The Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) on the UWMC-Northwest campus is designed to help people who need more treatment than a typical weekly outpatient therapy session. It is primarily a group-based program for adults who are struggling with mental health concerns such as anxiety and depression. The program provided virtual treatment during the pandemic and is now transitioning back to in-person sessions in March.

“The IOP is a step-up from traditional weekly therapy; not quite as acute as inpatient hospitalization or a partial hospitalization,” says Koriann Cox, PhD, IOP Clinical Program Director. “It’s also a great place for anyone needing an interdisciplinary team and structured, frequent, clinical contact.”

The program has grown in recent years thanks to the efforts of Koriann Cox and Stephen Thielke, MD, MS, MA, the IOP Medical Director. The program initially served older adults; it now offers structured group therapy for two tracks, an older adults track and a general adults track. In addition to 9 hours of group, the program also provides medication management with a psychiatrist, sessions with social workers to review progress and aftercare plans, and individual therapy with a psychologist when appropriate. Plans are in the works to expand even further from an IOP to a partial hospitalization program (PHP), staffing permitting.