IOP in Birmingham

Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) in Birmingham

At Birmingham Recovery Center, our Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) in Birmingham exists to provide a comprehensive set of services in a less structured environment. IOP in Birmingham can be ideal for clients who have more complex symptoms or dual diagnosis but don’t need residential treatment. Alternatively, IOP can be a step down level of care for clients who have completed inpatient rehab.

Different from PHP level of care, IOP is limited to three hours session and three to five days per week. No matter if you’re looking for a drug and alcohol IOP or a program for dual diagnosis, our clients can choose from day or evening hours while still focusing on work and family responsibilities, volunteering, attending AA or support groups, or even residing in a sober living environment in the area. At our Birmingham rehab facility, this level of care is essential to create sustained and lasting recovery.

What to Expect in IOP

Residential treatment separates individuals from the common struggles, stressors, and triggers of everyday life. However, our IOP program in Birmingham provides important services and support in an environment where individuals continue to experience many of life’s challenges. IOP can bridge the gap between everyday life and treatment through a variety of modalities that include:

Group Therapy

Group therapy sessions are facilitated by licensed clinicians and are the primary modality of IOP treatment. Receiving therapy in a group setting provides a variety of benefits including:

Enhancing interpersonal skills and creating new ways to socialize
Providing a safe space for individuals to process feelings, provide support, and give and retain honest feedback
Giving group members a sense of safety and value by connecting them to other clients who share similar experiences
Developing and practicing more positive behaviors and coping skills to manage triggers, cravings, and the stressors of living a life free of substances

Individual Therapy

During individual therapy, clients will have the opportunity to continue addressing root cause issues, limiting belief systems, and underlying behaviors that may have been contributing to addiction. In addition, clients learn new coping skills and process feelings that arose when putting them to use. Clients will also be able to dig deeper into their own work than the work done in group therapy. It provides a space for clients to talk about more personal matters that they may not feel comfortable talking about in a group setting. Typically, individual therapy sessions in IOP happen on a weekly basis and last for the duration of one hour.

Medication Management

When combined with therapy and counseling, medication management can be effective in addressing cravings and post-acute withdrawal symptoms as well as help stabilize mental health and dual diagnosis issues. Our medical staff can address common medical issues and prescribe medication to ensure that all aspects of our client’s physical and mental health are being improved.

Support Groups

At Birmingham Recovery Center, we encourage all IOP clients to participate in peer-led support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous (or other 12-step groups), SMART Recovery, or Recovery Dharma. Support groups are an important adjunct to treatment that allows clients to practice new behaviors, develop supportive relationships, and build a network of peers in recovery.

How Long Are IOP Programs?

All treatment at Birmingham Recovery Center is based upon our client’s individual needs. Duration in the IOP level of care can vary considerably from client to client due to a variety of factors including the amount and timing of last substance use, complicating physical issues such as chronic pain, any mental health or emotional problems, the client’s readiness for change, their ongoing risk for relapse, and the supportiveness of the client’s living environment. Commonly, individuals will receive treatment at the IOP level of care for approximately 8-12 weeks. Given the wide range of interacting factors, clients must be assessed by our staff of addiction professionals before a more accurate time frame can be provided.