As a parent, it can be hearting, and even hapless, to see your child struggle. And as kids enter into their adolescent years, mental health issues are only becoming increasingly more common. Some ways to support them is through proactive steps such as keeping them active, practicing mindfulness and engaging in weekly therapy. When these steps don’t feel like enough, an Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) may be a good option for your family.
At Decade2Connect, we operate a 9 hour a week IOP in Golden for adolescents ages 10-14. Families who initially felt hopeless leave our program more connected and hopeful about the future. Below are some benefits of an Intensive Outpatient Program:
Individualized Care
Because emotional needs are more complex in crisis, an IOP Program is able to cater to your family’s individual needs. When Decade2Connect begins working with families, we do a deep dive on the child’s individual needs, as well as the family’s. We gather the full picture and create a treatment plan in coordination with the family to ensure your child is receiving the care they need.
Flexible Schedule
Unlike outpatient therapy, an Intensive Outpatient Program offers more hours of therapy, typically in a group setting. Decade2Connect runs our IOP during after school hours so your child can still be integrated into school, activities they enjoy and home life. In contrast to residential care, this is a realistic, intriguing option for families.
Family Support
When one member of the family struggles, everyone struggles. Our treatment model is centered around involvement of the whole family. Decade2Connect utilizes Emotion Focused Family Therapy, including 3 hours of family-focused care within our 9 hour IOP schedule. The benefit this time has had on families is instrumental on their connections and wellbeing moving forward.
Community Support
When a child has more complex mental health needs, both them and their parents often feel alone. An IOP often creates within it a community of families going through the same experience. Our families at Decade2Connect find relief simply in connecting with parents who understand what they going through and value the connections they form just as much as the treatment they receive.
“Fun” Therapy
It’s no secret that adolescents don’t feel the most comfortable when they’re sitting on a couch being asked to talk about their feelings. Many IOP Programs solve this problem by implementing experiential modalities. At Decade2Connect, we informally call it “smuggling in therapy.” We utilize art, music, yoga, movement and play, with therapeutic conversations and techniques integrated into activities. Not only do teens become more in touch with their feelings but they often leave sessions saying, “that was fun!”
Therapy is not a “one size fits all.” There’s a variety of different levels of care and your family ultimately knows the best fit. If you feel like you’ve tried everything, an Intensive Outpatient Program may be a good fit for you. If you’d like to learn more, connect with a therapist at Decade2Connect today!