Recovery That Fits Your Teen’s Life
You’re committed to getting your teen the help they need, but their life doesn’t stop — school, friendships, family, extracurriculars. Guardian Recovery’s Adolescent Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) offers structured, powerful treatment that works around your teen’s daily commitments, not against them.
At Guardian Recovery, our Adolescent IOP provides structured, age-appropriate treatment three to four days a week, offering intensive therapeutic support while allowing your teen to stay connected to school, family, and the routines that matter. Your teen will receive the intensive care they need to build and maintain sobriety while living at home, continuing school, and practicing recovery skills in real-world settings.
This is where recovery meets real life. Your teen isn’t isolated from the world — they’re learning to navigate it sober, with expert support guiding them every step of the way. Our approach is designed specifically for young people — engaging, relevant, and focused on building the coping skills and self-awareness they need to thrive.
What Is Adolescent Intensive Outpatient Treatment?
Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) is a structured treatment approach for substance use disorder that provides significant clinical support without requiring your teen to live at a facility. Your teen attends scheduled therapy sessions during designated times — typically after school or during flexible hours — then returns home to practice what they’ve learned.
IOP at Guardian Recovery means:
- Structured treatment sessions three to four days a week
- Living at home while receiving intensive clinical care
- Group therapy with peers who understand their struggles, individual counseling, and psychiatric support
- Evidence-based treatment that fits around school, family, and extracurricular activities
- Flexibility to maintain daily responsibilities while prioritizing recovery
- Real-world application of recovery skills with ongoing professional support
- Treatment for both substance use and co-occurring mental health disorders
- Age-appropriate programming designed specifically for adolescents
Think of IOP as intensive support with real-world practice. Your teen is building recovery skills during treatment sessions and immediately applying them in their daily life — with their treatment team there to help them navigate challenges as they arise.
Covered by Insurance?
Who Is Our Adolescent IOP Rehab Program Right For?
Guardian Recovery’s Adolescent Intensive Outpatient Program serves teens at various points in their recovery journey.
IOP may be right for your teen if:
They’re Stepping Down from Higher Levels of Care:
- They’ve completed residential treatment or PHP and are ready for more independence
- They’ve built a strong foundation and need ongoing support while transitioning back to school and daily life
- They’re stable in recovery but not quite ready for minimal support
- They want to maintain momentum and accountability as they take on more responsibilities
They’re Starting Treatment at IOP Level:
- They need structured substance use treatment but don’t require 24-hour care
- Their substance use is problematic but they haven’t needed medical detox
- They have a stable, supportive home environment
- They can safely manage between sessions with family support
- They’re open — even reluctantly — to getting help and can maintain abstinence with support
They Need More Than Traditional Outpatient:
- Weekly therapy isn’t providing enough structure or accountability
- They’re at risk for relapse and need more frequent support
- They need intensive skill-building but can manage between sessions
- They’ve tried less intensive treatment and need more support
- They benefit from regular group therapy and peer connection with other teens
They Can Maintain Daily Responsibilities:
- They have school, family, or extracurricular obligations they can’t put on hold
- They need treatment that fits around their schedule
- They have reliable transportation to attend sessions
- They can remain abstinent between sessions with family support
- They’re able to apply recovery skills independently with guidance
They Have Co-Occurring Mental Health Conditions:
- They’re managing depression, anxiety, trauma, ADHD, or other mental health disorders alongside substance use
- They need integrated treatment but don’t require hospitalization-level care
- They benefit from regular psychiatric support and medication management
- They need skills for managing mental health symptoms without substances
What to Expect at Guardian Recovery’s Adolescent IOP
Before Your Teen Starts
When you contact us, our admissions team will:
- Conduct a comprehensive clinical assessment to determine if IOP is the appropriate level of care
- Review your teen’s substance use history, previous treatment, academic standing, and recovery goals
- Discuss your teen’s current living situation, family support system, and daily responsibilities
- Assess any co-occurring mental health conditions
- Verify your insurance coverage and explain costs
- Answer all your questions about program structure and expectations
- Help you choose a schedule that works with your teen’s school and family life
We’ll make sure IOP is the right fit before your family commits.
Your Teen’s First Week
Initial Assessment:
- Comprehensive intake with your teen’s primary therapist
- Development of an individualized treatment plan
- Psychiatric evaluation if needed
- Review of program expectations, schedule, and goals
- Introduction to therapy groups
Getting Oriented:
- Meet the treatment team and fellow group members
- Learn the structure and flow of sessions
- Begin identifying personal triggers and goals
- Start building relationships with peers in recovery
- Understand what success looks like in IOP
Many teens feel nervous joining a group — that’s completely normal. Our facilitators specialize in working with young people and create a welcoming environment. Your teen will quickly realize everyone is there for the same reason: to get better.
What Happens During Adolescent IOP Sessions
Each session is structured and purposeful, designed to maximize your teen’s learning and growth.
Typical Session Flow
Check-In (15–20 minutes)
- Share how they’ve been since the last session
- Discuss any challenges, triggers, or successes
- Set intentions for today’s session
- Build accountability with the group
Main Therapy Session (90–120 minutes)
- Group Therapy: Core therapeutic work with their peer cohort — building connections and learning from others on similar paths
- Psychoeducation: Learning about addiction, recovery, and mental health in age-appropriate ways
- Skill-Building: Practicing coping strategies and relapse prevention techniques
- Process Work: Exploring emotions, relationships, and underlying issues
- Experiential Activities: Role-plays, mindfulness exercises, or creative therapies designed to engage young people
Closing & Wrap-Up (15–20 minutes)
- Summarize key takeaways from the session
- Assign therapeutic homework or practice assignments
- Address any immediate concerns
- Confirm next session attendance
- Encourage application of skills before the next meeting
Break time is included for restroom, refreshments, and informal peer connection.
Coverage Options Made Simple
Treatment Components in Adolescent IOP
Group Therapy: The Heart of IOP
Group therapy is the primary treatment modality in IOP, and for good reason — it works. Your teen will participate in group therapy sessions with peers who understand their struggles, fostering connection, accountability, and the realization that they’re not alone.
Types of groups your teen will participate in:
Process Groups: Share experiences in a safe, supportive environment. Receive feedback from peers who understand. Learn they’re not alone. Practice healthy communication and relationship skills.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Groups: Identify negative thought patterns that drive substance use. Learn to challenge and reframe distorted thinking. Develop healthier cognitive habits that support sobriety. Practice applying CBT skills to real-life situations — including school, friendships, and family dynamics.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Groups: Master skills for managing intense emotions without substances. Learn distress tolerance for getting through cravings and difficult moments. Improve interpersonal effectiveness and communication. Practice mindfulness for staying present.
Relapse Prevention Groups: Identify personal triggers and high-risk situations — including peer pressure, social media, and school stress. Develop detailed relapse prevention plans with specific action steps. Learn to recognize early warning signs before relapse occurs. Build resilience and confidence in maintaining sobriety.
Trauma-Focused Groups: Understand the connection between past trauma and current substance use. Begin healing old wounds in a safe, supportive group setting. Learn trauma-informed coping skills. Process difficult experiences with professional guidance.
Recovery Integration and Fellowships: Explore age-appropriate recovery principles and fellowship resources. Work through foundational recovery concepts with guidance. Connect with recovery community resources. Build a support network beyond treatment.
Psychoeducation Groups: Learn the neuroscience of addiction and how substances affect the developing brain. Understand the recovery process and what to expect. Gain knowledge about mental health, medication, and wellness. Feel empowered through understanding.
Life Skills and Wellness Groups: Develop practical skills for healthy living — including emotional regulation, healthy communication, decision-making, and relapse prevention strategies. Learn stress management without substances. Practice boundary-setting and relationship skills. Focus on nutrition, sleep, exercise, and self-care.
Why group therapy is so powerful for teens:
- They realize they’re not alone in their struggles
- They learn from others’ experiences and perspectives
- They give and receive support, which builds connection
- They practice interpersonal skills in a safe environment
- They’re held accountable by peers who care about their success
- They develop friendships with people who truly understand
Individual Therapy
While group therapy is primary in IOP, individual counseling provides personalized support. Your teen will have weekly individual counseling sessions with licensed clinicians who specialize in adolescent development, trauma, and substance use — building trust and addressing root causes in a safe space.
Frequency: Typically 1 session per week, 45–60 minutes
Individual therapy allows your teen to:
- Process personal issues too private for group
- Work on specific goals tailored to their situation
- Receive personalized feedback and guidance
- Address family, relationship, or trauma issues in depth
- Develop their individualized relapse prevention plan
- Check in on progress and adjust their treatment plan
Your teen’s individual therapist becomes their advocate — the person who knows their complete story and helps them navigate their unique path to recovery.
Psychiatric Services and Medication Management
IOP includes comprehensive psychiatric care for co-occurring mental health conditions. Your teen will have regular appointments with our psychiatrists and adolescent treatment specialists.
Psychiatric services include:
- Initial psychiatric evaluation to assess mental health needs
- Diagnosis and treatment of depression, anxiety, PTSD, ADHD, bipolar disorder, and other conditions common in adolescents
- Medication management with careful attention to adolescent-specific needs — starting, adjusting, or monitoring psychiatric medications
- Regular follow-up appointments to assess medication effectiveness and side effects
- Education about mental health and treatment options
- Coordination with the therapist for integrated care
Frequency: Initial evaluation, then typically monthly or as needed
This is true dual diagnosis treatment — we don’t separate mental health from substance use. We treat the whole person.
Case Management and Care Coordination
Your teen’s case manager helps ensure all aspects of their life support recovery.
Case management includes:
- Coordinating services between providers (therapist, psychiatrist, school)
- Connecting your family with community and school-based resources
- Assisting with insurance, benefits, or financial concerns
- Planning for continuing care after IOP
- Advocating for your teen’s needs within the treatment system
- Addressing barriers to treatment attendance or success
- Coordinating with your teen’s school to ensure academic continuity
Think of the case manager as the person who helps your family navigate everything outside of therapy sessions.
Family Involvement
Addiction and behavioral health challenges impact the entire family. Healing includes repairing and rebuilding those relationships. We know you’ve been through a lot to get here — you may have experienced denial, anger, fear, grief, or exhaustion, sometimes all in the same day. Please know that seeking treatment for your teen is an act of profound love and commitment, even if your teen can’t appreciate it yet.
Family programming may include:
- Family education sessions about adolescent substance use and recovery
- Family therapy sessions to repair relationships, improve communication, and equip you with tools to support your teen’s recovery at home
- Communication skills training for healthier interactions
- Support for family members affected by your teen’s substance use
- Coordination with family on your teen’s recovery plan
- Guidance on how to support without enabling
Recovery happens in relationships. Involving family, when healthy to do so, improves outcomes. Our team will keep you informed and involved throughout your teen’s treatment. You’ll receive regular updates, participate in family programming, and have direct access to our staff whenever you have questions or concerns. Recovery is a family journey, and we’re here for all of you.
Therapeutic Homework and Practice
Recovery skills must be practiced outside of sessions to become automatic.
Homework assignments might include:
- Journaling about triggers, cravings, or emotions
- Attending age-appropriate recovery fellowship meetings
- Practicing coping skills when stressed
- Reading assigned materials about recovery
- Completing CBT or DBT worksheets
- Reaching out to sober supports
- Engaging in healthy activities (exercise, hobbies, creative expression, self-care)
The work your teen does between sessions is as important as the work they do in sessions. IOP isn’t just about showing up — it’s about actively applying what they learn in school, at home, and in their social life.
Length of Program
IOP duration varies based on individual needs and progress.
Most teens participate in IOP for 8–12 weeks, though length may vary based on:
- Your teen’s clinical needs and rate of progress
- Severity of substance use disorder
- Co-occurring mental health conditions
- Previous treatment history
- Insurance coverage
- Stability and readiness to step down
Your teen’s treatment team assesses their progress regularly and makes recommendations based on their individual journey — not an arbitrary timeline. Some teens need longer; others are ready to step down sooner.
Questions About Insurance?
Find out exactly what your plan covers. We make insurance verification fast, easy, and private.
After IOP: Continuing Your Teen’s Recovery
IOP isn’t the end of your teen’s recovery journey — it’s a crucial phase. Research shows that ongoing support after intensive treatment dramatically improves long-term outcomes.
Join Alumni Programming
Guardian Recovery offers ongoing alumni support:
- Alumni meetings and events
- Continued connection with peers
- Access to resources and support
- Community of people who understand
- Lifelong network for recovery
Recovery is lifelong, and so is our support.
Engage with Recovery Community
Long-term recovery thrives with community connection:
- Regular attendance at age-appropriate recovery fellowships
- Mentor and sponsor relationships for guidance and accountability
- Recovery-focused activities and social connections
- Service work — helping others in early recovery
- Building a life centered on recovery values
Guardian Recovery helps your family connect with these resources so your teen has support beyond formal treatment.
IOP vs. Other Levels of Care
Understanding where IOP fits in the continuum helps you appreciate its role in your teen’s recovery.
How IOP Differs from PHP (Partial Hospitalization):
- PHP: 5–6 hours daily, 5–7 days/week, hospital-level intensity, less independence
- IOP: Three to four days a week, structured but less intensive, more real-world practice
IOP has more flexibility but requires more self-management between sessions.
How IOP Differs from Residential Treatment:
- Residential: 24/7 immersive care, live at facility, complete focus on recovery, maximum structure
- IOP: Part-time treatment, live at home, balance recovery with school and responsibilities, moderate structure
IOP allows your teen to maintain their life while receiving significant clinical support.
How IOP Differs from Traditional Outpatient:
- Traditional Outpatient: 1–2 hours weekly, minimal structure, mostly individual therapy
- IOP: Multiple hours per week across three to four days, highly structured, primarily group-based with individual support
IOP provides much more intensity and accountability than traditional outpatient therapy.
The right level of care depends on your teen’s individual needs. Their treatment team will help determine what’s appropriate.
Dual Diagnosis Treatment in Adolescent IOP
Most teenagers with substance use disorders also struggle with mental health conditions, and treating both simultaneously is essential for lasting recovery.
Guardian Recovery’s Adolescent IOP provides true integrated dual diagnosis treatment:
We simultaneously treat:
- Depression and substance use disorder
- Anxiety disorders and addiction
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and substance use
- Bipolar disorder and addiction
- Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and substance use
- Eating disorders and addiction
- Behavioral disorders and substance use
Integrated treatment means:
- Both conditions are addressed in the same program by the same team
- Your teen’s therapist understands how mental health and addiction interact — especially in the developing adolescent brain
- Group therapy addresses both substance use and emotional regulation
- Psychiatric care is coordinated with addiction counseling
- Skills learned apply to both conditions
- Your teen doesn’t have to choose which to treat first
Example: If your teen is in IOP for substance use disorder and also has anxiety and PTSD, their treatment plan includes trauma-informed therapy, coping skills for anxiety and PTSD symptoms without substances, processing traumatic memories safely, and medication if appropriate — all within their IOP programming.
Your teen is treated as a whole person, not a collection of diagnoses.
A Message for Parents and Guardians
We understand that watching your teen struggle is painful, and seeking treatment for them was an act of profound love and commitment. Our Adolescent IOP combines clinical excellence with genuine understanding of adolescent development, creating a space where your teen can be honest, grow, and build a foundation for lasting recovery — all while maintaining their daily life and responsibilities.
We’ve seen families transformed by this process. Your teen has a chance to rewrite their story — to become the person they were always meant to be before substances got in the way. We’ve seen it happen countless times, and we believe it can happen for your child too.
Our treatment advisors are available 24/7 via chat or our admissions line if you have any questions before your teen begins. Once enrolled, our facility staff will contact you directly and remain accessible throughout treatment, keeping you informed and involved every step of the way. You’ve given your teen an incredible gift by being here — and we’re grateful to walk this path with your family.
