Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)

A flexible, effective step toward recovery

Our Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) provides structured support for individuals facing mental health challenges without requiring 24/7 inpatient care. It’s a great option for those stepping down from a higher level of care or stepping up from traditional outpatient services.

What is IOP?

Our IOP is a short-term, focused behavioral health program designed to help people stabilize by:

• Developing coping skills.
• Making meaningful progress toward long-term recovery.

Participants attend the program three days a week for three hours a day while maintaining daily responsibilities, like work, school, or family life.

In addition to group therapy, patients receive individual therapy and for medication management.

Who Do We Help?

Our IOP serves people who are struggling with things like:

• Anxiety disorders.
• Bipolar disorder.
• Depression.
• Life transitions and managing emotions.
• Psychosis.
• Self-harm.
• Suicide thinking.
• Trauma and PTSD.

Whether you're navigating a recent crisis or managing a chronic condition, IOP provides the consistent care and connection you need.

We have many specialty care programs including:

• Bipolar IOP.
• LGBTQIA+ IOP.
• Mature Minds IOP for older adults with depression or anxiety.
• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and Anxiety IOP.  
• Perinatal IOP. (link to perinatal services)
• Perinatal OCD and Anxiety IOP. (link to perinatal IOP content)
• Resilient Minds IOP for individuals with psychosis. (link to CRS services)
• Transition-Age Youth IOP.
• Women’s IOP.

What to Expect

Our IOP offers:

Flexible scheduling

We offer morning options, afternoon options and evening options. We offer both in person and telehealth services.

Therapeutic groups

We use several evidence-based treatments to structure care, including:

• DBT skills training.
• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).
• Interpersonal and social rhythms therapy.
• Exposure with response prevention therapy.
• Safety planning.

Individual therapy

Participants receive individual sessions with a master level therapist on a regular basis.

Psychiatric services

Participants receive medication evaluations and ongoing management on a regular basis.

Family involvement

Your family members can participate in your care if you would like them to.

Personalized treatment plans

We tailor our care to meet your specific goals and needs.

Why Choose Our IOP?

Here are ways you or your loved one can benefit from our IOP:

• We are experienced. We have been providing IOP level of care in the western Pennsylvania region for more than 25 years and have been a leader in developing IOP specialty care programming.
• We collaborate. UPMC research scientists and experts support our work through ongoing teaching, training, and collaboration to ensure state of the art treatment interventions.
• We’re compassionate. Our dedicated clinicians provide considerate, caring behavioral health treatment for each person.
• We meet you where you are. Our IOP offers a supportive, nonjudgmental environment to foster your recovery and progress toward your own goals.

Take the Next Step

We welcome referrals from any provider, including your current therapist, medication provider, primary care provider (PCP), nurse practitioner, or specialty care provider.