About Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)
The Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) at Trust SoCal provides a structured yet flexible level of care that allows clients to continue working, attending school, and fulfilling family responsibilities while receiving substantive clinical treatment for substance use disorders. Based at our JCAHO-accredited facility in Fountain Valley, Orange County, our IOP is designed for individuals who have completed a higher level of care or who require more support than traditional weekly outpatient therapy can provide.
IOP at Trust SoCal meets three to five days per week for approximately three hours per session, typically in the morning or evening to accommodate work and school schedules. Each session includes a combination of group therapy, individual counseling, psychoeducation, and skills training focused on relapse prevention, emotional regulation, and real-world application of recovery strategies. The reduced time commitment compared to PHP allows clients to immediately apply what they learn in treatment to their daily lives, strengthening the neural pathways and behavioral patterns associated with sustained recovery.
Our IOP clinical team includes licensed therapists, certified addiction counselors, and psychiatric providers who deliver individualized, evidence-based care. Treatment plans are developed during a comprehensive clinical assessment and reviewed biweekly to ensure they reflect each client's current needs and progress. Clients with co-occurring mental health conditions receive integrated psychiatric care, including medication management and monitoring.
Group therapy is a central component of our IOP, with sessions addressing topics such as relapse prevention strategies, healthy coping mechanisms, stress management, interpersonal skills, and building a sober support network. The group format provides peer accountability, shared learning, and the emotional support of others who understand the recovery experience firsthand. Individual therapy sessions complement group work by addressing personal issues, trauma, family dynamics, and other factors specific to each client's recovery.
IOP is a critical level of care in the continuum of treatment because it serves as the bridge between the clinical structure of residential or PHP programming and the independence of traditional outpatient care. At Trust SoCal, we view IOP not as a reduction in treatment but as a strategic increase in real-world practice, where clients test and refine their recovery skills with the safety net of consistent clinical support.
The typical duration of IOP is 8 to 12 weeks, though some clients may participate longer depending on their clinical needs and recovery progress. Our clinical team monitors each client's stability, coping capacity, and risk factors to determine the appropriate time to transition to standard outpatient care. Call (949) 280-8360 to discuss whether IOP is the right level of care for your situation.