Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) in Los Angeles
Intensive outpatient program in Los Angeles for 9 to 15 hours a week, with morning and evening sessions, at Create Recovery Center’s Los Angeles center. Treatment for substance use, mental health, or both.
An intensive outpatient program in Los Angeles gives you consistent clinical care for 9-15 hours per week while you keep your studies, job, and family life. Create Recovery’s IOP in Los Angeles offers morning, afternoon, and evening sessions so treatment fits around your day.
Many of those considering IOP are not in crisis.
They are still working, maintaining responsibilities, and showing up in their daily lives, but beginning to notice that something feels harder to manage than before.
IOP is often designed for this stage: when you need more care and structure, but not full separation from your life.
You can even benefit from a program that can allow you to receive strong clinical structure and care while you still live at home, pursue your studies or job, and stay connected to your world. This is where an intensive outpatient program (IOP) can make a significant difference. Even peer-reviewed studies published in reputable journals have underlined the efficacy of IOPs in treating substance use and mental health concerns.
Create Recovery Center’s IOP provides structured treatment sessions for substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health conditions, but also offers you the flexibility to return to your home and daily responsibilities after. This way, you can maintain your daily life, so you don’t have to choose between your life and your recovery.
IOP Program: At a Glance
| Hours Per Week | 9 to 15 |
|---|---|
| Days Per Week | 3 to 5 |
| Session Length | 3 to 5 hours |
| Tracks | Morning, afternoon, and evening |
| Typical Length | 12 weeks |
| Location | West Los Angeles, serving Playa Vista, Culver City, Mar Vista, Venice, and Santa Monica, among others. |
| Insurance | PPO accepted. |
| Start | Same-day start may be available, depending on assessment |
| Who It Is For | Adults |
What Is Our Intensive Outpatient Program in Los Angeles?
An intensive outpatient program runs for 9 to 15 hours per week, typically 3 to 5 hours per day for 3 to 5 days per week. At Create Recovery, you can attend a morning track, an afternoon track, or an evening track, so you can finish school or work and still make your sessions.
IOP, while intensive, is a lower level of care in the outpatient treatment continuum for substance use disorders. It is typically integrated as a step-down option as you transition from a residential or partial hospitalization program (PHP) to ensure recovery maintenance.
One of the unique things about IOP is that it does not isolate you from your world, so that you can practice the tools and skills you learn in therapy or life skills training sessions immediately after, in real-life settings. This way, you reinforce healthier habits and routines that prioritize your recovery going forward.
This structure allows you to begin recovery without stepping away from your responsibilities, making it one of the most practical options for individuals balancing treatment with daily life. Our IOP addiction treatment in Los Angeles and mental health IOP in Los Angeles cover substance use, anxiety, depression, trauma, and other mental health needs, so you can receive structured, integrated care under one program.
Who an IOP Program Is Designed For
Not everyone who needs clinical oversight and structure needs inpatient care.
Many are in a place where things are still manageable, but becoming harder to control, more frequent, or more mentally exhausting than before.
While only a licensed and qualified clinician can determine whether IOP is the right level of care for you or if you need higher levels of care, IOP can be ideal for those who:
- Experience mild to moderate substance use or mental health symptoms
- Can maintain a level of stability outside of a clinical setting
- Have experienced a relapse before or are on the verge of another relapse
- Are stepping down from higher levels of care, such as a PHP
- Need the flexibility to attend rehab while working, studying, or carrying out other obligations
- Can commute to and from the treatment center
- Have a supportive environment at home
If several of these feel familiar, IOP may be the level of care that helps you stabilize while continuing to move forward in your daily life.
Who IOP Is Not For
IOP may not be enough if you need daily structure, medically supervised detox, or 24/7 supervision. If that may be what you need, our team will clinically evaluate your needs and refer you to the right level of care.
Signs You May Need More Support: Even If You Are Still Functioning
You do not have to be in crisis to benefit from structured support.
Many of those in IOP are still functioning outwardly, but noticing internal patterns that are becoming harder to manage:
- You have tried to cut back, but patterns tend to return
- You feel “fine” on the surface, but are more overwhelmed internally
- You are starting to question your relationship with substances
- You are managing responsibilities, but it is taking more effort than it used to
If this feels familiar to you, this is often where IOP becomes most effective, before things escalate further.
What an IOP Treatment Looks Like
An intensive outpatient program treatment schedule can be personalized to fit your needs and goals; however, a typical week at Create Recovery involves:
- Morning check-in
- Individual therapy
- Group therapy
- Psychiatric consultations, medication-assisted treatment, and safe medication management services (when required)
- Coping and life skills training
- Holistic practices (nutrition, sleep, exercise, mindfulness, etc.)
- Relapse prevention
- Evening check-in and planning for the next session
Most participants in our IOP attend treatment for about 9 to 15 hours per week, with schedules designed to fit around academics, work, or family responsibilities. Your exact hours are based on your needs, so you get consistent care without putting your everyday life on hold.
Can You Study or Work While in an Intensive Outpatient Program?
One of the most common concerns you may have is whether you can continue studying or working while receiving treatment.
IOP is specifically designed to make this possible.
Many wish to:
- Attend school
- Maintain full-time or part-time jobs
- Manage family responsibilities
With flexible scheduling options, including evening sessions, IOP allows you to prioritize recovery without stepping away from your life entirely.
Morning or Evening IOP: Which Track Fits You?
Our morning and afternoon tracks typically suit students, parents with school-day hours, and anyone who works a later shift. Our evening IOP better fits working professionals who need to be at the office during the day.
What Is Included in Our IOP
- Clinical assessment and a personalized treatment plan
- Individual therapy
- Group therapy
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
- Dual diagnosis care
- Medication management
- Relapse prevention
- Skills training
- Case management, including help with housing, employment, and legal matters
- Aftercare planning and our alumni program
Conditions and Substances We Treat
We treat anxiety, depression, stress, burnout, and trauma and PTSD, among others. We also treat alcohol, opioid, prescription drug, stimulant, and cannabis use.
Dual Diagnosis Care in IOP Treatment
Substance use disorder does not happen in isolation. Many of those who struggle with substance use also live with mental health concerns, such as:
- Anxiety disorders
- Depressive disorders and bipolar disorders
- Trauma and post-traumatic stress disorders
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder
- Personality disorders
- Schizophrenia
- Stress-related disorders
Recovery does not happen in isolation either. Substance use and mental health concerns exacerbate each other, like a toxic cycle. Treating both conditions together, known as dual diagnosis treatment, offers a comprehensive, well-rounded path to recovery and reduces the risk of relapse.
If you are considering treatment, even if you are unsure, you do not have to figure everything out first.
You can begin by simply asking questions and understanding your options.
IOP vs PHP: Understanding the Difference
Understanding the difference between IOP vs PHP rehab can help you understand which level of outpatient care best fits your needs and goals.
Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP)
- Higher level of structure and clinical care
- 6 to 8 hours per day, 5 days per week
- More intensive daytime treatment with close clinical supervision
- Often used in early recovery when more clinical care and structure are needed
- Can be the first step after detox or residential treatment
- Stabilization, skill-building, and relapse prevention
- You live at home and attend treatment during the day
Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)
- Moderate level of structure with continued clinical care
- 9 to 15 hours per week, flexible sessions
- Less intensive, focused on maintaining recovery and easing your transition to daily life
- Commonly used after PHP or when stability has improved
- You may often transition from PHP into IOP as recovery progresses
- Maintaining recovery, strengthening coping skills, and reintegration into daily life
- You live at home and attend treatment sessions as per the schedule
IOP and PHP are two highly intensive levels in the outpatient continuum of care. They do not need to be viewed distinctly, but can be integrated together in your recovery journey as you need a dynamic treatment that moves with you as you move from strength to strength. If you finish PHP, you can step down to IOP. If IOP is not enough, we can step you back up to PHP.
If you are unsure which level of care fits you best, the decision often comes down to how much care and structure you currently need.
Insurance and Payment for IOP in Los Angeles
We accept PPO plans, including Aetna, Cigna, Anthem, Blue Cross, and Tufts.
Here is how verification works:
You can call us or send your details through our secure form.
Our insurance team contacts your insurance provider and reviews your behavioral health benefits.
We explain what your plan may cover and your likely out-of-pocket costs.
Most verifications are done the same day. It is free, confidential, and does not require you to commit to treatment.
What you pay depends on your plan, including your deductible, out-of-pocket maximum, and whether we are in network. We will give you an estimate before you decide on anything.
Why Choose Create Recovery for IOP Treatment?
Create Recovery Center offers structured intensive outpatient programs designed for you or a loved one who needs consistent care while pursuing studies, jobs, and other responsibilities. Our IOP provides evidence-based clinical care without removing you from your everyday life.
With a licensed, highly experienced clinical team, a confidential, non-judgmental recovery environment, and a Los Angeles location that makes recovery empowering, our program ensures you stay engaged in recovery as you rebuild a life you are willing to embrace.
Our Los Angeles Location
Our treatment center is located at 5300A Beethoven St Ste A, Los Angeles, CA 90066. If you are looking for an IOP near you in Los Angeles, we are a short commute from Playa Vista, Culver City, Mar Vista, Venice, and Santa Monica, and we welcome clients from across Los Angeles.
If you are willing to relocate to Los Angeles specifically for treatment, we can connect you with partner transitional housing and sober living homes to make this transition easier.
What Our Clients Say
Taking a Step Forward In Your Healing Journey
You do not have to have everything figured out from the beginning. A quick, confidential conversation can help you understand:
Whether IOP fits your needs and recovery goals
How treatment can work with your schedule
What your next step can look like
Reaching out does not mean committing to anything right away. It is just about receiving the clarity you need to make informed decisions about your care, which becomes the foundation for your healthier life going forward.
Frequently Asked Questions About Intensive Outpatient Program in Los Angeles
How long does IOP last?
The length of IOP varies from person to person. Typically, an IOP lasts for 12 weeks.
How many hours a day is IOP?
At Create Recovery, IOP sessions run 3 to 5 hours a day, 3 days a week, for 9 to 15 hours a week.
What does an IOP do?
An intensive outpatient program, or IOP, is an intensive level of outpatient treatment for substance use disorders and mental health concerns. It combines individual and group therapy, skills training, and medication management while you live at home.
Is IOP like rehab?
IOP is a form of rehab, but it is provided in an outpatient setting, in that you get to keep your daily routine and sleep in your own bed. It offers less structure than inpatient or PHP care and is the best fit for those who are stable enough to practice recovery in daily life.
Can I go to school or work during IOP?
Our morning, afternoon, and evening tracks are built so you can keep studying or working.
Is there an evening IOP?
We run an evening track from 6 PM to 9 PM, Monday to Friday.
Is IOP covered by insurance?
IOP treatment can be fully or partially covered by private insurance policies. We accept PPO plans. You can call Create Recovery at (866) 885-3042 to confidentially verify your insurance coverage the same day.
What happens after IOP?
After completing an IOP program, you typically step down to less intensive care, such as outpatient therapy or aftercare, to ensure and maintain a lasting recovery. Our aftercare and alumni program keeps you connected to your journey.