Joint Commission Accredited · Licensed by California DHCS (#191267AP) · LegitScript Certified
An intensive outpatient program (IOP) at Simonds Recovery Centers is structured drug and alcohol treatment you attend while living at home in Los Angeles. It is built for people stepping down from inpatient or PHP, and for those who need real clinical support without 24/7 supervision. Sessions combine individual counseling, group therapy, and relapse prevention while you keep up work, school, or family.
What an intensive outpatient program is
An intensive outpatient program is a structured level of addiction treatment that provides multiple therapy sessions per week while you live at home. It sits between partial hospitalization (PHP) and standard outpatient care, giving you more support than weekly therapy but without an overnight stay. The point is intensity without disruption, so treatment fits around your daily responsibilities.
IOP is one of the most widely used levels of care in addiction treatment, most often as a step-down after higher levels. For people with milder needs who do not require detox, it can also be a starting point. Because IOP does not include medical detox, anyone who needs to withdraw safely completes detox first, then steps into IOP.
Who IOP is for
IOP is for people who need structured addiction treatment but do not require 24-hour supervision. It is a strong fit for those stepping down from inpatient rehab or a PHP, and for people whose situation lets them live at home while they treat their addiction.
It works best when home is stable and substance-free; people in an unstable or active-use environment often do better pairing IOP with sober living. The main requirements for an IOP program are medical stability, no need for 24-hour supervision, and enough day-to-day stability to live at home while attending several days a week of clinical structure.
What IOP looks like at Simonds
IOP at Simonds runs as structured therapy sessions several days per week, typically three to five days depending on your needs and progress. You attend during the day or around your schedule, then return home each evening.
Treatment combines individual counseling, group therapy, relapse prevention education, and mental health support. You work with licensed clinicians to address the underlying causes of addiction, build healthier coping strategies, and strengthen emotional stability. As progress holds, the structure eases, and many people step down into standard outpatient care or aftercare.
IOP vs. PHP
IOP and PHP are both outpatient levels, but they differ in intensity. PHP (partial hospitalization) is the higher level, with more hours of treatment per week and full-day programming, suited to people who need substantial daily structure. IOP is the next step down, with fewer hours per week, built for people ready for more independence while keeping consistent clinical support.
Many people move from PHP to IOP as they stabilize. The table below shows how the two compare.
IOP vs. PHP: how they compare
| Dimension | IOP (Intensive Outpatient) | PHP (Partial Hospitalization) |
| Intensity | Fewer hours per week | More hours per week, full-day programming |
| Schedule | Several days a week, part of the day | Most of the day, most weekdays |
| Living | Live at home, return home each evening | Live at home or sober living, return home evenings |
| Best for | Step-down from PHP; stable home; balancing work or school | Step-down from residential; needs substantial daily structure |
| Supervision | Structured but not full-day | Higher structure, closer to full-day care |
PHP is the right level when a person needs daily structure close to full-time care, while IOP fits once they are ready for more independence but still need consistent treatment. Many people step down from PHP into IOP as they stabilize.
What IOP treats
IOP at Simonds treats drug and alcohol addiction along with co-occurring mental health conditions. Many people in an intensive outpatient program are working through both a substance use disorder and a mental health condition like anxiety, depression, or PTSD, and our IOP includes dual diagnosis treatment for those needs.
Addressing both together matters, because an untreated mental health condition is a common driver of relapse. Treating the addiction and the underlying condition in the same program gives recovery a more stable footing. (Internal link: “dual diagnosis treatment” → /services/dual-diagnosis-treatment/)
How IOP fits into treatment
IOP is one stage in the full continuum of care at Simonds. Many people arrive at IOP after medical detox, residential treatment, or a PHP, and use it to hold their progress steady as they take on more independence.
Where IOP sits in the continuum of care
| Stage | What it provides |
| Medical detox | Supervised withdrawal management, before IOP when needed |
| Residential treatment | Full-time clinical care in a live-in setting |
| PHP | Full-day outpatient treatment, most weekdays |
| IOP | Several days a week of structured treatment while living at home |
| Sober living / Alumni | Substance-free housing and ongoing recovery community |
IOP comes after detox and the higher levels of care for most people, though some with milder needs start here. The right path is set by clinical assessment, not a fixed sequence.
Insurance and getting started
IOP is part of the treatment we provide, and most major insurance plans cover intensive outpatient treatment for addiction. We work with carriers including Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, Optum, and Humana, among others, and our admissions team confirms your specific benefits before you start.
Verifying benefits takes a few minutes and carries no obligation. Submit the insurance verification form or call +1 (833) 781-8338.
Medically reviewed by
Chris Small, M.D. Addiction Psychiatrist. Dr. Small is board certified in Psychiatry, Addiction Medicine, and Family Medicine. He earned his medical degree at the University of Hawaii and completed his residency in Psychiatry and Family Medicine at UCSD.
Take the next step toward recovery that fits your life
Talk to our admissions team about whether IOP is the right level of care for you. Call +1 (833) 781-8338 or verify your insurance now.
