5 Tips on How Families Can Support IOP Participants

The abbreviation IOP stands for an intensive outpatient program. These are programs that exist to treat individuals struggling with addiction issues, serious mental health concerns, and other problematic behaviors. You might spend time in one if you’re grappling with depression, an eating disorder, etc.

A Glendora outpatient facility might be necessary for a family member or one of your friends. If it’s a family member who needs such a program, you may not be sure of the best way to support them. We’ll mention a few tips that should help you out right now. 

Don’t Pressure Them About How the Program is Going

Your family member who has checked into an IOP is probably having a rough time. Accordingly, you should not pester them with lots of questions about how the program is going. They will volunteer that information when and if they’re ready.

Be Ready to Listen to Them When They Need It

It’s probable that your family member in the program will want to open up to you at some point. You should be ready to listen to them when they do.

They may not necessarily need feedback from you when they open up. Instead, they might just want a sounding board to bounce some ideas off of that they’re learning about in the program. If that’s the function you can serve for them, they will doubtless find that helpful. 

Ask Them What You Can Do to Help

You can gently ask your family member in an IOP whether there’s anything specific you can do to help them. If there is, they will let you know. If there’s nothing specific you can do at the moment, they should not be shy about telling you that as well. 

Be Ready to Change Any Behaviors They Find Objectionable

Some of your family’s patterns might have been contributing to problematic behaviors in your family member who is undergoing treatment. If that’s true, they may ask whether you’re okay with changing or stopping some of those behaviors. If that’s possible, changing how you interact with them or each other could be a major determining factor in whether they get better or not.  

Make Sure They Know You Love Them Unconditionally

Above all, make sure to tell your family member in the program that you love them unconditionally and that you are there for them. They may have felt for some time like they were dealing with their mental health struggle, addiction issue, or something similar on their own.

Let them know that you can help them to get through this difficult time in their life as a family unit. Tell them nothing is more important than their mental and physical health. You will do anything you can, within reason, if it helps them walk the difficult path they are currently traversing.

Hopefully, if you follow these guidelines, you can be there for your family member as they get through this challenging time in their life and emerge healthier on the other side.