Depression
Major depressive disorder, persistent depressive symptoms, and treatment-resistant depression that hasn't lifted with weekly care.
When weekly therapy isn't enough but inpatient feels like too much, an intensive outpatient program can meet you in the middle. You get structured, psychiatrist-led care several days a week while you sleep in your own bed and stay connected to the people who matter.
An intensive outpatient program, often shortened to IOP, is a structured mental health treatment program you attend several days a week without being admitted to a hospital. It sits between weekly therapy and inpatient care, giving you a higher level of support while you continue to live at home, work, or care for your family.
At Better Balance Psychiatry, our IOP treatment combines group therapy, individual counseling, and psychiatric oversight in one coordinated program. Care is directed by Dr. John Hendleman, DO, a board-certified psychiatrist, so treatment decisions are grounded in medical training rather than a fixed protocol. Adults throughout southern Utah, including St. George, Cedar City, and the surrounding communities, come to our program for a level of care that a single weekly session cannot provide.
Enough structure to move the needle, enough flexibility to keep your life running.
Most patients attend our IOP three days per week for about three hours per session. That works out to roughly nine hours of structured treatment each week, with the rest of your time free for work, school, family, or rest. Evening scheduling is available for patients who need to keep working during the day.
A typical session of IOP therapy blends group work focused on evidence-based skills, time in a smaller process group, and individual check-ins as clinically appropriate. Medication management is built into the program for patients who benefit from it, so you aren't coordinating care across separate practices.
Skills group
Process group
Individual check-in as scheduled
Skills group
Process group
Medication management as scheduled
Skills group
Process group
Weekly review and planning
Sample schedule. Actual days and times are set at your evaluation and can be adjusted as your needs change.
Length of care varies. Some patients complete IOP in a few weeks. Others benefit from a longer course of treatment. Your psychiatrist reviews progress with you regularly and adjusts the plan as your symptoms shift.
Our adult IOP supports people whose symptoms need more than a weekly session but who are safe to remain at home.
Major depressive disorder, persistent depressive symptoms, and treatment-resistant depression that hasn't lifted with weekly care.
Generalized anxiety, panic disorder, social anxiety, and anxiety that continues to interfere with work, sleep, or relationships.
Post-traumatic stress disorder and trauma-related symptoms, including trauma carried by veterans and first responders.
Bipolar depression and mood-cycling patterns that need close psychiatric oversight alongside therapy.
Mental health conditions alongside substance use, addressed together rather than treated as separate problems.
Structured step-down support after a hospitalization or acute crisis, so gains from higher levels of care hold.
A psychiatrist confirms the right level of care at your evaluation. If IOP isn't the best match, we'll help you find what is, whether that's medication management, TMS, Spravato, standard outpatient therapy, or a higher level of care.
Mental health care exists on a spectrum. Understanding where an intensive outpatient program sits can help you and your provider make the right call.
| Level of Care | Time Commitment | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Weekly therapy | 45 to 60 minutes, once per week | Stable symptoms, maintenance, personal growth work |
| Intensive Outpatient (IOP) | ~9 hours per week, typically 3 days | Symptoms that persist despite weekly care, step-down from crisis, dual diagnosis |
| Partial Hospitalization (PHP) | Full days, 5 days per week | Severe symptoms that fall short of needing overnight hospitalization |
| Inpatient | 24-hour hospital-based care | Acute crisis or immediate safety concerns |
If you're not sure which level fits, that's what the evaluation is for. Our psychiatrist can recommend the appropriate step and coordinate with other providers when needed.
A simple four-step path from your first call to your first session. No referral required.
Call our office or use the patient portal to tell us a little about what's going on. There's no cost or obligation for a first call.
Our team confirms your insurance coverage for IOP so you know what to expect financially before you begin.
You meet with Dr. Hendleman for a full evaluation. Together, you decide whether IOP is the right level of care and set goals for the program.
You're placed on a schedule that fits your life at our St. George or Cedar City location, and treatment begins.
In most cases, yes. Major insurance plans cover intensive outpatient programs when they're a medically necessary level of care. Our team verifies your specific benefits before your program begins so there are no surprises.
Your treatment plan is directed by a board-certified psychiatrist. Care is grounded in medical training, not a one-size-fits-all protocol.
The region voted us Best Psychiatrist in 2023, a reflection of the trust patients and families place in our team.
Therapy, medication, and advanced treatments under one roof in St. George and Cedar City, plus telehealth across Utah.
Dr. Hendleman founded Better Balance Psychiatry to bring advanced, evidence-based care to southern Utah. He specializes in treatment-resistant depression, trauma in uniformed service members, and advanced treatments including TMS, Spravato, and IV ketamine.
Learn MoreAn IOP is a structured mental health treatment program you attend several days a week without being hospitalized. It sits between weekly therapy and inpatient care, giving you a higher level of support while you continue living at home.
Length varies by patient. Most people attend for several weeks, though some benefit from a longer course of care. Your psychiatrist adjusts the plan based on how your symptoms respond.
Typically three days per week, about three hours per session, for roughly nine hours of care each week. Your exact schedule is set during your evaluation, and evening options are available.
Our IOP supports depression, anxiety, PTSD, bipolar disorder, dual diagnosis (mental health with substance use), and post-crisis stabilization. A psychiatrist confirms the right level of care during your evaluation.
Our core IOP is delivered in person at our St. George and Cedar City locations. Some components of care may be available by secure telehealth for patients elsewhere in Utah. Ask about hybrid options during your first call.
IOP typically runs about three hours a day, three days a week. PHP (partial hospitalization) is a full-day program, five days a week. PHP is a higher level of care for more severe symptoms that still don't require overnight hospitalization.
Most major insurance plans cover IOP when it's medically necessary. We verify your specific benefits before you begin so you understand any expected cost.
In most cases, yes. IOP is designed to provide intensive treatment while allowing you to maintain daily responsibilities. Your care team helps you build a workable schedule.
Your care stays coordinated under one roof. If another approach is a better fit, your psychiatrist can help you get there.
Reach out for a confidential evaluation to see whether our IOP is the right fit. No referral required, and no cost or obligation for a first call.
In-person IOP in St. George and Cedar City · Telehealth available across Utah
