This is our flagship treatment programme. It provides up to a year of support to people suffering from addiction and who have completed a primary treatment programme or have been abstinent from all mood-altering substances for a reasonable period, usually 30 days.
The programme provides a structured treatment experience and clients receive information, assistance in structuring a substance-free lifestyle, and support to achieve and maintain abstinence from drugs and alcohol.
It was originally developed in the US in 1980 to treat cocaine dependence. All the protocols used throughout are empirically tested and evidence based. The effectiveness of the IOP approach has been evaluated numerous times since its inception. the most recent being 2004.
The IOP Model grew from the need for a structured, evidence-based treatment for clients who abuse or are dependent on substances. The model incorporates elements of relapse prevention, cognitive-behavioural, psycho-educational, and family approaches, as well as 12-Step program support. The model was developed with an awareness of the diversity of factors that contribute to drug and alcohol problems and has been found equally beneficial for clients abusing or dependant on substances other than stimulants.
This programme is modular and very flexible so it can be done full-time, 5 days a week combined with interpersonal group psychotherapy and psychoeducational workshops. The programme can also be taken 1, 2 or 3 days or evenings a week or one day a week or at weekends or evenings.
There are three phases to the programme and each phase must be completed before moving onto the next one. It is necessary to complete Phase 1 before moving on to Phase 2 and to complete Phase 2 before moving on to Phase 3. However, it is possible to join ERS, RP or FE groups at any point as the groups are free standing
1. Phase 1 is an intensive one which consists of all 8 of the Early Recovery Skills group. It also contains sessions 1 – 8 of the Relapse Prevention group and sessions 1 – 4 of Family Education group. There will also be an individual or conjoint counselling session in the first week. This phase has 26 hours of groupwork and 1 hour of counselling.
2. Phase 2 is also an intensive phase and contains sessions 9 – 32 of Relapse Prevention groups, sessions 5 – 12 of Family Education groups and following the completion of Family Education module, sessions 1 – 8 of Social Support and Continuing Care group. There will be an individual/conjoint counselling session in the first and last weeks. This phase has 60 hours of groupwork and 2 hours of counselling.
3. Phase 3 consists of sessions 9 – 36 of Social Support and Continuing Care Groups. These are usually done weekly. This phase has 32 hours of groupwork and no individual sessions.