Clients who are admitted to IOP are required to attend three sessions a week: Monday evening from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., Wednesday evening from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., and Thursday evening from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. for eight weeks. The Wednesday session is followed by an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting on site.

Each session is both educational and therapeutic. The program includes a series of lectures and films which focus on chemical abuse problems, mental health issues and recovery concepts. The majority of each session is devoted to group therapy. In group therapy, clients are involved in an intense working group to facilitate their recovery. Group members are expected to examine their past chemical use, share their current and past behaviors, become aware of their feelings and defenses, and find healthier ways of behaving, communicating, coping, and living without resorting to the use of alcohol or other mood altering drugs.

Aftercare

The aftercare group meets once a week for two hours. Clients over 18 may be admitted following successful completion of IOP or a more intense treatment program. The focus of group is processing problems and successes experienced at home, on the job, or in everyday life. Issues addressed are complacency, Dry Drunk Syndrome, boredom, spirituality, anger, stress management, and relationship/codependency problems.