Indianapolis, Indiana Leading Intensive Outpatient Treatment Program

Our adolescent intensive outpatient program serves youths who are experiencing symptoms of mental health disorders. Programming typically takes place three to five days each week, and most patients participate for approximately four to six weeks. However, the actual length of time a person spends in the IOP will vary depending on their specific needs and the progress they make. Because sessions occur during set hours, adolescents go home at the end of each program day and can maintain their regular school and daily activity routines. 

Our adolescent IOP is located in Indianapolis, Indiana, separate from our main hospital’s location. It is a stand-alone level of care, meaning that young people do not need to complete inpatient or residential care before they begin. Each patient receives a thorough assessment prior to starting treatment. If the results of that assessment show that intensive outpatient services can meet the adolescent’s needs, they may enter our program directly. 

We provide care for adolescents ages 12-17 who are experiencing symptoms of mental health concerns such as: 

• Depression 
• Bipolar disorder 
• Disruptive mood dysregulation disorder 
• Anxiety disorders 
• Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other trauma-related concerns 
• Schizophrenia and other types of psychotic disorders (if the patient does not need 24/7 monitoring) 

We can also provide care for adolescents who have co-occurring substance use disorders. 

Admission to our adolescent IOP begins one of two ways: a referral from a professional, such as a physician, therapist, or school counselor, or an inquiry from a family member. From there, a clinician completes a diagnostic and risk evaluation to confirm that our intensive outpatient program is clinically appropriate for the adolescent.

Once the evaluation is complete, our team collaborates with the patient and their family to set a weekly schedule of three to five programming days and develop a personalized plan of care. This collaborative approach helps ensure that each adolescent’s time in our Indianapolis program reflects their specific needs, strengths, and goals.

Group therapy is the foundation of our adolescent intensive outpatient program. Licensed therapists lead group sessions, drawing on evidence-based methods such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), motivational interviewing, and mindfulness-based interventions. Group offerings include CBT-based coping skills groups, DBT skills training, psychoeducation, relapse prevention planning, mindfulness practice, and process groups.

Within these sessions, adolescents work on skills they can apply right away, including emotion regulation, distress tolerance, interpersonal effectiveness, cognitive restructuring, communication, grounding techniques, identifying substance use triggers, and building healthy self-care habits.

In addition to group therapy, our program offers:

Individual therapy: Each patient meets one-on-one with a licensed therapist on a regularly scheduled basis to address personal concerns in greater depth.

Family therapy: Families can take part in sessions with therapists monthly, or more often as needed, to strengthen communication and support at home.

Medication management services: When medication is part of a patient’s plan of care, a psychiatric provider meets with them at least once a month and more frequently if needed.

The adolescent years can bring rapid emotional, social, and academic changes, and mental health concerns can make it harder for young people to keep up with daily responsibilities. Our IOP in Indianapolis is designed to interrupt that pattern without removing adolescents from the people and places that matter most to them. 

Because patients return home each day, they can immediately practice the skills they learn in programming, whether that means using a grounding technique before a test or applying new communication strategies during a conversation with a parent or teacher. Regular family involvement also gives parents and caregivers practical tools for supporting their child’s progress, which can help the gains made in our program continue long after care ends. 

If your child has been struggling, you do not have to navigate the next steps alone. The team at Maple Heights Behavioral Health is here to answer your questions, complete an evaluation, and help you determine whether our adolescent intensive outpatient program is the right place for them to begin the healing process. 

This content was written on behalf of and reviewed by the clinical staff at Maple Heights Behavioral Health.