If you are struggling with mental health symptoms, you are not alone. According to the National Institute on Mental Health (NIMH), “It is estimated that more than one in five U.S. adults live with a mental illness.”[1]
While residential care can be highly effective in managing mental health disorders, sometimes living at a facility isn’t feasible. If you are interested in receiving mental health care but want to continue living at home, intensive outpatient treatment might be right for you. These programs offer many of the same services as inpatient treatment, including individual therapy, group counseling, medication management, and more.
Choosing to attend an intensive outpatient program for your mental health is a huge step in the right direction. You’ll have to find a program that suits your needs. When you are choosing an IOP in Fort Pierce, you should look for one that offers individualized treatment, evidence-based therapies, specialized services, medication management, and aftercare.
How to Choose the Best Intensive Outpatient Program Near You
Intensive outpatient programs (IOPs) are considered one step down from partial hospitalization programs (PHPs). IOP treatment offers therapy sessions 3 to 5 days a week, focusing on helping you develop the coping skills you need to regain control over your life.
When choosing an IOP program, you should look for one that offers:
Individualized Treatment Planning
While some mental health programs in Fort Pierce use a one-size-fits-all approach to recovery, you should choose a treatment program that offers individualized care. When an IOP provides individualized treatment planning, they’ll have you complete an in-depth assessment to gather pertinent information about your mental health, history, needs, and goals.
Once the assessment is completed, the mental health professionals can draft a treatment plan that includes information like what type of mental illness you struggle with, whether you’ll need medication, what kinds of therapies are suited to your needs, and more. In other words, you receive a higher level of care when you choose an individualized treatment program.
Evidence-Based Therapies
Certain types of therapy are designed to treat specific mental health conditions. When you attend an IOP for mental health, you want to know that you will be participating in evidence-based treatments.
For example, cognitive processing therapy (CPT) is an evidence-based therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), while dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is indicated for borderline personality disorder (BPD).[2]
Your therapist will guide you through evidence-based therapies in individual and group sessions. You might also engage in family therapy to help your family learn more about your condition and how they can best support you.
Specialized Services
Some mental and behavioral health issues require specialized services. For example, treating eating disorders requires nutritional counseling, which means your IOP needs to have a nutritionist on staff who specializes in eating disorder recovery. Another example would be trauma-related disorders like PTSD, as you’ll need a professional who specializes in trauma-informed care.
By choosing a program that offers the specialized services you need, you guarantee that you’ll have access to the type of support that will help you recover.
Agape Behavioral Center accepts many private insurance plans
Medication Management
Another thing you should consider is whether the program offers psychiatric medication. Some mental health conditions like bipolar disorder require daily medication to fully recover. This is because your brain has chemical imbalances that need to be managed with medication.
IOP treatment centers that prescribe medication will use safe prescribing methods, which means you’ll only receive one dose at a time. This prevents you from abusing your medication while you are still learning healthy coping mechanisms.
Aftercare Support
Lastly, you want to pick an IOP program that offers aftercare support. Mental health recovery is a lifelong process that comes with hills and valleys. You might feel wonderful for a while and then discover that you need a little extra support.
IOPs that offer aftercare will provide you with the support you need after you complete their program. Aftercare might include services like:
- Continued therapy
- Medication management
- Referrals to additional mental health care
- Recommendations on local support groups and community-based support
- Life skills assistance like vocational training
Get Connected to a Mental Health IOP Near You
If you or a loved one is struggling with symptoms of depression, anxiety, mood swings, or any other mental health problem, it’s time to seek professional help. Dealing with an untreated mental illness can be incredibly lonely, isolating, and difficult. By obtaining help from mental health professionals, you make it possible to regain control over your mind and daily life.
Agape Behavioral Center is a highly rated intensive outpatient program in Fort Pierce for a wide range of mental health conditions. Whether you have depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, or co-occurring conditions like substance use disorders, we can help you recover.
At Agape Behavioral Center, we understand that mental health is a crucial aspect of overall well-being. That’s why we’ve made it our mission to provide the highest quality treatment and support for patients struggling with balancing mental health. We believe in the power of connection, empathy, and understanding, and we strive to create a safe treatment experience where everyone feels valued. Agape is love.
Contact us today for more information on our IOP for mental health in Fort Pierce.
References:
- The National Institute on Mental Health (NIMH): Mental Illness
- The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA): Evidence-Based Treatment
