Intensive Outpatient Rehab Program (IOP) in Atlanta

At Empowered Recovery Center, our intensive outpatient rehab program (IOP) in Atlanta is our middle tier outpatient program. At Empowered Recovery Center Atlanta, our IOP requires a greater time commitment from you than standard outpatient, but less than our partial hospitalization program (PHP). You’ll receive the medical care, therapy, and other services you need to maintain your recovery, while getting to live at home or in sober housing.

In our intensive outpatient rehab program (IOP), our patients get a clear treatment plan and regular support from our qualified professionals. You can participate in multiple individual and group therapy sessions per week, without interfering with outside responsibilities. Our goal is to give you well-rounded care that supports every part of your recovery — not just your symptoms.

While your treatment plan will be unique, it may include SUD education, learning relapse prevention skills, symptom management, building support networks, and attending to any other psychosocial needs. Our IOP rehab can be just as effective as inpatient or residential treatment, as long as you don’t require 24-hour monitoring.1

IOP vs PHP Rehab Programs

Choosing the right program can feel overwhelming, especially if you’re not familiar with the differences between IOP and PHP rehab programs. Our IOPs offer 9 to 20 hours of programming per week and are tailored to your specific mental health and substance abuse treatment needs. Partial hospitalization programs provide a minimum of 20 hours of care or more. Your program choice should be partially based on how much treatment and support you need daily. Our PHP would be a better fit for you if you need more intensive therapy due to medical and psychiatric stability needs.2

The IOP at Empowered Recovery Center in Atlanta is the right choice if you are further along in your recovery journey or have completed a higher level of care, like inpatient or PHP, and are ready to transition to something less intense. In all our programs, you will receive the same treatment services, however. It is only your time commitment that changes. Your IOP experience will be even more productive if you maintain a supportive lifestyle that allows you to implement the skills you learn in your daily routines.

We want you to know exactly what to expect when you enter our IOP rehab in Atlanta. That’s why we are transparent about the services we provide, ensuring they meet your needs before you commit. At Empowered Recovery Center, you can expect to attend our IOP three to five days a week. If you choose morning blocks, you will be here from 9:00 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Evening blocks are from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. You will attend between 9 and 20 total hours of recovery activities and treatment, with considerable flexibility in choosing morning or evening classes that fit your unique schedule. While you will be with us several hours a day, you can still go home at night or stay in sober housing if your home environment is not suitable for your recovery.

Your individual treatment plan will help determine which activities best meet your needs. For example, you may be recommended for various support groups, educational classes, holistic therapies, mental health care, medication-assisted treatment (MAT), and other services.

IOP Treatment Services

In our IOP, we design our addiction treatment services in Atlanta to fit your unique mental health and substance use challenges. We use an integrative addiction therapy approach with evidence-based methods, including behavioral therapies and addiction treatment medications if applicable, to give you the best chances of recovery success.

Our IOP rehab in Atlanta integrates group therapy, where you can connect with peers facing similar challenges. Group therapy sessions foster a sense of community and mutual support, which is vital in helping you sustain recovery. Individual therapy in our IOP means you’ll have regular one-on-one sessions with a licensed therapist. Your confidential sessions focus on addressing specific issues related to your substance use and any co-occurring mental health disorders that may be contributing to your symptoms.

Some of the evidence-based behavioral therapy methods your therapist may use include the following:

• Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is a cornerstone of our Intensive Outpatient Program in Atlanta. CBT focuses on helping you identify and change negative thought processes and behaviors that contribute to your substance abuse. Through CBT, you can learn coping skills to manage triggers, cravings, and prevent relapse.3,4
• Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is especially helpful if you want to build healthier coping and relationship skills.4,5
• Experiential therapy involves hands-on activities to help you engage your emotions. Examples include music, writing, and other creative arts therapies. Engaging in experiential therapy also helps you process trauma.4
• Family therapy is needed because addiction also impacts your loved ones. It can help educate your family members on the disease of addiction so they can understand why you have a substance use disorder and how to support you during the recovery process. It can also help with problem-solving.4
• Trauma therapy addresses the aftermath you experienced as a result of your trauma. It does so by helping you understand the root causes of your distress and creating a safe and supportive environment that facilitates your healing. It centers trauma as a fundamental aspect of your therapeutic process. 5

We may also recommend medication-assisted treatment (MAT), which uses FDA-approved medications alongside therapy to support your recovery. These can include6:

• Naltrexone is used to treat withdrawal symptoms of alcohol and opioid use disorders.
• Methadone is used to treat withdrawal symptoms of opioid use disorders.
• Buprenorphine to treat withdrawal symptoms of opioid use disorders.
• Acamprosate to treat withdrawal symptoms of alcohol use disorders.
• Disulfiram is used to treat withdrawal symptoms of alcohol use disorder.

During treatment in our intensive outpatient rehab program, you may discover you have a substance use disorder alongside a mental health disorder, otherwise known as a dual diagnosis. At Empowered Recovery Center Atlanta, our specially trained therapeutic teams are here to help you address co-occurring disorders with a combination of therapies and medication management.

If you’re unsure if our IOP rehab in Atlanta is right for you, that’s okay. Our specially trained admissions team can help you decide if this level of rehab care feels right for you. For example, our IOP in Atlanta is a good fit for you if you have a lower risk of withdrawal, acute intoxication, and less severe symptoms. While IOP can be your primary treatment if you have a mild substance use disorder, you may also enter after stepping down from a higher level of treatment, like PHP or inpatient care. Your physical, cognitive, emotional, and behavioral health must be stable enough that you can actively participate, or your symptoms can be easily monitored while in IOP.1

Without the structure and support of an IOP rehab, it can be easier to slip back into old patterns. Our program gives you a predictable, supportive routine while you build new habits in your everyday life. IOP provides support that you may not receive in your home environment.1 At Empowered Recovery Center in Atlanta, you may have just finished detox for drugs and alcohol and are still looking for intensive care, but aren’t ready to step down to a lower level like standard outpatient. You may still need intensive care but also have family, work, or school responsibilities — so you need treatment that’s flexible, not all-or-nothing.

Benefits of Our IOP Rehab in Atlanta

The intensive outpatient rehab program at Empowered Recovery Center Atlanta helps you ease back into everyday life, with support as you face ‘real world’ situations in real time. You get to spend more time outside of treatment, implementing the skills you learn in IOP. Our program is similar to our PHP program, except you spend less time in treatment activities.

Specific benefits you will get in our intensive outpatient program in Georgia include the following1:

• Flexibility in how treatment is delivered. You can keep up with responsibilities outside of treatment hours, and you don’t spend the night at the IOP rehab facility.
• Intensive support without putting life on hold. You get more structure and support than standard counseling, but you still sleep in your own bed at night or in sober housing.
• Continuity of care and support through connections with community resources makes your transition to independence easier.
• Real-time skills training enables you to practice recovery skills daily, both at work and in your personal responsibilities outside of treatment.
• More affordable since you live at home and you attend fewer hours of treatment. Although you attend fewer hours, you get the same services and quality of care.

Ongoing Support and Aftercare 

Addressing co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders doesn’t end with the completion of our intensive outpatient rehab program. We emphasize the importance of ongoing support and aftercare to sustain recovery. Our team helps clients create a long-term plan that includes continued therapy, support group attendance, relapse prevention plans, and lifestyle changes to maintain sobriety and mental wellness.

At Empowered Recovery, we believe that treating both substance use and mental health disorders concurrently is essential for achieving lasting recovery. Our IOP rehab in Atlanta, Georgia offers the comprehensive care and support necessary to help clients reclaim their lives.

In many cases, yes — insurance does help cover the cost of our IOP rehab in Atlanta. Coverage varies by plan, so it’s important to check with your insurance provider to see what’s included. The price will vary based on factors such as the duration of your IOP and the particular services you receive, which may differ depending on your individual treatment plan.

Because of the Affordable Care Act, insurance companies are required to cover some, if not all, of your substance use disorder treatment, as well as mental health treatment costs, even if you have pre-existing conditions.7

If you’re unsure where to start, our admissions team can walk you through using insurance, checking your benefits, and understanding your costs.

Getting the treatment you need is often easier than it feels right now. When you contact Empowered Recovery Center in Atlanta, we’ll guide you through each step. Our rehab admissions team can help you understand your treatment options and connect you with the program that best fits your needs. They can also explain the cost of rehab and your payment options, whether you have insurance or not.

You don’t have to wait to get help, and you don’t have to spend time searching for an IOP near you. Instead, call our addiction rehab in Atlanta today or verify your insurance benefits online to start your journey to getting back to living the healthy, happy life you deserve.

References

1. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2021). Clinical issues in intensive outpatient treatment for substance use disorders. Retrieved October 21, 2025, from https://library.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/pep20-02-01-021.pdf.
2. IAP Medicaid Innovation Accelerator Program. (2017). Overview of substance use disorder (SUD) care clinical guidelines: A resource for states developing SUD delivery system reforms. Retrieved on October 21, 2025, from https://www.medicaid.gov/state-resource-center/innovation-accelerator-program/iap-downloads/reducing-substance-use-disorders/asam-resource-guide.pdf.
3. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. (2025). Recommend evidence-based treatment: Know the difference. Retrieved on October 22, 2025, from https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/health-professionals-communities/core-resource-on-alcohol/recommend-evidence-based-treatment-know-options.
4. National Association of Addiction Treatment Professionals. (2025). Treatment methods and evidence-based practices. Retrieved on October 22, 2025, from https://www.naatp.org/treatment-methods-evidence-based-practices.
5. Yadav G, McNamara S, Gunturu S. (2024). Trauma-informed therapy. Retrieved on 10/22/2025 from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK604200/.
6. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2025). Substance use disorder treatment options. Retrieved on 10/23/2025 from https://www.samhsa.gov/substance-use/treatment/options.
7. Health Insurance Marketplace. (2025). Mental health and substance abuse coverage. Retrieved on October 22, 2025, from https://www.healthcare.gov/coverage/mental-health-substance-abuse-coverage/.