Peer connection + skills practice
Group therapy
Teens practice coping skills, emotional regulation, and social connection in moderated groups with peers facing similar challenges.
Virtual IOP & OP · Ages 12–17 · CaliforniaIn-network insurance accepted
949-461-2620
Intensive outpatient · Ages 12–17
IOP for teens who need more than weekly therapy
Structured virtual care — 9–12 clinical hours per week — for adolescents with anxiety, depression, trauma, and related conditions. Real momentum without leaving home or school.
- Joint Commission accredited
- In-network insurance
- CBT & DBT
- California telehealth
Mental Health For Teens · Portal
Starting soon
DBT Skills Group
4:00 PM · 90 min · Dr. Solis
EJMAK+2
7 participants joining
Next: Individual therapy
5:45 PM · with Dr. Solis
Care team message
“Great work on the grounding exercise — try it before tonight's session.”
Interactive preview · not real patient data
9–12
clinical hours per week
3
program days weekly
8–12
typical weeks in IOP
100%
virtual across California
★ Joint Commission AccreditedIn-network with major insuranceCBT · DBT · Family therapyAvailable across CaliforniaFree, confidential consultations
What is teen IOP?
Intensive outpatient care — structured, virtual, and family-centered
IOP sits between weekly therapy and residential treatment — structured sessions several days a week while your teen stays at home. Secure telehealth across California: individual, group, and family therapy with CBT and DBT. Step down to outpatient as symptoms improve. We coordinate with schools and existing providers.
- ✓Licensed clinicians specializing in adolescents
- ✓CBT, DBT, and trauma-informed group therapy
- ✓Family therapy and parent coaching built in
- ✓Psychiatry available when clinically indicated
- ✓Insurance verification before enrollment
- ✓Free, confidential consultation to assess fit
Parents often arrive exhausted. IOP adds enough structured contact for skills to stick and families to move forward together.
Free consultation→
Where IOP fits
The middle rung of care — more than therapy, less than residential
Level-of-care decisions can feel overwhelming. IOP is designed for teens who are struggling enough that once-a-week sessions aren't moving the needle — but who are stable enough to sleep at home and participate in structured virtual groups. We help families understand how IOP compares to outpatient therapy, PHP, and residential options — and we'll refer out if a higher or lower level of care is clinically safer.
Level of care
Outpatient therapy
1–3 sessions weekly for teens who need ongoing support without intensive structure.
Level of care
IOP
9–12 clinical hours weekly — our most common starting point when symptoms are escalating.
Level of care
Virtual IOP
Same clinical intensity, purpose-built telehealth workflow for families across California.
Level of care
Residential / inpatient
When 24/7 monitoring is required, we refer to trusted partners and plan step-down care.
What's included
A full clinical week — designed around your teen's life
Multiple touchpoints each week — group, individual, family, and psychiatry when needed. Everything below is included; nothing is sold as an add-on.
Group therapyIndividual therapyFamily therapyPsychiatry & coordination
One-on-one with their primary clinician
Individual therapy
Weekly individual sessions target your teen's specific goals — anxiety, mood, trauma processing, or school re-entry.
Parents are part of the plan
Family therapy
Family sessions help caregivers learn supportive responses, improve communication, and reinforce skills at home.
When medication support is appropriate
Psychiatry & coordination
Our psychiatric team provides thoughtful, conservative medication management and collaborates with your teen's existing providers.
Typical schedule
Structured enough to create change — flexible enough for school
Schedules are finalized at intake based on your teen's school day, time zone, and clinical needs. Most families follow a three-day pattern with afternoon and early-evening sessions.
Weekly clinical hours
9–12 hours
Meets IOP intensity without pulling teens out of school full-time
Program days
3 days per week
Mon / Wed / Thu — afternoons and early evenings
Session types
Group · individual · family · skills
Mix rotates based on your teen's treatment plan
Session length
60–90 minutes
Longer for group; shorter for med follow-ups
Typical duration
8–12 weeks
Stepped down as clinical goals are met
Delivery
Secure HIPAA video
Join from home — no commute or missed class time
Parent involvement
Weekly family session
Plus parent coaching when clinically indicated
Between-session support
Care team messaging
For urgent clinical needs — not routine texting
We avoid scheduling that pulls teens out of core academic blocks whenever possible.
If school refusal is part of the picture, we build a gradual re-entry plan alongside IOP.
Sample week
What three IOP days can look like
Most teens stay in school full-time while attending IOP three afternoons per week. This is a representative week — exact times, groups, and modalities are personalized at intake.
Clinical days
3 evenings / week
Per session day
~2.5 hours
School protected
Tue & Fri open
Weekly rhythm
MMon
TTue
WWed
TThu
FFri
SSat
SSun
Clinical day 1
Monday
4:00 PM
DBT skills group
Distress tolerance · emotion regulation
Group · 90 min5:45 PM
Individual therapy
Goals, safety planning, progress review
1:1 · 60 min
Clinical day 2
Wednesday
4:00 PM
Process group + peer support
Shared experiences with same-age peers
Group · 90 min5:45 PM
Family therapy or parent coaching
Communication patterns · home skills
Family · 60 min
Clinical day 3
Thursday
4:30 PM
CBT / exposure skills group
Anxiety tools · gradual exposure work
Skills · 90 min6:15 PM
Psychiatry follow-up
Medication review when clinically indicated
Med · 30–60 min
School · rest · practice
Off-program
Tuesday & Friday
Full school day, homework, and extracurriculars without IOP blocks
SchoolWeekend rhythm
Rest, family time, and optional skill practice from the week
RestBetween sessions
Care team available for urgent clinical needs — not routine texting
Support
Personalized at intake
Built around your teen's real schedule
We adjust start times for time zones, block schedules, and sports or arts commitments. If school avoidance is part of the picture, we coordinate a gradual re-entry plan alongside IOP — not instead of it.
What families ask
- Groups are matched by age and clinical focus — not open-ended drop-ins.
- Start times shift slightly so teens are not logging in straight from the school bus every day.
- The same core team follows your teen week to week for continuity.
Additional check-ins or crisis support sessions are added when clinically indicated — not billed as surprise add-ons.
Why IOP works
What changes when clinical intensity increases
More clinical contact
Nine to twelve hours weekly creates repetition — the mechanism that helps new coping skills actually stick between sessions.
Family systems change
Parent coaching and family therapy address the home environment — not just the teen in isolation.
School re-entry support
Attendance plans, 504/IEP coordination, and gradual exposure when school avoidance is part of the picture.
Safety monitoring
Frequent clinician contact means concerning shifts get addressed quickly — not a week later at the next appointment.
Clinical fit
Who IOP helps — and when it's not the right level
IOP sits between weekly therapy and residential care — structured support without removing your teen from home. A free consultation helps us recommend the safest level honestly.
Weekly therapy
1 session / week
IOP
9–12 hrs / week
Residential
24 / 7 monitored care
Often a good fit for IOP
Teens ages 12–17 with anxiety, depression, trauma, or emotional dysregulation
Symptoms affecting school, friendships, sleep, or family life
Teens stepping down from inpatient or residential programs
Families who can support a structured virtual schedule at home
Teens stable enough to participate safely in virtual group care
Parents ready to participate in family sessions and skills coaching
Not the right level
Immediate safety crises requiring emergency or inpatient care — call 911 or 988
Active psychosis or severe substance dependence needing detox
Teens unable to engage in virtual sessions even with family support
IOP vs weekly therapy
Why families choose IOP when outpatient isn't enough
Weekly therapy works for many teens. IOP is the right move when symptoms accelerate, safety concerns emerge, or families feel stuck — despite good intentions and a talented outpatient therapist.
Traditional weekly therapy
Private-pay, 1:1
Our program
Virtual IOP
Structured, in-network
Time with your care team
~50 minutes per week
6–12+ hours per week
Group & peer support
Rarely included
Built in, every week
Family therapy
Add-on, if offered
Included
Support between sessions
Limited
Coordinated care team
Insurance
Often partial or out-of-network
In-network, benefits verified free
Typical out-of-pocket
$150–250 per session — week after week
One program, largely insurance-covered
Momentum
Gradual
Structured, faster progress
Weekly therapy
Private-pay
Virtual IOP
In-network
Time with your care team
~50 minutes per week
6–12+ hours per week
Group & peer support
Rarely included
Built in, every week
Family therapy
Add-on, if offered
Included
Support between sessions
Limited
Coordinated care team
Insurance
Often partial or out-of-network
In-network, benefits verified free
Typical out-of-pocket
$150–250 per session — week after week
One program, largely insurance-covered
Momentum
Gradual
Structured, faster progress
Getting started
From first call to first session
Most families move from first call to first session within days — not weeks of waiting.
Free consultation
A confidential call to understand your teen and answer every question — no pressure.
Clinical assessment
A licensed clinician evaluates safety, functioning, and the right level of care — including insurance authorization support.
Personalized care plan
We match the right level of care and verify your insurance benefits for you.
Begin virtual IOP
Begin within days — secure video sessions from the comfort of home.
Conditions we treat
IOP supports teens facing real challenges
Teen anxiety
Panic, worry, school avoidance, and social anxiety that interfere with daily life.
Teen depression
Persistent low mood, numbness, withdrawal, and loss of interest.
Trauma & PTSD
Processing painful experiences in a trauma-informed virtual setting.
Self-harm concerns
Structured support and safety planning when self-injury is part of the picture.
School refusal
Gradual re-entry planning alongside anxiety and mood treatment.
Emotional dysregulation
DBT-informed skills for intense emotions and impulsive reactions.
Insurance & admissions
We verify benefits before your teen starts — no surprise bills
IOP is widely covered when medically necessary. Our admissions team handles authorization and explains estimated out-of-pocket costs in plain language before enrollment.
In-network with major California plans
Authorization support included
Transparent cost conversation before day one
Superbill assistance for out-of-network cases when applicable
In-network carriers include
Aetna
Cigna
Optum
Blue Shield of CA
Magellan
+ more
Don't see your plan? We also support out-of-network cases with superbills — we'll explain options during your free consultation.
Family stories
What parents say about virtual care
“For the first time in a year, our daughter looked forward to something. The virtual groups gave her a place to belong.”
“I didn't have to miss work or pull her out of school. Care just fit into our lives — and she finally started talking again.”
Related reading
More on IOP & teen care
Service guide
Virtual IOP for teens
Purpose-built telehealth IOP for families across California.
Read moreService guide
Outpatient program
Flexible 1–3 sessions weekly for ongoing support or IOP step-down.
Read moreService guide
Teen therapy
Our main virtual therapy service page for adolescents ages 12–17.
Read moreResource
What is IOP?
Plain-language guide for parents comparing levels of care.
Read moreFAQ
Common questions
Weekly therapy typically means one 50-minute session. IOP provides 9–12 clinical hours per week across group, individual, and family therapy — creating enough contact and skill practice to shift patterns that aren't budging with once-a-week care.
Yes. Most teens remain enrolled in school during IOP. Sessions are scheduled around typical school hours, and we can coordinate attendance plans when school avoidance is part of the picture.
Research shows telehealth IOP can achieve outcomes comparable to in-person programs for many adolescents — often with better attendance because families aren't driving to a clinic multiple times per week.
Most teens are in IOP for 8–12 weeks, though length depends on clinical progress, safety, and insurance authorization. We adjust the plan as your teen stabilizes and may step down to outpatient care.
We are in-network with many major plans and verify benefits before enrollment. Visit our insurance verification page or call us — we'll explain your teen's coverage in plain language.
A laptop or tablet with camera and microphone, reliable Wi‑Fi, and a private space at home. We walk families through setup on the first day and troubleshoot before sessions begin.
Prefer to talk with someone?
Consultations are free and confidential.
Find out if IOP is the right fit for your teen
Book a free, confidential consultation. We'll listen, answer questions, verify insurance, and recommend the safest level of care — IOP, outpatient, or a referral if needed.