Choosing the right level of care for anxiety, OCD, or related concerns can feel overwhelming. You want a treatment plan that offers the support you need while allowing for as much independent functioning as possible. At Light On Anxiety, we believe in applying the least restrictive treatment approach that still enables meaningful progress and long-term success.
So how do you determine whether Traditional Outpatient, Intensive Therapy, a more structured IOP or PHP program, or residential is the right fit? This guide will walk you through key factors to consider, including a self-assessment to help you determine the level of care that best meets your needs.
Understanding the Levels of Care
1. Outpatient CBT (Once-Weekly Therapy)
- Best for: Individuals experiencing anxiety, OCD, or related symptoms but who can function independently in daily life (e.g., attending school or work, maintaining relationships, and managing responsibilities).
- Signs this may be enough: You can push through discomfort and engage in your daily routine, even if it’s challenging. You are willing to practice exposures and other CBT techniques between sessions and feel confident in your ability to gradually apply these tools on your own.
2. Intensive Therapy (2-5 Sessions a Week)
- Best for: Those who are struggling with daily function due to anxiety or OCD but are still able to attend school or work with difficulty.
- How it helps: Intensive Therapy allows for a more focused and structured approach than weekly therapy, providing multiple sessions per week and in-the-moment support. This can be beneficial for individuals who feel stuck or are experiencing a moderate to severe impact on their functioning but don’t need to step away from life completely.
- Who benefits most:
- Students who can physically get to school or adults who can white knuckle their way through their work day but struggle significantly with anxiety (e.g., excessive distress, avoidance, difficulty focusing).
- Individuals experiencing strong compulsions, intrusive thoughts, or panic attacks that interfere with functioning but who can still engage in daily life with support.
- Those who have tried weekly therapy but feel they need more frequent, structured interventions to break through avoidance patterns.
3. Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) or Partial Hospitalization (PHP)
- Best for: Individuals whose symptoms are so severe that they cannot function independently—for example, a student who is unable to attend school at all or an adult who cannot complete basic daily tasks due to anxiety, OCD, or panic.
- How it helps: These programs provide several hours of therapy per day, multiple days per week, offering a structured environment to engage in high-frequency CBT and exposure therapy.
- Who benefits most:
- Those who are fully avoiding school, work, or social situations due to anxiety.
- Individuals experiencing severe compulsions, distress, or panic attacks that make independent functioning extremely difficult.
- Those who need a structured, immersive treatment plan to reintroduce daily functioning gradually.
4. Residential or Inpatient Care
- Best for: Individuals experiencing severe functional impairment, high-risk behaviors, or safety concerns, such as suicidal ideation or self-harm, where a safe, structured environment is needed.
- Signs this may be necessary:
- Significant risk of harm to self or others.
- Complete withdrawal from life due to anxiety or OCD.
- Needing 24/7 monitoring to stabilize mental health before stepping down to an IOP or PHP level of care.
Self-Assessment: What Level of Care is Right for You?
Take this 3-question quiz to determine which treatment option best fits your needs.
Final Thoughts: Making the Right Choice
The goal of treatment is to provide the right level of support without unnecessary restriction—allowing you to build independence while ensuring you have the care needed to succeed.
If you are struggling but still attending school or work, IOT at Light On Anxiety could be the ideal step-up from weekly therapy.
If you are no longer able to function in daily life, IOP or PHP may offer the immersive, high-frequency treatment needed to regain stability.
If you feel unsafe or at risk, inpatient care is essential to ensure stabilization before stepping into structured therapy.
If you’re unsure where you fit, reach out to Light On Anxiety for treatment planning and clinical care coordination services and we’ll help guide you toward the best path forward. You don’t have to stay stuck—there is a treatment approach that will meet you where you are and help you take the next step toward recovery.
