INTENSIVE OUTPATIENT PROGRAM (IOP)
NEAR BOSTON

After-School Outpatient Program - For Adolescents

Our After-School Outpatient Program, also called Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP), is a form of treatment for adolescents with mental health issues. This treatment is less intensive than inpatient treatment but more intensive than traditional outpatient treatment. The MCAW IOP treatment requires participation from teens of three hours per day for three days per week.

IOPs are designed to provide intensive treatment to adolescents with mental health issues while the teen still lives at home and attends school. Treatment will typically involve individual and group therapy, as well as medication management.

IOPs can be an effective treatment for adolescents with mental health issues. Especially when used with other forms of treatment, such as individual therapy or medication. They can help adolescents learn to cope with their mental health issues and progress in their recovery. The Massachusetts Center for Adolescent Wellness (MCAW) has tremendous experience administering this form of treatment.

Intensive Outpatient Program for Adolescent Mental Health

Who Is Eligible for IOP?

At MCAW, we offer therapy treatment to adolescents aged between 13 and 17. We treat teens who struggle with various mental health challenges. 

Mental health concerns that can be treated at IOP can include:

Mental health concerns that can be treated at IOP can include:

Extreme emotional outbursts

Disabling impairment with evidence of diminished performance in the home and/or the classroom

Moderate to serious cases of melancholy, agitation, or irritability

Impulsive and/or risk-taking behavior

Recent use of an emergency room or psychiatric institution within the past year

Emotional dysregulation that persists over time and negatively impacts personal life, academic performance, extracurricular involvement, or peer relationships

Intensive Outpatient Program for Adolescent Mental Health

Mental health disorders like depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and more can be treated in an intensive outpatient program. The care for adolescents is optimal when evidence-based therapies are supplemented with holistic approaches.

Treatment Process

A comprehensive diagnostic evaluation will determine if the IOP is appropriate for a patient before receiving care. Eligible teens work with their assigned therapists and families to create flexible treatment plans. Treatment plans are aimed at restoring their emotional and behavioral equilibrium.

In the evenings, we transition into a less rigorous outpatient program (IOP). Adolescents receiving this level of care will need to visit the center multiple times per week. This programming option requires a weekly commitment of 3 hours on three separate days. 

However, patients are encouraged to participate actively in all treatment-related activities. These activities may include group and individual therapy, family counseling, educational support groups, and more. Teens will participate in therapy sessions aimed at learning healthy coping skills.

Adolescents are growing more assured in their abilities to manage recovery as they continue with this program. Patients can continue to get the care they need. However, they will be granted greater autonomy over their rehabilitation processes. Individualized and group outpatient services are available to patients who have completed rigorous outpatient treatment.

The teens will also attend weekly group meetings that teach the following:

The Expected Outcomes of IOP Treatment

The expected outcomes of IOP treatment for Adolescent Mental Health will vary depending on each patient’s individual needs. However, some common goals of the program include the following:

  1. Reducing mental illness symptoms such as depression and anxiety
  2. Improving daily life functioning
  3. Reducing unsafe thoughts and behaviors
  4. Helping the adolescent develop coping and problem-solving skills
  5. Empowering the teen on how to live a healthy and productive life
  6. Encouraging the adolescent to be more active at home, in school, and in their other social circles
Intensive Outpatient Program for Adolescent Mental Health
Intensive Outpatient Program for Adolescent Mental Health

Benefits of IOP for Adolescent Mental Health

Here are some benefits enhanced by our program:

  • The program is administered after school hours
  • Faster stabilization of condition with more than individual therapy 
  • The program is run by licensed clinicians with vast experience in working with teens
  • Weekly psychiatric oversight and supervision
  • IOP can be done together with individual therapy
  • Our clinicians are well-trained and have met all DB program requirements
  • 24/7 access to a child or adolescent psychiatrist for diagnosis and treatment (board qualified)

Why Choose Adolescent IOP Treatment?

The most common reason parents choose IOP for their adolescent’s mental health is that it’s a convenient, less expensive option than traditional treatment. Parents may also feel that an outpatient treatment program will not provide the level of care their child needs.

Some other reasons to choose an IOP program include the following:

  1. The program offers a more flexible schedule than traditional outpatient care. This means parents may not need to miss work or school to take their child for treatment.
  2. The program offers a higher level of care than traditional outpatient care. This means that parents feel that their children will benefit from the program and will receive better care.
  3. The program is less expensive than traditional outpatient care. Parents may save plenty of money by choosing an IOP program over conventional outpatient care.
  4. The program offers a more intensive level of care than traditional outpatient care. 
  5. The program offers a more personalized level of care than traditional outpatient care. 

Professionals in an intensive outpatient program (IOP) for adolescents provide specialized care for mental health issues related to teens. Care is individualized for each adolescent, so they can rapidly start their journey to recovery.

Intensive Outpatient Program for Adolescent Mental Health
Intensive Outpatient Program for Adolescent Mental Health

Adolescent IOP Program - Near Boston, Massachusetts

If an adolescent is experiencing emotional distress, loved ones must provide them with the essential care they need. This may include the finest therapeutic support possible. With untreated mental health problems having the potential to cause severe harm, you cannot afford to take a back seat. Parents should keep an eye on their children to detect any potential problems with mental health. If you’re unsure which type of care your teen needs, learn more about the different levels of care for adolescents here.

Massachusetts Center For Adolescent Wellness offers individualized care plans for adolescents struggling with mental health and their families. The outpatient program at Massachusetts Center For Adolescent Wellness is designed to meet the unique requirements of each teenager who participates. Contact us to learn more about our program and how we can help.