Outpatient Addiction Treatment

Outpatient Treatment for Addiction and Mental Health in Los Angeles

Outpatient treatment allows people to receive structured addiction or mental health care while continuing to live at home. For many people in Los Angeles, outpatient programs are the most practical option — they make it possible to keep working, stay connected to family, and build recovery skills within the same daily environment you will live in long-term.

AM Health Care operates outpatient programs across the Los Angeles area, including Partial Hospitalization (PHP) and Intensive Outpatient (IOP) tracks for adults with substance use disorders, mental health conditions, and co-occurring diagnoses.

Levels of Outpatient Care

Not all outpatient programs are the same. The term “outpatient” covers a spectrum of intensity, from once-weekly counseling to full-day structured programs. At AM Health Care, we offer two primary outpatient levels of care:

Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP)

A partial hospitalization program is the most intensive level of outpatient care. PHP typically runs five to seven days a week with six or more hours of structured programming per day. It is designed for people who need a high level of clinical support but do not require 24-hour residential care.

PHP includes daily individual therapy, group therapy, psychiatric assessment and medication management, skills groups, and case management. People in PHP return to their home or a sober living environment in the evenings.

PHP is appropriate for people who:

• Are stepping down from residential or inpatient care
• Have a stable, supportive living environment
• Need intensive structure but can manage evenings independently
• Are managing significant mental health symptoms alongside substance use

Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)

An intensive outpatient program provides structured treatment three to five days per week, typically three hours per session. IOP is more flexible than PHP and allows people to maintain employment, schooling, or family responsibilities during treatment.

IOP is appropriate for people who:

• Are stepping down from PHP
• Need structured support while managing daily responsibilities
• Have a relatively stable home environment
• Are early in recovery but have completed detox or a higher level of initial care

What Outpatient Treatment Addresses

Our Los Angeles outpatient programs treat adults with a range of conditions, including:

• Alcohol use disorder
• Opioid use disorder (including prescription opioids, heroin, and fentanyl)
• Stimulant use disorder (methamphetamine, cocaine)
• Benzodiazepine and sedative dependence
• Cannabis use disorder
• Depression, anxiety, and mood disorders
• PTSD and trauma-related conditions
• Dual diagnosis — co-occurring substance use and mental health conditions

What to Expect in an Outpatient Program

Outpatient treatment at AM Health Care is not a single group session per week. Our programs are structured, clinical, and team-based. A typical week in PHP or IOP may include:

• Individual therapy sessions with your primary therapist
• Group therapy covering topics such as relapse prevention, coping skills, emotion regulation, and trauma
• Psychiatric evaluation and medication management (if appropriate)
• Family therapy or family education sessions
• Case management to address housing, employment, and aftercare planning
• Drug testing as part of accountability and monitoring

Our clinical team includes licensed therapists, psychiatrists, case managers, and certified substance use counselors who coordinate your care across all program components.

Is Outpatient Treatment Right for You?

Outpatient treatment is effective for many people — but it is not the right fit for everyone. People who may need a higher level of care, such as residential treatment, include those who:

• Require medically supervised detox
• Have an unstable or unsafe living environment
• Have tried outpatient treatment previously without success
• Are at high risk of overdose or self-harm
• Need 24-hour monitoring and support

Our admissions team will conduct a thorough clinical assessment to help determine the appropriate level of care. If outpatient is not the right starting point, we will say so and help you find the appropriate next step.

Insurance Coverage for Outpatient Treatment in Los Angeles

Under the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA), most insurance plans are required to cover addiction and mental health treatment — including PHP and IOP — at parity with other medical conditions. California state law provides additional protections.

AM Health Care is in-network with many major insurance providers. To find out what your plan covers, use our insurance verification form or call our admissions team. We will check your benefits directly and walk you through any out-of-pocket costs before you commit to a program.