Changes Treatment Center
The outpatient program at Changes Treatment Center is our lowest-intensity level of care: flexible, part-time sessions that continue your recovery after PHP and IOP. As a standard outpatient program, it gives you ongoing clinical support, individual and group therapy, and relapse prevention while you live at home and return to a full schedule. We work with major insurance plans and verify benefits in about 15 minutes.
Reach out for confidential support, no pressure, no judgment. We’re here to help you take the next step.
OP stands for outpatient program, the lowest-intensity level of structured care. What is op treatment comes up a lot: it means a few hours of therapy a week while you live at home and keep a full schedule.
If you live in Southern California, yes. People searching for an outpatient program near me can attend Changes on Bristol Street in Costa Mesa. OP is for adults who are stable and want to maintain their recovery.
Hours. IOP runs 9 to 15 hours a week for people who still need structure; OP runs fewer hours for people who are stable and maintaining. Many clients step down from one to the other.
Not always. Most OP clients step down from a higher level, but some start at OP if a clinical assessment finds it is the right fit.
Most major plans do, usually with prior authorization. We verify your benefits for free in about 15 minutes.
An outpatient program is the lowest-intensity level of structured treatment: a few hours of therapy a week, built around a full return to work, school and family. People searching what is outpatient treatment or what is op treatment are usually asking how it differs from more intensive care, and the short answer is time. OP treatment asks for the fewest weekly hours of any level, because it is designed for people who are already stable and want to protect their recovery, not to manage a crisis.
At Changes, OP is where most clients land after stepping down through the continuum. It keeps you connected to a clinician and a group while you rebuild a normal routine.
OP combines individual therapy, group sessions and relapse-prevention work on a light weekly schedule set by your treatment plan. Individual therapy gives you focused time with a clinician on whatever is testing your recovery now. Group sessions keep the peer support and accountability going. A relapse prevention program runs through all of it: spotting your own warning signs, planning for high-risk situations, and having a response ready for cravings.
People often ask how does outpatient rehab work at this level. Because the hours are light, the work shifts from daily structure to maintaining what you built in PHP or IOP, applying it in real life, and bringing real situations back into session. Medication management continues when it helps.
OP is the right level for adults who are stable and ready for a lighter touch. Most people here fall into one of two groups:
An outpatient program for addiction works best when your home life supports recovery between sessions. If you need more structure than OP offers, our clinical team will say so during your assessment and point you to the right level.
Changes offer a full continuum, and OP is the final structured step before independent recovery. The continuum of care in addiction treatment usually runs detox, then residential, then PHP, then IOP, then OP, then aftercare, with people entering at the level that matches their needs.
The difference is hours and intensity. IOP runs 9 to 15 hours a week for people who still need substantial structure. OP runs fewer hours, for people who are stable and maintaining. Many clients move from one to the other as they progress.
IOP | OP | |
Weekly hours | 9 to 15 hours | A few hours |
Best for | Still needs structure; stepping down from PHP | Stable; maintaining recovery |
Lives at home | Yes | Yes |
Role | Mid-level care | Lowest-intensity, step-down and maintenance |
OP uses the same evidence-based therapies as our higher levels, applied at a maintenance pace: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Motivational Interviewing, trauma-informed care and relapse prevention. Mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression and trauma are treated alongside substance use, not separately.
See all therapies, plus recovery coaching and aftercare and support groups.
We work with major insurance plans, and most cover outpatient treatment, usually with prior authorization. We check your exact benefits for free in about 15 minutes and tell you what is covered and what you would pay before you decide anything. Private pay is available if you do not have coverage that works. See insurance and payment options.
For many clients, OP and aftercare work toward the same thing: protecting recovery over the long term. OP is the last structured level, and when it ends you move into continuing support. If you are searching for an aftercare outpatient program costa mesa residents can rely on, this is where OP hands off to our aftercare and support groups, which keep you connected through groups and ongoing check-ins.
Changes Treatment Center runs its outpatient program at 2787 Bristol Street, Costa Mesa, CA 92626, certified by the California Department of Health Care Services. Because OP is outpatient, clients attend from across Orange County, including Newport Beach, Irvine, Santa Ana, Huntington Beach, Fountain Valley and Tustin. Insurance verification takes about 15 minutes, and most clients can begin within a few days.
Start outpatient care with a confidential call. Verify your insurance in about 15 minutes and our team will build a plan around your schedule. Call (949) 807-2008 or verify your insurance online.
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 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.
