Sometimes, a couple of hours of therapy and groups per week is not enough help for a person who is struggling with their mental health or addiction, but they also do not need around-the-clock care. At Cottonwood, in Tucson, Arizona, our accredited treatment center offers two additional levels of care that fall between standard outpatient support and inpatient treatment. 

Outpatient Options We Offer

When a patient has already successfully completed residential treatment or it is simply something they do not need, they may find it helpful to participate in our Intensive Outpatient Treatment (IOP) or Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP), both of which are led by Master’s level therapists, backed by an interdisciplinary clinical team with extensive experience supporting clients with mental health and substance use disorders. Both programs are evidence-based and offer a variety of therapeutic interventions, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). Both programs also offer:

• Life skills training
• Relapse prevention 
• Communication skills practice
• Relationship skills
• Anger management support
• A system of support for all participants.

Differences Between Levels

Though our outpatient programs have similarities, the time commitments they involve and the amount of support they offer is not the same:

IOP – this level of care is offered in-person or virtually, meeting for just a few hours, three evenings per week. Participants usually stay in the program for 8-12 weeks. Patients who participate virtually must have a computer with a working camera and microphone.

PHP – sometimes called “day treatment,” this program meets five hours per day, every weekday, providing participants with group and individual therapy, medication management and creative therapy. Participants return home in the evenings. The duration of treatment depends on the severity of the person’s struggle and other factors unique to each patient.

Benefits of Outpatient Treatment

There is sometimes a perception that either inpatient or outpatient treatment is better than the other. In reality, both have pros and cons, and what matters most is which one is the better fit for a specific client. During the assessment process, the patient shares information with our clinician, who will then make a recommendation for their level of care. What patients most often like about outpatient treatment is:

• They can continue to work or go to school while in treatment
• They are still available to their support systems and their support systems are still available to them
• It’s possible to get started with the providers, 12-step groups and community resources that they want to utilize long-term, while still completing treatment
• It is often cheaper than in-patient treatment because the client is not paying for room and board on top of treatment
• It can offer a step up in treatment from lower levels of care or a step down from in-patient treatment
• If the program is not the right fit, it is easier for the person to leave and try a different program, than if they are getting care out of state.

Why Outpatient Treatment Isn’t for Everyone

Although outpatient can be a great option for stabilizing mental health or substance use recovery, there are times when it is not the best fit for some clients, such as:

• When the home environment is not healthy or supportive
• The person is likely to continuously run into people or situations that will undermine their recovery
• When the person needs 24-hour medical oversight to ensure they are safe
• When the person struggles to maintain their motivation to progress in their recovery
• If the person needs medical detox to manage withdrawal symptoms

Ensuring You Find the Right Program

Choosing to enter treatment is a really big decision. It is important to ensure that you find a program that is a good fit for you. Asking the right questions can help. Such as:

• What training and credentials counselors have
• If there are medical doctors affiliated with the program
• What therapy options are available
• The schedule and duration of time you should expect to spend in the program
• How successful the program has been in supporting people with your mental health or substance use disorder diagnoses
• Any special concerns that matter to you

At Cottonwood, we believe in meeting each patient where they are at and providing customized care that will meet their unique behavioral health needs. We recognize that each client we serve is an individual, with needs that aren’t exactly like anyone else. We work with all of our patients to complete thorough assessments and develop a personalized care plan that considers their mental, physical, emotional and spiritual needs, during and after their time in our programs.