A Bridge to Wellness
In mental health treatment, an extra step can make all the difference.
Sometimes, people in recovery from a behavioral health condition don’t need to participate in a full inpatient program—but they do
need more support than a weekly counseling session. An intensive outpatient program, or IOP, can be helpful for those who need to step
down from an inpatient program or step up from traditional therapy on their road to recovery or condition management.
Kootenai Health’s mid-level, comprehensive intensive outpatient program is designed to meet this need. In IOP, participants tap into
their internal strengths and learn the skills needed to achieve their goals while enjoying the comfort of living in their own homes.
“As a result of Kootenai’s IOP, we’ve seen clients who had sought help through the emergency department and inpatient hospital stabilize,” said Lisa Bunker, Kootenai Health’s Chemical Dependency Unit manager. “These clients were able to stay out of the acute medical system for over a year. It’s been very rewarding to watch lives rebuild and be filled with increased purpose and meaning.”
Kootenai’s IOP:
- Offers nine hours of therapy each week in three, three-hour group sessions
- Is taught by clinicians with master’s degrees in mental health
- Offers education on illnesses, including symptoms, medications and management strategies
- Is often used as a bridge after hospitalization
Philosophy of care
Kootenai’s Behavioral Health team helps patients identify their personal strengths, develop goals, and create achievable action plans to reach those goals. While there is no defined limit to the number of therapy sessions for each patient, our team will help develop individualized milestones to map out the road to success.
The IOP can be billed through insurance providers. Call your insurance provider to see if you qualify for coverage.
Take the next step
If you have questions or would like to speak to someone about joining the intensive outpatient program, please call (208) 625-4800.
