What is IOP?
Intensive Outpatient is a home and community-based, high-intensity treatment service for adults whose recovery and success could benefit from more frequent contact with their clinical team. Services are designed to assist individuals with severe and persistent behavioral health disorders to accomplish their recovery goals and reside successfully in the community.
Who does IOP Serve?
Individuals served by IOP typically have severe and persistent behavioral health disorders, with histories of frequent crisis system contact, multiple psychiatric hospitalizations and unsuccessful community placements. Many also have co-occurring substance use disorders. Overall, these clients benefit from more frequent contact and outreach. The program also serves individuals stepping down from higher levels of care, such as PACT or residential treatment. IOP services are available in Snohomish, Skagit, Whatcom, and Island Counties.
Approach to Care
Intensive Outpatient clinicians work within their treatment team and with each client to create a treatment plan that addresses the needs of each individual. The treatment team provides multiple contacts a week, as needed, at a location that best serves the client, such as in the home, community, or our offices. Collaboration with family, community partners, and landlords can be a significant part of IOP services, often leading to improved outcomes. The program is staffed by bachelor and master-level clinicians, mental health technicians, psychiatric providers, and a medical assistant. Services provided include individual counseling, care coordination, crisis intervention, psychiatric evaluation, and medication management. The team offers after-hours crisis intervention for clients in this program.
Goals of IOP
The goals of IOP include working with clients to address specific needs to avoid more restrictive levels of care, such as psychiatric hospitalization, and allowing stabilization and restoration to higher levels of functioning. Higher levels of functioning include reinforcement of safety, stability, independence, achievement of personal life goals, and successful integration in their community.