Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) in Los Angeles
Structured treatment that flexes around a life you are already rebuilding. Real clinical support without stepping away from work, school, or family.
In-network with most major insurers
Our admissions team verifies your specific benefits and explains exactly what's covered for IOP, before you commit to anything.
We do not accept Medi-Cal or Medicare.
Verify my insuranceRoom for both
IOP is a flexible schedule for those balancing treatment with work, school, or family. You attend structured sessions several times a week while continuing to live your daily life. It is a real step down in intensity, not a drop in the quality of care.
A flexible weekly schedule. IOP runs on weekday mornings, about three hours a session, five days a week to start and three days a week later on. Your schedule is adjusted over time based on your progress, not fixed in advance.
Group and individual therapy. A mix of group work and one on one sessions each week.
Continued psychiatric care. Ongoing clinical oversight for both addiction and mental health as you step down.
Coordination with your daily life. We work around work, school, or family responsibilities instead of asking you to pause them.
IOP sits between two levels of care
Before IOP
PHP
A more intensive daily schedule for people who need more structure than IOP.
See How PHP Day Treatment WorksYou are here
Intensive Outpatient
Structured treatment that flexes around a life you are already rebuilding. Real clinical support without stepping away from work, school, or family.
After IOP
Outpatient Rehab
The usual next step down after IOP, for continued long-term support.
See How Outpatient Rehab WorksWhy choose Breathe for IOP
Addiction and Mental Health, Treated Together
Integrated dual-diagnosis approach, we don't treat substance use in isolation from anxiety, depression, or trauma.
Your Privacy, Protected
Confidentiality built into every part of how we operate, care that respects who knows you're here, on your terms.
Staff Who've Lived It
Many of our team members, from the front desk to clinical leadership, have personal recovery experience, so you're not only being treated by people who studied it from the outside.
Rated 4.1 on Google
4.1 · 155 Google reviewsEvery journey looks different, yours will be built around exactly what you need.
Our location
A secluded campus in the heart of Laurel Canyon, close enough to reach, private enough to heal.
Questions people ask about IOP
Straight answers about weekly hours, therapy types, and what comes next.
How many hours per week does IOP require?+
IOP meets on weekday mornings for about three hours a session. Most people start five days a week, while they're putting new tools into practice, looking for work, going to meetings and building a community outside treatment. Once you've started working and can regulate your emotions and manage your own schedule, IOP can step down to three days a week. Your schedule is adjusted based on your individual progress, not fixed in advance.
Who is IOP a good fit for?+
People who are using the skills they built in a higher level of care and are ready to try them out in everyday life, with structure and clinical support still in place. Placement is based on a clinical assessment, your stability and your recovery needs.
How long does IOP usually last?+
There is no set duration. Length is shaped around your progress and reassessed along the way, rather than following a fixed calendar.
What types of therapy are included in IOP?+
A mix of group therapy, individual sessions, and evidence-based approaches like CBT, DBT, motivational interviewing and Internal Family Systems (IFS), alongside experiential and wellness practices. IOP also puts more focus on life skills and time management, so treatment fits the life you're rebuilding.
Do I still get individual attention in a group-based program?+
Yes. One on one therapy sessions are a core part of IOP, alongside group sessions and workshops.
Can I keep working or going to school while in IOP?+
Yes. IOP is built around your daily responsibilities rather than asking you to pause them, with sessions structured to work around work, school, or family.
What happens after I complete IOP?+
Support continues through our BreatheOUT alumni group, relapse prevention resources, and a gradual step down to standard outpatient care. Before you finish, your team helps set up what comes next, such as sober living, an outside therapist and psychiatrist, or a program with case management and life skills if that fits you better. The life skills and time management you practice in IOP carry straight into that next stage.
Can my family be involved while I'm in IOP?+
Yes. Our family program is for clients in PHP or IOP, with your therapist's approval. It includes family therapy, which can happen in person or online, and an in-person 3-Day Family Workshop. Partners and chosen family are welcome, and participation depends on your willingness and theirs.
Who is welcome at Breathe?+
Clients of every background. Breathe offers LGBTQIA+ affirming care at every level of treatment, and partners and chosen family are welcome in our family program.
Is IOP covered by insurance?+
In most cases, yes. We are in-network with most major providers, and our team works with your insurer directly to explain costs and coverage before you commit to anything. We do not currently accept Medi-Cal or Medicare. If that's your coverage, call us, we'll tell you straight away and point you toward a resource that can help.
