Dr. Tim O’Connor, MD
Psychiatrist
Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) for Substance Use in Raleigh
In-Network with Insurance
Treats Substance Use and Mental Health
Monday-Friday
Morning and Evening Offerings
Our Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) for Substance Use is a designed for both mental health and substance use struggles.
We bring together an expert team of psychiatrists and therapists that are trained in both mental health and addiction.
Beyond our IOP in Raleigh, We offer integrated mental health services across our Raleigh, Chapel Hill, and Cary locations. That means you can access different types of support—like psychiatry, therapy, and higher levels of care—within one connected system.
What is Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)?
An Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) is a level of care for people who need more support than weekly therapy and medication, but don’t need inpatient care or a Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) for substance use.
IOPs can have different areas of focus. While this program is designed to address substance use and recovery, we also offer a Mental Health IOP in Raleigh for individuals whose primary needs are related to mental health.
IOP provides structured treatment while you continue to live at home and stay connected to work, school, or family life.
Although this IOP focuses on substance use, our model of care looks at the full picture of someone’s wellbeing. Treatment emphasizes consistency, skill-building, and real-world application, with attention to the mental health factors that often overlap with substance use.
Who is IOP Ideal For?
An Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) is often a good fit when substance use has started to create clear problems, but someone is still able to live at home and doesn’t yet require something like an inpatient hospitalization.
IOP is a Fit When:
- A DUI, legal charges, or court involvement related to substance use
- Problems at work or school, such as write-ups, missed days, declining performance, or warnings
- Ongoing conflict with family, partners, or friends tied to substance use
- Repeated attempts to cut back or stop that haven’t lasted
- Using substances to cope with stress, anxiety, depression, or sleep
- Increased use after a period of stability or relapse following prior treatment
- Feeling “functional” on the outside but noticing things are slipping internally
IOP provides regular structure, accountability, and clinical support while allowing you to stay engaged in daily life and practice what you are learning. It’s often used when consequences are starting to add up and doing nothing—or doing very little—no longer feels like an option.
If it’s unclear whether IOP is the right next step, a clinical assessment can help look at what’s been happening and determine the most appropriate level of care.
What Makes AIM’s IOP Different?
Many IOPs focus mainly on group therapy. At AIM, our IOP is built to be more integrated and more personal.
Care is led by full-time therapists trained in both mental health and addiction, supported by in-house psychiatrists and medication providers who are part of the same care team. This allows for longer, more thoughtful medication visits and real collaboration between your therapist and prescriber throughout treatment.
Psychiatrists also co-lead select groups, giving you more access to their support, and family therapy is included to help strengthen the support system around you. With most major insurance plans accepted, this level of care is more accessible with less financial stress.
What Makes AIM’s IOP Unique:Â
- Monday-Friday with Morning and Evening Options
- Therapists trained in both mental health and addictionÂ
- In-house psychiatrists and prescribersÂ
- Longer, more collaborative medication sessionsÂ
- Psychiatrists co-lead group therapy for added supportÂ
- Team-based model with coordinated careÂ
- Family therapy includedÂ
- In-network with most major insurance plansÂ
What Do We Treat—and How?
Mental health and substance use issues often show up together, so we built a system that treats both. Whether you’re struggling with anxiety, depression, trauma, or something more complex, our team is equipped to support your full experience—not just one piece of it.Â
Conditions We Treat in IOP Include:Â
- Bipolar DisorderÂ
- OCDÂ
- Grief and LossÂ
- Borderline Personality DisorderÂ
- And moreÂ
We don’t just talk about what’s going wrong—we help you build what’s next. Our IOP uses evidence-based therapies and coordinated care to help you gain clarity, develop coping skills, and make meaningful progress.Â
Evidenced-Based Care We Use:
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Â
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Â
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Â
- Community Reinforcement Approach and Family Training (CRAFT)Â
- Family TherapyÂ
- Addiction Medicine
- Psychiatry and Medication ManagementÂ
- Health Education and CoachingÂ
What To Expect In Our Raleigh Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)?
You can expect a care team that takes the time to truly understand your needs. Your psychiatrist, therapist, family therapist, and case manager work together to build a plan that’s specific to you.
You can also expect care that’s grounded in evidence and informed by the latest research, designed to work in the real world rather than just in a treatment setting.
Whether you attend morning or evening sessions, the focus is on skills you can actually use in daily life. You’ll practice what you’re learning outside of sessions, then return to refine and adjust those tools with support from your team.
Throughout the process, you won’t be navigating this alone. Your care team stays with you from your first days in IOP through completion and beyond, helping support progress as you move forward.
What Next?
If you think IOP might be a good fit, the first step is easy. We start with a short assessment to understand your goals and match you to the right level of care. This can be done by phone, in person, or over video—whatever’s most comfortable for you.Â
From there, we’ll help you figure out what makes the most sense based on your needs, schedule, and preferences. You don’t have to know everything right now—we’re here to guide you through it. No pressure.Â
Call us, complete a New Patient Form, or send us an email. We’ll be ready when you are.Â
Lindsay Hildreth, PA-C, CAQ-Psychiatry
Psychiatric Physician Assistant
Elizabeth Morgan, PA-C
Psychiatric Physician Assistant
Madeline Hooper, MSW, LCSW
Clinical Therapist
Our Team
At the core of AIM is our dedicated team, focused on fostering an environment where optimal wellbeing is achievable.
Driven by a vision of accessible, compassionate healthcare, our diverse professionals bring unique expertise and insights to enhance our mission. We believe in the power of connection and collaborative care.
From clinical experts to supportive staff, every team member contributes to creating a nurturing environment that promotes growth, healing, and comprehensive wellbeing.