Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Our IOP program utilizes nine hours in supported groups per week. This is the evidence-based and insurance-recognized number of treatment hours for our Intensive Outpatient Program’s level of care.

Nine hours of personalized groups per week allows you to form connections with peers, learn skills, and talk about hard things with an experienced and compassionate mental health professional. This level of care leads to improved mental health outcomes and decreased suicidal ideation and attempts.

A typical week of groups at Charlie Health is structured into three main components for a total of 9-11 hours of therapy each week:

1. Three 50-minute groups, three days per week, consisting of groups that focus on:
   • Addressing your specific mental health issues
   • Processing your thoughts and feelings with others, plus “horizontal cohesion” or peer support in a group setting
   • Experiential practices, which include creative arts (i.e. music, drawing) and contemplative practices (i.e. yoga, spirituality)
2. One 50-minute individual therapy session
3. One 50-minute family therapy session

The maximum number of clients in a group is 9. Most of our groups run with an average of 6-8 group members.

Clients are paired into groups with people their age who have similar mental health needs and goals. We also consider race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, and other demographic and identifying factors when matching you into a group track.

The average program length is 9-12 weeks. Your exact duration will depend on our clinical team’s determination once you complete our admission process.

Our primary offering – virtual Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP) are an appropriate level of care for teens and young adults who need more than weekly therapeutic support. Many of our clients have either recently discharged from a higher level of care (i.e. a residential treatment facility or emergency department admission) or are seeking more support than traditional weekly talk therapy.

Masters-level clinicians.

Our providers have a variety of credentials, including state-specific therapeutic licenses, certifications, and extensive training received during onboarding and throughout their tenure at Charlie Health.

We offer over 50 different customized groups that are designed to place clients with similar backgrounds and needs together in a virtual therapeutic environment. These include (though are not limited to):

• LGBTQIA+ Trauma
• Compassion-Focused Therapy
• BIPOC Program
• Female/Femme Trauma
• Male/Masc-Identified Trauma
• Young Adult DBT Skills
• Adolescent DBT Skills
• Chronic Illness and Pain
• Difficult Relationships
• Academic Perfectionism
• Survivors of Bullying and Online Harassment
• Social Isolation
• Substance Use: Active Recovery
• Substance Use: Contemplating Change
• Screen Addictions
• PTSD Group
• Gender Dysphoria
• Split-Second Decision Making
• Military-Lead Group

Absolutely! Our virtual Intensive Outpatient Program creates a more customized experience for clients, along with higher rates of attendance and family involvement. With higher attendance comes better mental health outcomes, including decreased rates of depression, self-harm, and suicidal ideation.

We recognize that IOP is a commitment.  We also recognize the importance of school and extracurricular activities.

When families meet with our Admissions Team, we work with you to develop a treatment plan that fits your schedule and aligns with our programs’ times. We offer groups on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays at a number of different start times to maximize scheduling flexibility. However, we strongly recommend suspending activities that are not required during treatment. We want our clients to be as prepared and successful as possible when they fully return to extracurriculars and other activities.

There may be times when topics discussed in groups trigger you, or you’re exposed to behaviors or experiences you haven’t encountered before. All of our mental health professionals are trained in group facilitation and in managing behavioral issues and triggering discussions in a group setting. Our all-virtual model gives us the ability to quickly move a client in distress into a separate virtual room to meet with a member of our Care Team 1:1 while the rest of the group can continue their session with minimal disturbance and distraction.

We highly encourage it! Parental involvement is the highest indicator of positive outcomes in our program.

Psychiatric support is available in some states as needed.

We offer family support groups in Spanish. We also have Spanish-speaking clinicians who are able to work with Spanish-speaking clients and families as needed.

We accept major insurance providers and Medicaid in many states. Your financial circumstances should never be a barrier to receiving care.

We accept major OON insurances and will work with your policy to maximize available benefits.

Yes! For more information, please contact our Outreach team at [email protected]

Our virtual intensive outpatient program at Charlie Health is designed to be as convenient and effective as possible. Once assigned to your custom treatment track, personalized group, and individual therapist, you will be able to access Charlie Health services entirely from the comfort of home. We use HIPAA-compliant video and communication platforms to hold group, individual, and family therapy sessions, plus connect you with your entire care team. Whether you have questions about the curriculum of the week or would like to learn more about our family support programming, your team at Charlie Health is available virtually, every day, to support you along your healing journey.

We are eager to connect and share our program with other providers and potential partners. Our outreach teams across the country are committed to connecting their communities with accessible, evidence-based, and compassionate mental healthcare. To get in touch, learn more, or make a referral, please visit our general referral page.

After a client concludes their IOP treatment program with Charlie Health, they can access Charlie Health Alumni programs and services. Charlie Health has dedicated staff that provide processing groups, social media communities, leadership, adulting 101 education modules, virtual events, and more. We design each client’s IOP program with one primary goal in mind: helping you heal and rediscover hope. If you or a loved one could benefit from more than weekly therapy, or if you are in need of more mental health than what you’re currently receiving, please contact our Admissions Team.

You are not alone. Let us get you started.

Our primary program offering—virtual intensive outpatient care (IOP)—is an appropriate level of care for teens and young adults who need more than weekly therapeutic support. Many of our clients have either recently discharged from a higher level of care (i.e. a residential treatment facility or emergency department admission) or are seeking more support than traditional weekly talk therapy.