Our Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) may be the right fit for your young person if they need more support than they are receiving in outpatient treatment but can still maintain some of their daily routines, like attending school or spending time with family and friends.

This program offers a structured approach to recovery that provides more frequent and extended sessions compared to outpatient care, while still allowing patients to attend school and return home each day. IOP is also commonly used as a step-down level of care for patients transitioning from a Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) or inpatient treatment.

If your young person is a fit for IOP, they will attend program three days a week for two hours. This schedule allows your young person to balance eating disorder recovery with their everyday responsibilities. Our IOP fosters a supportive environment where adolescents with eating disorders can address the physical, emotional, and behavioral challenges of recovery.

What Level of Care Does It Provide?

IOP offers an intermediate level of care. If the treatment team recommends IOP for your young person, they will participate in:

• Therapy Sessions: Multiple weekly sessions with licensed therapists to address the psychological aspects of eating disorder recovery. This includes skills-based group therapy, art therapy, and somatic movement therapy.

• Nutrition Counseling: Once weekly meetings with a registered dietitian to monitor meal plans and supplement recommendations, overcome food-related fears, and reinforce normalized eating behaviors. The nutrition counseling sessions also serve as a resource for supporters, offering education and strategies to support recovery at home.

• Medical Check-Ups: A medical provider will meet with your young person once weekly to ensure they remain medically stable, focusing on growth, vitals, and other physical signs.

• Skill Development: Sessions focus on building practical skills for managing stress, regulating emotions, and addressing challenges related to eating and body image.

The IOP’s structured yet flexible approach allows adolescents and their supporters to continue their eating disorder recovery journey while maintaining normal routines. This program aims to build confidence and independence, setting the stage for long-term recovery success.