Call for a free assessment: 1-800-665-4769
Call for a free assessment: 1-800-665-4769
Evolve’s intensive outpatient program for teens, also commonly known as an after-school treatment program, combines evidence-based treatment, skill-building, and family involvement to support lasting growth and recovery. Our teen IOP helps adolescents develop healthier coping strategies while staying connected to home, school, and daily life.
At Evolve, our clinical team specializes in treating the unique mental health and substance use challenges teens face. Using evidence-based therapies, we address the underlying causes of their struggles rather than just the symptoms. Every teen receives a personalized treatment plan, and families are actively involved throughout the recovery process.
A teen intensive outpatient program, or teen IOP, is designed for adolescents who need more support than weekly therapy but can safely live at home and continue attending school. It may be a good fit for teens who are stepping down from a higher level of care, struggling to make progress in traditional outpatient therapy, or experiencing mental health, substance use, or behavioral challenges that are interfering with daily life.
Teen IOP may be appropriate for teens who are experiencing:
Teens who are experiencing suicidal ideation, occasional self-harm that does not require medical attention, or substance use challenges may benefit from IOP if they can remain safe at home without significant monitoring on nights and weekends.
If a teen is experiencing depression, anxiety, irritability, mood swings, symptoms related to ADHD, or emotional dysregulation, and is having difficulty coping with stress, conflict, school pressure, or family challenges.
IOP may also be a good fit for teens who are having difficulty maintaining healthy relationships, functioning at home or school, managing responsibilities, or participating in family, peer, or community life.
Evolve’s teen IOP provides structured treatment several days per week while allowing adolescents to live at home and attend school. Through individual, group, and family therapy, teens work toward their therapeutic goals while building practical skills for managing emotions, improving communication, strengthening relationships, exploring identity, and navigating daily challenges with greater confidence and support.
A week in Evolve’s Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) provides teens with consistent therapeutic support while allowing them to maintain more of their regular school and home routines. Teens participate in clinical groups several days each week, meet with their primary therapist, receive psychiatric support as needed, and participate in family therapy with their parents. The treatment team regularly reviews progress and adjusts treatment based on each teen’s needs.
This weekly cadence gives teens meaningful clinical support while providing opportunities to practice new coping and communication skills in their everyday lives, helping them build greater independence and stability over time.
At Evolve, our treatment approach is designed specifically for adolescents and grounded in therapies that have been proven to help teens thrive. We meet each teen where they are, providing compassionate support and practical tools that promote healthier behaviors and long-term well-being.
DBT helps teens build skills in mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and healthy communication. It is especially effective for adolescents struggling with self-harm, suicidal thoughts, impulsivity, or relationship challenges. Through DBT Skills Training groups, teens learn to manage intense emotions and navigate difficult situations more effectively.
CBT helps teens identify and change unhelpful thought patterns that fuel anxiety, depression, and problematic behaviors. Through individual and group sessions, adolescents learn to challenge negative beliefs, test out new perspectives, and develop healthier behavioral responses. CBT is particularly effective for treating anxiety disorders, depression, trauma, and substance use in teens.
MI is a collaborative, person-centered approach that helps teens explore their own reasons for change rather than being told what to do. This technique is especially valuable for adolescents who feel ambivalent about treatment or resistant to authority. Our therapists use MI to strengthen your teen’s internal motivation, resolve mixed feelings, and support their autonomy in the recovery process.
SMART Recovery groups in our teen IOP help adolescents build practical tools for managing substance use urges, emotions, and high-risk situations. Using a skills-based approach, teens learn strategies for motivation, self-awareness, and lasting behavior change. When clinically indicated, treatment may also include recovery coaching with a certified substance use counselor or addiction counseling specialist. This added support helps teens strengthen relapse prevention skills while staying engaged in daily life.
Every teen arrives at Evolve with a different story, different strengths, and different goals for recovery. That’s why treatment starts with a thorough clinical assessment, giving our team the insight needed to build a plan shaped around your teen specifically, not a one-size-fits-all program. As your teen moves through our intensive outpatient program, we keep evaluating their progress and adjusting care, so support evolves alongside them at every stage.
K-CAT assessment:
The K-CAT is a research-backed assessment tool for youth ages 7–17 that helps our clinical team better understand each teen’s symptoms and progress over time. Teens complete the assessment at admission, every two weeks during treatment, and again at discharge. Because the K-CAT looks at multiple areas of mental health in one assessment and adapts based on each teen’s responses, it gives clinicians a more complete and personalized picture of how a teen is doing and how their symptoms are changing throughout treatment.
Individualized treatment planning:
Assessment results give our clinical team a more complete picture of your teen’s mental health and help guide individualized, data-informed care. Our clinicians use the K-CAT to support accurate diagnoses, treatment plans, track progress over time, and better understand what is working for each teen.
Ongoing progress tracking:
Regular measurement-based check-ins help us see what’s working and adjust what isn’t to keep your teen moving forward. These insights allow us to make thoughtful adjustments when needed, refine treatment plans, and personalize care to support each teen’s goals and long-term progress.
Evolve offers teen IOP locations throughout California, making it easier for families to access specialized care close to home. Our programs provide compassionate support in a welcoming environment designed specifically for adolescents.
Evolve accepts most major insurance plans and helps families navigate coverage for teen intensive outpatient treatment. Our admissions team will verify your benefits, explain any costs, and discuss available options so you can focus on getting your teen the care they need.
From your first call to your teen’s first day, here’s what to expect.
Call to connect with an Admissions Coordinator who will listen, answer your questions, and walk you through treatment options and insurance coverage.
We’ll get to know your teen and assess what level of care is clinically appropriate, ensuring Evolve is the right fit. If we’re not the right fit, we’ll provide referrals to programs that better meet your teen’s needs.
On your teen’s first day, you’ll be welcomed by our team, guided through the intake process, and have a chance to tour the program. Your teen will begin their journey in a safe, supportive environment surrounded by caring professionals.
A teen intensive outpatient program (IOP) provides structured mental health or substance use treatment several days per week while allowing adolescents to live at home and attend school. It offers more support than traditional weekly therapy and typically includes psychiatry, individual, group, and family therapy.
Evolve’s teen IOP treats a range of mental health and substance use challenges, including anxiety, depression, trauma, self-harm, substance use disorders, and co-occurring conditions. Treatment is tailored to each teen’s unique needs and goals.
Good candidates for teen IOP are adolescents who need more intensive support than outpatient therapy but don’t require 24/7 supervision. IOP works well for teens stepping down from a partial hospitalization program (PHP), those who haven’t made progress in traditional therapy, or adolescents whose symptoms are significantly impacting functioning but don’t pose immediate danger.
Yes, one of the key benefits of an intensive outpatient program for teens is that it’s designed to work around school schedules. We offer after-school programming so teens can attend classes during the day and participate in treatment in the afternoons/evenings.
Parent and family involvement is a cornerstone of Evolve’s approach. We include weekly family therapy sessions, a weekly multi-family group, and a parent support group as part of the program because we know that teens heal best when their whole family system is engaged. Parents receive education about their teen’s diagnosis, learn communication and boundary-setting skills, and get support for their own stress and concerns.
The length of treatment varies based on your teen’s individual needs, progress, and goals. Most teens participate in IOP for 8-12 weeks, though some may need more or less time depending on the complexity of their challenges and how quickly they build skills.
The main difference between teen IOP and PHP is the amount of support and structure each program provides. PHP offers more treatment hours each week and is typically recommended for teens who need a higher level of care. At this level, teens often step away from their regular school schedule and receive academic support as part of treatment. IOP still provides structured support, but with more flexibility, allowing teens to stay in school and remain connected to family and daily life. Our clinical team can help determine which program is the best fit for your teen’s needs.
Yes. Unlike many intensive outpatient programs, Evolve includes dedicated psychiatric support as a core component of our teen IOP. Our board-certified child and adolescent psychiatrists provide regular evaluations and ongoing medication management to ensure clinical care is seamlessly aligned with daily therapy.
Teen IOP offers a critical balance of structured clinical care and real-world flexibility. It allows teens to receive immersive, multi-day therapy, group support, and psychiatric management while continuing to stay enrolled in school, live at home, and practice their newly learned coping skills in their regular daily lives.
Yes. For teens with a history of substance use challenges or those enrolled in our co-occurring disorders tracks, we utilize supportive, routine drug testing. This testing is handled clinically instead of punitively to help maintain accountability, measure treatment progress, and support a safe foundation for long-term recovery.
My teen was treated here for about seven weeks and he received excellent care. The workers are all very caring and supportive. They were patient and made my child feel respected and cared for. The therapist was one of the best therapist we have worked with. Emily really helped our teen understand themselves better and provide DBT skills they could use in real life situations. We are forever grateful for all the staff at Evolve. I would highly recommend this location if your teen is in need of help. They will care for your child as if they were their own. Thank you Evolve!
