Flexible Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOPs) for Teens and Youth
IOPs provide tailored mental health support, offering more care than outpatient therapy and more flexibility than hospitalization.
We understand how heartbreaking it is to see your teen struggle with severe mental health conditions. Intensive outpatient programs provide a compassionate, effective level of care that’s more intensive than standard outpatient therapy, in a flexible setting that fits around your teen or young adult’s schedule—supporting healing without the need for full hospitalization.
What Is an IOP for Teens, Adolescents, and Young Adults?
An Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) provides structured therapy for teens and young adults dealing with mental health conditions, offering family, group, and individual sessions in both virtual and in-person formats. It allows your teen to live at home, stay on track with school, and receive the support they need without requiring 24/7 care.
At Embark, we believe that each individual deserves to feel seen, respected, and supported on their healing journey. Our IOP programs are designed to create a welcoming, affirming environment for adolescents and young adults of all gender identities. When more help is needed than traditional outpatient therapy, but full-time residential care isn't necessary, our IOPs are here to help. We also offer Virtual IOPs that provide flexible online healing for teens, young adults, and families in states across the country.
What to Know About Youth IOPs
How Can an IOP Help My Teen?
Across all Embark outpatient programs in 2023, we helped adolescents, teens, and young adults at our outpatient clinics reduce negative symptoms and increase their overall well-being. Here's how our IOP therapy has helped teens and young adults:
IOP Effectiveness
Research has shown IOP to be very effective at helping teens with mental health conditions. For example, a study published in the International Journal of Eating Disorders showed that participants struggling with eating disorders showed fewer symptoms after attending both virtual and in-person IOPs.
Another study published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research found that virtual IOPs significantly reduced depression, suicidal ideation, and self-harm behaviors. Nearly 71% of participants who initially experienced suicidal thoughts no longer had them at discharge.
What's a Day at an IOP for Teens, Adolescents, and Young Adults Like?
A day at an IOP for teens, adolescents, and young adults can include a variety of therapies, activities, and skill-building activities designed to help give youth the tools they need to overcome mental health conditions. On a typical day an Embark IOP could look like this:
Evening IOP Schedule
4:00 PM
Check-in and Peer-to-Peer
5:00 PM
Distress Tolerance Skills
6:00 PM
Music Therapy
Who will be Helping My Teen or Young Adult Heal at an IOP?
Our team of healing IOP therapists, psychiatrists, counselors, and life coaches provides compassionate mental health treatment for children, adolescents, teens, and young adults by utilizing trauma-informed techniques.
Where Can I Find an Embark IOP for Teens, Adolescents, or Young Adults?
Our intensive outpatient programs for teens, adolescents, and young adults are located across the country. Find an IOP near you by clicking below or by calling our IOP specialists for help finding a program.
Embark Behavioral Health in Alpharetta, Georgia
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Embark Behavioral Health in Atlanta, Georgia
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Stories of Healing from our Teen and Young Adult IOPs
Our IOPs have helped thousands of adolescents, teens, and young adults overcome difficult mental health conditions and create lives filled with joy. Take a look at some of the stories of healing from teens and families we've helped below:
Is Your Teen Struggling with a Different Mental Health Condition?
Contact us and we'll help you figure out if an IOP is the best option to help your adolescent, teen, or young adult, or if another treatment option will be the best fit.
IOP FAQ
What’s the difference between an IOP and inpatient treatment?
Inpatient and outpatient treatment programs can help adolescents, teens, and young adults heal from challenges like anxiety, depression, and disordered eating. So, how do IOP vs. inpatient treatment differ? In an inpatient treatment program, your child will live at a treatment facility and receive therapy while there. In an intensive outpatient program, they’ll live at home and visit an outpatient center for care.
How does an IOP work?
How does an IOP work? Intensive outpatient treatment allows your child to take part in a comprehensive healing experience while also maintaining their school and work schedules and living at home, surrounded by family and close to friends. At Embark Behavioral Health, our IOP offers family, group, and individual therapy as well as parent coaching.
How long is IOP treatment for adolescents, teens, and young adults?
An Embark IOP requires a minimum commitment of nine hours per week (three hours a day, three to six days per week).
What’s the Difference Between Virtual IOPs and In-Person IOPs?
Virtual IOPs
For adolescents, teens, or young adults who need more flexibility, our Virtual Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOPs) offer the same high-quality care as our regular IOPs but in a convenient online format. Virtual IOPs are ideal for teens and young adults who need to balance treatment with other responsibilities, such as school or work.
- Flexibility and Convenience: Virtual IOPs allow youth to access therapy from the comfort of their own home, making it easier to fit treatment into their daily lives.
- Comfort and Accessibility: Virtual sessions can reduce the stress associated with attending in-person appointments and encourage care for youth who struggle with conditions like social anxiety.
- Parent Involvement: Virtual IOPs can make it easier for parents or guardians to stay involved in their child’s treatment, as they can participate in family therapy sessions or receive updates without needing to visit the treatment center.
- Healing Online Therapy for College Students: Our virtual IOPs provide a flexible online therapy option for depression, anxiety, or other mental health conditions in teen or young adult college students.
In Person IOPs
Our in-person IOPs provide a structured environment that can be a good option for adolescents, teens, and young adults who would prefer therapy in a face-to-face and community-based setting.
- In-Person Connection: The face-to-face interaction with therapists and peers fosters strong relationships and a sense of accountability.
- Comprehensive Care: On-site IOPs offer immediate access to various therapeutic modalities and resources.
- Group Support and Motivation: Adolescents, teens, and young adults who attend our in-person IOP can benefit from community support and in-person group therapies.
- Enhanced Focus: Our in-person IOP can help youth separate from daily distractions and stressors at home allowing participants to focus solely on their mental health treatment.
What’s the difference between an IOP and PHP?
Like our intensive outpatient program, a partial hospitalization program, or PHP, helps adolescents, teens, and young adults heal from difficult mental health challenges like anxiety, depression, and disordered eating. With both options, your child lives at home and visits an outpatient center for therapy, including family sessions.
If a youth or young adult needs more structure, treatment, and supervision during the day than what’s provided at an IOP but doesn’t need 24/7 treatment, a PHP can be a great option.
What if My Teen or Young Adult Needs a Different Level of Care?
If an Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) isn't the best fit for your teen, don't lose hope. At Embark, we offer a variety of treatment options throughout the U.S. that are here to help your family heal. Here are some steps up in treatment that can provide a higher level of care or treatment if your adolescent, teen, or young adult needs intensive care:
Need Help Finding the Right Program?
Talk to our program specialists, we'll help you find the right option for your adolescent, teen, or young adult.