IOP Programs

Summary: Intensive Outpatient Programs or IOP programs provide structured, evidence-based mental health and addiction treatment for individuals who need more clinical support than weekly therapy but do not require 24-hour supervision. Overland IOP in Los Angeles offers a flexible IOP format — 3 hours per day, 3 to 5 days per week — with morning, afternoon, and evening scheduling tracks designed to accommodate work, school, and family responsibilities. Treatment is available both in person at our facility at 3415 Overland Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90034, and virtually through our HIPAA-compliant telehealth platform for individuals throughout California. Our IOP treats depression, anxiety, PTSD, bipolar disorder, substance use disorders, co-occurring conditions, and other behavioral health concerns using evidence-based modalities including CBT, DBT, ACT, and medication management. Most major insurance plans are accepted, and our admissions team is available 24/7 to verify coverage and begin the intake process.

What Is an Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)?

An Intensive Outpatient Program is a level of behavioral health care that falls between traditional weekly outpatient therapy and the more intensive structure of a Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) or residential treatment. IOP is designed for individuals whose clinical needs require consistent, multi-day engagement with a treatment team — but whose condition is stable enough that they do not need to be in a treatment facility around the clock. Research from Harvard Health supports IOP as an effective level of care for individuals with moderate to severe mental health symptoms.

IOP serves two primary populations. The first is individuals entering treatment for the first time whose symptoms — whether related to depression, anxiety, trauma, substance use, or co-occurring conditions — are significant enough to warrant more than a once-per-week therapy appointment. The second is individuals stepping down from a higher level of care, such as inpatient hospitalization, residential treatment, or PHP, who need continued structured support as they transition back into daily life.

The clinical research supports this model. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), outpatient treatment programs that provide regular therapeutic contact produce outcomes comparable to residential treatment for many individuals, particularly when the program includes behavioral therapy, skills development, and ongoing clinical monitoring. The key factor is not where treatment occurs, but how consistently and comprehensively it is delivered.

At Overland IOP and PHP in Los Angeles, CA we provide our top-rated IOP. Why do patients choose us:

✳️ 3 hours a day, 3-5 days a week IOP with a flexible schedule

✳️ In-person & virtual appointments

✳️Morning, Noon & Evening Tracks

✳️ Most Insurance accepted

How Overland IOP’s Intensive Outpatient Programs Works

Overland IOP’s program is structured around 3 hours of clinical programming per day, 3 to 5 days per week, depending on individual treatment needs and the recommendation of the clinical team. The frequency and duration of sessions are determined during the initial assessment and adjusted throughout the course of treatment as patients progress.

Each treatment day includes a combination of individual therapy, process-oriented group therapy, psychoeducation, and skills development. The specific therapeutic approaches used in each patient’s treatment plan are selected based on clinical assessment and may include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for identifying and restructuring thought patterns that contribute to mental health symptoms, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) for emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for building psychological flexibility and values-driven behavior change.

Psychiatric evaluation and medication management are integrated into the program for patients who require pharmacological support alongside therapy. Overland IOP’s treatment team includes licensed therapists, psychiatrists, and clinical support staff who collaborate on each patient’s care plan and meet regularly to review progress and adjust treatment as needed.

Flexible Scheduling: Morning, Afternoon, and Evening Tracks

One of the most significant advantages of IOP over higher levels of care is the ability to maintain daily responsibilities while receiving treatment. Overland IOP offers three scheduling tracks — morning, afternoon, and evening — specifically so that treatment does not require patients to leave their jobs, withdraw from school, or abandon family obligations.

The morning track serves individuals who prefer to complete treatment sessions before the workday begins or who find that engaging in therapy early in the day provides a stronger foundation for the hours that follow. The afternoon track accommodates those with morning commitments. The evening track is designed for individuals whose work or school schedules occupy the daytime hours entirely.

This flexibility is not a convenience feature — it is a clinical consideration. Treatment engagement drops when program schedules conflict with patients’ real-world responsibilities. A program that forces a choice between treatment and employment creates a barrier that discourages participation and contributes to early dropout. Overland IOP’s scheduling model is built to remove that barrier.

In-Person IOP in Los Angeles

Overland IOP’s in-person program operates from our facility at 3415 Overland Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90034. In-person attendance provides direct interaction with therapists and peers in a dedicated clinical environment. For many patients, the physical separation between their treatment space and their home or work environment helps create a psychological boundary that supports focused therapeutic engagement. Therapists also benefit from the ability to observe body language, affect, and interpersonal dynamics in real time — clinical information that supports more precise treatment planning.

Virtual IOP Throughout California

For individuals located outside of Los Angeles or those who face transportation, scheduling, or personal barriers to in-person attendance, Overland IOP offers a fully virtual IOP through our HIPAA-compliant telehealth platform. Virtual IOP delivers the same clinical programming, licensed providers, and therapeutic modalities as our in-person program — conducted via live video sessions in real time. Virtual IOP is available to individuals located anywhere in California and follows the same 3-hours-per-day, 3-to-5-days-per-week structure as the in-person program.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) recognizes telehealth as an effective delivery model for behavioral health services, particularly in expanding access to populations underserved by traditional in-person treatment settings. Overland IOP’s virtual program ensures that geographic distance does not prevent individuals from receiving the structured clinical care they need.

Who Should Consider IOP?

IOP may be appropriate for individuals experiencing moderate to severe symptoms of depression, anxiety, PTSD, bipolar disorder, or other mental health conditions that interfere with daily functioning but do not require inpatient stabilization. It is also effective for individuals with alcohol use disorder, opioid use disorder, stimulant addiction, or other substance use disorders who are medically stable and motivated to engage in outpatient-level treatment. Individuals with co-occurring mental health and substance use conditions — known as dual diagnosis — often benefit from the integrated treatment approach that IOP provides, addressing both conditions simultaneously rather than treating them in isolation.

IOP is not the right fit for everyone. Individuals in acute psychiatric crisis, those requiring medical detoxification, or those whose safety cannot be maintained outside of a supervised setting may need inpatient or residential care before stepping down to IOP. Overland IOP’s admissions team conducts a thorough assessment to determine the appropriate level of care for each individual before treatment begins.

FAQs About IOP Programs

Q1: What is an Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)?

An Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) is a structured level of mental health and addiction treatment that provides multiple hours of clinical programming several days per week without requiring patients to reside in a treatment facility. IOP typically involves a combination of individual therapy, group therapy, psychoeducation, and psychiatric support. It is designed for individuals who need more consistent clinical contact than weekly therapy but do not require 24-hour supervision. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), outpatient programs that deliver regular, evidence-based therapeutic contact produce outcomes comparable to residential treatment for many individuals.

Q2: How long does IOP treatment last?

The duration of IOP treatment varies based on individual clinical needs, the severity of symptoms, and the rate of progress. At Overland IOP, most patients participate in the program for 8 to 12 weeks, though some individuals may require a shorter or longer course of treatment. Treatment length is determined collaboratively between the patient and their clinical team and is reassessed regularly throughout the program. The goal is to provide enough structured support for patients to develop and strengthen the skills needed to maintain stability and progress independently.

Q3: What does a typical day in IOP look like at Overland IOP?

A typical IOP session at Overland is 3 hours long and includes a combination of individual therapy, group therapy, and psychoeducation or skills development. Group sessions focus on process-oriented discussion, coping skill practice, and peer support. Individual sessions address each patient’s specific treatment goals, clinical concerns, and personal progress. Patients may also meet with a psychiatrist for medication evaluation and management as part of their treatment plan. Sessions are available in morning, afternoon, and evening tracks so patients can choose the schedule that fits their daily responsibilities.

Q4: What conditions does IOP treat?

IOP at Overland treats a broad range of mental health and substance use conditions, including major depression, generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), bipolar disorder, alcohol use disorder, opioid use disorder, stimulant addiction, co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders (dual diagnosis), codependency, and other behavioral health concerns. Treatment plans are individualized based on comprehensive clinical assessment and may include CBT, DBT, ACT, medication management, and relapse prevention strategies depending on the patient’s diagnosis and goals.

Q5: Where is Overland IOP’s in-person program located in Los Angeles?

Overland IOP’s in-person Intensive Outpatient Program is located at 3415 Overland Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90034. The facility offers morning, afternoon, and evening scheduling tracks to accommodate a range of work, school, and family schedules. In-person IOP provides direct interaction with licensed therapists and peers in a dedicated clinical setting. Our admissions team is available 24/7 to answer questions, verify insurance, and begin the intake process.

Q6: Can I attend IOP virtually from anywhere in California?

Yes. Overland IOP’s virtual Intensive Outpatient Program is available to individuals located anywhere in California through our secure, HIPAA-compliant telehealth platform. Virtual IOP follows the same 3-hours-per-day, 3-to-5-days-per-week structure and delivers the same evidence-based therapeutic programming as our in-person program — including individual therapy, group therapy, psychiatric evaluation, and medication management. All sessions are conducted via live video with licensed clinicians in real time.

Q7: Does insurance cover IOP at Overland in Los Angeles and California?

Most major insurance plans cover Intensive Outpatient Programs, including Overland IOP’s in-person and virtual programs. Overland IOP accepts Aetna, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, Blue Shield of California, Kaiser, TRICARE, SAG-AFTRA, and other major insurance providers. Federal and California state mental health parity laws require insurers to cover mental health and substance use treatment at parity with medical and surgical benefits. Overland IOP’s admissions team verifies insurance coverage and explains benefits before treatment begins so patients understand their financial responsibility upfront.