Outpatient and Intensive Outpatient

The intensive outpatient treatment program is for clients who have come to recognize that a period of concentrated effort and focus is required to alter what has proven to be a non-sustainable, harmful way of living (drug or activity addiction may only be the most conspicuous feature of difficulties in living). The unique multi-sessions, multi-clinician (representing different therapy modalities) format results in engaging more of the client’s total personality than is possible in the customary one therapist, one or more sessions per week format. 

Our intensive outpatient treatment approach is based on multiple individual therapy sessions per day with members (one at a time) of the clinical staff. The basic format can be adjusted to meet individual needs (5days/week, 4 days/week, etc.). The intensive outpatient treatment phase is temporary, as it is not expected to proceed indefinitely. The precise time period varies from person to person based on individual needs and circumstances.

The outpatient setting is for people who do not require the support (and consequent loss of personal freedom) of a total institution. The intensive phase of treatment is not expected to render aftercare unnecessary (an analogy: you might have intensive exposure and instruction in a foreign language for a few weeks, but in the absence of continued exposure and study you will over time retain little of what you learned in the intensive period).

Outpatient services are provided in our La Jolla offices. We will provide any level of intensity needed, and adjust the intensity as we go.

Note: The term "intensive outpatient" (IOP) is used primarily by insurance companies, which specify a minimum amount of time as qualifying for "intensive" outpatient treatment.  Typically intensive outpatient treatment is 9 hours per week; less than 9 hours with day treatment being 20 hours per week or more).  The numbers vary by insurance company. Less than 9 hours is considered outpatient.