What Clients Need Most After IOP and PHP Is Continued Support

Why Continuing Care Matters

For professionals supporting clients through Substance Use Disorder Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP) or Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHP), ensuring continuing care is one of the most critical factors in sustaining recovery and preventing relapse. Recovery isn’t a single milestone; it’s a lifelong process, much like managing chronic conditions such as diabetes or heart disease. Consistent engagement with supportive services is essential to keeping it in remission. 

At River’s Bend, we partner with physicians, therapists, attorneys, and crisis response teams to bridge the gaps between levels of care. Our structured, evidence-based services, ranging from IOP and OP to Early Recovery Groups, are designed to meet clients where they are and support long-term recovery from substance use and co-occurring disorders. 

“Discharge planning isn’t the finish line it’s the foundation for what comes next.”

Clients leaving IOP or PHP may feel better, but that doesn’t mean they’re ready to manage their recovery alone. In fact, the weeks following discharge can bring increased vulnerability, especially when:¹

• External stressors return (work, family, court/legal obligations)
• Motivation dips after structured treatment ends
• Accountability systems suddenly disappear

“Clients are most at risk not during care, but after care.”

Ongoing therapy, peer support groups, and psychiatric services can extend the effectiveness of IOP/PHP by reinforcing learned skills and offering a place to recalibrate when stress or setbacks arise.²

Continuing Care Services That Support Long-Term Recovery 

In a privately owned, community-focused practice like River’s Bend, care doesn’t stop when IOP or PHP ends. Instead of being routed into fragmented systems or generic outpatient services, individuals are supported by a continuum of care designed for stability, resilience, and personal growth. 

Here’s how we help clients and their professional support teams—navigate the next phase with confidence:

Individual Therapy

One-on-one sessions provide clients with a confidential space to process challenges, reinforce coping strategies, and develop a plan for ongoing progress. Sessions are tailored to fit the client’s clinical goals and life context, whether returning to work, family life, or legal responsibilities. 

Meet our team of dedicated therapists at both the Troy and Westbloomfield offices.

Early Recovery Groups

Designed for individuals who have recently completed IOP or are in the first stages of sobriety, Early Recovery Groups (ERG) provide a structured and supportive environment to address real-life recovery challenges. Participants gain:

• Peer support and accountability
• Coping skills for cravings, triggers, and emotional regulation
• Relapse prevention planning
• Help finding 12-Step sponsors and navigating early sobriety

ERG fosters resilience through education, structure, and connection—three pillars of sustainable recovery. ³

“My experience with River’s Bend was excellent. All of the staff were superb, from the front office to the back. The Nurse Practitioner was great, knowledgeable. What impressed me most was that everyone listened to you. I met a great group that was more like family, and we all benefited from our experience.”

– Client S. Harris

Driver’s Evaluations

For individuals with a history of substance use, medical conditions, or legal mandates, our Driver’s Evaluation service provides a comprehensive and compassionate assessment of cognitive, behavioral, and emotional readiness to drive. Evaluations include:

• Medical and psychological history review
• Substance use screening
• Decision-making and focus testing
• Personalized recommendations for DMV, legal, or clinical follow-up

These evaluations are often critical for clients re-entering daily life responsibilities and needing documentation for the court or state.

Lawyers & Judges Assistance Program 

The Lawyers & Judges Assistance Program (LJAP) track at River’s Bend provides discreet, professionally guided care for attorneys, judges, and legal professionals. Our program addresses mental health, substance use, burnout, and compliance requirements through:

• Confidential assessments
• Individual and group therapy
• Support navigating mandated recovery programs
• Stress management and career resilience skills
• Peer support among legal professionals

Legal professionals trust River’s Bend for clinical expertise, privacy, and understanding of the demands of their profession.

Health Professional Recovery Program

River’s Bend is a designated Health Professional Recovery Program (HPRP) provider, offering comprehensive care to licensed healthcare professionals in recovery. We support clients through the entire HPRP contract by providing:

• Substance use evaluations
• Group and individual therapy
• Psychiatric services and medication management
• Compliance documentation and monitoring
• Insurance-supported care, when the criteria are met

Our HPRP-approved clinicians understand the unique pressures of clinical work and are experienced in supporting nurses, doctors, and allied health professionals in returning to safe, balanced practice.

Psychiatric Services

Our psychiatric team offers diagnostic evaluations, ongoing medication management, and therapeutic collaboration for conditions including:

• Depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder
• ADHD and trauma
• Grief, postpartum challenges, and stress-related disorders

With board-certified psychiatrists and nurse practitioners on staff, we provide accessible, high-quality mental health care that complements therapeutic work and supports long-term emotional well-being.

“Follow-up care is where recovery becomes sustainable. And sustainable recovery needs structure, trust, and coordination.”

How Professional Partners Can Support Better Outcomes

We invite our professional partners to discover why partnering with River’s Bend is an excellent way to continue client care:

• Refer clients directly to our structured aftercare services
• Collaborate on discharge planning to ensure the next step is clear, timely, and personalized
• Connect with our team to build integrated recovery plans that support compliance, healing, and quality of life

If you’re a therapist, physician, attorney, or EAP provider supporting a client through transition, we’d love to coordinate care.

References

1. Pollack AH, Backonja U, Miller AD, Mishra SR, Khelifi M, Kendall L, Pratt W. Closing the Gap: Supporting Patients’ Transition to Self-Management after Hospitalization. Proc SIGCHI Conf Hum Factor Comput Syst. 2016 May;2016:5324-5336. https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/2858036.2858240  ↩︎
2. Smit, D., Miguel, C., Vrijsen, J. N., Groeneweg, B., Spijker, J., & Cuijpers, P. (2022). The effectiveness of peer support for individuals with mental illness: systematic review and meta-analysis. Psychological Medicine, 53(11), 5332–5341. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0033291722002422  ↩︎
3. Johnson, K., Strader, T., Berbaum, M., Bryant, D., Bucholtz, G., Collins, D., & Noe, T. (1996). Reducing alcohol and other drug use by strengthening community, family, and youth resiliency. Journal of Adolescent Research, 11(1), 36–67. https://doi.org/10.1177/0743554896111004 ↩︎