Processing group
Teens share what has been going on with peers and a facilitator in a structured group setting.
Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)
Three to four days a week, mornings or afternoons. More support than weekly therapy, with school and home still part of daily life.
What it is
IOP is for teens who need more than weekly therapy and can still attend school and live at home. The week is structured around skills that can be practiced where daily life is happening.
Teen groups meet three days a week — Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday — and follow a three-part structure: a processing group with peers and a facilitator, skills building with DBT and polyvagal-informed work, and an experiential group with art therapy, music therapy, somatic exercises, and mindfulness. A parent DBT skills group meets Tuesdays for some families, so IOP runs three to four days a week. Individual therapy and family sessions run alongside the group program.
Most teens are in IOP for about 6 to 12 weeks, though length of stay is individualized. It is decided with the teen, family, and treatment team, and reviewed throughout care as clinical progress and insurance authorization take shape.
Teens go home every evening. School, friendships, and family life remain part of the week, giving teens a place to use new skills as they learn them.
Sample weekly schedule
A week teens can count on.
Teen groups meet Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday, with a morning option (9am–12pm) or an afternoon option (3:30–6:30pm). A parent DBT skills group meets Tuesdays from 3:30–6:30pm for some families.
Skills-building group
DBT and polyvagal-informed skills work: distress tolerance, emotion regulation, mindfulness, and interpersonal effectiveness.
Experiential group
Art, music, movement, somatic exercises, and mindfulness reinforce the skills being practiced.
Individual and family therapy are scheduled alongside the group program. Admissions will walk you through how those sessions fit into your teen's week.
What it includes
- Group therapy on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday
- A DBT skills curriculum taught in sequence: mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness
- Polyvagal-informed and somatic work (experiential therapy)
- Art therapy and music therapy (expressive therapy)
- Mindfulness practice, including nature walks at our lakeside Apex location
- Individual therapy alongside the group program
- Family therapy, built into treatment
- Care coordination with outside providers, as clinically indicated
- Discharge planning and transition support
Who it's for
- Teens who need more than weekly therapy but are stable enough to live at home and attend school
- Teens stepping down from PHP or a higher level of care
- Adolescents ages 10–17
Programming is developmentally appropriate across ages 10–17, and our admissions team will explain how groups are organized for your child's age.
For parents
What parents need to know
Will my teen be able to stay in school?
Yes. Many families choose the afternoon group (3:30–6:30pm), which meets after the school day, so teens keep their regular schedule. A morning group (9am–12pm) is also available. Groups meet Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
Do they go home every evening?
Yes, every night. IOP is fully outpatient, and your teen sleeps at home for the length of the program.
How involved will I be?
Family therapy is part of the work, and you'll have regular contact with your teen's treatment team. For some families, a parent DBT skills group meets on Tuesdays, so parents learn the same skills their teen is practicing and the tools your teen brings home are ones you recognize.
What will my teen be doing each week?
Three group sessions — Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday — each with the same three-part structure: processing with peers, DBT and polyvagal skills practice, and experiential work with art, music, somatic exercises, and mindfulness. Individual therapy runs alongside the group program.
What do they leave with?
Four DBT skill sets, taught in sequence: mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness. Teens practice them in session, and the skills are designed to work at home, at school, and in relationships.
Questions about IOP.
What does a typical week look like?
Teen groups meet Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday, with a morning option (9am–12pm) or an afternoon option (3:30–6:30pm). A parent DBT skills group meets Tuesdays from 3:30–6:30pm for some families, so IOP runs three to four days a week. Individual and family therapy are scheduled alongside the group program.
Can my teen stay in school during IOP?
Yes. Many families choose the afternoon group (3:30–6:30pm) so teens keep their regular school day, coming to Joshua Tree on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday. A morning group (9am–12pm) is also available.
How long does IOP last?
Most teens are in IOP for about 6 to 12 weeks. Length of stay is individualized — decided with the teen, family, and treatment team and reviewed throughout care, and it depends on clinical progress, insurance authorization, and medical need.
How quickly can we start?
There is no waitlist. A typical start is three to five days from first contact, depending on scheduling and insurance verification.
Will our family be involved?
Yes. Family therapy is built into treatment, and you'll hear from your teen's treatment team regularly throughout the program.
Does insurance cover IOP?
Coverage depends on your specific plan. We'll verify your insurance benefits and walk you through expected costs before care begins. We do not accept Medicaid.
Not sure if IOP is the right level?
You do not have to choose the level of care yourself. Tell admissions what has been happening, and we will explain the next step.