Changes Treatment Center
The Intensive Outpatient Program at Changes Treatment is a structured outpatient rehab in Costa Mesa, CA, serving adults across Orange County who need real clinical support while living at home. Sessions run about 9 to 15 hours a week across several days, and most clients stay eight to twelve weeks. We treat substance use alongside the mental health struggles that often come with it, and we verify your insurance benefits in about 15 minutes.
Reach out for confidential support, no pressure, no judgment. We’re here to help you take the next step.
An intensive outpatient program is structured addiction and mental health treatment delivered several times a week while you live at home. Our Orange County IOP combines group and individual therapy across several sessions per week.
Our IOP runs about 9 to 15 hours per week across several sessions, depending on your treatment plan. That is enough clinical time to drive real change while leaving room for work, school, and family.
Most clients complete IOP in eight to twelve weeks. The exact length depends on clinical progress, and some people step down to a lighter outpatient schedule as they stabilize rather than stopping all at once.
A partial hospitalization program runs about 20 to 30 hours a week over five days; IOP runs about 9 to 15 hours across fewer days. PHP is the more intensive option, and IOP is the common step down that lets you return to daily responsibilities.
Most commercial insurance plans cover intensive outpatient treatment, typically with prior authorization. We verify your specific benefits in about 15 minutes at no cost, so you know your coverage before starting.
Yes. IOP is designed for people who need to stay employed or in school during treatment. Sessions are scheduled to leave the rest of your day open, which is one of the main reasons people choose IOP over residential care.
Our facility is on Bristol Street in Costa Mesa, central to most of Orange County. Call (949) 807-2008 or use the Get Directions button to map the route from your location, and we can confirm your insurance and schedule an assessment on the same call.
An intensive outpatient program, or IOP, is a level of addiction and mental health care that delivers group and individual therapy several times a week without requiring you to live at the facility. Our Orange County IOP runs roughly 9 to 15 hours of clinical programming per week. You attend treatment, then return home, to work, or to school the same day. This is the level most people mean when they search for IOP treatment in Orange County or an IOP program near me: enough structure to break the pattern of use, enough flexibility to keep your life intact. IOP in Huntington Beach is designed to provide the same high level of care as our program in Orange County, with a focus on community support and personal growth. Many individuals find that being close to the beach enhances their recovery experience, allowing them to connect with nature as part of their healing process.
IOP sits between weekly therapy and a partial hospitalization program in intensity. It suits people who need more than an hour with a therapist once a week but do not require 24-hour supervision.
IOP is the right level of care for adults who are medically stable but need consistent, structured treatment to stay in recovery. Common situations include stepping down from a partial hospitalization program or residential stay, staying employed or in school while getting help, and rebuilding support after an earlier attempt at recovery did not hold. Our program serves adults across Orange County working through alcohol, opioids including fentanyl and prescription painkillers, stimulants such as cocaine and methamphetamine, and other substances. The Intensive Outpatient Program Irvine offers a flexible schedule that allows participants to maintain their daily responsibilities while receiving the necessary support. With a focus on personalized care, our experienced team helps individuals develop coping strategies and life skills essential for lasting recovery.
If you are unsure whether IOP or a different level of care fits your situation, a clinician can help you decide during a confidential assessment. Call (949) 807-2008 to talk it through.
Our Orange County IOP runs about 9 to 15 hours of treatment a week across several sessions, for an average of eight to twelve weeks. Each session combines process-focused group therapy, skills-based work, and individual sessions with a licensed therapist. Treatment draws on cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, motivational interviewing, and trauma-informed care, with relapse-prevention work throughout.
Length of stay is set by clinical progress, not a fixed calendar. Some clients complete the program in eight weeks; others stay longer or step down to a lighter outpatient schedule as they stabilize. The goal is a plan that matches where you actually are in recovery.
Recovery lasts longer when treatment addresses what drives the substance use, not only the use itself. Many adults entering our Orange County IOP are also carrying depression, anxiety, or the effects of trauma. Our clinical team builds those realities into your plan, and psychiatry with medication management is available as a coordinated part of care at Changes for clients who need it.
This matters locally. Orange County recorded 407 fentanyl-related deaths in 2024, and much of that harm reaches people whose mental health and substance use were never treated as one connected problem (Orange County Sheriff-Coroner, 2025).
The difference between PHP and IOP comes down to how many hours of structure you need each week. A partial hospitalization program is the more intensive option; IOP is the step down that lets you return to daily life sooner. The table below compares the two levels we offer.
Dimension | Partial Hospitalization (PHP) | Intensive Outpatient (IOP) |
Hours per week | About 20 to 30 | About 9 to 15 |
Days per week | 5 | Several |
Best for | Daily structure without overnight care | Working, studying, or stepping down from PHP |
Living arrangement | Home, full daytime treatment | Home, part-day treatment |
Typical duration | 2 to 4 weeks | 8 to 12 weeks |
Many clients begin in PHP and move into IOP as they stabilize. Others enter directly at the IOP level. A clinical assessment determines the right starting point.
Changes Treatment serves adults from across Orange County at our Costa Mesa facility on Bristol Street. Clients travel to our IOP from Costa Mesa, Newport Beach, Huntington Beach, Irvine, Santa Ana, Tustin, Anaheim, and the coastal and south county communities where the need for local outpatient care runs highest. Historically, cities along Orange County’s coastal and southern regions have shown higher rates of drug and alcohol-related hospitalization than other parts of the county (OC Health Care Agency).
Dedicated IOP pages for the Orange County communities we serve most are on the way. Each one covers directions, local context, and admissions details specific to that area, so you can find the information closest to home.
Most commercial insurance plans cover intensive outpatient treatment, usually with prior authorization. What you pay out of pocket depends on your specific plan’s deductible and coinsurance, which is why the fastest way to get a real answer is a benefits check rather than a quote. We verify your coverage on any major plan in about 15 minutes, free and confidential, and walk you through what it means before you commit to anything.
Getting started is straightforward: call us, or submit the insurance verification form, and a member of our team confirms your benefits and helps you schedule an assessment. Many clients can begin within a day or two.
Eric Chaghouri, MD, is the Medical Director at Changes Treatment Center and reviews the clinical content on this page. Dr. Chaghouri is a board-certified psychiatrist who specializes in addiction and forensic psychiatry.
Recovery starts with a single conversation. Call (949) 807-2008 or verify your benefits to begin.
Recovery is more than stopping a behavior, it’s about rediscovering who you are. At Changes, we provide a supportive space where individuals can rebuild confidence, gain clarity, and move forward with purpose through personalized care.
We focus on strengthening identity, encouraging presence, and supporting overall well-being. By addressing self-sabotage and fostering community, we help turn intention into lasting change, walking with you every step of the way.
Our licensed professionals bring years of expertise in addiction and mental health treatment.
We customize treatment for every client to ensure long term success.
From detox to aftercare, Changes walks with you every step of the way.
Our Costa Mesa location offers a calming, bright, and rejuvenating atmosphere.
A Simple Path to a New Beginning with Changes
We understand that taking the first step toward recovery can feel overwhelming. Our admissions process is designed to be simple, confidential, and stress-free.
Fast, confidential coverage check to help you understand your benefits and available treatment options.
Personalized support to guide you through the process and answer any questions with clarity and care.
Start your path to a brighter future with structured support, expert care, and a plan built around you.
Take a moment to answer these questions honestly.
There are no right or wrong answers.
This assessment is not a medical diagnosis, but it can help you determine whether alcohol may be having a greater impact on your life than you realize.
In the past 12 months…
Developed by Patrick Conod, LCSW, and Cari Lawyer, CATC I, on behalf of the Changes Treatment Center Clinical Leadership Team.
A Self-Assessment for Family Members and Friends
Watching someone you love change because of alcohol can be confusing and heartbreaking. You may find yourself questioning what you’re seeing, wondering if you’re overreacting, or hoping things will get better on their own.
This assessment is designed to help you reflect on the behaviors you’ve noticed. It isn’t a diagnosis, but it may help you determine whether it’s time to seek guidance or support.
In the past 12 months…
Developed by Patrick Conod, LCSW, and Cari Lawyer, CATC I, on behalf of the Changes Treatment Center Clinical Leadership Team.
When we are struggling with deep stress, anxious thoughts, or a low mood, it is incredibly natural to look for immediate relief. Sometimes, we turn to alcohol or other substances just to quiet our minds, get some sleep, or feel normal for a night.
This short self-assessment is designed to help you pause and look at how these two parts of your life might be influencing each other. It is entirely anonymous and takes less than two minutes.
It’s common for habits to slowly shift over time, especially during stressful seasons. Often, we find ourselves using a substance to cope, unwind, or get through the day, only to realize it is starting to take up more space in our routine, thoughts, or relationships than we’d like.
This quick, 10-question check-in is a quiet space to reflect honestly on how your use is impacting your life. It is entirely anonymous, completely free of clinical judgment, and takes less than two minutes.
We all experience days when we feel down, exhausted, or just completely unmotivated. But when those heavy feelings start lingering, it can be hard to tell if you’re just going through a rough patch or if it’s something more.
This quick, confidential check-in is designed to help you pause and reflect on how you’ve actually been feeling lately. It is completely anonymous, entirely non-judgmental, and takes less than two minutes.
Is your evening glass of wine a harmless habit, or is it starting to catch up with you? It’s not always easy to tell where “social drinking” ends and “too much” begins.
Take this quick, 2-minute quiz to check in on your relationship with alcohol and get clear, personalized insights.
