Intensive Healing. Flexible Hours. Caring Staff.
An intensive outpatient program, or IOP, is a highly structured outpatient program that addresses substance use and relapse prevention. This program is a lower level of care from partial hospitalization, meaning you will spend less time in treatment and more time in the real world. Many individuals who participate in our IOP have responsibilities at work, home or school. Their participation in therapy several days a week ensures they maintain a healthy and balanced schedule. As part of our commitment to the community, our intensive outpatient program in Thousand Oaks, CA, also incorporates supportive tools designed to strengthen ongoing recovery.
IOPs provide nearly identical services as inpatient programs but with the ability to return home and sleep in your own bed at night. For those with busy lives, this level of care is accommodating, ensuring that recovery is a priority without having to quit work or school. At Lotus Recovery, our IOP in Thousand Oaks, CA runs five days a week for three hours a day, with hours in the morning or afternoon.
What to Expect from an IOP in Thousand Oaks
Most IOPs offer a combination of evidence-based therapies and interventions that support a healthy recovery. Many people who participate in this program have already completed some level of treatment, typically detox, inpatient rehab and/or partial hospitalization. They are ready to engage in therapy, learn new ways to cope and apply their newly learned skills to real-world situations. Our program includes elements of IOP addiction treatment and encourages healthy habits through structured activities tailored to support long-term sobriety.
Alcohol withdrawal can be dangerous, so it’s important to detox under medical supervision. This unpleasant first step often involves symptoms like sweating, anxiety, increased heart rate, tremors, nausea, vomiting and insomnia. Fortunately, medically managed detox is a safer and easier way to get through this process. Not only will you receive 24/7 monitoring, but also you’ll have access to various therapies and medications to keep you comfortable, including intravenous fluids, vitamins and benzodiazepines. Those transitioning from a partial hospitalization program may find our IOP ideal for continued structure without residential requirements.
Once you go through detox, you can start the recovery process.
One-on-one Therapy
Meeting with a licensed mental health professional each week gives you the opportunity to explore the underlying reasons for substance use and how to work through these problems. By healing from past trauma or underlying mental illness, you will reduce the need to have drugs or alcohol in your life. This approach aligns with our counseling and behavioral therapy framework to promote emotional stability and resilience.
Group Therapy
Addiction is an isolating disease, but group therapy reminds you that you are not alone. Expect to share your experiences, learn from others, improve communication and practice skills in a supportive, non-judgmental setting. Group sessions also integrate relapse prevention planning to help clients navigate real-world triggers safely.
Life Skills Education
Life skills are important when returning to your everyday life. In an IOP, you will learn essential skills to support a healthy transition, such as communication, empathy, self-care, problem solving and decision making. These skills complement our focus on mental health outpatient therapy and rebuilding healthy daily routines.
Medication Management
You will continue your medication regimen in IOP to ensure your symptoms are managed. These could include medications for an opioid or alcohol use disorder, or medications to treat anxiety, insomnia or nausea. For clients with co-occurring needs, we also support integrated dual diagnosis treatment to ensure both mental health and addiction symptoms are properly addressed.
Specialized Therapies
Holistic practices such as art therapy and meditation are often included in IOPs to support a complete recovery. Not only do these therapies help you feel better, but also they can be used as coping mechanisms when dealing with stress, anxiety or sadness. Our holistic therapy addiction services enhance emotional wellness and provide alternative pathways for managing stress.
Information and Resources
Because the ultimate goal is to have you lead a sober life, IOPs also provide a great deal of information and resources, such as an introduction to the 12 steps and information on aftercare and sober living. Clients may also benefit from optional services such as evening therapy or referrals for TMS treatment when appropriate.
Enhance Your Recovery with Intensive Outpatient Rehab
IOPs can be an entry point into the continuum of care or a step-down form of treatment following an inpatient program or partial hospitalization program. Since IOPs do not require individuals to live onsite, the people who participate in them should have a supportive home environment and reliable transportation. If you are ready for an IOP but don’t have these building blocks, consider sober housing, which provides a safe and supportive environment outside of treatment hours. Our intensive outpatient program in Thousand Oaks, and Westlake Village, CA, is designed to support individuals looking for a flexible path forward after more intensive care such as detox or drug rehab.
We also recommend IOPs for individuals who have a minimal risk of acute withdrawal, mild psychological symptoms and a willingness to work the program. Individuals spend a lot of time outside of treatment in an IOP, which is why it’s important for them to be ready for change. Much of the time spent in treatment is focused on rebuilding a healthy life. Those seeking structured care with added focus on recovery-focused routines may benefit from our mental health IOP programs, tailored to reinforce stability.
Contact Lotus Recovery to learn more about participating in our intensive outpatient program in Thousand Oaks, CA.