly encouraged. Our thriving community runs events, provides the opportunity to support and inspire others, sends newsletters, and more.
7. ARE IOPs AVAILABLE TO ANYONE ACROSS CANADA?
Yes, anyone residing in Canada can access our online Intensive Outpatient Programs if they have access to reliable Wi-Fi, a laptop or tablet with a webcam, and a quiet, comfortable space to participate in therapy sessions. And for those who prefer treatment in French, we can help with that, too.
8. HOW CAN I LEARN MORE ABOUT EHN ONLINE’S INTENSIVE OUTPATIENT PROGRAM FOR ADDICTION?
For your convenience and comfort, we have a variety of ways for you to learn more or enroll.
- Visit our program information page here
- Call our admissions call centre at 1-416-644-6345 for a free and confidential conversation
- Submit an inquiry form
- Or, if you are ready to enroll and want to skip the above steps, you can take our online screener and intake form
