At Conway Behavioral Health Hospital in Conway, Arkansas, we offer an intensive outpatient program (IOP) for adolescents ages 12-17. This program is designed for young people in need of flexible yet structured care. The staff members in our IOP provide continuous support for adolescents as they reintegrate into their home and school environments.
What Is an Adolescent Intensive Outpatient Program?
Adolescence is a critical developmental stage marked by significant physical, emotional, and social changes, and for some, this transitional period from childhood to adulthood may present complex challenges.
During this time, young people can be particularly vulnerable to certain behavioral health concerns. They may begin to experience symptoms of stress and anxiety related to the demands of school, extracurricular activities, and performance expectations. They may also struggle with body image, social pressures, and navigating new friendships or romantic relationships.
By taking part in intensive outpatient programming, youths who are experiencing symptoms of mental illnesses can access the early intervention, education, and support they need to achieve better health. IOPs offer a safe and supportive environment where young people can receive professional guidance and learn coping skills to productively deal with the stressors of adolescence.
Our adolescent intensive outpatient programming can significantly benefit your child by offering them a pathway to a brighter future. Young people in our IOP can transition back to their daily routines while also receiving services to help them thrive in all areas of their lives.
Learn More About Our Intensive Outpatient Program for Adolescents in Conway, Arkansas
At Conway Behavioral Health Hospital, we provide programming that is tailored to the needs of young people who are struggling with mental illnesses. In the adolescent IOP, we treat a variety of behavioral health concerns, like depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, conduct disorders, and impulse control disorders.
Our adolescent IOP is a short-term program option available for those who are stepping down from a higher level of care or require less intensive services to reach their wellness goals. Patients participate in the IOP three hours a day, four days a week for an average of four weeks. During this time, they follow customized care plans that address their specific needs.
Every patient completes a thorough assessment before they enter the program. This helps our team learn more about them so that we can determine how to best support them on their healing journey.
The main method of treatment in the adolescent IOP is group therapy. Through group discussions, patients can develop healthy coping strategies. Our primary focus is helping them process stressors and build skills to improve distress tolerance, communication, impulse control, and emotion regulation.
While group therapy makes up the bulk of adolescent intensive outpatient programming, we also offer individual and family counseling. All sessions are led by compassionate professionals, including licensed therapists, who are dedicated to supporting the holistic well-being of each patient.
Are Adolescent Intensive Outpatient Programs Effective?
Adolescent IOPs have demonstrated effectiveness in treating a variety of concerns among young people. These programs offer structured care that can be particularly beneficial for adolescents who require more intensive support than what is provided in traditional outpatient therapy but do not need round-the-clock care.
At our facility, we work closely with adolescents and their families to ensure that our intensive outpatient programming meets the needs of each person in our care.
Benefits and features of our IOP for adolescents include:
- Flexibility of care: Unlike inpatient or live-in programs, intensive outpatient programming gives patients the opportunity to maintain their daily routines and live at home while also participating in transformative therapy sessions. Having this flexibility not only minimizes disruptions to adolescents’ lives but also encourages them to apply the skills they learn in therapy in everyday situations.
- A holistic approach: In our IOP, we incorporate a range of therapeutic modalities to meet the mental, social, and emotional needs of each patient. We offer comprehensive support to address the whole person and not just the symptoms they are experiencing.
- Education and skill-building opportunities: Patients can learn coping strategies, stress management techniques, and communication skills to help them navigate challenges and sustain well-being. We also help parents and caregivers learn about the healing process and how to create a more supportive home environment. We believe that addressing family dynamics and helping families improve communication skills can contribute to positive behavioral health outcomes for adolescents.
- Evidence-based practices: Our team utilizes research-backed interventions like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), positive psychology, solution-focused therapy, and narrative therapy. By incorporating practices that are rooted in scientific research, we provide highly effective care for a variety of behavioral health concerns.
- Continuity of care: Our professionals collaborate to develop individualized care plans and monitor each patient’s progress. This coordinated approach ensures that adolescents receive consistent support as they progress through the IOP and accurate recommendations for follow-up care after they complete the program.
By providing flexible and comprehensive care, we help empower adolescents to overcome challenges and improve their overall health. Young people in our IOP can develop crucial skills while also establishing a network of support among their peers, which can foster a sense of belonging and reduce feelings of isolation.
We recognize the unique needs of young people who are struggling with behavioral health concerns, and we provide care that meets them where they are on their journey to healing. With our help, those in need can heal from the effects of traumatic experiences, build resiliency, and work toward fulfilling futures.
Continued Support
Our goal is to help adolescents return to their regular day-to-day lives feeling more like themselves again. Our IOP is designed to help them improve their overall quality of life and begin to function better at home, in school, and socially. However, we recognize that participating in our intensive outpatient program is only one phase of their wellness journey.
Whatever your child’s next step is after they complete our IOP, we want them to feel supported as they continue to work toward healing. For this reason, we provide each adolescent in our care with a comprehensive aftercare plan that can help them continue to achieve milestones.
We begin the discharge planning process at the time of admission and adjust each patient’s plan along the way to reflect the progress they make during the program. Continuing care plans commonly include recommendations for follow-up therapy and local resources.
Our team genuinely cares about the long-term well-being of our patients, and by proactively preparing them for the future while they are in our care, we can help them remain successful long after their time in our IOP ends.
The Admissions Process
At Conway Behavioral Health Hospital, we understand that when a child is suffering from a behavioral health concern, it can weigh heavily on their family members. We prioritize the well-being and success of young people who are battling behavioral health disorders and strive to ensure that their families also receive the support they need.
If you have questions about the programs and services we offer, we encourage you to contact a member of our admissions team. We are here to provide you with details and resources so that you can advocate for your child and make an informed decision about their care. In addition to exceptional customer service, we offer a stress-free admissions process so that your loved one can find the help they need quickly.
To be eligible for admission to our adolescent IOP, your child must:
- Be between the ages of 12 and 17
- Have a diagnosis of a behavioral health disorder
- Not pose a danger to themselves or others
- Require a more structured level of care than traditional outpatient therapy
- Have a stable living environment
- Be able to attend and actively engage in therapy sessions
- Have a guardian or parent who is willing to take part in programming as needed
Admissions decisions are made on an individual basis. Each potential patient takes part in a comprehensive assessment to help our team determine whether our programming can meet their needs. If we decide that another facility in our area is a better fit for your loved one, we can provide a referral.
Helping your child find professional care early can improve their treatment outcome, so don’t hesitate to contact our team today. You can reach us by phone or visit us in person at our hospital located just outside of Little Rock, Arkansas.
This content was written on behalf of and reviewed by the clinical staff at Conway Behavioral Health Hospital.