Intensive Day Program

Designed for children, adolescents and young adults struggling with moderate to severe anxiety or OCD, this outpatient program provides comprehensive, continuous care for expedited and enduring recovery.

Clients in our Intensive Day Program typically have not progressed with weekly therapy on its own. Withdrawal from family, friends, school and favorite activities are common, as well as excessive technology use (social media, gaming) as an unhealthy coping strategy.

Our concentrated intensive outpatient program (IOP) occurs Monday through Friday, over a 6-12 week time frame, depending on severity of symptoms. Each day consists of four hours of targeted individual and group work.

Program Includes:

  • Individual and Group Sessions: Emphasis on exposure response prevention (ERP) as part of the cognitive behavioral treatment plan. Dialectical behavioral therapy and psychodynamic therapy may be incorporated based on client needs.
  • Parent Support, Education, and Family Therapy: Parents and their children learn new skills together, improving family dynamics and breaking the cycle of accommodation and avoidance.
  • Supportive Advanced Treatments: virtual reality, bio feedback, and EMDR.
  • Education on Thought Patterns and the physiology associated with anxiety.
  • Recovery Tracking: a quantitative measure of progress over time.
  • Wellness Program: strengthen the mind-body connection, restore physical wellness, build group cohesion, social confidence and manage technology consumption. Daily wellness activities may include mindfulness, music therapy, art therapy, restorative yoga, and fitness training.
  • Integrated Psychiatric Services: Collaborative care with your existing psychiatrist or our staff psychiatrist.

Interested in learning more about our Intensive Day Programs?

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This program is available at the following locations:

Greenwich, CT
Madison, NJ
McLean, VA

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Have Questions?

Intensive Day Program
FAQ

 

 

 

Why is an IOP program important?

An intensive outpatient program (IOP) is a type of treatment that provides important support for teens struggling with anxiety or other mental health issues. Unlike regular therapy, an IOP offers more frequent and focused sessions, usually several times a week. This helps teens get the care they need while still living at home and attending school. An IOP gives them a chance to learn coping skills, build confidence, and work through their challenges in a safe environment.

Who is a candidate for an IOP?
Teens who may benefit from an IOP are those who need more help than what regular therapy offers but don’t need to be in a hospital. This might include teens whose anxiety is making it hard for them to go to school, socialize, or enjoy daily activities. An IOP is a good option for those who need structured support to get back on track but can still live at home with their families.
What will happen afterward?

After completing an IOP, many teens see significant improvements in their ability to manage anxiety. They often feel more confident and equipped with tools to handle stress and other challenges. Parents usually notice positive changes at home and in their teen’s daily life. The goal of an IOP is to help teens regain control over their lives and continue their path to better mental health.

Anxiety Institute’s unique IOP offers techniques, such as virtual reality, many types of therapy based on what one needs, as well as art, yoga and other experiences to keep anxiety under control after the program ends.

How long does the program last?

The duration of our IOP varies based on each individual’s needs, typically lasting 6–12 weeks. Clients attend multiple sessions each week, allowing for intensive work on symptom management and coping strategies.

What treatments are included in the IOP?

Our program focuses on evidence-based approaches such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and exposure response prevention (ERP) along with dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), psychodynamic therapy, mindfulness practices, and family support to address anxiety and OCD. Individual, group, and family sessions are included to provide comprehensive care.

People are saying...

Compassionate • Specialized • Proven

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“I feel so grateful that we found this program. This is the first place our daughter felt that they were actually looking to help her and having the ability to do so. It’s the first time she felt ‘we are going to help you’ and they did.”

Parent of Anxiety Institute Teen

“I spend less hours ruminating, more hours outside of the home, and my outlook has shifted towards being hopeful and excited for the days.”

Anxiety Institute Client

“We couldn’t have asked for a better team. Our daughter has a great bond with the clinicians. They were phenomenal. I don’t know how you could’ve found better people who were more prepared to get our daughter through this. It’s a fine combination of active listening and professional traits. It’s a difficult job. The 360 involvement with family and their ability to push and ask the hard questions…it was brilliant.”

Parent of Anxiety Institute Teen

“AI gave my daughter a sparkle she never knew she had. She has a completely different outlook on life and it is amazing to see after 8 weeks. I will be forever grateful to AI and for not just saving my daughter from constant anxiety but giving her a life she didn’t think was possible. She is experiencing happiness for the first time in her young life.”

Parent of Anxiety Institute Teen

“I was looking for the most intense outpatient program that would keep me from being inpatient. Anxiety Institute’s flexibility and willingness to put together a custom program made it the obvious choice.”

Anxiety Institute Client

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