Each woman who struggles with an eating disorder and other behavioral health concerns heals differently. After completing a higher level of care, many women can benefit from stepping down to a structured but less intense program for additional healing.
That’s what Timberline Knolls’ intensive outpatient program (IOP) delivers. We provide care multiple days per week that gives women age 18 and older the chance to continue their recovery journey while beginning to more completely reintegrate into their day-to-day routine.
Benefits of Intensive Outpatient Programming
An intensive outpatient program is an opportunity for you to continue receiving professional care for an eating disorder, a mental health concern, the effects of trauma, or a substance use disorder after completing a higher level of programming. At Timberline Knolls, women who complete our residential program or partial hospitalization program (PHP) can step down to our IOP as they continue to address the concerns that have affected their lives and we also welcome women to admit directly to our IOP.
There are many benefits to the support you’ll receive by choosing the IOP at Timberline Knolls, including:
- Flexibility: IOP is a higher level of support than you would receive in traditional outpatient therapy, but it offers more freedom to work, attend school, or participate in other activities than a PHP does.
- Camaraderie: Much like with PHP, you’ll attend group therapy sessions that will allow you to build bonds with women who have struggled with eating disorders and other behavioral health concerns.
- Skill-building practice: With the additional freedom of flexibility that comes with our IOP, you’ll have the opportunity to apply the skills you’ve learned to situations in your everyday life.
The IOP Experience
As is the case with any program at Timberline Knolls, our IOP takes into account each woman’s unique needs, life experience, medical history, and genetic background. That allows us to individualize your care plan so that you get the most out of your time with us.
If you have already completed PHP at our facility, our staff of expert clinicians will be able to adjust your previous plan to reflect the progress you made at that higher level of care.
Programming in our intensive outpatient program takes place three to five days a week, depending on your specific needs. Typical length of stay is flexible, but most women take part in our IOP for five to six weeks.
Elements of your care with us may include:
- Daily group therapy
- Weekly individual and experiential therapies
- Family therapy on an as-needed basis
Group sessions make up the foundation of our programming. You’ll participate in groups for three hours each treatment day, covering topics such as skill–building, motivation, relapse prevention, psychoeducation, boundaries, and meaningful life. Experiential sessions may include art, exposure outings, and skills practice.
The Evening IOP Experience
Our evening intensive outpatient program (IOP) is a great treatment option for women who are struggling with mood and trauma-related disorders and need more structure and support than outpatient therapy alone can provide. The flexibility of this program also gives women the ability to receive treatment at a time that doesn’t interfere with their work or school schedules.
Our evening IOP is in-person and available on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays from 5:30PM-8:30PM.
Continuing Care
Continuing care is a priority at Timberline Knolls. Seeking support for an eating disorder, addiction, mood disorder, or the effects of trauma takes a tremendous amount of courage. Our goal at Timberline Knolls is to put you in a position to succeed in the days, weeks, and months to come after you leave our care.
That’s why we start creating a unique discharge plan for you as soon as you begin taking part in our IOP. By beginning this valuable resource right away, we can provide you with the support you need to continue your progress, and we’ll update that document to reflect the progress you make during your time in IOP.
Your continuing care plan will include our recommendations for potential follow-up care, access to community resources, options for applicable support groups, and details on the Timberline Knolls alumnae network to keep you connected well into the future.
Better days are within your reach. By choosing Timberline Knolls, you’ll be able to enjoy those days in a whole new light.
This content was written on behalf of and reviewed by the clinical staff at Timberline Knolls.
