Josh Chandler | May 12, 2022

IOP Drug Rehab in Culver City

What Does IOP Stand For?

An IOP is an intensive outpatient program for people who have already completed a detox program and/or have stayed in inpatient addiction treatment in Culver City. This is a type of substance abuse rehabilitation plan in which the patients live at home, in a sober living home, or elsewhere outside of the rehab treatment center, visiting the center several days per week, for a few hours at a time.

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Intensive outpatient programs usually meet on weekdays, either in the mornings, evenings, or weekends, and are designed to allow patients to live normal lives, attending treatment around their work, school, and home schedules. Most IOP programs last for around 90 days and provide services such as:

  • Individual counseling
  • Group therapy and support groups
  • Employment assistance
  • Relapse prevention
  • Mental health treatment
  • Medical care

What’s the Difference Between Outpatient Drug Rehab and IOP

The difference between a Culver City outpatient rehab program and an IOP is the amount of time spent in treatment and the level of intensity. An IOP is a transitional program between inpatient or partial hospitalization programs and a full outpatient plan, as it does not require patients to live at the facility, but still provides strong support and care.

  • With both outpatient and IOP programs, patients should:
  • Not be experiencing active withdrawal symptoms
  • Not require 24-hour medical or psychological care or monitoring
  • Be motivated in their own recovery
  • Have a less-severe addiction
  • Have a solid base of support at home through friends and loved ones, and a sober-friendly place to live

Both of these programs are beneficial to a person with a mild addiction who cannot leave responsibilities like work or family obligations for a full 30 to 90 days of inpatient rehab because they offer:

  • Customizable and flexible schedules for treatments, therapy, and groups
  • Support and structure as you return to your life
  • The ability to apply new recovery skills to real-life situations
  • Never feeling alone in your recovery
  • Access to a sober community when you need it
  • The ability to live at home with support from friends and family
  • The ability to get addiction help without a negative effect on their life like losing a job or custody of a child

The differences between these programs include:

  • The frequency and intensity of treatment per week, such as an IOP, is usually around 9 hours of treatment per week and happens 3 to 5 days a week, and a regular outpatient program is much more flexible
  • The cost of an IOP may be higher due to the increased level of care

What is IOP Drug Rehab Like?

During IOP rehab treatment programs, you will spend a lot of time in group therapy. Most intensive outpatient programs involve 3 hours a day, 3 to 5 days a week of groups, requiring anywhere from 9 to 20 hours per week of participation from their clients.

In these groups, you will:

  • Improve communication skills
  • Socialize without being drunk or high
  • Learn how to provide support to others and empathize
  • Gain new coping strategies from your peers
  • Brainstorm ideas
  • Gain new skill-building techniques
  • Learn to avoid codependency
  • Learn about addiction and relapse
  • Work on relapse prevention
  • Experience structure and discipline

Other services included in most intensive outpatient programs include:

  • Support groups like SMART recovery, alcoholics anonymous, or narcotics anonymous
  • Tools to maintain abstinence from drugs and alcohol
  • Psychiatric screening and dual diagnosis treatments for co-occurring mental health issues
  • Vocational training
  • Help achieve lasting behavioral changes
  • Working on problem-solving skills and stress management
  • The opportunity to develop a support system of peers and to work on your support at home through family therapy and counseling
  • Addressing psychosocial issues like housing, probation, and/or employment

Therapy that is most often employed in a Culver City IOP includes:

  • Cognitive behavioral therapy – this type of therapy is based on the idea that thoughts and behaviors influence the way we feel, and we can “unlearn” destructive behaviors (like drug abuse) by figuring out what the triggers are and how to deal with them in a healthy and productive way
  • Motivational interviewing – this type of treatment examines why the patient feels reluctant to work through their issues and helps the patient examine how drugs are causing negative consequences in their life, encouraging them to take responsibility for their actions and teaching them how to reach their goals
  • 12 step programs – this is a traditional, spiritual type of addiction treatment approach that includes a 12-step group and giving in to a higher power as the patient completes the 12 steps
  • The matrix model – this model is a combination of these other therapies, teaching clients how to manage their time, how to prevent relapse, and providing introductions to community support groups
  • Evidence-based treatments and individual therapies
  • Medical treatment with continued long-term connections to doctors and medical care, including prescription renewals and physical health care

Intensive outpatient programs are individualized to each patient, based on their unique needs and where they are in their recovery process. Therapy, groups, and other treatment like medical visits or meetings with a psychiatrist are scheduled so that the patient will get all the help they need, with minimal impact on their work, school, and family life.

IOPs are beneficial to many people because they are ongoing, with no end date, and they are easily accessible with no long wait times to get in.

Can You Detox in IOP?

Detoxing is an important step in a recovery plan and must be done before rehab may begin. As this is a process that, for many people, may be difficult or even dangerous to do on their own depending on what they are detoxing from, it is best for a person to go through an inpatient medication-assisted treatment (MAT) detox program before IOP.

These medical detox services are safe and effective, and they will prevent unnecessary suffering during detox. They often offer therapy, counseling, and medical care, as well as dual diagnosis services to begin treating underlying mental health issues and PTSD. An institution that provides a medical detox program will likely be able to refer a person directly to an appropriate rehabilitation program such as inpatient rehab, outpatient rehab, or an IOP, for continuity of care.

It is rare, but on occasion, a person will have a mild addiction and will not have trouble with detox, in which case moving directly into IOP may work. It is best to consult with the IOP of your choice to determine your safest course of action.

How Long Does IOP Drug Rehab Last?

IOP drug rehab treatment programs do not follow the same timeline for every patient. The standard length of an IOP program is 90 days, but the duration and treatment schedule can be adjusted according to a person’s needs.

Intensive outpatient programs are usually:

  • 6 to 30 hours of treatment per week
  • 3 to 5 days per week
  • Therapy sessions are between 1 and 2 hours each

There is no end date when it comes to IOP. Visits to the outpatient center can become less frequent as time goes on and your needs change, or if you relapse or have other difficulties you can increase your treatment intensity. The purpose of an IOP is to ensure you feel safe and comfortable at whatever level of care you are in, keeping you connected to a safe, sober community of peers and professional help that will be there for you when you need it.

Behavioral Therapy in IOP

The most common types of behavioral therapy in IOP rehab are:

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy – focuses on modifying behaviors and thought patterns, deconstructing destructive behavior, helping the patient find the underlying reasons behind substance abuse, retraining the brain to avoid negative behaviors
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy – emphasizes the psychosocial aspects of substance abuse, helping the patient understand the social and psychological reasons behind their substance abuse, and teaching them to replace negative behaviors with positive ones
Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy – challenges patients about their thoughts and responses, and the emotions that come up, helping them change their perspective on issues and replace harmful behaviors with healthy coping techniques

What’s the Next Step After IOP Drug Rehab?

After your IOP drug rehab program is complete, it is important to remember that addiction is not “cured”. It is a lifelong disease that can be managed with continued vigilance, with ongoing care and support when times get tough.

You will meet with your therapist to figure out how you want to proceed. If you feel confident and have met all of your goals, it may be recommended to move on to a less intensive outpatient rehab program with fewer therapy sessions and one meeting per week with a therapist. You may also wish to meet with alumni and peer groups and continue with 12-step or other groups. There are also community resource groups you may be referred to like family therapy, medical care, or vocational training for further support.

IOP Drug Rehab at Muse Treatment Center

At Muse treatment center, our IOP program involves a three-pronged approach to patient care, using therapy, twelve-step integration, and case management for a well-rounded, whole-person approach to substance use disorder treatment.

  • Therapy – we have a combination of group and individual therapy covering topics such as behavioral therapy, relapse prevention, interpersonal relationships, family dynamics, emotional regulation, EMDR, art therapy, mindfulness, fitness, and nutrition, and getting to the root of your addiction issues. You will heal your mind, body, and spirit as you work through issues and speak with others like you.
  • 12-step integration – we believe that 12-step programs help you take stock of your life, acknowledge your lack of power over a compulsive behavior, and incorporate holistic and spirituality into your program.
  • Case management – you may have missed out on important life skills due to addiction, and your case management team will help you fill in the gaps, helping with vocational and life skills training, education, and skills like hygiene, organizational skills, cooking, and cleaning, providing you with all the tools you will need to live a healthy and independent life after rehab.

The customizable Muse IOP addiction recovery program for drug and/or alcohol rehab will give you the skills, tools, support, and confidence you need to quit using drugs and alcohol, take back control over your life, and foster healthy, happy friendships. You will meet your recovery goals, learn financial independence, and relapse prevention skills, and gain other life skills that will allow you to become the sober person you want to be. Contact Muse today to learn more about how we can help you through a medical detox and into an intensive outpatient program, a partial hospitalization program, an inpatient rehab Culver City program, or an outpatient rehab program. We will work with you to choose the best program for your unique needs.


Drug Detox,Drug Rehab,
Josh Chandler
Josh Chandler
After growing up in Chicago and North Carolina, Josh chose to get help with substance use disorder and mental health in California because of the state's reputation for top-tier treatment. There, he found the treatment he needed to achieve more than five years of recovery. He's been in the drug and alcohol addiction rehab industry for four years and now serves as the Director of Admissions for Resurgence Behavioral Health. Josh remains passionate about the field because he understands that one phone call can alter the course of a person's life.


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