Hi bluebicycle. I can only speak about the ones in my area, but all had a "psych IOP/PHP", a dual diagnosis/addictions IOP/PHP", a "Women's group IOP/PHP", and one focused on helping the elderly with elderly issues. I participated in all of the first three (I'm not elderly) at different times. If you do not have substance abuse issues, you would not participate in that track. If I had to go to an IOP/PHP today, I would attend the co-ed psych one, only since substance abuse has not been an issue for me in years. I would, personally, not need a women's only group now.

Fern hinted that insurance companies may play a part in determining if you start in IOP or PHP. And if you start in PHP, it is common to eventually be cut down to IOP after a period of time. Sometimes it starts M-F. Sometimes fewer days, or eventually reduces to fewer days.

In my IOPs/PHPs, there were a couple hours of process group in the mornings (general group therapy with others in your track). Then a variety of either coping skills groups, stuff like art therapy, meditation, anger management, or any of many other topic groups, which changed daily. We could usually choose between two or three options per given hour. Only then might I have been in a group with people that were from a different track or a different group but the same track. For people with addiction issues, there was usually an addiction-related option in the afternoon (PHP) beyond the dual diagnosis process group. Those without addictions did not attend that, usually. The difference between the IOP and PHP of any track boiled down to leaving before lunch (IOP) or eating lunch there and then attending additional options (PHP). If you have no addiction issues, you would not have to attend anything related to addictions at the facilities I went to.

As Fern wrote, vitals are taken frequently. Maybe daily, or a little less often. Visits to the outpatient psychiatrist may be once or more times per week (depending on facility or your mental state). At my outpatient facilities, some patients may even get private therapy once or more times per week, but that usually depended on the severity of my mental state.

Add On: I just looked and the place near me even recently added a men's program and young adult program. Maybe not relevant to you, but I thought perhaps of interest to others. I am glad to see the men's program added. I thought having a co-ed and women's only psych was sort of... you know.