Intensive outpatient programs (IOPs) offer clients more flexibility compared to residential programs. According to Psychiatric Services, IOPs are meant “for individuals with substance use disorders who do not meet diagnostic criteria for residential or inpatient substance abuse treatment or for those who are discharged from 24-hour care in an inpatient treatment facility and continue to need more support than the weekly or bi-weekly sessions provided in traditional outpatient care.” Rancho Recovery provides intensive outpatient services to clients recovering from substance use disorder (SUD).
Individualized Care During IOP Treatment
IOP is ideal for individuals requiring more structured care and additional weekly treatment sessions. IOPs generally involve more hours in individual or group therapy sessions and may also offer weekend services for some individuals. Rancho Recovery understands the importance of meeting people where they are today and finding an appropriate path to long-term sobriety. For many people, the continuum of care includes transitioning from IOP to continuing care.
Tailored treatment plans for clients in IOP reduce the risk of relapse and improve quality of life by doing the following:
- Removing distractions and reducing boredom throughout the week
- Keeping clients accountable for their recovery
- Focusing on specific areas impacting the client’s mental health and sobriety, including family relationships and emotion regulation
IOPs provide people with the tools and resources they need to practice setting boundaries and building healthy coping tools at home. Self-care is a vital part of managing symptoms related to SUD. The care team at Rancho Recovery guides clients through building better self-care routines to support positive lifestyle changes.
Examples of Helpful Self-Care Skills
During IOP treatment, everyone has different needs, preferences, and recovery goals. The dedicated care team at Rancho Recovery teaches people the self-care skills they need to achieve treatment goals.
Some of the most helpful self-care skills for individuals in rehabilitation include:
- Setting clear personal boundaries
- Spending time engaging with social groups, peers, and loved ones
- Taking time each day to refocus, relax, and practice mindfulness
- Identifying and utilizing healthy hobbies to reduce stress and improve mood
- Taking better care of physical health through diet, exercise, and quality sleep
- Spending time out in nature
The care team helps clients determine what factors may have the most significant impact on mental health and what self-care skills best address them. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), “Even small acts of self-care in your daily life can have a big impact.” For example, taking meditative walks in nature each day can improve mood and sleep, reduce anxiety, and decrease blood pressure. Self-care skills can improve quality of life and help people feel more engaged with their recovery.
Building Essential Self-Care Routines
Self-care routines keep people in recovery moving forward even when they encounter unexpected obstacles in treatment. Outpatient programs and lower levels of care make it easier for people to build essential routines into their everyday lives. Clients create new habits and routines using repetition, mindfulness, and the accountability of their care team. Over time, habits become automatic, reducing the amount of energy a person must spend on self-care. Establishing self-care routines is often a part of therapy and may be used as homework during some IOP therapy sessions.
How to Learn Self-Care Skills in IOP
IOPs make it easier to learn self-care skills. People have more time at home, where they can explore different types of activities and therapeutic tools. The care team also has more one-on-one time with people in IOP, ensuring clients and their loved ones have support during the first few weeks of treatment. Building new habits takes time. For most people, a new habit takes four to eight weeks to become routine.
Some of the ways people learn self-care skills include:
- Observing loved ones, peers, or the care team engaging in self-care
- During individual or group therapy
- While participating in self-help groups
- Through books, self-help videos, or other forms of media
Some people are more hands-on and choose activities that make them feel positive about themselves. Other individuals may enjoy meditation or mental exercises designed to help them focus on their internal experiences. The care team at Rancho Recovery offers insights and guidance on how to develop healthy self-care habits.
Rancho Recovery Helps Clients Practice Self-Care Strategies at Home
Rancho Recovery facilitates client growth during outpatient programs and continuing care by educating clients and their loved ones on the realities of addiction. Understanding the factors related to addiction can help people know where to focus their self-care. For example, stress is one of the leading causes of relapse during early recovery. Clients use self-care to actively reduce stressors and decrease the risk of relapse. Rancho Recovery provides clients and their families with the tools and resources to develop empowering self-care skills. The care team also provides alumni services and support to clients transitioning out of care to ensure they maintain healthy routines established during treatment.
Intensive outpatient programs (IOPs) allow people in treatment to practice managing symptoms and navigating challenges in everyday situations. The clinical team prepares clients by educating and guiding them through the process of developing healthy coping skills. Self-care is an important part of managing SUD. Clients benefit from spending time every day practicing some form of self-care to reduce stress and increase emotional stability. The care team can help clients and their families find creative ways to support new habits during and after treatment. Rancho Recovery understands the importance of building healthy routines before transitioning to continuing care. To learn more about our programs and services, call our office today at (877) 484-1447.