Outpatient mental health treatment approach is a type of program that does not stress on being admitted in a medical facility overnight. This therapy is mostly offered in doctors’ offices, hospitals, or clinics where one can have regular therapy sessions to highly structured regular treatments.

In the time of COVID-19 pandemic there were approximately 275 million drug users worldwide. It was almost 22% higher than the previous decades. The increase in drug addiction has resulted in an all-time high number of overdoses across America. The good news here is that Outpatient Mental Health programs are helping many people recover and live healthier lives.

These programs are surprisingly helpful and work best amongst residents who come from more levels of care before starting this outpatient program which may help familiarize with its features and what to expect. Familiarizing yourself with these programs, their importance and benefits will serve you right.

Outpatient Program Overview

The outpatient programs provide a group of professionals, who neither require admission nor overnight stays in hospitals. They are well-known picks and typical sources for those people searching for mental health and wellness.

The length and frequency of the outpatient programs will depend on the program type participated in, severity of the condition, and expert advice. In general, these outpatient programs are usually expected to meet between three to five sessions per week which may last about 3-6 hours over a period of two to three weeks.

Types of Outpatient Treatment

Outpatient Mental Health programs differ. Most approaches to mental health care involve some combination of individual therapy, family therapy, group therapy, aftercare services, and medication management as these treatment plans are highly individualized to suit unique needs. One of the first things that should be taken into consideration is the kind of an outpatient treatment program that works effectively for all patients. There are generally three main types of outpatient programmes each having different structures in them.

Standard Outpatient Treatment

Standard outpatient treatment consists of regular visits to the outpatient clinic, hospital, or treatment center, as framed by the personalized care plan for patients. These therapy sessions are scheduled around the patients' work, school, and other responsibilities. The treatment plans include weekly and frequent use, which often continues for a year or even more.

Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOPs)

IOPs or Intensive outpatient programs primarily involve about three to four hours of treatment for about 5 days every week. The IOPs are streamlined to offer highly structured support compared to the other standard outpatient programs while enabling the patients greater flexibility and time attending the external responsibilities. The entire duration of the IOP ranges from anywhere about a couple of weeks to a year, about 90 days, which is mainly recommended at a minimum.

Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHPs)

PHP or Partial Hospitalization Programs mainly comprise about 6 to more hours of treatment each day for about seven days each week. The highly structured and supervised treatments for PHPs offer a highly intensive amount of non-residential care, which is effective for the patients for the reintegration into their lives following their stay inpatient. PHPs generally last for about 30 days before the patients transition to a greater amount of care.

Outpatient mental health treatment generally aims towards helping patients learn to thrive right outside of the therapeutic space with a greater aim towards the management of the symptoms, overcoming every fear, identifying the triggers, establishing healthier social norms, and developing communication skills.

Final Thoughts

Outpatient Mental Health programs are extremely effective in aiding people in attaining long-term sobriety. They are less intensive compared to conventional inpatient programs. They even focus on the critical element of skill development. This enables people to continue with the group or individualized treatments that started during the residential programs.