603-880-8188
info@directionbehavioralhealth.com
NEWS & UPDATES
NEWS & UPDATES
Intensive Outpatient Program for Children + Teens
Since 2008, our IOP has helped thousands of youth pursue wellness in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, & across New England.
Looking for a new Direction in mental wellness?
Join 3,000+ children and their families who’ve discovered a brighter future with us.
We at Direction Behavioral Health offer a comprehensive Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) to help children and teens address a variety of mental health issues. Offering an intermediate level of care, our program is a step up from individual therapy sessions but doesn’t require out-of-home placement.
Bored with traditional mental healthcare programs? Us too.
Our team understands that the conventional approach to mental health can often feel boring and uninspiring, which is why our programs are designed to break free from the constraints of traditional therapy, offering dynamic, interactive experiences that resonate with today's youth.
We focus on innovative, experiential learning that incorporates art, music, nature, and physical activities, so treatment feels much more like an adventure than a chore.
What is an intensive outpatient program (IOP)?
An Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) is a structured therapeutic intervention designed for those who require more support than traditional outpatient therapy but don’t need the level of care provided in a residential or inpatient setting. This program is offered to all kids who have completed our Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP).
Here at Direction, we’ll create an individualized treatment plan tailored to your child so every aspect of their care aligns with their needs, goals, and challenges.
How the program works
Our two IOPs offer the same set of services as our PHPs but during a shorter day. Once kids have completed our Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) and “know the ropes,” they transition (“step down”) to our IOP.
Flexible schedule
Our IOP offers the same services as our PHP, with the exception of schooling, but for three hours per day instead of five. This allows the children and teens more time for home, school, work, and other important activities. The IOP also allows them a bit more flexibility in terms of scheduling, as some kids will drop down to three or four days per week at Direction. The IOP usually lasts for several weeks before discharge.
Steps after discharge
Once discharged, children return to their outpatient providers, or if your child does not have them, we’ll help you find some. We also offer our Aftercare Groups to children who have attended our program.
We’ve treated teens with the following diagnoses:
IOP STRUCTURE
A day in the life at our IOP in Nashua
Our IOP includes:
Group Therapy
Group therapy is at the heart of treatment at Direction, and is based on our Wholeistic Education model. It was created by Direction’s co-founder, Joe Walsh, and has helped thousands of kids at Direction as well as several other New Hampshire programs. It’s a refreshingly down-to-earth approach and focuses on the basics: learning how to form and maintain healthy relationships and habits.
Recreational Activities
Direction’s space abounds with recreational opportunities. Whether it’s noodling around on an electric guitar or one of our many other musical instruments, playing volleyball, working out in our gymnasium, or walking the adjacent trails at nearby Mine Falls Park, there is something for everyone here.
Medication Management
One benefit of attending our program is the opportunity to work with expert medication prescribers in our child psychiatrist and nurse practitioner. Because they are at the program with your child throughout the week, they can make changes and modifications on an ongoing basis. With traditional outpatient treatment, your child typically needs to wait weeks for the next visit. We are able to work much faster.
Parenting Groups
Direction offers our Parenting Groups to support the larger family. This service is provided free to the public through both in-person and virtual groups. Our clinicians walk you through our approach to working through the most difficult of parenting challenges and scenarios. They go over ourLeadership PrinciplesandBehavioral Guidelinesand demonstrate how they can be helpful to your family.
How does the IOP impact school?
We work with schools to ensure educational needs are met throughout treatment. If the child’s treatment plan necessitates breaks so they can focus on their mental health, we’ll work with the school and provide them with a doctor’s note and letter.
Level of Care
The teen IOP operates five days a week between 3 PM and 6 PM, and the child IOP operates five days a week from 10 AM to 1 PM.
Facility
Our facility at Millyard Technology Park is truly state-of-the-art, boasting 8,500 square feet spread over two levels. Our facility has exciting features like a gym with a basketball hoop, a pickleball net, and professional-grade exercise equipment. For our more musically inclined kids, we have numerous musical instruments and premium recording equipment.
Program Length
All children and teens in the IOP start with the PHP, and remain in the program generally for several more weeks.
Transportation
Transportation to and from the program must be provided by the family, though some teenagers may be able to drive themselves.
TESTIMONIALS
"Direction was there for me..."
“Our experience at Direction gave us the gift of maintaining a relationship with our daughter, one that is now healthy and flourishing. The additional twice weekly counseling they provide for parents and caregivers is a huge part of our success as a family.”
—E.O.
“The group has really helped me connect with people and help deal with my anger. I feel safe in the space provided by the Direction members.”
—N.G.
Wholeistic Education Treatment Model
Direction’s Wholeistic Education teaches kids how to build and maintain healthy relationships to improve their ability to function in the world, and it’s the heart and soul of our program.
From a treatment perspective, it can be considered how we “do group therapy” at Direction. From a broader perspective, it’s an educational model designed to help all group members function better in the world and move toward a state of optimal wellness.
Help for teens + children from a team with clinical expertise
Our team, led by Dr. Duncan Gill, is comprised of highly skilled and knowledgeable professionals with both a passion for helping kids and a great sense of humor—both of which are necessary attributes for anyone who works with kids.
Getting your child started with Direction
Beginning the intake process with us is simple, as we strive to make this initial step as seamless and stress-free as possible for children, teens, and their families.
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Step-by-step process
- Call to schedule intake
- Caretaker brings child or teen in for the intake
- We determine if it’s the right fit
If there's a waitlist, we’ll send the patient resources to help in the meantime and will let you know when there's an opening.
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Other resources
You can also:
- Take a look at our Parent Handbook for details about the program and our philosophy.
- Attend our Parenting Group either online or in person; it’s open to the public.
- Stop by and pick up a free copy of our book, The Art of Direction.
- Browse the rest of our website—there's some interesting stuff!
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No formal referral necessary—just call!
Kids come from hospitals, emergency rooms, schools, homes, and pretty much everywhere else. We don't need any particular formal "referral"—just give us a call.
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Insurance Coverage
The program is paid for by the vast majority of insurance plans.
An effective IOP for New Hampshire & Massachusetts children + teens
Our child and teen Intensive Outpatient Program at Direction Behavioral Health is designed to accommodate the busy lives of children and teens in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and beyond, allowing them to engage in their education while benefiting from therapeutic interventions tailored to their specific needs.
With a focus on building healthy habits, enhancing emotional regulation, and promoting resilience, our program empowers children and teens to navigate their challenges effectively within a compassionate environment.
LINKS
CONTACT US
Serving families from across New England at our facility in Nashua, New Hampshire:
New Hampshire
Nashua | Merrimack | Manchester | Concord | Seacoast
Massachusetts
Lowell | Tewksbury | Lawrence | Haverhill
Maine