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The group therapy room at Bishop Health, chairs arranged in a circle
Structured Programs · Mon–Fri

Intensive Outpatient Program in Portland, Maine

Three-hour group sessions, three to five days a week, wrapped around weekly individual therapy and monthly psychiatry — structure that works while you keep living at home.

Call (888) 280-2585 Ask About IOP

Written by the Bishop Health clinical team · Medically reviewed by Tamer Wassef, MD
Published August 15, 2026 · Last reviewed August 15, 2026

Bishop Health's IOP is a 12-week, nonrepetitive group therapy curriculum for adults whose primary diagnosis is a mental health condition. Groups run three hours, three to five days per week — mornings or afternoons — plus weekly individual therapy and monthly psychiatry. Admission is rolling, insurance and MaineCare cover it with authorization, and you sleep in your own bed.

Who IOP Is For — and Who It Isn't

IOP fits when…

✓Your primary diagnosis is a mental health condition — depression, anxiety, PTSD, bipolar disorder
✓Weekly therapy isn't enough right now, but you don't need round-the-clock care
✓You're stepping down from a hospital stay or PHP and need a bridge
✓You can attend 3–5 group sessions a week, mornings or afternoons
✓Co-occurring substance use exists but mental health is the driver — evaluated case by case

IOP is not the fit when…

—Substance use is the primary concern. Our IOP requires a primary mental health diagnosis — a SUD-first program will serve you far better
—You need medical detox, 24-hour supervision, or inpatient psychiatric care
—Weekly outpatient therapy is genuinely meeting your needs — step up only when needed

If substance use comes first, start here instead:

Pine Tree Recovery Center — detox & residential, Portland
Southern Maine Recovery — residential recovery housing
Both are Guardian Recovery sister programs — one call and we'll connect you directly.

A Sample Week in IOP

Morning track (9AM–12PM) or afternoon track (1PM–4PM), Monday through Friday. Your individual schedule is 3–5 group days plus your appointments.

Time MondayTuesdayWednesdayThursdayFriday
9AM–12PM Group: skills (CBT)Group: processGroup: skills (DBT)Group: psychoeducationGroup: integration
1PM–4PM Group: skills (CBT)Group: processGroup: skills (DBT)Group: psychoeducationGroup: integration
Scheduled individually Weekly individual therapy (50 min) Monthly psychiatry / medication review

Illustrative week — group themes rotate through the 12-week curriculum, so nothing repeats within a cycle. Rolling admission means you join at the next session, not the next cohort.

What Groups Cover

•Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) skills
•DBT: distress tolerance & emotion regulation
•Mindfulness and grounding practice
•Relapse-prevention planning for mood episodes
•Relationships, boundaries, communication
•Sleep, routine, and behavioral activation

Admission & Referral

Self-referral works — call and our team completes a clinical review as part of intake. Providers and hospital discharge planners can fax referrals directly to (207) 747-4067.

Insurance and MaineCare cover IOP with authorization; we obtain it and handle continued-stay reviews during treatment.

Referring clinician? Start here →

Step Up, Step Down

IOP sits in the middle of a continuum: step up to PHP when you need full weekday structure, step down to outpatient care as things stabilize — same team, same record, no starting over.

A virtual IOP track brings the same curriculum home when transportation or distance is the barrier.

IOP Questions, Answered

Can I keep working while in IOP?

That's the point of the design — morning and afternoon tracks exist so treatment fits around a job, school, or caregiving. Many employers also honor FMLA or accommodations for the 12 weeks; we provide documentation.

What does 'rolling admission' mean for me?

You start as soon as intake and authorization clear — typically within a week — rather than waiting for a new cohort. The curriculum is nonrepetitive across 12 weeks, so wherever you enter, you'll cover all of it.

I drink / use sometimes. Am I excluded?

Not automatically. Co-occurring substance use with a primary mental health diagnosis is evaluated case by case. If use turns out to be the primary driver, we'll say so honestly and connect you to Pine Tree Recovery or Southern Maine Recovery the same day.

What's the difference between IOP and PHP?

Hours and intensity. PHP is full weekday treatment days; IOP is three hours, 3–5 days a week. PHP suits acute stabilization; IOP suits structure-plus-real-life. Your evaluation recommends one honestly — and you can move between them.

Is group therapy really effective — I hate talking in groups?

You're describing most people's week one. Groups are capped small, skills-focused rather than confession-focused, and nobody is forced to share. By week three the group is usually the reason people keep coming — that's not a slogan, it's what our graduates tell us.

What happens after the 12 weeks?

A planned step-down, not a cliff: you continue with outpatient therapy and psychiatry here — often with the same individual therapist you had during the program — and the discharge plan is built in your final weeks, not on your last day.