- A device with a big screen
Especially for our virtual small-group sessions, you’ll want a bigger screen. Seeing 10 small headshot boxes on your phone screen doesn’t allow you a close enough view to connect with your peers. Relying on a phone simply won’t cut it.
- A private, quiet room with no distractions
Consider the time of your sessions and your home environment. Make sure children, roommates, spouses, parents, or anyone else you live with know the hard boundary of your alone, private time during therapy. Dogs should be walked and tended to prior to the meeting. Make sure your children have someone else’s attention so your alcohol and drug recovery sessions are uninterrupted. While one of the pros to a virtual IOP is increased time at home (less travel commute to therapy!), you want to consider the challenges.
- Commitment to your sessions
As with any alcohol or drug rehab program – virtual or not – commitment is key. A positive to going virtual for your IOP may mean no late arrivals because of Dallas traffic; however, it might seem easy to push your other plans late since you can log-in from virtually anywhere. A virtual IOP needs the same level of commitment and schedule blocking as an in-person IOP. Most IOPs last 8 to 12 weeks, a blip in time when you consider your addiction journey. Commit completely to your virtual IOP, as you would an in-person program, to achieve long-term drug recovery success.
- Can participate from most anywhere
While coronavirus heightened the need for virtual Intensive Outpatient Programs, many who travel for business are reaping the benefits. The key feature to the virtual IOP is that you can participate from anywhere in Texas with Internet! With the ability to virtually participate in an IOP, there’s no excuse to delay your recovery journey now that business travel may be ramping back up again. We offer flexible meeting times, including evenings, which make the perfect excuse to miss a tempting alcohol-fueled work dinner or drinks event.
In general, a virtual IOP offers more flexibility. While our Lighthouse Recovery office for in-person IOP meets in Dallas near the Galleria, our virtual IOP is open to anyone, regardless of location.
While you might go virtual to be able to complete your group and individual counseling remotely, you might also seek the accountability of an in-person session. For this reason, you can make your virtual IOP a hybrid. Your one-on-one with your recovery coach can be done in person (or via telehealth if you choose) while the therapy sessions are online. Talk with your team to see if that would work for you!
- Your information is secure
We know how important it is for your therapy sessions to be completely secure. You’re sharing incredibly personal information through an online platform. That’s why we use Zoom, which is HIPPA-compliant and protects your PHI (personal health information).
Whatever reason you choose to participate in a virtual Intensive Outpatient Program, choose to complete yours with the Lighthouse Recovery team. We have small group sizes, licensed Masters-level clinicians utilizing a range of cognitive behavioral therapies, personally-matched recovery coaches all which help lead our Clients to long-term recovery and success. Unlike traditional drug rehab centers in Dallas, we address the underlying causes of substance abuse and addiction to help our Clients truly break free from addiction.