IOP for Eating Disorders: What to Expect
Table of Contents
What is IOP?
An intensive outpatient program (IOP) is a level of care that provides more structure and support than weekly therapy sessions while keeping you connected to your daily life.
Eating disorder IOP is typically three hours a day, three days per week, offering therapy and nutritional support tailored to your unique needs. If you’ve been:
- Frequently skipping meals
- Feeling physically or emotionally uncomfortable after eating
- Having frequent thoughts about food or your body that are disrupting your daily life
- Noticing that weekly therapy isn’t meeting your needs
. . . then IOP may help.
“Whether done virtually or in-person, the IOP level of care allows patients to get the treatment they need while still working, attending school or engaging in other activities,” explains Deborah M. Michel, PhD, CEDS-S, FAED, national clinical director of virtual care at Eating Recovery Center (ERC).
Who is IOP for?
IOP is for anyone who requires more support than traditional outpatient therapy but does not need partial hospitalization or 24-hour care in inpatient or residential treatment. It bridges the gap between these levels of care, offering the exact support you need to keep progressing. IOP treatment is ideal if:
- Weekly therapy isn’t quite enough: In IOP, a clinical team provides more hands-on support and skill building in a given week than you’ll find with standard outpatient treatment.
- You’re stepping down from a higher level of care: This step-down option offers structured support and accountability while you transition back to work, school and/or home life.
- You need flexibility to manage personal responsibilities: IOP helps you get the support you need in a way that fits your schedule.
- You’re noticing early warning signs: If behaviors like restriction, bingeing or purging are resurfacing — or if thoughts about food and your body are overwhelming — then IOP is an appropriate level of care for you.
How does IOP work?
IOP programs follow a structured curriculum designed to address your unique challenges and help you recover.
At ERC, a typical week of treatment includes:
- Personalized support from therapists and dietitians who work closely with you and ensure your treatment plan meets your specific needs
- Group therapy for peer interaction, support and accountability within a trusted environment facilitated by a group leader
- Individual and family therapy to explore personal challenges and involve loved ones in the recovery process
- Nutritional support with experienced dietitians who create individualized meal plans, guide supported meals and snacks and help you build a more peaceful relationship with food
- Skill building sessions based on evidence-based therapies to develop tools to manage distress, triggers and emotions outside of treatment
- Inclusive care that is trauma-informed, weight-inclusive and gender-affirming
If you can’t attend during the day, many treatment centers offer evening IOP options to support non-traditional schedules. There is also virtual IOP, like our Eating Recovery At Home program, which can be done from the comfort of your home using secure online platforms.
How long does IOP last?
Like any level of care, the length of IOP will vary depending on your needs and individual treatment plan. While many programs are about eight weeks, they may be shorter or longer depending on such factors as the severity of your condition, your progress in treatment and your specific goals for recovery. What matters most is giving yourself the time and care you deserve to build a strong foundation for healing.
Seven benefits of IOP for eating disorders
Everyone experiences eating disorders differently, and IOP gives you the support you need to heal in a way that suits your lifestyle. Here’s what makes IOP a valuable step in the recovery process.
1. Treatment that fits your life
The IOP level of care works with your schedule, so you can focus on recovery alongside school, work and/or family responsibilities. It helps you prioritize healing in a way that fits seamlessly into your everyday life.
2. Real-time symptom management
IOP allows you to address disordered eating symptoms like restriction, bingeing or purging in the places where they typically occur. In IOP, you will also learn how to navigate eating disorder triggers and challenges as they come up at home, work or in social settings. And you’ll take home multiple practical recovery skills that you can apply in your daily life.
3. Practical coping skills
Therapies practiced in IOP, like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), teach you skills to handle challenges as they arise in real time. For example, a skill like thought reframing can shift someone’s thought from “I’ll never be able to recover” to “Recovery isn’t linear, and one setback doesn’t erase all my progress.”
4. A welcome sense of structure
A structured treatment schedule can bring consistency and predictability when recovery feels overwhelming. For example, regular therapy sessions enable you to establish manageable routines, practice and maintain new recovery skills and offer support if you experience a relapse.
5. Support for co-occurring disorders
Many people with eating disorders also face anxiety, depression or trauma. IOP is designed to treat these co-occurring conditions alongside your eating disorder, giving you comprehensive support for your mental health.
6. A community of peers who understand you
“The peer relationship aspect of group therapy and support groups is powerful, especially for adolescents and young adults as they navigate forming a sense of self, individuality and social skills,” Dr. Michel explains. “Belonging to a positive, support group cohort can be instrumental in facilitating change.”
ERC extends this sense of community beyond treatment, offering a wide range of free supportive groups to foster connection and support throughout your recovery.
7. Family or loved ones can be involved
Family members can be instrumental in a loved one’s recovery. “In IOP, family members learn ways to support their loved ones while caring for themselves during the recovery process, and connect with other families in a supportive manner,” explains Dr. Michel.
Find the right care for you
Recognizing when you need more support with your eating disorder — and reaching out sooner rather than later — can prevent symptoms from worsening and give you the best chance at lasting recovery. If you’ve noticed any of the following, then it may be time to consider IOP:
- An increase in disordered eating behaviors
- Overwhelming thoughts about food and body image
- Feeling like weekly therapy sessions aren’t enough
As part of a comprehensive continuum of care, IOP allows you to make meaningful progress with your eating disorder while balancing work, school or other responsibilities. For added convenience, Eating Recovery At Home offers the same high-quality, evidence-based care with even greater flexibility.
“At ERC, we offer a complimentary assessment to evaluate your needs and recommend the appropriate level of care to set you up for success from the start,” explains Dr. Michel.
And, when IOP treatment comes to an end, our community outreach liaisons will be reaching out to assist you with aftercare planning.
Learn more about IOP
For more on how we can support you or your loved one, or if you have questions about admissions or insurance, reach out for a free assessment today. You can also call us at 866-622-5914. It just takes one call to get started.
Learn more about ERC’s eating disorder treatment programs.
Written by
Written by
Deborah M. Michel, PhD, CEDS-S, FAED
