Virtual IOP vs In-Person Treatment: Which Is Right for You?

Virtual IOP therapy session on a laptop at home — comparing virtual and in-person treatment.

Virtual IOP vs In-Person Treatment: Which Is Right for You?

By Stacey Pino | Reviewed by Dr. Siri Sat Khalsa, MD, Medical Director, AM Health Care · Updated June 30, 2026

If you’re weighing virtual IOP against in-person treatment, you’re already past the hardest part — deciding to get help. The next decision is about fit: which format works with your life, your schedule, and what you actually need clinically.

In this article, we break down what virtual and in-person IOP actually look like, what the research says about outcomes, and how to figure out which option makes sense for where you are right now.

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In this article:

What Is Virtual IOP?

It’s not always possible to step away from work, family, or daily obligations to attend outpatient addiction treatment in person. Virtual intensive outpatient treatment was developed to remove these barriers, without reducing the clinical quality of care.

A virtual intensive outpatient program is a structured, clinician-led program delivered using secure, HIPAA-compliant telehealth accessed from home or wherever you have a private space and a reliable internet connection. Accessibility, convenience, and flexibility are among the key benefits of virtual IOP.

How many hours a week is virtual IOP?

Virtual IOP typically runs nine to fifteen hours per week, spread across three to five days. A standard schedule might include a two- to three-hour morning or evening session. This structure is designed to accommodate work, family, and other daily responsibilities.

The clinical content mirrors what you would receive in an in-person program: therapy groups, individual sessions, and a curriculum focused on the skills and insight that support lasting recovery.

The telehealth platform is critical to success. A well-run virtual IOP is not a series of passive video calls. It is an active clinical environment with real group dynamics, scheduled check-ins, and clinical oversight. It requires the same accountability framework as in-person treatment, just delivered differently.

Woman attending a virtual IOP group session from home in California

What Is In-Person IOP?

In-person IOP follows the same general structure: nine to fifteen hours of programming per week, although you physically attend at a treatment facility. Sessions happen in a dedicated clinical space with your treatment team and peer group present in the room.

Some people find that the physical environment is part of what makes in-person treatment work. Commuting to a facility creates a clear separation between treatment time and everyday life. Sitting in a room with other people in recovery builds a kind of connection that some find harder to replicate on a screen.

What is the difference between IOP and PHP?

IOP typically involves nine to fifteen hours of programming per week and allows you to live at home throughout treatment. A partial hospitalization program (PHP) runs five to six hours per day, five days a week, and is generally recommended for people who need more support than IOP provides but do not require residential care.

The biggest difference between PHP and IOP is clinical intensity, and the right choice comes down to where you are in recovery. PHP provides more intensive daily support, while IOP is built for people who are more stable and ready for a lighter structure.

Virtual IOP vs In-Person: Key Differences

Neither format is better. The right fit depends on your circumstances, your clinical needs, and what kind of environment helps you do your best work in treatment.

Virtual IOP vs In-Person IOP: Side-by-Side Comparison

 Virtual IOPIn-Person IOP
Schedule FlexibilityMorning, afternoon, and evening options fit around work, family, and daily obligations.Session times may be more limited, depending on the facility’s schedule.
Commute & GeographyNo commute required: accessible from anywhere in California or Oklahoma with an internet connection.Requires travel to a treatment facility; may be a barrier for those in rural areas or without transportation.
Peer ConnectionReal-time group sessions with a peer cohort; connection is genuine, though screen-based.Face-to-face peer interaction in a shared physical space; some find this more grounding in early recovery.
Home EnvironmentRequires a private, stable home setting for sessions. Not recommended if the home environment is chaotic or unsupportive.Provides a clear separation from home; attending a facility creates structure and accountability outside the home.
Technology RequirementsDevice with camera, reliable internet, and a private space required. May be a barrier for some.No technology required beyond a phone to confirm attendance. Accessibility depends on location and transportation.
Insurance CoverageMost PPO plans and Medi-Cal cover virtual IOP. Coverage has expanded significantly since 2020. Verify with admissions.Most PPO plans and Medi-Cal cover in-person IOP. Coverage varies by plan. Verify directly with admissions.

Coverage and program details vary. Contact the Inneractions admissions team to verify insurance benefits before starting.

In-person IOP group therapy session at an intensive outpatient treatment facility

Is Virtual IOP Effective Compared to In-Person Treatment?

If effectiveness is your main concern, the research is reassuring — with one important qualifier. For appropriate candidates, virtual IOP produces outcomes comparable to in-person treatment.

A 2022 study followed 3,642 patients across in-person, hybrid, and virtual IOP programs and found no significant differences in abstinence rates, quality of life, or psychological well-being by delivery format.

A review published in the NIH’s National Library of Medicine found strong evidence supporting the feasibility and effectiveness of technology-based treatment for substance use disorders, particularly when it preserves the core components of evidence-based care: structured sessions, clinician oversight, and consistent peer engagement.

SAMHSA’s evidence-based resource guide on telehealth for substance use disorders reinforces this, noting that telehealth services can potentially improve health outcomes and reduce the hurdles that keep people from accessing care in the first place.

However, research does not confirm that virtual IOP is appropriate for everyone. The key phrase is appropriate candidates. People in acute crisis, those with significant co-occurring psychiatric conditions requiring close monitoring, or those without a safe and private home environment, are likely better served by in-person or higher-level care.

Who Is Virtual IOP Right For?

Virtual IOP for substance abuse tends to work best for people who are in a stable place in their lives, not necessarily recovered, but not in acute crisis either.

It’s a strong fit for those who have completed a higher level of care, like residential treatment or PHP, and are ready to step down while maintaining structure. It also works well for people entering treatment for the first time whose clinical needs don’t require round-the-clock supervision.

If you’re managing work, caregiving responsibilities, or live in a rural area where commuting to a facility isn’t practical, virtual IOP was built with you in mind.

Working parent joining a virtual intensive outpatient program session around daily responsibilities

What are the requirements for virtual IOP?

The practical requirements for virtual IOP are:

  • a private space
  • a stable internet connection
  • a device with audio and video capability

An admissions assessment helps determine whether virtual IOP is the right fit or whether a different level of care would better serve your recovery.

Can I work while doing virtual IOP?

Yes. Flexible scheduling is one of the primary reasons people choose virtual IOP. Morning and evening session options make it possible to maintain employment while completing a full nine-to-fifteen-hour weekly program.

Many people find that being able to stay in their job, maintain their routine, and apply what they are learning in treatment to their daily life in real time actually strengthens the treatment experience. It also removes one of the most common reasons people delay getting help: the belief that treatment requires stepping away from everything.

Virtual IOP is also a strong option for parents with caregiving responsibilities, people in remote communities, and anyone for whom commuting to a facility creates a meaningful barrier to getting started.

Who Should Choose In-Person IOP?

In-person IOP is often the better fit for people who benefit from external structure, where the act of showing up somewhere, physically and on schedule, creates a layer of accountability that is hard to replicate from home.

It is also more appropriate for people whose home environment is not conducive to treatment, whether because of instability, lack of privacy, or the presence of people or situations that make staying focused on recovery difficult.

If the environment that contributed to problematic patterns is also the environment where you would be attending virtual sessions, in-person treatment offers an important and often necessary separation.

People who strongly value face-to-face connection, who find video-based group dynamics harder to engage with, or who are earlier in recovery and benefit from a higher level of accountability often do better with in-person programming.

If you or someone you love is experiencing thoughts of self-harm or hopelessness, support is available. Call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, 24 hours a day.

Virtual IOP at Inneractions — California and Oklahoma

Inneractions, with locations in California and Oklahoma, delivers virtual and in-person intensive outpatient treatment. The virtual IOP program runs on a HIPAA-compliant telehealth platform with morning and evening scheduling options designed to accommodate work and family commitments.

The program treats both substance use disorders and co-occurring anxiety, depression, and other mental health conditions, a combination known as dual diagnosis. Inneractions’ integrated model addresses both within the same treatment plan, rather than treating one and leaving the other unaddressed.

For those in the Los Angeles area who prefer in-person treatment, Inneractions also offers programming at its Encino location. Most major PPO insurance plans are accepted for both virtual and in-person formats. Our admissions team can verify your specific benefits before you commit to anything.

Inneractions clinician leading a HIPAA-compliant virtual IOP session for clients in California and Oklahoma

Wondering whether your insurance covers virtual IOP? Let the Inneractions admissions team verify your benefits — confidential, free, and with no obligation to move forward.

Call 866-818-4684

Getting Started

Starting is more straightforward than you might expect. An initial admissions call takes about twenty to thirty minutes — it’s a conversation, not a commitment. From there, we handle insurance verification, clinical assessment, and scheduling.

Does insurance cover virtual IOP in California?

Most major PPO insurance plans cover online IOP in California, and Medi-Cal covers telehealth-delivered substance use disorder treatment for eligible members.

Coverage for virtual IOP has expanded significantly since 2020, and many plans now cover telehealth at the same level as in-person treatment. The most reliable way to confirm your benefits is to contact the Inneractions admissions team. Insurance verification is part of the intake process and costs nothing.

Is virtual IOP covered by Medicare?

Medicare covers virtual IOP for mental health and substance use disorder services for eligible beneficiaries. Coverage terms and prior authorization requirements vary by plan, so verifying your specific virtual IOP Medicare benefits with the admissions team before starting is the right step.

Ready to take the next step toward virtual or in-person IOP in California or Oklahoma? Our admissions team is here to answer your questions, verify your insurance, and help you find the right fit.

Call 866-818-4684

Sources

Frequently Asked Questions

Is virtual IOP worth it?

For the right person, yes. Research comparing virtual and in-person IOP has found comparable outcomes in abstinence, quality of life, and psychological well-being, so you are not sacrificing clinical quality by choosing the online format. Virtual IOP is worth it when you have a private, stable space for sessions and a schedule that benefits from the flexibility. If your home environment is chaotic or you need more external accountability, in-person treatment may serve you better.

What is the success rate of IOP?

There is no single success rate, because outcomes depend on the person, the program, and how well the level of care matches clinical needs. Peer-reviewed research has found that more than two-thirds of IOP patients report continuous abstinence at follow-up, with virtual and in-person formats performing comparably. Outcomes tend to improve when treatment is completed in full, when co-occurring mental health conditions are addressed, and when aftercare continues beyond discharge.

What are the downsides of virtual therapy?

The main downsides of virtual therapy are the need for a private space and reliable technology, the potential for distraction at home, and the loss of physical separation between treatment and everyday life. Some people also find screen-based group dynamics harder to engage with. For people in acute crisis or without a safe home environment, virtual care is not appropriate, and an in-person or higher level of care is the safer choice.

What does IOP stand for in substance abuse?

IOP stands for intensive outpatient program. In substance abuse treatment, an IOP provides structured, clinician-led care — typically nine to fifteen hours per week of group therapy, individual sessions, and skills work — while you continue living at home. It sits between standard outpatient care and a partial hospitalization program in intensity, and it can be delivered in person at a facility or virtually through secure telehealth.

How can you quit drugs without going to rehab?

Quitting without residential rehab is possible for some people, but quitting without professional support is risky — withdrawal from alcohol, benzodiazepines, and opioids can be dangerous and sometimes requires medical supervision. Outpatient options like IOP provide evidence-based treatment while you continue living at home, which is often what people mean when they say they want to avoid “rehab.” A clinical assessment can determine whether outpatient care is a safe and realistic starting point for you.

How to Quit Fentanyl Safely: fentanyl withdrawal procedures and expectations

Fentanyl is a potent prescription drug that is part of the opioid family. Fentanyl is used to treat chronic pain, and comes in a patch form that is absorbed through the patient’s skin. Fentanyl binds to opioid receptors in the brain and creates a euphoric feeling, which masks pain symptoms for the duration of the patch. Fentanyl is incredibly addictive, and many patients find themselves trying to overcome their tolerance. If you are struggling with an addiction to Fentanyl, it is important to seek professional help. In this blog post, we will discuss Fentanyl detox and withdrawal procedures and expectations.

Fentanyl Detox: What to expect

Most Fentanyl detox programs will last for a period of five to seven days. During this time, patients will be monitored closely by medical staff and will gradually have the drug tapered off. The first few days of Fentanyl withdrawal can be difficult, as patients may experience flu-like symptoms, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and muscle aches. Patients may also experience anxiety, depression, and irritability. It is important to remember that these symptoms are temporary and will eventually subside.

After the initial withdrawal period, patients will begin to feel better and will have more energy. They may still experience some mood swings and cravings for Fentanyl, but these should gradually lessen over time. Most Fentanyl detox programs will provide counseling and support during this time to help patients through the process.

How To Quit Using Fentanyl Without Withdrawals

Need help quitting Fentanyl? Our professional and compassionate staff can help you through Fentanyl detox and withdrawal. We offer a variety of services to help you on your road to recovery, including counseling and support. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you get through Fentanyl detox and withdrawal. We’re here for you every step of the way. Call us now at (818) 571-9841

(Please note: our phone number is confidential and only for use by people seeking addiction treatment.)

What Are the Signs of a Cocaine Addiction?

What Are the Signs of a Cocaine Addiction?

Wildly addictive, short-lived and expensive.

Those are among the hallmarks of cocaine and on its face, it would seem like they would serve as more a deterrent than anything else. No one ever said addiction was rational though and the pull of cocaine is an incredibly tough one to fight back against.

Between 2013 and 2018 alone, the rate of cocaine use nearly tripled from 1.6 per 100,000 people to 4.5 according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Adding that more than 16,000 people died from a cocaine overdose in 2019.

And the addiction can start young, the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) found that 4.1% of high seniors had already tried cocaine in their lifetime.

What Is Cocaine?

But before we get into the signs, let’s get some backstory.

Going back to NIDA, they define cocaine as “a powerfully addictive stimulant drug made from the leaves of the coca plant native to South America” adding that “although health care providers can use it for valid medical purposes, such as local anesthesia for some surgeries, recreational cocaine use is illegal. As a street drug, cocaine looks like a fine, white, crystal powder.”

Famously, cocaine was an ingredient in Coca-Cola.

Given that cocaine is illegal and therefore bought on the streets, it’s not uncommon for dealers to “cut” or mix the cocaine with other substances, a trick that increases their profits.

The most common way to use cocaine is just as they show it in the movies: snorting it. Alternatively, it can be dissolved into liquid and injected or rubbed on the gums.

What makes cocaine so addictive is that it floods the brain with dopamine leading to a brief euphoric state of high energy and happiness, the brain craves that and which ultimately reinforces the need to take more.

Do you know what cocaine abuse looks like and what are the signs of cocaine addiction?

What Are the Signs of a Cocaine Addiction?

Cocaine addiction presents itself in quite a few ways, some more obvious than others, which only get worse the longer someone is hooked. 

  • Runny nose and/or nosebleeds
  • Insomnia and restlessness
  • Abundance of energy and acting on impulse
  • Developing a tolerance that requires larger doses, more frequently
  • Issues at work, school or home
  • Overly confident
  • Shifting social group to include other cocaine users
  • Talking excessively
  • Continuing to use despite negative consequences
  • Loss of appetite and weight loss
  • Skipping activities if they don’t involve or allow for cocaine use
  • Secretive behavior
  • Dilated pupils
  • Depression
  • Difficulty focusing
  • Irritability, agitation and mood swings
  • Spending a lot of time getting, using and recovering from cocaine
  • Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when not using
  • Combining cocaine with other drugs

If you’re starting to see some of these, it’s important to not get in the habit of making excuses for the behavior. Take note and if more and more symptoms arise, it’s time to consider taking action.

How To Get Help With a Cocaine Addiction Today

Cocaine addiction is easy to fall into on your own and equally tough to get out of on your own.

Getting help requires acknowledging a problem exists. Once you do that, a world of options opens up before you.

Recovery starts after you break the physical addiction from cocaine through detox and what a program looks like will depend on your individual needs. An intensive outpatient program like ours at Inneractions allows you the freedom to carry on with your day-to-day life, with work and family, while also getting the dedicated care you require to overcome the mental side of addiction.

In practice that looks like a mix of one-on-one therapy and group work that helps you change your mental state and equip you with the coping mechanisms you need to avoid relapse and not succumb to triggering situations.

Help is only a phone call away! Give us a call and we can walk you through our program.

Find the Best Group Therapy for Drug Addiction Today

Find the Best Group Therapy for Drug Addiction Today

When you picture what rehab is like in your mind, what do you see?

Maybe an addict lying on a couch with a therapist listening and asking questions? Perhaps a group of people sitting in a small circle of chairs together and talking?

Pretty stereotypical scenes and also not far off.

Individual and group therapy for drug addiction are both hallmarks of the process for a reason. In a moment we’ll get into why group therapy, in particular, is so important.

Signs and Symptoms of Addiction

But first, what does addiction look like?

A substance use disorder isn’t something that manifests and takes hold overnight. There are common signs and symptoms along the way that begin to paint the picture early.

Generally speaking, here’s what you should be looking out for:

  • Using more than prescribed or intended or taking drugs longer
  • Can’t stop or cut back even though an effort is being made
  • Spending considerable time getting, using, and recovering from drugs
  • Intense cravings
  • Work, school, and family obligations aren’t being met
  • Using despite the obvious problems it’s causing to personal relationships
  • Finding yourself in increasingly more dangerous situations
  • Developing a tolerance and needing to take larger doses for the same effect
  • Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when not using
  • Mood swings and irritability
  • Changes in sleep patterns
  • Shift in weight

Of course, different drugs have differing signs of addiction but the above can usually be seen across the board.

How Group Therapy for Drug Addiction Will Help You Recover

Now that you know what addiction can look like, what’s the added benefit of group therapy to your recovery journey.

Knowing you aren’t alone

Drug use and addiction are incredibly isolating. You might use in a group but once you stop, those people disappear and your addiction may have alienated your close family and friends. Loneliness and depression can set in. Group therapy shows you that you’re not alone and that others have gone through the same.

Support system

Because you’re in the company of people who’ve been there, you have a unique support system of people who really can support you from a place of genuine understanding. It’s easy for anyone to say “I get it” but those words mean a lot more when they come from someone who’s walked in your shoes.

Develop skills learned in counseling

In individual therapy, you work on several things en route to a sober life. One of those is coping mechanisms. In group therapy, you can talk those through and sharpen your understanding. Also, addiction isn’t known for working wonders on your communications skills, being in group setting forces you to hone those people skills. 

Build community

Naturally, once you finish your rehab program, you shouldn’t go directly back to the same group of friends you hung out with before who continue to do drugs. You don’t want to let temptation get the best of you or find yourself in a triggering situation that leads to a relapse. In group therapy, you can build a new community of friends and acquaintances that you can stay connected with long after the therapy ends. Having those types of people in your life helps with accountability too.

Inspirational environment

Among the best aspects of group therapy is that you’ll likely find yourself in a group where people are at different points of their recovery. Those that are farther along than you can serve as an inspiration for you to strive towards. Likewise, you can be that for someone else.

There are plenty of other reasons why group therapy is often considered an integral part of the recovery process, we surely think so here at Inneractions. If you’d like to learn more about our group session, give us a shout.

What Is Codependency in a Relationship With an Addict?

What Is Codependency in a Relationship With an Addict?

Relationships can be tough to begin with and tossing addiction into the mix certainly doesn’t make things any easier. Particularly if there’s a codependent dynamic at work in the relationship already.

But exactly is codependency?

James Madison University describes it as “becoming so invested with each other that you can’t function independently. It typically plays out as one person being more passive, lacking confidence, depending on being taken care of, and often having difficulties making decisions. The other person in the relationship is more dominant, controlling, takes charge, and gets some satisfaction from making decisions and taking care of the other person.”

To put it more simply, it’s an imbalanced relationship where one person gives more than they get so to speak and the other is left feeling vulnerable or helpless without their partner.

That’s what a codependent relationship might look like, what is it in terms of someone with a substance use disorder though.

What Is Codependency in a Relationship With an Addict?

The big takeaway word for what codependency is in a relationship with an addict is “enabling”.

It’s not something that’s necessarily intentionally done either. If your partner is a drug addict or alcoholic you may begin to feel like you can save them through your care. What that looks like in practice is different for everyone but can be as basic as:

  • Making excuses for their behavior
  • Lending money
  • Rationalizing their overuse and justifying their behavior
  • Feeling responsible for their issues
  • Taking on their responsibilities
  • Lying to protect them from consequences

All of these enabling behaviors and actions may come from a place of love but are incredibly damaging in the long run in a couple of meaningful ways.

First, if you obfuscate the addiction of your significant other and essentially continue to remain in denial about it, it only cements their substance use disorder further which makes subsequent treatment more arduous and puts additional strain on the relationship.

Secondly, it’s damaging to you as well in a number of ways. Carrying the burden of trying to “save” someone is exhausting and unhealthy. Being overly invested in their issues leaves less time for your own life, which only gets worse with time.

Codependency and addiction are among the worst bedfellows. One is fuel for the other in a sense and as a person falls further into addiction, the partner essentially becomes addicted to the relationship and taking care of the other.

How to End a Codependent Relationship While Still Supporting Your Loved One

Codependency isn’t being supportive. Codependency is unhealthy. Of course, this is unsustainable and something eventually has to give.

That said, ending a codependent relationship doesn’t mean giving up on your loved one. In fact, it can be a way of supporting them more fully and for real.

The main thing is to recognize the situation for what is. Be honest with yourself and them and work to understand the true nature of the relationship.

Have a genuinely honest conversation about the negative and painful aspects of this codependency and stop the enabling behavior. 

Allow yourself the space to heal. Work on changing how you think and not wrapping up how you feel about their addiction.

Create boundaries and stick to them.

This doesn’t mean you don’t care about your loved one, it means you want the best for both of you and to get that requires changing the nature of the relationship.

Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, consider the benefits of counseling. At Inneractions, we have bi-weekly group meetings focused fully on codependency where you can learn how to build a healthier relationship. Get in touch with us to learn more.

Why You Should Go To Intensive Outpatient in Los Angeles

Why You Should Go To Intensive Outpatient in Los Angeles

We all have different experiences in life that lead us to where we are, and that is also true for the road to addiction. Although many of the behaviors and symptoms overlap, addiction is very individual to each person. One person’s journey may be completely different from someone else’s, and it is no different when it comes to rehab. Depending on your level of addiction, the substance you are addicted to, and your support system at home, the rehab you require will be different. 

What Is Intensive Outpatient Rehab? 

Intensive outpatient programs (IOPs) are treatment programs used to address addictions, depression, eating disorders, and any dependency that does not require detoxification or 24-hour medical supervision. Outpatient care consists of different types of programs where the patient visits a treatment center or counselor on certain days of the week. Intensive outpatient rehab still involves daily treatment, however those opting for outpatient rehabilitation do not live in the facility throughout the course of the treatment. People who choose outpatient rehab are able to live at home and continue their schooling or professions, and the level of support may be a little less intensive as compared to an inpatient treatment program. 

Intensive outpatient treatment is typically recommended to patients who are experiencing less severe addictions, have strong support systems at home, or for those who cannot leave their obligations to work or school behind. It is also used as complementary treatment for after inpatient rehab. Sometimes, students or professionals might feel more stressed out from getting left behind from their work, and outpatient rehab will serve as a less stress inducing option. 

Outpatient rehab allows patients to stay at home and receive treatment during the day, there is more flexibility and it may be more affordable, however there is a lower rate of success for recovery when struggling with a more serious addiction. When deciding between inpatient treatment and outpatient rehab one must truly evaluate how serious their addiction is and choose the option that makes most sense for them and their livelihood moving forward. If the addiction is less severe and the outside factors of everyday life are not causing stress, it may make sense to opt for outpatient rehab.

The Benefits of Going To Intensive Outpatient in Los Angeles

Intensive outpatient treatment is ideal for candidates who prefer to stay home throughout treatment or those who have already completed inpatient treatment. Sometimes, being surrounded by loved ones offers a level of comfort that an intensive inpatient program cannot offer. Those with solid support systems at home may opt for outpatient rehab to stay close to their loved ones throughout treatment. 

Additionally, IOPs are great for people who do not have the ability to leave all of their responsibilities behind. Whether it be school or work, taking care of children, or household obligations, intensive outpatient is the more flexible option. 

Lastly, intensive outpatient care tends to be less expensive than inpatient treatment programs. Inpatient rehab requires overnight stay and 24-hour medical supervision, and as a result, it tends to be more expensive. 

Attending outpatient care in Los Angeles, California is an incredible way to recover from an addiction. Los Angeles is home to beautiful weather, beaches, and relaxing activities that can serve as a contributing factor to your recovery. If you live in Los Angeles, there are many facilities that offer intensive outpatient programs that will guide you on your road to recovery. 

Everyone deserves the best opportunity to recover from their addictions, and through intensive outpatient care in Los Angeles, you will receive quality treatment from expert therapists, psychologists, and clinicians who will provide you with the best quality care. 

Through intensive outpatient care, you can discover and understand the underlying causes of your addiction, and use the tools and resources needed to live a sober, fulfilled and addiction-free life. Contact the team today at Inneractions to learn more about how we can help you or your loved one recover from addiction. 

Tips on Getting a Job After Rehab

Tips on Getting a Job After Rehab

Part of the rehabilitation process after undergoing recovery is transitioning back into your everyday life. Rehab programs typically last for a couple of months. Once you are reaching the end of your stay, you should start preparing to re-enter the real world, and thus begin preparing to re-enter the workforce. Getting a job is an essential next step following rehab, and there are plenty of aftercare programs that help with the process.

Why It’s Important To Get a Job After Rehab

Before entering rehab, it is typically a time where you are struggling with an addiction that prevents you from earning a living or carrying out tasks that are essential to work. Whether or not you had a job before rehab is not important. What is important is that following rehab, it is important to occupy your time with things that allow you to make positive contributions to society.

One of the best ways to keep yourself occupied, out of trouble, and away from temptation is by going to work. Some of the main reasons why it is important to find a job after rehab are as follows.

Sense of Purpose

Most people, whether struggling from addiction or not, seek purpose and meaning out of life. Having a job allows you to feel like you have a sense of purpose and feel like you are making an impact and accomplishing tasks. Work can be difficult, but it can also be extremely fulfilling.

Routine

Along with keeping you busy, jobs also offer you a daily routine. Whether it be getting up at a certain time in the morning, taking a mode of transportation, or getting lunch at a certain time, having a schedule and a routine can provide you with a healthy sense of structure for you day-to-day life.

Connect with People

Although your coworkers may not be your best friends, interacting with people everyday is an added layer of support that you might need throughout your day. 

Financial Benefits

There is a sense of responsibility that comes with a job, and that responsibility comes with an income. Making your own money can allow for you to live your life more freely and not have to rely on anyone else for you to be able to buy groceries or enjoy yourself. Having a set of finances that are your own is an incredibly freeing feeling.

Tips on Getting a Job After Rehab

Many people who exit rehab have the same task of going out and finding work. Diving into the job market can feel intimidating at first, however there are many tips and programs that help with advising people on getting work post-rehab. 

Getting a job after rehab requires having clear and reasonable expectations, along with patience and drive. There are millions of Americans who suffer from drug and alcohol addiction, attend rehab, and go into the workforce. So many people have gone on to lead successful lives and prosperous careers after rehab. It is important to not let recovery get in the way of your professional goals and aspirations in life.

Another tip would be to turn to resources. This can be anything to self-help books, YouTube videos, reading articles, reaching out to your peers to seek advice for someone in your position, and working with recruiters to help you find jobs that you are interested in. 

Chances are, recruiters or people you know either know of resources to share with you that might help, or have been in a similar position and can offer their guidance as you start on your job search.

Another helpful tip is to not get scared off by rejection. Rejection is extremely common when applying to jobs, and it is important to not take it personally if you don’t get the job you wanted. If you don’t get the job, simply pick your head up, and try again elsewhere. Always ask for feedback as to why you weren’t chosen for the position, and use that feedback for your next interview. 

How Inneractions Helps You Get a Job After Rehab

Inneractions is an intensive outpatient rehab facility located in Woodland Hills, CA. As one of our aftercare programs, we offer our patients career counseling as they prepare to re-enter their everyday lives. We find that work is an essential element of living your life more freely and purposefully, and we therefore place a heavy emphasis on getting our patients back into the workforce. Please visit Inneractions today for more information on our amazing career counseling program. 

The Benefits of Going to a 90 Day Rehab

The Benefits of Going to a 90 Day Rehab

The first step to overcoming a drug addiction is admitting that you have a problem, and from there, rehab is available for you. Although all forms and durations of drug abuse treatment have been proven to be highly beneficial, 90-day rehab is the recommended minimum duration from which to attend rehab to achieve a meaningful, long-lasting recovery. 

What Is 90-Day Rehab?

A 90-day drug rehab is a substance abuse rehabilitation program that lasts for the duration of 90 days, or three months. Substance use disorder is a disease characterized by the consumption of harmful substances, despite the negative implications it has on your health, and it causes a chemical alteration in the composition of your brain. Addiction to harmful substances will cause you to have no control over your actions, making recovery difficult, but possible. 

During a 90-day treatment program, it is likely that you may need to undergo a medically assisted detox that requires you to stop taking the drug that you are addicted to under the watchful eye of a medical professional. After you no longer have a physical dependence to the drug, there are many different therapies and programs that you can undergo to help change your mindset, and offer you insight into the ‘why’ behind your addiction. 

Some of the therapies offered at 90-day rehabilitation programs offer education, insight, compassion, and everyday tools to help you process your disorder, and establish healthy, sober lifestyles free from the destruction of addictive behavior. 

What Are the Benefits of Going to a 90-Day Rehab?

The idea that 90 days should be the minimum required duration of time for one seeking recovery from an addiction is due to the time both your body and brain need to heal, and to run a lesser risk of relapse. They say that it takes at least 30 days to form a habit, and that goes for habits that do not have life-threatening implications on the functionality of your brain. 

With 90-day rehab, drug centers are able to take the time to personalize your treatment so that it is effective for you. Undergoing evaluations and seeing a therapist will allow the 90-day center to have insight into your condition and how you heal. Addiction recovery should be individualized based on each client’s specific needs because no two addiction experiences are the same, therefore no two rehabilitation programs should be the same. 

90-day outpatient rehab programs will allow for you to live at home, or in sober living, while you attend treatment during the day. This offers clients more flexibility and an easier transition back into normal life upon the completion of rehab.

Who Should Go to a 90-Day Rehab?

In choosing to attend a 90-day rehabilitation program, you are choosing to help yourself recover from substance use disorder, mental health disorders, or both. If you are someone who is struggling from a serious addiction or mental disorder that is interfering with you going out and living your life, it is encouraged that you look into a 90-day rehab to reset your mind and change the way you live your life. 

Some of the signs that you are experiencing an addiction or mental health problem include not being able to cut down on drinking or using drugs, continuing to drink or do drugs even though it is causing health problems, skipping out on your favorite activities to engage in drinking or drugs, experiencing withdrawal symptoms when you try to stop using, not attending work or school, then you should consider attending a 90-day rehab. 

Reach Out to the Team at Inneractions Today

90-day rehabs offer you the ability to focus solely on your recovery without much distraction from the outside world. The 90 days will also offer you the time you require to master some of the skills of recovery that you can take with you for the remainder of your life. A 90-day rehab program also offers you the chance to recognize and change poor habits. Inneractions is a 90-day intensive outpatient rehab for those suffering from addiction and their families to recover in a discreet and professional setting. Come visit our facility in Woodland Hills, CA to recover today.

Why You Should Go to Sober Living in Encino

Why You Should Go to Sober Living in Encino

Recovery from a substance use disorder (SUD) doesn’t stop when rehab ends.

Whether you’re coming from an inpatient setting or outpatient care, there’s going to come a point at which you’ll have to meld back into your daily life.

Understandably, an abrupt shift from the 24/7 care of inpatient rehab to the regular hustle and bustle of life outside can be incredibly difficult to manage.

In inpatient rehab, for example, you had a regimented schedule and very much had triggers and distractions removed so you could truly put all your energy into recovery.

Even with outpatient care, even though you didn’t live in a facility 24/7, you had regular touchpoints with addiction specialists in both group and individual therapy sessions. Something of a safe space to shelter from the difficulties you might’ve found in your regular days.

There has to be a way to transition, no?

That’s where sober living comes in.

What Is Sober Living?

A sober living home functions more or less as a bridge between your dedicated treatment program and the “real world”.

You’ll sometimes even see them referred to as “transitional housing” or “halfway homes” for that very reason.

The basics of taking up residence at a sober living home are that you’re in a place that’s free of drugs and alcohol where you’ll be able to put into practice and further develop the coping mechanisms you learned while in rehab.

You’ll also generally be required to participate in some type of support group.

Why Is Sober Living an Important Part of Addiction Recovery?

Recovery is all about small wins that turn into larger ones over time. It’s about cementing positive habits and routines that make maintaining your hard-fought sobriety more manageable.

Look at it this way, it’s much more difficult to get used to a sudden change than it is to slowly adjust and then reinforce those adjustments through guidance and repetition. Sober living gives you a comfortable place to do that.

Some other key reasons sober living is an important part of the process are these:

Sober Connections

Loneliness is part of addiction and it can linger after you’ve stopped using as well. Living in a home with others who have gone through the same thing allows you to build meaningful friendships and a whole sober network.

There’s tremendous value in being surrounded by people who understand you on a deep level and those relationships help immeasurably. 

Supportive Environment

Being surrounded by sober people and those working towards the same overarching goal naturally creates a supportive environment. That’s further bolstered by the fact that you’ll be participating in some type of support group, often a 12-step program.

This introduces accountability and even more camaraderie with like-minded people.

Restoring Independence 

A critical component of sober living is getting your independence back.

While there are rules at sober living homes, you’re largely free to do as you please. You can go to and from work and do all the things that come with day-to-day life while having the safety net of a supportive home which helps in re-establishing your independence. 

Lower the Risk of Relapse

Taken together, all these things are meant to lower the risk of a return to drugs and/or alcohol. If you’re surrounded by people who care about their sobriety journey, it’ll help you with yours, and the support you give one another coupled with group work means the risk of relapse diminishes greatly.

Why You Should Go to Sober Living in Encino

Sober living in Encino at Inneractions in the San Fernando Valley offers all of the above and more in a luxurious Southern California setting.

To learn more about The ISLE, or the Inneractions Sober Living Environment, you can read here.

SMART Recovery vs AA: What’s the Difference? | Inneractions

SMART Recovery vs AA: What’s the Difference?

The common denominator for those living in recovery is a need for support. No matter the nature of your addiction, what you were addicted to, for how long, etc. building a support system you can rely on is critical to maintaining the sobriety you worked so hard to achieve.

To be honest, it’s right near the top of the post-rehab checklist.

Support groups help with everything from dealing with triggers to accountability to just being a place where folks truly understand you, where they just get it.

In that sense, it’s less SMART recovery vs. AA in the competitive sense and more about how each is more uniquely suited, or better suited, to the needs of various people.

What Is SMART Recovery?

The first thing you’ll notice is the all caps and that’s because SMART, like AA, is an acronym; it means Self-Management and Recovery Training.

The fast facts are that SMART was founded back in 1994 and is currently headquartered in Ohio. Their approach focuses on science and self-empowerment in the battle to overcome addiction and meetings can be found across the whole of the United States as well as a number of countries around the world.

You can find their handbook in at least 10 languages.

Their reliance on scientifically validated methods to empower change is a key differentiator from the distinctly more spiritual approach of AA, noting in their purpose and methods statement that their “efforts are based on scientific knowledge and evolve as scientific knowledge evolves”.

Rather than a 12 step program, which AA relies on, SMART is defined by their 4 point program which is:

  1. Building and maintaining the motivation to change
  2. Coping with urges to use
  3. Managing thoughts, feelings, and behaviors in an effective way without addictive behaviors
  4. Living a balanced, positive and healthy life

What Is AA?

Arguably the most well-known support group on earth is AA or Alcoholics Anonymous.

AA dates back to 1935 and also has an Ohio link, having been started there. You may sometimes see AA meetings referred to as “Friends of Bill W.” in places like cruise ships with the Bill W. in question being the founder of AA.

They define themselves as “an international fellowship of men and women who have had a drinking problem. It is nonprofessional, self-supporting, multiracial, apolitical, and available almost everywhere. There are no age or education requirements. Membership is open to anyone who wants to do something about his or her drinking problem”.

AA is where the concept of the 12 step program originated and it’s these very steps that form the core of the program itself.

A clear difference between the two programs is AA’s emphasis on spirituality in the pursuit of sustained sobriety. It’s not expressly required that you believe in God to join an AA meeting but the spiritual basis of AA is something to keep in mind. For some, it’s a wonderful thing. For others, they may prefer a different approach.

NA, or Narcotics Anonymous, was founded in 1953 and operates with the same 12-step program.

As for the meetings themselves, both SMART and AA are non-profits and their meetings are free of charge. Generally, only a small donation is recommended to cover the costs of putting on the meetings.

How to Overcome Drug and Alcohol Addiction Today

Conquering your addiction to drugs and/or alcohol is doable and among the best ways to go about it is through a professional treatment program that’s customized to your needs.

At Inneractions, that’s exactly what we do.

Moreover, once you complete rehab, we can help you transition back to your day-to-day life at our San Fernando sober living facility.

To learn more about support groups or aftercare, reach out to us today.