Online Intensive Outpatient Program in North Carolina

We provide a personalized & comprehensive treatment plan for North Carolina residents that fits seamlessly into your everyday life. Through a tailor-made, intensive, & evidence-based approach, we’ll ensure you have the quality care needed to make material progress.

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Intensive outpatient program (IOP)

Mental Health & Intensive Outpatient Program in North Carolina

Understanding the landscape of mental health care access and the challenges
families face across the state.

Mental Illness Prevalence

The mental illness prevalence rate in North Carolina is 22.2 percent among adults, indicating a substantial share of residents who may benefit from structured support such as Intensive Outpatient Program.

Wait Time

The average wait time for therapy in North Carolina is 12–16 weeks, which can delay entry into higher intensity care pathways such as Intensive Outpatient Program when symptoms escalate.

Median Household Income

The median household income in North Carolina is $69,904, which can influence affordability and consistency of participation in ongoing mental health care.

Percentage Who Need Therapy

21.3 percent of adults in North Carolina who needed mental health care did not receive it.

Provider Shortage

In North Carolina, 87.48 percent of counties are designated as Mental Health Professional Shortage Areas.

Mental Health Providers per 100k Residents

North Carolina has 327.2 mental health providers per 100,000 residents, which can contribute to limited appointment availability and longer wait times for care.

North Carolina’s mental health access constraints are measurable and widespread. North Carolina has 11,046,024 residents living across 53,819 square miles, and 22.2 percent of adults experience mental illness. That prevalence translates to 2,452,217 residents experiencing mental illness who may need structured support such as an Intensive Outpatient Program. Yet 21.3 percent of adults who needed mental health treatment reported that they did not receive it, creating a large gap between need and real-world access. Capacity limitations show up in workforce density as well: North Carolina has 327.2 mental health providers per 100,000 residents. Shortage designations reinforce the scale of the constraint, with 87.48% of North Carolina’s 100 counties designated as Mental Health Professional Shortage Areas. Delays compound the problem, since the average wait time for therapy in North Carolina is 12–16 weeks, slowing entry into higher-intensity care pathways when symptoms escalate. Median household income in North Carolina is $69,904, a figure that shapes affordability and the ability to stay consistent with care once it is finally secured.


These numbers describe a system where demand outpaces supply across a large geographic footprint. When 87.48 percent of counties are designated as Mental Health Professional Shortage Areas, residents are often competing for the same limited appointment slots, and the 12–16 week wait time becomes a predictable outcome rather than an exception. With 327.2 providers per 100,000 residents serving 11,046,024 people, availability can tighten quickly when symptoms become acute and an Intensive Outpatient Program is clinically appropriate. For the 2,452,217 residents experiencing mental illness, delays are not only inconvenient; they can interrupt work, school, and caregiving routines while symptoms remain untreated. The 21.3 percent unmet-need figure also reflects what happens after repeated obstacles: residents may stop searching, accept care that is not the right intensity, or cycle through short-term options that do not provide continuity. Across 53,819 square miles and 100 counties, the practical reality is that access depends on timing, location, and provider capacity at the moment help is needed, even though the need is persistent and statewide.


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UNDERSTANDING THE CHALLENGE

Intensive Outpatient Program challenges in North Carolina

The Problem

North Carolina's 11,046,024 residents spread across 53,819 square miles face a severe mental health access crisis. With 87.48% of North Carolina's 100 counties designated provider shortage areas and 21.3% of residents who need mental health care unable to access it, the state's mental health system is fundamentally failing those in crisis. Only 327.2 mental health providers per 100,000 residents serve the entire state, and 12–16 weeks average wait times mean residents experiencing acute mental health needs must wait months for help. For North Carolina's 2,452,217 residents experiencing mental illness (22.2% of the population), finding timely Intensive Outpatient Program is nearly impossible.

The Impact

Across North Carolina's 53,819 square miles, the crisis concentrates in rural and underserved regions where 2,452,217 residents lack viable access to Intensive Outpatient Program. Residents report driving 50+ miles for appointments when providers exist at all while 327.2 providers per 100,000 across 100 counties cannot absorb the 21.3% unmet demand. Emergency departments see rising psychiatric visits because residents have nowhere else to turn. The shortage particularly impacts low income residents in North Carolina, who face the longest wait times and fewest options. For residents managing depression and anxiety, 12–16 weeks waits mean conditions worsen from manageable concerns to crisis situations before care begins.

The Solution

For North Carolina's 2,452,217 residents experiencing mental illness across 53,819 square miles and 100 counties, Grouport bypasses the 87.48% provider shortage and 12–16 weeks waitlists entirely. Licensed professionals specializing in Intensive Outpatient Program match within 24 to 48 hours, not the months North Carolina's 327.2 providers per 100,000 residents require, via secure video accessible from anywhere in North Carolina. No 50 mile drives, no being turned away from full caseloads, and no geographic barriers. At $311 per week on average ($1,348 per month), Grouport delivers the immediate, consistent professional support that North Carolina's overwhelmed system cannot currently provide to residents managing depression and anxiety.
In North Carolina, 87.48 percent of counties are designated as Mental Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Online care can reduce the practical barriers that keep North Carolina residents from consistent participation, because sessions can be attended from home without travel time, childcare coordination, or missed work. It also supports continuity during periods when in person programs have limited openings, since residents can start sooner and stay engaged even if they relocate within North Carolina or have transportation limitations.
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Getting Intensive Outpatient Program in North Carolina: Wait Times and Barriers

North Carolina’s Intensive Outpatient Program access constraints are driven by a statewide capacity problem. With 87.48% of the state’s 100 counties designated as Mental Health Professional Shortage Areas and only 327.2 mental health providers per 100,000 residents, many residents encounter limited appointment availability even before considering the higher cadence and coordination that IOP-level care requires. When 22.2 percent of adults experience mental illness, demand remains consistently high across the state’s 53,819 square miles.

Geographic Barriers

North Carolina’s size and distribution of residents across 53,819 square miles shapes the day-to-day experience of trying to enter an Intensive Outpatient Program. In areas where provider options are already constrained by shortage designations, residents may need to coordinate care across county lines, which can add complexity to scheduling and follow-through. The strain is amplified by the fact that 87.48 percent of counties are designated as Mental Health Professional Shortage Areas, so the nearest available opening is often not simply “the next clinic over.” For residents who are already managing disruptive symptoms, the effort required to locate an opening, complete intake steps, and maintain a consistent schedule can become a barrier in itself. When the system is stretched across 100 counties, access becomes uneven, and residents can face repeated dead ends even while actively seeking help.

Extended Wait Times

The average wait time for therapy in North Carolina is 12–16 weeks, and that delay can slow entry into higher-intensity care pathways such as an Intensive Outpatient Program when symptoms escalate. A wait measured in months can be especially destabilizing for residents whose symptoms are recurring and disruptive to everyday life, since IOP is often sought when weekly care is not enough. For the 2,452,217 residents experiencing mental illness, long waits can also create a mismatch between the timing of need and the timing of availability. Residents may be forced to choose between waiting for an appropriate level of care or settling for whatever is available sooner, even if it does not match the intensity required. In practice, the wait period can also disrupt continuity, since residents may start and stop care while trying to secure an IOP slot that aligns with work, school, or caregiving responsibilities.

Systemic Challenges

The combination of provider scarcity and high unmet need in North Carolina means access barriers are systemic, not incidental. With 21.3% of adults who needed mental health care unable to receive it, the underlying inefficiencies of the current system restrict both choice and continuity for residents. These barriers extend beyond scheduling: residents often face logistical challenges securing appointments that accommodate a higher cadence of care, managing absences due to waitlist bottlenecks, and contending with the psychological impact of delayed or fragmented care. While some urban centers offer greater provider density, the statewide statistics reflect a persistent difficulty in accessing structured services regardless of location. For residents navigating these challenges, availability is not only about the number of providers, but whether effective, affordable intervention is accessible when it is most needed.

Urban-Rural Divide

North Carolina’s shortage designations across 87.48% of counties point to a statewide constraint that does not stop at city limits, even if the experience differs by region. In higher-density areas, residents may find more providers in theory, yet still face long queues because demand is concentrated and appointment slots fill quickly. In lower-density areas, the issue often becomes the absence of nearby options, which can force residents to search across multiple counties for an opening. With only 327.2 mental health providers per 100,000 residents serving 11,046,024 people, both settings can produce the same outcome: delayed entry into care and reduced ability to choose a program that fits clinical needs. For residents seeking Intensive Outpatient Program support, the urban-rural divide often changes the logistics, but not the underlying scarcity.
For North Carolina residents, the numbers align around a single reality: high need meets limited capacity, and delays become routine. Grouport reduces these access barriers by matching residents to Intensive Outpatient Program support within 24 to 48 hours through secure video, helping residents start care without waiting 12–16 weeks or navigating shortages across 100 counties.
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Affordable Intensive Outpatient Program for North Carolina Residents

Grouport provides North Carolina residents with immediate access to Intensive Outpatient Program at $311 per week on average ($1,348/month), compared with national pricing of $693–$1,154 per week and $3,000–$5,000 per month. That difference matters in a state where the average wait time for therapy is 12–16 weeks and 87.48 percent of counties are designated as Mental Health Professional Shortage Areas. When care is delayed, residents often face added costs from interim services, missed work, and repeated intake processes while searching for availability.

Affordability and Income

At $311 per week on average ($1,348/month), Grouport’s Intensive Outpatient Program pricing is positioned against national weekly averages of $693–$1,154. For North Carolina’s median household income of $69,904, Grouport represents 0.44% of annual income per week compared to traditional IOP pricing at 0.99%–1.65%. Affordability interacts with access in North Carolina because 21.3% of adults who needed mental health treatment reported they did not receive it, and the state’s provider capacity is limited to 327.2 mental health providers per 100,000 residents. When 87.48 percent of counties are designated as Mental Health Professional Shortage Areas, residents can spend weeks searching for an opening, then face higher national pricing once they finally locate a program with availability. In that environment, predictable weekly costs can support continuity, especially when symptoms require a structured schedule rather than sporadic appointments.

Hidden Cost and Barriers

Beyond program fees, North Carolina’s 53,819 square miles can translate into meaningful travel costs when residents must attend in-person care outside their immediate area. With an average distance of 45 miles to reach an in-person program, residents are routinely required to make a 90-mile round trip per visit. At current fuel costs of $3/gallon, this adds approximately $15 in gas expenses per trip. Over a year of weekly visits, North Carolina residents would drive 4,680 miles and spend $780 on fuel alone. Those costs sit on top of the time burden created by travel, which can be harder to sustain when care requires multiple touchpoints and consistent attendance. For residents already navigating limited availability tied to 327.2 providers per 100,000 residents and shortage designations across 87.48% of counties, travel becomes another constraint that can reduce follow-through.

Immediate Availability

North Carolina’s 12–16 week average wait time for therapy equals 84–112 days without timely professional support while symptoms can intensify and daily functioning can deteriorate. For residents seeking an Intensive Outpatient Program, that delay can also push care decisions into crisis-driven settings rather than planned, structured treatment. The access gap is reflected in the 21.3% of adults who needed mental health treatment but did not receive it, a figure that aligns with long waits and limited provider capacity. Grouport eliminates the extended wait by matching residents within 24 to 48 hours, allowing care to begin on a timeline that better fits the urgency that often brings residents to IOP-level support.
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What is Virtual IOP?

Virtual intensive outpatient program (IOP) is a level of mental healthcare that is more intensive than traditional weekly therapy. When symptoms are pronounced, recurring, & disruptive to everyday life, a higher cadence of treatment is often needed to improve quality of life. Treatment is delivered to clients directly in the comfort of their own home, with highly specialized care that’s specifically geared to each client’s needs, that provides the proper skills, support, accountability, and motivation needed to see clinically significant results. By receiving the right care at a higher cadence, clients gain greater adherence to treatment.

The goal of IOP is to help people manage their mental health and achieve lasting recovery while still allowing them to maintain their daily routines and responsibilities.

Specialized groups

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When people are surrounded by others who share a similar situation – results never thought possible start to happen. Our groups are highly structured, and focus on a particular diagnosis or life challenge, with only evidence-based methods, led by an expert therapist. Groups become a place to look forward to seeing the same faces each week, and an outlet to build trust and vulnerability with the people who get it.

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Individual therapy

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Individual connections play a vital role in the IOP model, which is why each person’s customized treatment plan includes a primary therapist for weekly one-on-one sessions. Individual sessions complement the group work to ensure a full support system.

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How is our approach different?

Evidence-Based Care

Expert Therapists

Curated Communities

Personalized Treatment

Immediate Availability

Flexible Scheduling

Virtual Access

Ongoing Support

We specialize in treating high acuity, high severity, mental health conditions with highly-personalized, comprehensive care that yields meaningful results

How it Works

Schedule Call

Schedule a call with a care coordinator to learn more about our program or signup directly

Networking

Get Matched

We’ll conduct a thorough intake to create your personalized virtual treatment plan

Video call

Start healing

Meet your group and your individual therapist in as little as 24 hours

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Proven Outcomes & Member Satisfaction

80%
of members start with moderate to severe mental health symptoms at baseline.

70%
Of members see clinically significant reduction in anxiety and depression symptoms within 8 weeks

50%
Achieve Remission Levels Within 8-weeks

90%
of our members would be disappointed if they could no longer access care through Grouport

USA

Therapist Network

Our team of licensed mental health providers uses a diverse set of therapeutic modalities to create a holistic, personalized treatment program with your background, mental health needs, and recovery goals in mind. No matter the level of your symptoms, or what you’re dealing with, we have a treatment plan for you & can provide the care needed to get better.

Grouport therapists are fully licensed clinical professionals (LCSW, LMFT, PhD, PsyD) with specialized training in evidence-based Intensive Outpatient Program in North Carolina.
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We treat the full spectrum of mental health needs, and life challenges in North Carolina

Our team of providers supports North Carolina residents using a diverse set of therapeutic modalities to create a holistic, personalized treatment program with your background, mental health needs, and recovery goals in mind. No matter the level of your symptoms, or what you’re dealing with, we have a group for you & can provide the care needed to get better.

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Get Help for:

Anxiety Disorders

Anxiety (GAD) , Social Anxiety, Agoraphobia, Panic Disorder, Sexual Performance Anxiety, Phobias

Mood Disorders

Depression (MDD), Bipolar Disorder, Persistent Depressive Disorder, Seasonal Affective Disorder, Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD), Postpartum Depression

Trauma & Stress Related Disorders

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Complex PTSD, Narcissistic Abuse Recovery, Dissociative Disorders, Adjustment Disorder, Stress Management, Burnout, Imposter Syndrome

Common Treatments:

  • Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) 
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
  • Exposure Response Prevention Therapy (ERP)
  • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
  • Emotion-focused Therapy (EFT)
  • Exposure Therapy
  • Motivational Interviewing 
  • Interpersonal Therapy

Obsessive-Compulsive & Related Disorders

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Body Dysmorphic Disorder, Trichotillomania, Excoriation Disorder, Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD)

Personality Disorders

Borderline Personality Disorder, Antisocial Personality Disorder, Avoidant Personality Disorder, Dependent Personality Disorder, Histrionic Personality Disorder, Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD), Paranoid Personality Disorder, Schizotypal Personality Disorder

Eating & Body Disorders

Eating Disorders, Anorexia, Bulimia, Binge Eating Disorder

Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Autism Spectrum Disorder, Schizophrenia

Life Challenges

Relationship Issues, Codependency, Attachment Issues, Divorce, Loneliness, Anger Management, Self-Esteem, Grief & Loss, Chronic Illness, Gender Dysphoria, Infertility, Fertility Treatment & IVF Support, Pregnancy Loss & Miscarriage, Couples Issues, Parenting, Supporting a loved one with BPD, LGBTQIA Support

Other Disorders

Substance Use & Addiction, Insomnia & Sleep Issues, Somatic Symptom Disorder, Intermittent Explosive Disorder

Self harm

Self-Harm, Suicidal Ideation, Self-injury, Suicide Survival

Common Treatments

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Exposure Response Prevention (ERP), Exposure Therapy, Internal Family Systems (IFS), Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing (EMDR), Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT), Psychodynamic Therapy, Motivational Interviewing (MI), Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), Trauma-Focused CBT (TF-CBT), Narrative Therapy, Schema Therapy, Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), Somatic Therapy, Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Prolonged Exposure (PE), Interpersonal Therapy (IPT), Behavioral Activation

  • OCD
  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Trauma & PTSD
  • Borderline Personality Disorder
  • Bipolar Disorder
  • Narcissistic Abuse 
  • Eating Disorders
  • Body Dysmorphia 
  • Agoraphobia 
  • Anger Management
  • ADHD
  • Substance Abuse & Addiction
  • Postpartum depression or anxiety
  • Panic
  • Phobias
  • Grief & Loss
  • Relationship Challenges
  • Couples Issues
  • Parenting
  • Supporting a loved one
  • Work stress & burnout
  • Self-harm, Self-injury, Suicidal ideation
  • Chronic Illness
  • Divorce
  • Teen/Adolescent Groups 
  • Gender identity 
  • LGBTQIA Support
Vector Heart

Trusted by thousands of patients

Check out how our services have helped our members see life-changing results

Sarah

Relationship Issues

"It’s helped our family improve communication, control anger, and it’s helped my husband and I parent better. I’m forever grateful for bringing our family even closer together."

Isabel

Trauma & PTSD

"I joined Grouport to work on myself and to heal. I’m learning so much at every session! The change I see not only in myself but in my fellow group members is abundantly encouraging and profoundly fulfilling. Group therapy with Grouport is a powerful healing tool."

Danielle

Anxiety

"Grouport can help you with your issues. Their therapists are well trained to work with you on your issues. I felt my anxiety greatly improve after only a few sessions. I highly recommend it!"

Glenn

DBT

"Grouport's approach to DBT is a real strength. This approach provides tools and methods for working with difficult emotions and getting a handle on them. It has given me hope where other approaches have failed."

Benjamin

Anxiety
Depression

"Adam is helping me to approach my anxieties from a different perspective. So I’m working on developing this awareness and not be too fearful about it."

Briana

Anxiety
Depression

“I learn a lot of skills and hearing other people’s experiences help”

Charlotte

Anxiety
Depression

“Group therapy depends on the facilitator and the participants. This particular one is great for both.”

Melanie

Anxiety

“I love getting another perspective on an issue from another participant. It changes my whole thought process and really helps me see things clearly. I like Grouport because there is no pressure to discuss your problems. During my good weeks, I usually have a similar problem to someone else in the group that's in the back of my mind. They bring that problem to life when they talk about their own situations. We always come to a solution for these negative thoughts or emotions.”

Carrie

Relationship Issues

“It is helping my family.”

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Affordable Care, Geared to Your Needs

Partnership

IOP Therapy

$337/week
billed at $1,348/mo

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Individual Therapy

$112/session
billed at $448/mo

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Partnership

Couples Therapy

$123/session
billed at $492/month

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Teen Therapy

$112/session
billed at $448/month

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Family Therapy

$160/session
billed at $640/mo

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Group Therapy

$35/session
billed at $140/mo

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FAQs About Intensive Outpatient Program in North Carolina

What if I've been waiting months for a local therapist?
Take the online therapy appointment now. Don't keep waiting for local care that may or might not materialize. You can always switch to in-person later if you still prefer and a spot opens up, but suffering for months on a wait list when online help is available immediately doesn't make sense. Your mental health matters now, not in six months when maybe someone local has an opening. And also having a quality therapist who specializes in your needs is much more likely to find online versus someone local if you live in a place with not a lot of mental health professionals.
What's the daily schedule like in IOP?
9 group sessions spread throughout the week at times that are convenient for you, plus 1-3 individual sessions (depending on which IOP plan you choose). Grouport’s IOP is flexible in that you can choose the types of groups you’d like to partake in and the group times that work for your schedule as well as the individual therapists that you’d like to work with and at times that are convenient for you. Sessions are scheduled at different times so you can still work or handle other responsibilities, and we have session times at all times of day including morning, afternoon, evening based on what works best to accommodate your schedule.
What is an Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)?
Virtual Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) is a structured mental health treatment program providing more support than weekly therapy but less than residential or inpatient care. Grouport's IOP includes 9 group therapy sessions per week plus 1-3 individual therapy sessions, depending on which type of IOP plan you choose. So, it totals 10-12 hours of treatment weekly and all sessions are done virtually online. For IOP, you’ll get to select the types of groups you’d like to partake in based on your needs and schedule. Based on your needs, we’ll also present you options for therapists to meet with for individual therapy, but you’ll ultimately choose which therapist(s) and at what time(s) you meet with them for individual therapy. IOP is for people experiencing significant mental health challenges who need daily support but can still maintain their daily routine. It's designed for conditions like moderate to severe depression, anxiety, borderline personality disorder, bipolar disorder, OCD, eating disorders, and many other conditions. IOP bridges the gap between weekly outpatient therapy and hospitalization when more care is needed. It provides intensive treatment while allowing you to live at home and maintain work or school commitments. It's structured support for when once a week isn't cutting it and you need something more than that but you can still function in your daily life.
Will IOP interfere with my job?
It’s designed not to interfere with your job. Morning, evening, lunchtime, or weekend time sessions are available, so you can build a schedule that works around typical work hours and is flexible for you. You'll need to block out time for sessions but it's doable alongside full-time work. Lots of people manage both together. The whole point of IOP is to do it with your regular daily routine, so you’ll just choose a schedule that meets the intensity of IOP but combines it in such a way that you’re able to continue to do work over that time period. Other ways of going about IOP, is perhaps part of the program you do while you're on vacation, or you reduce your hours temporarily to accommodate care, or you take a short term medical leave, or HR may be able to make you an accommodation. No matter what schedule you choose, IOP should be able to be done with your day to day responsibilities.
Can I work or go to school while in IOP?
Yes, that's the whole point and advantage of outpatient care in that you maintain your life while getting intensive treatment. Sessions are scheduled at various times to accommodate work or school schedules. Most people do IOP while working full-time or attending school. We have session times at all times of day including mornings, afternoon, evening & weekends, so it’s best to choose a combination that works best for your schedule and needs but enables you to get through 10-12 hours of weekly therapy.
Can online therapy really help if there's no local care?
That's literally what online therapy is for. Shortage areas. If the nearest psychiatrist or licensed mental health professional is 90 miles away and not taking patients, online therapy gets you help now. You're not limited to whoever happens to practice near you. You can access specialists, specific therapy approaches, therapists who understand your particular issue. Geography doesn't matter.
Can therapy address the hopelessness of living in a forgotten area?
Your hopelessness makes sense. Things are objectively difficult in shortage areas. Therapy won't gaslight you into pretending everything's fine. But it helps you cope with any despair you may feel, find small areas where you have control, maintain relationships and meaning despite limitations, and decide if staying is sustainable long-term for you. Hopelessness can shift even when circumstances don't.
What if I can't attend all the sessions every week?
Attendance really matters for IOP to work, since it’s meant to be intensive by design. Missing occasional sessions happens, but recurring absences means you're not getting the treatment as it's intended. Therapists and care coordinators will work with you on barriers to attendance, and try to make sure your schedule is most conducive for consistent attendance. If schedule conflicts are preventing attendance, discuss alternatives like different session times, temporary leave with a planned return, or stepping down to less intensive treatment if you genuinely can't commit to the IOP schedule. Consistency matters and IOP requires a substantial commitment to be effective.
What's the difference between IOP and regular group therapy?
Regular group therapy meets once weekly for 60 minute sessions, and provides peer support and skill-building. It’s appropriate for people functioning reasonably well. IOP meets 9-12 times weekly for intensive intervention, includes multiple modalities (group + individual therapy), and is appropriate for people with severe symptoms and is focused on stabilizing symptoms. IOP provides a high cadence of treatment, structure, and daily accountability. Regular groups assume you're managing between sessions whereas IOP recognizes you need a much higher level of support which typically has some amount of daily sessions being done. After IOP, it’s common for people to step down to regular weekly groups for continued support. So even after IOP someone can still be doing a bunch of therapy sessions a week for ongoing maintenance, it’s just a matter of what’s best for their care needs.
Can I leave IOP if I feel better?
You can, though it's better to taper down gradually rather than stop abruptly. Finishing the program gives you the full benefit and premature discharge increases relapse risk. But yes, you're not locked in and if you genuinely feel ready to step down you absolutely can. Typically, most clients do planned graduations which include gradual step down from say about 10 to lowering to 5 sessions weekly, along with a concrete maintenance plan. Completing IOP as recommended significantly improves long-term outcomes and stabilization. Most people who partake in IOP, will still do a certain amount of sessions on a weekly basis following IOP for ongoing maintenance.
Do I need a referral to join IOP?
No. You can talk directly with a Grouport care coordinator about whether IOP makes sense for your situation. IOP participants typically recognize independently that they need more support, are referred by a current therapist or psychiatrist who believes weekly therapy isn't sufficient, are referred by a primary care doctor concerned about their mental health, or are discharged from a higher level of care. Trust your gut, if you feel like you need intensive support to address persistent symptoms then IOP will likely be the right fit.
What is a mental health professional shortage area?
It's a geographic area designated by the government as having too few mental health providers for the population. It could be rural counties, inner cities, tribal lands, or other underserved areas. If you live in a shortage area, you probably already know it. Finding a therapist locally is nearly impossible, wait lists are months long, or there just aren't any mental health professionals within reasonable distance.

Intensive Outpatient Program Across All of North Carolina

Counties

Alamance County
Alexander County
Alleghany County
Anson County
Ashe County
Avery County
Beaufort County
Bertie County
Bladen County
Brunswick County
Buncombe County
Burke County
Cabarrus County
Caldwell County
Camden County
Carteret County
Caswell County
Catawba County
Chatham County
Cherokee County
Chowan County
Clay County
Cleveland County
Columbus County
Craven County
Cumberland County
Currituck County
Dare County
Davidson County
Davie County
Duplin County
Durham County
Edgecombe County
Forsyth County
Franklin County
Gaston County
Gates County
Graham County
Granville County
Greene County
Guilford County
Halifax County
Harnett County
Haywood County
Henderson County
Hertford County
Hoke County
Hyde County
Iredell County
Jackson County
Johnston County
Jones County
Lee County
Lenoir County
Lincoln County
Macon County
Madison County
Martin County
McDowell County
Mecklenburg County
Mitchell County
Montgomery County
Moore County
Nash County
New Hanover County
Northampton County
Onslow County
Orange County
Pamlico County
Pasquotank County
Pender County
Perquimans County
Person County
Pitt County
Polk County
Randolph County
Richmond County
Robeson County
Rockingham County
Rowan County
Rutherford County
Sampson County
Scotland County
Stanly County
Stokes County
Surry County
Swain County
Transylvania County
Tyrrell County
Union County
Vance County
Wake County
Warren County
Washington County
Watauga County
Wayne County
Wilkes County
Wilson County
Yadkin County
Yancey County

Cities

Charlotte
Raleigh
Greensboro
Durham
Winston Salem
Fayetteville
Cary
Wilmington
High Point
Concord
Asheville
Greenville
Gastonia
Jacksonville
Chapel Hill
Huntersville
Apex
Burlington
Kannapolis
Rocky Mount
Hickory
Mooresville
Wilson
Wake Forest
Sanford
Goldsboro
Indian Trail
Monroe
New Bern
Statesville

Zip Codes

28202, 28203, 28204, 28205, 28206, 28207, 28208, 28209, 28210, 28211, 28212, 28213, 28214, 28215, 28216, 28217, 28226, 28227, 28262, 28269, 27601, 27603, 27604, 27605, 27606, 27607, 27609, 27610, 27612, 27613, 27614, 27615, 27401, 27403, 27405, 27406, 27407, 27408, 27410, 27455, 27701, 27703, 27704, 27705, 27707, 27713, 27101, 27103, 27104, 27105, 27106, 27107, 28301, 28303, 28304, 28306, 28311, 28314, 27511, 27513, 27514, 27516, 27519, 27539, 27560, 28401, 28403, 28405, 28409

If you have an address in North Carolina, Grouport can serve you regardless of your ZIP code.

Online Intensive Outpatient Program in All 50 States

Grouport offers a virtual intensive outpatient program across the United States. Connect with licensed therapists who specialize in your needs.

Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming
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Source Citation

Becker's Hospital Review
Common Wealth Fund
HRSA HPSA
US CENSUS