Intensive Outpatient Program in Denver
LGBTQIA+ Affirming Intensive Outpatient Program for Mental Health, Trauma, & Substance Use
Chroma’s Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) is one of two structured levels of care offered at our Denver treatment center. IOP is designed for people who are ready to re-engage with daily life while continuing to benefit from consistent clinical support. Whether you’re stepping down from our Partial Hospitalization Program or entering structured treatment for the first time, IOP provides a framework for stability—built around who you are and the experiences you bring with you.
Is IOP the Right Level of Care?
IOP is appropriate when you need more support than weekly therapy can provide, but don’t require the intensity of full-day programming. It works well for people who are ready to maintain or return to routines around work, school, or caregiving—while still needing structured daily support to do so safely.
IOP may be a good fit if you:
- Are stepping down from PHP after a period of more intensive treatment
- Are entering treatment at a moderate level of clinical need
- Have tried individual therapy and found you need more structure and community around you
- Are managing mental health symptoms, substance use, or both, and want coordinated care rather than fragmented services
If you’re in acute crisis or need around-the-clock support, our team can help you determine whether PHP or a higher level of care is a better starting point.
What Chroma's IOP Includes
Chroma’s IOP is built around one idea: every aspect of your treatment should work together. Each service listed below is interconnected and coordinated by our team as part of your individualized treatment plan.
- Group Therapy — Daily process groups, skills development, and psychoeducation in an LGBTQIA+-affirming environment
- Individual Therapy — One to two sessions per week with a licensed therapist, depending on your track
- Medication Management — Psychiatric oversight from a board-certified psychiatrist, integrated into your treatment team
- Case Management — Weekly support with care coordination, practical needs, and discharge planning
- Acupuncture — One 30-minute session per week through our Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) approach
- Somatic and Holistic Practices — Mindfulness, yoga, creative expression, and somatic work woven throughout the weekly schedule
- Chosen Family Therapy — Relational care that extends to the people who matter to you, beyond traditional family structures
Ready to Talk?
Questions are welcome. Our team is happy to walk you through what support at Chroma looks like. All inquiries are confidential.
Call 720-410-5569 or fill out our confidential consultation form today.
PHP vs. IOP: What's the Difference?
Both PHP and IOP are structured outpatient programs. The main difference is how many hours per week you’re in treatment.
Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) in Denver
PHP runs five days a week, six hours per day. It’s designed for people who need daily, full-day clinical support and close psychiatric monitoring to help stabilize what they’re going through. It’s often the right starting point when symptoms are more acute, or when someone is stepping down from inpatient care.
Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) in Denver
IOP runs three to five days per week, three hours per day. It provides real clinical structure while leaving room to maintain or rebuild routines around work, school, or daily life. For many people, it’s the next step after PHP—for others, it’s the right place to start.
At Chroma, PHP and IOP are part of the same continuum of care. Moving between them is based on your progress and what your treatment team recommends—not a fixed timeline.
Not sure where to start? That’s a normal place to be. A clinical assessment at intake helps figure out the right fit, and our team can walk you through that process before you make any decisions.
Example IOP Schedule
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
9:30 am-10:20 am | Mindfulness | Trauma-Informed Yoga | Healing The Nervous System | Trauma-Informed Yoga | Sound Healing |
10:30 am-11:20 am | Process Group | Process Group | Process Group | Process Group | Process Group |
11:30-12:20 | Skill Development | Somatic/Integrated Physiology | Healthy | Emotional | Applied Somatic |
*Please Note: This is a sample schedule. Actual programming may vary based on your individualized treatment plan and current groups offered.
LGBTQIA+-Specific Denver IOP
Chroma was built for the LGBTQIA+ community—not adapted for it. The clinical model, the groups you attend, the topics you work through, and the clinicians you work with are all shaped by that context from the ground up.
Treatment at our Denver center addresses LGBTQ+ experiences directly, including:
- Identity and self-concept
- Minority stress and discrimination
- Shame and internalized stigma
- Chosen family and community grief
- Substance use in LGBTQ+ contexts, including chemsex
Every clinician is trained in LGBTQIA+-affirming, trauma-informed care. You won’t need to explain your identity or provide context before getting to work. Chosen family sessions are also available for clients who want to include the people who matter most to them in their care.
Our Clinical Approach to IOP
Treatment at Chroma is integrative—meaning that talk therapy, somatic work, holistic practices, case management, and psychiatric care are coordinated into a single plan, individualized to each client.
Clinically, we draw on approaches that are well-researched and suited to the kinds of experiences LGBTQIA+ people often bring into treatment. These may include modalities like:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
- EMDR
- Somatic Experiencing
- Internal Family Systems (IFS)
Each of these addresses trauma, mood, and substance use from a different angle—and your treatment plan will reflect what’s actually relevant to you, not a fixed protocol.
Insurance and Payment
Chroma works with most major insurance plans. Intensive outpatient treatment is generally a covered behavioral health benefit, subject to authorization and plan specifics. Our team verifies insurance as part of intake so you have a clear picture of your costs before you begin.
Ready to understand your coverage? We can verify your benefits before your first day of treatment.
Explore Chroma Wellness Center
Your Healing Journey Starts Here
If you’re considering IOP—for yourself or someone you care about—we’re here to help you figure out whether Chroma is the right fit.
Call 720-410-5569 or fill out our confidential consultation form today.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How long is the average IOP program?
Most clients are in IOP for 8 to 12 weeks, though the timeline depends on how you’re doing and what you need. Some people may progress through treatment more quickly, especially if they’re stepping down from PHP with strong stabilization already in place. Others benefit from more time—especially when navigating trauma, dual diagnosis, or major life stressors. Your treatment team checks in on your progress throughout and adjusts your schedule as you grow more stable and ready to step down.
Are IOP programs covered by insurance?
In most cases, yes. IOP is typically covered as a behavioral health benefit. Chroma verifies coverage during intake so you know what to expect before starting treatment.
How much does IOP cost?
Without insurance, IOP typically costs between $3,000 and $10,000 for a full program. With insurance, many plans cover 60 to 100 percent of the cost for IOP when treatment is deemed medically necessary. Your actual costs depend on your specific plan and benefits. Our team can verify your insurance before you begin so there are no surprises.
Why is IOP sometimes expensive without insurance?
Structured treatment involves a full team working together on your behalf—licensed therapists, psychiatric care, case management, and holistic support, all coordinated around you. That level of personalized, daily clinical attention is what separates structured treatment from weekly therapy. If cost is a concern, our team can walk you through your options before you make any decisions.
Ready to Talk?
You don’t need to have everything figured out before reaching out. That’s part of why we’re here.
Call 720-410-5569 or fill out our confidential consultation form today.