What is Intensive OCD Treatment?

An IOP for OCD involves much more treatment each week than weekly sessions but unlike residential, it allows for the freedom and flexibility to stay at home and continue daily life.

While an IOP can look different depending on where you are receiving treatment, but wherever you go it will involve doing 3+ hours of treatment per-day, several days a week for at least 2 weeks. Our IOP here at The OCD Treatment Center is 3 hours per day, 5 days a week for 3 weeks for a total of 45 hours of treatment.

IOPs are entirely outpatient, meaning clients do not stay overnight and are able to go home, work, and spend time with family outside of the hours they are engaging in treatment. They can cost less than residential programs as it is not as high of a level of care, but still provide lots of structured treatment to support recovery.

Our intensive OCD treatment for adults is unlike any other. We go beyond traditional exposure and response prevention techniques to provide you with a comprehensive framework that addresses the root causes of your OCD. This is why we call our approach, More Than ERP™. With our personalized one-on-one treatment, you will receive the individual attention and support necessary for lasting recovery.

IOPs can be offered in several settings such as hospitals, mental health facilities, or offices and specialty clinics like ours.

A Higher Level of Care – When to Consider an IOP

With weekly sessions, clients are usually seeing their therapist once a week for an hour. For some, this lower level of support is enough to manage their OCD but for many, this weekly treatment is not enough to manage their OCD symptoms. An IOP is a great option for when weekly therapy is too slow or has not been enough to get through to the other side of the OCD cycle. If you have been in OCD therapy for a long time and you are still stuck, it may be time to consider an IOP.

An IOP is also a great option if you need results quickly and do not have enough time to wait for weekly treatment to start managing symptoms. Our IOP is almost a full year of once a week therapy in three weeks. If you are needing to recover on a deadline such as a school semester start date, a wedding, or starting a new job, and do not have enough time to wait for weekly to work, an IOP is a good option to consider.

An IOP can also be a step to consider for when local therapists do not specialize in OCD. Many of our clients travel from out of state to do this program because it is so much treatment in a short period of time with an OCD specialist. If you do not have the resources near you to get the support you need, traveling to our treatment center may be a good option for you.

When the cost of a residential program is too much or someone is not comfortable living in another place with constant supervision, an IOP can provide needed structured care while combined with the freedom of being able to stay at home and spend time with family, working, engaging in school work, and other activities when not in treatment.

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Who is a Good Fit for an IOP?

You may be a good fit for an IOP if you are…

Motivated and Willing

The most important quality a client needs to be a good fit for an IOP is if they are motivated and ready to do the work. An IOP is not easy and it involves a lot of hard work both during the program meeting with a therapist, and also outside the program practicing and doing homework. Clients need to be ready and motivated to work hard, engage in activities that are outside of their comfort zone, and work with the tools and skills the therapist offers.

Experiencing Severe Symptoms but Not Needing Emergency Care

An IOP is a great next step in treatment for someone with severe OCD symptoms. Note though, if someone is experiencing symptoms that are too severe that this level of care may not be appropriate, it is best to consider a higher level of care. When a client is needing 24/7 support, an IOP is not going to be the best fit. If someone is actively in crisis and needs emergency intervention, calling 911 or hospitalization may be a better step for care. Also, if clients are experiencing active suicidal intention not relating to self-harm/suicide OCD, an emergency care or a residential program that involves constant supervision is likely a better fit for their symptoms. Finally, if they are experiencing a rapid physical health decline due to OCD symptoms (eg. unable to eat, drink, excessive exercise, or any other compulsion that is leading to a rapid decline in physical health), emergency care or a residential program that can support their mental and physical health is likely the best next step for care.

Not Making Progress at a Lower Level of Care

If you have been going to weekly therapy and you have not been seeing improvement, a higher level of care may be a good next step. When weekly treatment sessions are enough to manage symptoms but not improve them, a higher level of care may make the impact to start seeing movement in symptom severity.

Not Experiencing the Following:

Substance abuse
- Self medication is not uncommon for individuals experiencing OCD and we are able to work with clients who have been self medicating provided they are willing to stop when the IOP begins. Clients experiencing substance abuse and addiction need to receive treatment for these symptoms before we are able to work with them.
Psychosis
- If clients are experiencing active symptoms of psychosis, we need them to be on medication before we are able to provide treatment to them as Exposure and Response Prevention may exacerbate these symptoms if they are not managed.
A Severe Mood Disorder that you are Not on Medication to Manage
- Clients experiencing severe mood disorders such as severe depression or bipolar disorder and are not on medication and in treatment for these diagnoses need to receive treatment in these areas before we are able to provide treatment.
Active Suicidal Ideation:
- While harm/suicide OCD can involve suicidal thoughts, a higher level of supervised care and support is a better fit for someone experiencing active suicidal intention.
Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD)
- OCPD is not a diagnosis we are able to provide treatment for. When someone is experiencing both OCD and OCPD, we are able to provide treatment for the OCD, but treatment for OCPD is different and we do not have anyone who specializes in OCPD on staff.

Evidence-Based Treatment

Our IOP for OCD includes Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) as the backbone of the framework along with our More Than ERP™ framework. ERP is an evidence based treatment specifically for OCD that involves gradually exposing the client to what triggers the OCD compulsions and helping them move through the anxiety the triggers create instead of performing the compulsions. Evidence collected over various studies indicates ERP is 65-80% effective (1, 2). Here at The OCD Treatment Center, we monitor our clients progress and have an average 66% reduction in symptoms with over 80% of our clients completing the program at a mild or subclinical OCD score following the completion of the 3 week IOP.

Do you have what is needed to create your own life-changing results?

What is needed most from the client’s side to create life-changing results like those read above is the readiness and willingness to overcome your OCD. This readiness could include experiences or feelings of motivation, being done with OCD, realizing that it is time to finally overcome and heal OCD, or goals and aspirations that are pulling you towards recovery.

All of these can provide the missing ingredient that is needed to help clients create life-changing and transforming results.

What is the Structure of an IOP?

Every IOP is different depending on who offers it, so below is the schedule for the IOP we offer. Our program is different for each client depending on they are experiencing and how quickly they move through the program but below is a breakdown of the approximate schedule of our IOP.

Assessment

One of our therapists conducts an assessment to get an understanding of what you are experiencing including types and sub-types of OCD and the severity. They make sure what you are experiencing is a good fit for what we are able to treat, but also it is for you to see if we are a good fit for what you are looking for. Once it is completed, we are able to book the dates you would like for the IOP.

Week 1

The first week of the program involves psychoeducation and providing the client with the tools they will be using throughout the program and beyond. We explain to the client where their OCD is coming up for them and plan the exposures the client will be engaging with. Towards the end of the first week, the client starts engaging in exposures with the therapist.

Week 2

Week 2 is when we primarily focus on exposures. These can be done here at the facility, in surrounding areas such as malls or restaurants, or even where the client is staying if they live or are staying close enough. The client is also responsible for doing homework outside of the program to maintain the progress they are making when they are meeting with their therapist.

Week 3

Week 3 involves continuing exposures, focusing on other areas for the client that may need to be addressed outside of OCD, and creating a plan with the client for them to maintain the progress they made during the program. That way, we ensure the client is solid on their tools before returning to their normal life and scheduling to prevent relapse.

How effective are OCD intensive treatment programs for adults?

When it comes to treating Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) in adults, intensive treatment programs have shown great effectiveness.

One of the key factors contributing to the success of these programs is their focus on providing a structured and immersive environment for individuals with OCD. This allows them to receive concentrated therapeutic interventions over a shorter period, leading to more rapid progress compared to traditional outpatient therapy.

Research has shown that intensive treatment programs yield positive outcomes for adults with OCD in both the short-term and long-term. Many individuals experience significant symptom reduction, improved functioning, and a better overall quality of life following the completion of these programs.

OCD intensive treatment programs offer a promising avenue for adults seeking relief from this debilitating disorder. By utilizing evidence-based therapies like CBT and ERP within a structured environment, these programs provide individuals with the tools and support they need to manage their symptoms and achieve long-term recovery.

What is the goal of an OCD Intensive Treatment Program?

The goal of an OCD Intensive Treatment Program is to provide comprehensive and specialized care for individuals suffering from obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). This program is designed to address the unique challenges faced by those with OCD and help them achieve lasting recovery.

The primary goal of this program is to provide individuals with the tools they need to manage their obsessions and compulsions effectively. Through targeted interventions, individuals learn how to challenge irrational thoughts, resist engaging in compulsive behaviors, and gradually face their fears in a controlled environment. The ultimate aim is to reduce the frequency and intensity of OCD symptoms while improving overall functioning and quality of life.

Additionally, an OCD Intensive Treatment Program focuses on equipping individuals with long-term coping strategies that they can apply beyond the program. This includes relapse prevention techniques, stress management skills, and ongoing support systems.

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If you or someone you know is struggling with OCD, please contact us for professional and compassionate OCD treatment for adults.

We can support you in ending the OCD cycle so that you can get back to living the life you’ve always loved or creating the life that you have dreamed of.

Meet Our Team

Even though there are millions of people living with the condition, most people living with it will feel all alone. Like they are the only ones that recognize how debilitating the condition can become.

People with OCD experience intrusive thoughts, or obsessions, that can be extremely distressing. In order to try to cope with these thoughts, they may engage in compulsions, which are repetitive behaviors that they often feel compelled to do.

As a result of the individual impact of suffering with OCD, the World Health Organization has placed OCD in the top 10 most debilitating worldwide conditions.

Meet our experienced team of OCD specialists.

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About Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) Treatment for OCD