The Benefits Of Going Through An Intensive Outpatient Therapy Program

A severe mental health crisis can make you feel unsafe and unable to continue your normal routine. You might suffer extensively from suicidal ideation, panic attacks, anxiety and crippling depression.

Even so, you might not meet all of the criteria to warrant a stay in a mental health hospital. Instead, you may benefit more from taking part in an intensive outpatient therapy program.

Connection with Therapists

When you take part in an intensive outpatient therapy program, you may get connected to several therapists whose job it is to help you overcome and manage your symptoms. These therapists might meet with you and others in the program on an hourly basis for each day you are there. They may guide you in talk sessions, arts and crafts, music therapy and other activities that are designed to ease your mental health crisis.

These therapists may also teach you coping skills to help you feel calmer and more in control of your thoughts and actions. You might learn to use ice to quell a panic attack or journal to vent out feelings of wanting to die by suicide. These coping skills can help you work toward going back to your normal life, family and job faster.

Keeping You Safe

Despite not meeting the criteria for an inpatient hospital stay, you still may need to be kept safe during your mental health crisis. Your friends and relatives may be unable to watch over you themselves. They may have jobs and other commitments that demand their attention.

Further, they may be unable to help you with your crisis and calm your emotions. Instead of staying by yourself each day and possibly putting your own safety at risk, you can take part in an intensive outpatient therapy program. You will remain safe during the time you are in the program each day and remain under the supervision of trained mental health professionals.

Avoiding a Hospital Stay

Finally, your intensive outpatient therapy program may help keep you out of the hospital. You may not want to stay in the hospital where you have limited freedoms and privileges. You may instead prefer to take part in this type of program where you can go back home at the end of each session and maintain some control over your daily life.

An intensive outpatient program can help you when you are in a mental health crisis. It connects you to therapists who can teach you coping skills. It also keeps you safe each day and may help you avoid a mental health hospital stay.

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