Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) at Mission Connection
An Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) is a structured form of mental health treatment for those who need a higher degree of support than weekly outpatient therapy sessions.
However, it is less intensive than full-day residential treatment since you are able to continue living at home and maintain your daily responsibilities.
Mission Connection uses IOP treatment as step-down care for those transitioning from residential treatment or a Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP). It is also used as a starting point for consistent, structured care for others who think they need more guidance and support than weekly sessions.
How Is Treatment Delivered in an IOP at Mission Connection?
At Mission Connection, we deliver IOP treatment programs through a community-driven model built on the belief that “community heals faster.”
So, what does this mean for you? Well, you won’t have isolated, once-a-week sessions. Instead, you will become part of a connected therapeutic environment where you will participate in consistent therapeutic support throughout the week.
The foundation of our IOP is group therapy. While group therapy is often deemed the ‘cheaper’ alternative to individual therapy, we don’t treat it as such. In our group therapy sessions, all our clients get to process their experiences in real time, while:
- Learning from their peers,
- Practice new skills, and
- Receiving immediate feedback from both clinicians & the group they are part of.
You will have multiple sessions each week, keeping you engaged in the treatment process and actively supported.
Our program can deliver the equivalent of several months of traditional therapy within a single week of structured care. At the same time, we integrate individual therapy and psychiatric support into our group care model. Individual therapy is necessary for the personalized attention you require for your unique needs.
Mental Wellness Designed Around Your Life
Mental Wellness, Wherever You Are
Life keeps you moving, and your care should too. Our virtual program gives you access to a wide range of mental health services from the comfort of your own home, office, or anywhere you feel most at ease. It's the same high-quality care, just with more convenience. Available from anywhere in California, Virginia, and Washington!
Virtual ProgramMental Wellness, With a Human Connection
Sometimes, you just want to talk to someone face-to-face. Our in-person program provides a calm, supportive environment where you can connect with our team and focus on your well-being without distractions. Experience personalized care and build a strong relationship with your provider in a space designed for healing.
In-Person ProgramMental Wellness, The Best of Both Worlds
Can't decide between virtual and in-person? You don't have to. Our hybrid program offers the best of both. Mix and match virtual and in-person sessions to create a schedule that's truly yours.
It's the ultimate flexibility, so you can get the care you need, no matter what your week looks like.
Hybrid ProgramWhat Will Your Schedule Look Like?
Mission Connection structures IOP into customizable schedules. You commit to a minimum of three days per week, and your program will run for a total of 3-5 hours per day.
As part of the Mission Connection program you will have the following in your IOP schedule clinician-led group sessions on all days, a dedicated one-on-one individual therapy session each week, and psychiatric evaluations and medication management on a biweekly basis. Additionally, a bi-weekly evening virtual family support group session is also available if clinically appropriate.
We don’t follow a rigid, fixed schedule. Instead, you can build your own schedule (whether that’s virtual or in-person):
Virtual
Learn more about our Virtual Telehealth Program. Schedule is subject to change. Times listed Eastern (ET) and Pacific Time (PT).
Mission Connection Adult Virtual Group Schedule
Time (ET / PT)
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
9:00–10:30am ET/ 6:00–7:30am PT
DBT: Self-Worth
Anxiety and Depression CBT
DBT: Radical Acceptance
Stress Management
Reading Into Recovery: Bibliotherapy
10:30am–1:00pm ET/ 7:30–10:00am PT Groups are 1.5 hours, check scheduled time.
CBT 10:30am–12:00pm ET7:30–9:00am PT
Grief and Loss 10:30am–12:00pm ET7:30–9:00am PT
Combating Negative Thinking 10:30am–12:00pm ET7:30–9:00am PT
IFS: Adverse Childhood Experiences 10:30am–12:00pm ET7:30–9:00am PT
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) 10:30am–12:00pm ET7:30–9:00am PT
Stress Reset 11:30am–1:00pm ET8:30–10:00am PT
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy 11:30am–1:00pm ET8:30–10:00am PT
1:00–2:30pm ET/ 10:00–11:30am PT
Monday AM Check-InORNavigating Trauma
Narrative TherapyORPathways to Recovery (SUD)
Goal Setting
CBT: Conflict Resolution
Music & MindfulnessORProcess Group
Attachment & Connection
Fuel & Flow: A Path to Well-Being
2:30–4:00pm ET/ 11:30am–1:00pm PT
Embodied Insight
Intimate Partner ViolenceORAnger and Forgiveness
Art TherapyORDBT
Music Therapy: Lyric Analysis
Mindful Movement
Nervous System Regulation 3:00–4:30pm ET12:00–1:30pm PT
Self-Compassion Group
4:00–6:30pm ET/ 1:00–3:30pm PT Groups are 1.5 hours, check scheduled time.
Family Dynamics 4:30–6:00pm ET1:30–3:00pm PT
Process GroupORCommunity & Connection (DBT) 5:00–6:30pm ET2:00–3:30pm PT
Exploring Inner Self 5:00–6:30pm ET2:00–3:30pm PT
Cinema Therapy 5:00–6:30pm ET2:00–3:30pm PT
Breaking Generational Patterns 4:30–6:00pm ET1:30–3:00pm PT
Managing Anxiety 4:30–6:00pm ET1:30–3:00pm PT
Understanding and Managing Impulsivity 4:00–5:30pm ET1:00–2:30pm PT
6:30–8:00pm ET/ 3:30–5:00pm PT
Cultivating Calm in the Chaos
Self-Discovery Process GroupORRadically Open DBT
WellbrietyORNarrative Therapy
Writer’s Workshop: Recharging Your CreativityORDBT: Interpersonal Effectiveness
Breaking the Cycle: Managing Cravings & Emotional Triggers
Process Group 5:30–7:00pm ET2:30–4:00pm PT
8:30–10:00pm ET/ 5:30–7:00pm PT
Strengths Based Recovery
Athlete Mindset
Anger and Forgiveness
Trauma IORJiu Jitsu for the Mind
Mindful ResetORDBT: Building Resilience
Schedule is subject to change. All times are in Pacific Time (PT). For California and Washington. 1–2 times per week: Individual Therapy Every other Monday (5:30pm PT): Family Support Group Weekly or biweekly: Family Therapy Biweekly: Medication Management
Mission Connection Virtual Teen Group Schedule
Time
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
4:00–5:00pm PT
Soundtrack to Healing
Reflect & Recharge
Coping Skills
Breaking Cycles
Social Media
5:00–6:00pm PT
Guidebook to Mental Health
Trends & Feelings
Minds Matter CBT
Artful Expressions
Weekend Prep
6:00–7:00pm PT
Mindful Movement
Navigating Through Life
Overcoming Stigma
Cinema Therapy
Building Better Bonds
California
View Location. Schedule is subject to change. All times are in Pacific Time (PT).
Mission Connection Adult In-Person Schedule in San Juan Capistrano, CA
Time
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
9:00–10:30am
Goal Setting & Aftercare Planning
Solution Focused Therapy
Phone Usage Boundaries: Life Skills
Boundaries: DBTORNutrition & Meal Planning: Life Skills
Client Led & Weekly Wellness Check-in
10:30am–12:00pm
Process Group
Cognitive Distortions: CBTORArt Therapy
Mindfulness Based Relapse Prevention
Acceptance Commitment TherapyORSolution Focused Therapy
Experiential Group
12:00–1:00pm
Lunch
Lunch
Lunch
Lunch
Lunch
1:00–2:30pm
Yoga NidraORExperiential Therapy
Positive PsychologyORTrauma Informed Recovery
Codependency: DBT
Family Systems: Psychodrama
Wellness
2:30–4:00pm
Wellness
Life Skills
Mindfulness: Stress Reduction
Process Group
Anger & Forgiveness: CBT
Virginia
| Time | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10:00–11:30am | Cognitive Behavior Therapy | Self ETeem & Compassion | Dialectical Behavior Therapy | Trauma Recovery | Solution Focused Therapy |
| 11:30am–1:00pm | Attachment & Relational Patterns | Relationships & Boundaries | Healthy Communication | Managing Anxiety | Wellness Recovery Action Planning |
| 1:30–3:00pm | Trauma Informed Yoga | Addiction & Recovery | Trauma Informed Yoga | Anger & Forgiveness | |
| 3:00–4:30pm | Emotional Awareness & Regulation | Journey through Journaling | Mindfulness Skill Building | Process Group |
Washington
| Time | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10:00–11:30am | ProcessORProcess Group | Embodied MindfulnessORSelf Compassion | ProcessORProcess Group | Somatic ExperienceORACT | ProcessORNarrative |
| 11:30am–1:00pm | Mood Lab | Music TherapyOREmbodied Mindfulness | Creative ExpressionORCoping Behaviors & Addictive Patterns | ACTORSomatic Experience | Resilience to TraumaORGrief Process |
| 1:00–1:30pm | Lunch | Lunch | Lunch | Lunch | Lunch |
| 1:30–3:00pm | Life SkillsORConflict Resolution | Creative ExpressionORDBT | Music Therapy | SUDPOREmbodied Mindfulness | BoundariesORResilience to Trauma |
| 3:00–4:30pm | Queer SupportORCBT | DBT: Crisis SkillsORAnger & Forgiveness | ProcessORIFS | NarrativeORSelf-Discovery | CBTORCommunication Lab |
| 5:00–6:30pm | Self-Discovery | Boundaries | IFS: "No Bad Parts" | Process Group | Communication Lab |
| 6:30–8:00pm | Anger & Forgiveness | Creative Expression | Cinema Therapy | DBT & Relationships | Writer’s Workshop: Recharge |
| Time | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10:00–11:30am | Process Group | Process Group | DBT | Grief Process | Process Group |
| 11:30am–1:00pm | Self-Discovery | Mindful Movement | Music Therapy | Somatic Experience | ACT |
| 1:00–1:30pm | Lunch | Lunch | Lunch | Lunch | Lunch |
| 1:30–3:00pm | Anger & Forgiveness | Coping Behaviors & Addictive Patterns | Integrative Reflective Writing | CBT | Embodied Mindfulness |
| 3:00–4:30pm | Cinema Therapy | Creative Expression | IFS & Narrative | Creative Expression | Fun Friday |
Admissions
Mission Connection Admissions
Our admissions team is available 24/7 to help you.
Call 866-833-1822 anytime for questions and admission support.
What Kind of Therapies Will Be Delivered?
Mission Connection’s IOP delivers evidence-based clinical therapies and holistic approaches. We use these to treat primary mental health conditions along with any co-occurring disorders you may have.
The therapies we offer include:
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
- Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)
- Trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy
- Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) at select locations
In addition to traditional clinical models, we also include experiential therapies in our IOP that support the mind-body connection. They include art therapy, music therapy, embodied mindfulness practices, trauma-informed yoga, Reiki, etc.
We also structure our program around targeted, real-world skills needed for daily functioning. So, you will have sessions on anger management, maintaining relationship boundaries, regulating your nervous system, goal-setting, self-discovery, etc.
Who Is Our IOP Program For?
Our IOP is for individuals who need more support than what weekly therapy provides, but they are not the candidates for a Partial Hospitalization Program or residential treatment yet.
It is a strong fit for:
- People who feel that once-a-week therapy is not enough to manage their symptoms.
- Those experiencing anxiety, depression, or mood instability that interferes with their daily life.
- Those who want to build and practice coping skills in a real-time, supportive setting.
- Those stepping down from PHP or residential treatment.
What Makes IOP at Mission Connection Different
Here are some of the many things that set our IOP apart:
- We centre your treatment around the belief that a community heals you faster, using group therapy as a primary, high-impact modality rather than a secondary option.
- You get to choose your own therapy days and session blocks.
- We have in-person, hybrid, and fully virtual options to cater to everyone’s needs.
- Group therapy, individual therapy, psychiatric services, and family support are combined as part of a coordinated plan.
If you’re ready to begin an IOP, we encourage you to explore our available locations and program options. Our team is always there to verify your insurance coverage and guide you through the admissions process. Reach out today at 866-833-1822 or start online.