Virtual IOP

Has anyone here done a virtual IOP? What is it like? There is one that I am applying to--it's 5 days a week (Monday through Friday) three hours a day. I would have to leave work a little early but I got that cleared with my boss already. Right now the place is verifying my insurance. I don't know how long that takes. So I am really nervous. I have been IP and I've done outpatient therapy for a long time but I've never done an IOP. So I don't know what to expect. The admissions person sent me over a sample schedule and it has CBT and DBT and ACT (whatever that one is) skills on it, and process groups and commitment groups. Whatever those are. I am hopeful this will help me not be in crisis so much. I can't see my T that often because he only works two days a week and I need an appointment later in the day for work. So I only see him about every three to four weeks. I'm hoping if everything goes through with the insurance that it will help me with the depression and self harm. I just don't know what to expect and I'm really anxious waiting to hear what the next step is....assuming my insurance will cover it, which I think it will. The program lasts from 30 to 45 days which is a lot. I have two religious classes during the week too so that would be some late nights. But it is doable, I think. I'm just really anxious. You know...fear of the unknown and stuff. I don't see my T until Sept. 7th so I can't talk it over with him to see what he thinks. Honestly, he doesn't see me in crisis so I don't think he will think it necessary because usually when I see him the crisis has past. But my poor support people, I must wear them out. Super nervous. Anyone have any insights they want to share?

I think NP mentioned having done something like this?

I have never completed an IOP program however O have worked in one for many years. We have never gone virtual though. With the exception of closing for the first month of Covid, we have been in person. 4 days a week for 4 hours a day

Wouldn't mind hearing more of your experiences, nottrustin if you want to share.

I did a virtual IOP for 4 weeks last December. It was great. Way better then in person. It was on zoom. You had to stay on mute unless you were talking. There were no side conversations so no one could be a jerk to you. During break I could go downstairs and get a snack. I did a Mon-Fri 9:15-noon one and I just breezed through it and I learned a lot of stuff. I did struggle that it was just groups and I didn’t have any one on one time and my therapist wouldn’t see me until I completed the program. That part was really tough. Being alone on Christmas sucked.

But if I ever were to do IOP again I’d hope it would be virtual.

Thanks Mountaindewed. This gives me confidence.

My insurance covers the program. So now I have to have an intake phone call to see if I fit their program requirements. Kind of wish we had that done before the insurance thing but I'm sure they want to make sure they get paid before they spend any real time on you.

Yes, I attended one for about a week a year ago. I did not find it useful so I stopped the program early, but I wouldn't let that deter you from trying this one.

There were no process groups in the one I attended and I feel that might have been more helpful for me than just what basically amounted to CBT-type classes. There were several instances when the group facilitator didn't log in or logged in very late and that really bugged me. Also, we were supposed to have an individual therapist to work with. I talked to mine twice for a total of about 10 minutes. How is that supposed to be helpful?

Maybe it would have been more helpful if it was in person, but I don't know. I wouldn't do it again. It definitely wasn't worth the price. Again, this is just my experience and I came into it with my own dislike of CBT-type stuff and aversion to Zoom. Your program might have better content and be more organized in the way it's run.

Thank you NP_Complete for sharing your experiences. As for the cost, I've met my out of pocket maximum for the year so my insurance will cover it 100% which is why I was inclined to do it now, than say, January when I hadn't met my out of pocket maximum. I'm not sure I will like the format but I am willing to give it a shot. I am nervous about the call to see if I fit in their program. But I guess if it is meant to be it will go forward and if it isn't then the door will slam shut. That's how I look at it anyway. Nine weeks is a long time but I am hopeful that it is helpful and then maybe I can not be bugging my support people every week.

IOP (under regular circumstances) in the hospital I used wasn't much different from inpatient except the IOP patients could go home at the end of the day.

I'm guessing much depends on the program. The hospital programs were psychoeducational groups (teaching about mental health concepts, skills - like CBT/DBT,etc.), process groups (just sort of talking about what is going on, but not really as personal as an actual therapy group - more about issues within the program itself), and goals/commitment groups are pretty much what they sound like (set a goal for the day or sometimes these were 12-step groups for patients who were there for chemical dependency).

Often you don't have a therapist of your own. I think IOP patients touch base once or twice a day with a social worker or therapist very briefly.

Don't expect deep digging like you would in individual therapy. Normally, that's not an IOP thing.

My understanding about IOP was that it was a way to stay sort of structured in your daily mental health care, with some supervision, for a period of time, while you stabilize.

Thank you ArtleyWilkins for being able to tell me a little about the IOP program you attended. I appreciate it.


I'm not expecting miracles but I am hoping to be able to tolerate distress better, learn some skills regarding emotions, how to regulate them, etc. I think the DBT part of the group will be helpful for me. I'm not really big on CBT but it's what my therapist uses too so I'm used to it. I don't think I get an individual therapist with this IOP but that's okay. I'm just hoping that at the end, I'm not texting my support people as much and I am able to deal more with the emotions of being suicidal or wanting to self harm without having to have a crisis about it.

Our program consists of a daily process group, psychoeducation groups, and recreational therapy group. We have not gone online for a couple of reasons. One we are a hospital based system so there were billing issues. Secondly, one of the benefits of our program is the relationships that are built and the support provided by other clients. Often clients do not have supports outside of professionals. So getting other supports can be beneficial. Also we would think that meeting in person woudl encourage other cliebts to be able to provide feedback and oponions to their group members.

We were also concerned with confidentiality what would prevent clients from having family members or whomever in the room. Oh and we are an abstinence based program so anybody using substances would be harder to detect.

As I said we havr never actually tried virtual. I am sure it works for other programs.

The IOP called me. They said they want me to do an in person (not virtual) IOP because of the hallucinations. But theirs is too far away. So their referral team is going to reach out to me in 24 to 48 hours to see what they find. I doubt they find anything close to me that will work. I live in a remote area. We have one hospital that is leaving us within the next couple of years (It isn't earthquake safe). And everything else is like an hour and a half away one way. So it looks like an IOP won't work. I'm kind of disappointed. I was hoping to have more care.

Aww kit, that really sucks. They may want you to do an in-person program, but are they just recommending it or saying virtual isn't an option? I'm sorry it isn't working out the way you had hoped.

I am sorry they couldn't help you, esp as you were being pro-active and seeking help.

It is indeed disappointing to reach out and not be met in our need.

The IOP that turned me down and said I had to come in person gave me two other possible IOPs. So I contacted them, twice so far. One contacted me back. I would have to do an in person assessment but I could do a virtual IOP (it sounds like). The lady wouldn't give me specifics on the IOP like what times it is and how many days a week it is and stuff like that. She's like we have to do insurance verification then the intake and then you would get that information. Kind of sucks because if I go through all this and then their IOP is 1 to 4 or something like that, then that's not going to work with my work schedule! But I guess it is wait and see. They are verifying my insurance currently.

Well, that's a bit crap. I would have thought giving some sort of indication re times / days would be time-efficient, both on your and their side.

It would suck to do the Intake and then learn you are working these days. What a waste of time..

Anyway, hope it works out for you at any rate.

Thanks, Rive.

When I was being offered IOP, the nurse told me that they frequently help people arrange FMLA coverage for work. I didn't look into it at the time (partly because I only worked part-time and thus wasn't eligible), but maybe that's an option? I'm not sure if it would be paid or not, though.

Hey EM,

Thanks. In CA it would be unpaid leave but would guarantee my job wouldn't be replaced (which I am not worried about). IDK if I could get short term disability if I was still working though, just at reduced hours. That might be worth looking into. But we'll see what they say about the days and times. Maybe it will work out.

Got an intake appointment for Friday for the IOP. It's in a city a couple of hours away but it's at like 10 so hopefully traffic won't be horrendous!

Glad you got an appointment! Hope it all works out and is helpful.

It is crazy that they will not tive you some idea of thr times. The only think I can think of is some insurances have a minimum amount of time people can attemd per day in order to pay.

Good luck, Kit.

I got into this second IOP. It will be three days a week. Monday, Thursday, and Friday from 5 PM to 730 PM. My case manager, Ray, is letting me have Tuesday and Wednesday nights off because I go to Church on those nights and he rightly perceived that they are supports for me and he said he didn't want to take away supports that I already have. He said ideally he would like me to be in the IOP for 30 days but we will have to see what my insurance will cover. He says he has trouble with my insurance but when I talked to my case manager from the insurance company she said she didn't see why they wouldn't cover it given my history. I'm encouraged about the IOP. I'm a little worried because it is virtual and I'm not the most technologically advanced person there is but I am hopeful that it will work and I get a lot out of it. I'm hoping for distress tolerance skills. I am worried though that I am going to burn out having all this stuff to do 5 days a week at night plus working full time. But we will have to see how the cookie crumbles! Maybe it won't be so bad!