IOP in Birmingham, AL

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 is an IOP Program?

An intensive outpatient program, or IOP, can be an ideal option for people who can benefit from structured clinical services, but whose needs are not severe enough to necessitate full days of treatment or round-the-clock care.

The IOP at Birmingham Recovery Center serves adults who have been struggling with addictions to alcohol or other drugs. We also accept dual diagnosis clients. Dual diagnosis refers to people who need addiction treatment as well as care for a co-occurring mental health disorder.

Clients in our IOP receive three hours of care during each treatment day. Depending on each client’s needs and goals, they typically participate in treatment three to five days per week. To ensure maximum flexibility, we offer both morning and evening sessions at our IOP in Birmingham.

Our IOP balances quality clinical care with ample opportunities for independent living.

When our IOP is not in session, clients may take classes, work, volunteer, participate in off-campus support groups, and otherwise engage in a fully and productive life. They can also practice their relapse prevention and symptom management strategies. During IOP sessions, clients can discuss their experiences, address successes and setbacks, and receive focused guidance.

What to Expect at an IOP in Birmingham

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.

How Much Does an IOP Program in Birmingham Cost?

The cost of treatment at our IOP in Birmingham, Alabama, can be influenced by a variety of individual factors. These can include how many days per week the client attends sessions, how long they remain in the program, which types of therapies and support services they receive, and whether or not their care includes prescription medications.

Before a person begins to receive care at our IOP in Birmingham, our team will assess their needs and identify the services and length of stay that are best for them. We discuss all aspects of their care with each client, including the cost of treatment, before they begin to participate in IOP sessions.

Please don’t allow cost concerns to prevent you from seeking treatment at our IOP in Birmingham. A member of our team can help you explore all payment options, so that you can get the care you need. For example, if you have insurance, we can coordinate directly with your provider to confirm your coverage and identify which services may be funded through your plan.

IOP vs. Residential Treatment

Two of the biggest differences between residential treatment and an intensive outpatient program are time and flexibility.

When a person enters a residential treatment program, they make a 24/7 commitment. Residential care usually features full days of treatment, five to seven days per week. Clients typically follow a highly structured daily schedule, which includes treatment, breaks, meals, and all other daily activities.

When residential clients are not receiving care, they are still required to remain in the facility or at least on the grounds.

At the IOP level, clients can work with their treatment team to develop the schedule that works best for them. For example, as noted earlier on this page, clients at our IOP in Birmingham can attend treatment either in the morning or in the evening. Some clients attend treatment five days per week, while others participate in fewer sessions. When they are not taking part in treatment sessions, clients are not required to be at our center.

If a person needs round-the-clock supervision to help them achieve stabilization, inpatient or residential care may be the right choice for them. But if they have already completed one of these programs, and they are looking for step-down support to help them transition out of treatment, an intensive outpatient program may be the ideal choice.

An IOP may also be the optimal place for people who need more robust services than they can receive through weekly or biweekly counseling sessions, but who do not need full days of treatment or 24/7 support.

To learn more about the differences between a residential program and an IOP, please feel free to contact us directly at your convenience. We will be happy to discuss the features and benefits of our IOP in Birmingham as well as all our other programming options.

Begin IOP in Birmingham Today

At Birmingham Recovery Center, we understand that recovery isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach. Our multidisciplinary team understands the challenges of recovering from addiction and together our staff works with clients to develop a schedule that fits their individual needs. This is why we offer convenient morning and evening options for IOP services in Birmingham, Alabama. If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction, contact Birmingham Recovery Center today.