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