Our Intensive Outpatient Program Orange County

Get Effective Outpatient Programs for the OC at South Shores

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Not everyone can attend residential treatment for mental health conditions or substance abuse. Inpatient care may not be necessary for some individuals. For others, it may not be feasible due to work, school, cost, and other factors. In that case, an intensive outpatient program can be an ideal solution.

Research on intensive outpatient programs shows that they are effective for the treatment of substance use and mental health issues. Advantages of outpatient programs include but aren’t limited to the ability to apply coping skills to your daily life in real-time, tend to external obligations, and sleep at home or in sober living rather than in an inpatient treatment center.

Still, you might ask: How do you know if outpatient care is right for you? South Shores Detox and Recovery can help. We have a full continuum of care, ranging from our IOP program to more intensive treatment programs.

Like our partial hospitalization program, our intensive outpatient program in Orange County is a top choice in outpatient substance abuse, dual diagnosis, and mental health treatment. We provide free intake assessments so that you can confidently choose the right level of care and approach to treatment.

First, let’s discuss how to know whether outpatient treatment is right for you, what to expect in our intensive outpatient programs, and why South Shores is a leading treatment option. Then, we’ll talk about the role of sober living and go over substance-free activities clients in our intensive outpatient program in Orange County can enjoy in the area outside of treatment.

Who is Intensive Outpatient Treatment For?

South Shores Detox and Recovery offers a full continuum of care so that you or your loved one who needs help with addiction, mental health, or dual diagnosis concerns can access the treatment option(s) they need. This includes medical detox, residential inpatient, and several outpatient care options: Our partial hospitalization program and intensive outpatient program.

Outpatient care can be more suitable than inpatient care for some clients, which could be the case for a number of different reasons. Here are some of the possible reasons you might opt for an intensive outpatient program:

You have external commitments and cannot take time off. For example, you may have family responsibilities, work, or school to take care of outside of treatment hours. Not everyone has the means to take time off, which can make outpatient care a fitting option as long as their symptoms are stable.
You have well-managed symptoms. In general, if you have mild or well-managed symptoms, you may not need inpatient addiction or mental health treatment.
You have completed inpatient care. Partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient programs can be an initial form of care, but they can also be used as part of a step-down program to help people transition out of inpatient rehab.

An intensive outpatient program (IOP) is a specific form of outpatient treatment service. Generally, IOP requires a time commitment between that of a partial hospitalization program (PHP) and a traditional outpatient program. The lower time commitment gives people who need to continue work or school while in treatment optimal flexibility.

While IOP programs are excellent treatment options for many people, inpatient programs with 24/7 support may be a better fit if you have unmanaged symptoms at this time. For example, if you have a substance use disorder but cannot manage cravings and other symptoms outside of outpatient treatment hours, residential treatment is likely ideal.

However, if an intensive outpatient program or a related level of care, such as our partial hospitalization program, sounds like the right match, you might wonder what to expect. Entering a residential program with a plan to transition into outpatient programming can lead to improved treatment outcomes, which is also something to consider.

What to Expect in Outpatient Substance Abuse and Mental Health Treatment at South Shores Detox and Recovery

Our IOP program is unlike any other. South Shore Detox and Recovery presents a supportive environment and premium, comprehensive treatment from addiction and mental health experts who have been in the field for many years. As a South Shores client, this is something you’ll benefit from whether you’re in outpatient programming or one of our inpatient programs.

Getting help for a substance use or mental health condition can feel daunting when you don’t know what it will be like. Here are some of the things that set South Shore’s addiction and mental health treatment services in Orange County apart from the rest.

Conditions Treated at South Shores

South Shores treats all-to-most levels and types of substance abuse. We also provide specialized care for mental health conditions, such as depression, bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder, anxiety disorders, and trauma disorders.

It is very common for people with substance use disorders to have at least one co-occurring mental illness. If this is the case, dual diagnosis treatment, which addresses addiction and mental health disorders at the same time, is recommended.

South Shores offers dual diagnosis treatment in all of our care levels, including our IOP program. If you want to know whether we can help with a specific concern not listed on our website, please contact South Shores Detox and Recovery for more information.

Evidence-Based Individual and Group Therapy

Across the board, intensive outpatient programs typically include various group therapy sessions throughout the week and at least once weekly individual therapy. Our expert staff members use an extensive range of evidence-based and supportive holistic treatments in these sessions to help our clients achieve the most successful recovery possible.

Evidence-based treatments refer to treatments known to effectively treat a specific mental or physical health condition. Examples of therapies used at South Shores include but aren’t limited to the following:

Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR).
Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT).
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).
Motivational interviewing (MI).
Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT).
Cognitive processing therapy (CPT).
Art therapy.

South Shores also offers additional life-enhancing therapies like surf therapy for mental health and addiction. All of the clients at South Shores Detox and Recovery get individualized treatment plans crafted to fit their specific needs, so your treatment schedule will be unique to you.

Family Therapy Sessions

Substance abuse and mental health conditions affect the entire family. On top of individual therapy sessions and group therapy sessions, family counseling or therapy can play an integral role in your care. Who attends family therapy (e.g., siblings, parents, grandparents, or other family members) will be unique to you and your needs.

In family therapy sessions, you will work with your loved ones on communication, understanding, healing, and overcoming trauma that may have affected you as a unit, whether related to a condition or something else. Family therapy is a safe space to talk about things that might be hard to address otherwise.

Additionally, family members do not fully understand substance use or mental health disorders, including their symptoms and causes, at times. We are here to give your loved ones education on substance use disorders, eating disorders, and other mental health conditions.

Medication Management Services

Medication can be used to treat mental health and substance use disorders. For many mental health conditions, combined therapy and medication is the #1 recommended approach. Clients in all of our programs, including both our residential treatment program and outpatient options, are able to access combined therapy and, when applicable, medication.

If you live with a substance use disorder, medication-assisted treatment options (MAT) can be beneficial in some instances. Prospective IOP clients seeking addiction treatment are eligible for MAT. Staff members will monitor your medication(s) closely for the duration of your program.

Life Skills and Occupational Support

An effective treatment program must consider all aspects of your life. All of our treatment programs offer life skills training and job or education exploration and support. We’re here to help you build or rebuild your life and set you up for success.

Relapse Prevention and Aftercare Planning

Aftercare is an important part of the recovery process for those who attend inpatient or outpatient treatment services. Before you graduate from treatment at South Shores, our staff members will help you make a custom relapse prevention and aftercare plan.

What your aftercare plan looks like will depend on who you are and what you need. Many clients who graduate from intensive treatment programs benefit from services like continued individual therapy, group therapy sessions, support groups for mental illness or addiction, and continued medication management.

Our alumni program lets former South Shore clients continue to connect with the support system they built through our services post-treatment. Aftercare planning can also include plans to stay in sober housing, work or education-related goals, and more.

How Sober Living Facilities Can Help During or After Outpatient Services

Many people in intensive outpatient treatment benefit from sober living. Although it is not a requirement that people attending partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient, or outpatient treatment at South Shores stay in sober living facilities by any means, it can be advantageous for a number of reasons.

In both our PHP programs and our intensive outpatient program, Orange County residents and clients coming to treatment from other areas often find that it’s easier to get to outpatient care at South Shores when they stay in a sober living home close to our facilities. While we are in the OC in Dana Point, we recognize that the large population size and traffic in the area may be a barrier for clients attending care multiple days per week.

Sober living homes provide accountability and community paired with the freedom of a standard rental agreement. Accordingly, sober living can help clients maintain sobriety outside of treatment hours without entering an inpatient rehab program because it is a substance-free space.

South Shores Detox and Recovery offers sober living support for clients who may find staying in sober living helpful. Please call our admissions line for more information about sober living.

Outdoor Sober Activities in the OC

Orange County is known for a wide array of world-famous beaches and other outdoor activities. Whether you’re making a list of outdoor activities to enjoy outside of treatment hours or when your program is over, here are just some examples of the outdoor activities Orange County, California, has to offer.

Huntington Beach.
Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve.
Shipley Nature Center.
Salt Creek Beach, Dana Point.
Newport Beach.
Whale Watching Cruise From Newport Beach.
Whale Watching Excursion in Dana Point.
Irvine Regional Park.
Orange County Ropes Course.
Red Rock Canyon.
Oak Canyon Nature Center.
Theme Parks.

Spending time in nature is associated with better mental health. While these are all great activities to enjoy outside of treatment, our facility provides exposure to outdoor activities, fitness, nutrition support, and more to aid whole-person healing.

Indoor Sober Activities in the OC

As an outpatient client, you might be looking for sober activities to explore on your own or with your loved ones outside of treatment hours. Thankfully, recovering in Orange County is rich with options. Here are some substance-free attractions and activities to enjoy in Orange County.

Mission Escape Games.
Segerstrom Center for the Arts.
Lyon Air Museum.
Marconi Automotive Museum.
Surfing Heritage and Culture Center.
Laguna Playhouse.
Flightdeck Simulation Center.
K1 Speed – Indoor Go Karts.
Big Air Trampoline Park.
Sky Zone Trampoline Park.
Bowers Museum,

The OC also has a host of child-friendly activities, such as Pretend City Children’s Museum, We Play Loud Kid’s Indoor Playground, Candee Land, Little World Kid Playground & Games, and Tyke Time.

To find out what we can do for you, contact South Shores Detox and Recovery today.

Get Intensive Outpatient Treatment for Substance Use and Mental Health Disorders at South Shores Detox and Recovery

Our outpatient services can help you or your loved one get to where you want to be. Whether you’re ready to pursue treatment or simply want to learn more about what South Shores Detox and Recovery has to offer, call the admissions line on our website now!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Intensive Outpatient Treatment

What are the goals of an intensive outpatient program?

The objective of an intensive outpatient program (IOP) is to treat substance abuse or a mental health disorder, such as an eating disorder or a mood disorder, without the around-the-clock supervision you’d get in a residential treatment setting. Whether you’re at an outpatient or inpatient treatment facility, you’ll often work with staff to establish additional personal goals.

Generally, the goal of inpatient or outpatient addiction treatment is to maintain long-term sobriety, develop coping skills, and effectively navigate or prevent relapse. For mental health disorders (e.g., bipolar disorder), goals often include symptom management or reduction, stabilized emotional health, and a better quality of life.

How do I find AA Meetings in Orange County?

Support groups like AA can play an important role in offering cost-free, ongoing support after treatment. You can find Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meetings in Orange County through the official AA website. Go to the Find A.A. Near You page on the AA website to find a meeting near you.

How do I find NA Meetings in Orange County?

Similar to AA, you can find Narcotics Anonymous (NA) meetings in Orange County using the official NA website. To find an NA meeting in your area, go to the NA Meeting Search page on the NA website.

Virtual options for both AA and NA are available if they are preferable or more accessible for you or your loved one facing substance abuse. The same is true for Al-Anon and Nar-Anon meetings, designed for loved ones of those with substance use disorders.

References

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