NEW Intensive Outpatient Program
Our clients can now join us for evening IOP on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm. Led by esteemed professionals, our evening substance use and mental health IOP program promises a supportive and transformative environment and experience.
Group Facilitators
Dr. José Calderón-Abbo is the Medical Director at Imagine Recovery. Board-certified in psychiatry, addiction, and mind-body medicine, he oversees patient care and conducts mind-body skills groups. As Chief Medical Officer for Behavioral Health at Optum/United Health Care, Louisiana, Dr. Calderón focuses on behavioral health strategy, service expansion, and health equity. He also serves as an Associate Professor at LSU School of Medicine and senior faculty at the Center for Mind-Body Medicine. His interests include the behavioral health impact of climate change, addiction recovery, and healthcare disparities. Born in México City and an honors graduate from the National Autonomous University of México, Dr. Calderón lives in New Orleans with his family.
August Boyd, LCSW-BACS is the Clinical Director of Imagine Recovery. She has developed comprehensive therapeutic curricula for our Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP), Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) and Outpatient DBT Skills Program (OP). She provides individual, group, and family therapy, as well as psychosocial and diagnostic assessments. August is extensively trained in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy and is a certified Mind-Body Medicine practitioner, leading weekly mind-body medicine skills groups. Her practice is built on a deep love for community and positive regard for all individuals. She is also a published author and advocate for mental health reform to enhance the quality, outcomes, and accessibility of behavioral health services.
Brian Hirsius, LPC grew up in Metairie, Louisiana, and has proudly called New Orleans home for the last fourteen years. He earned a B.A. in Addiction Counseling and an M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from The University of Holy Cross in 2017. Brian brings a wealth of experience to Imagine Recovery, not only through his education but also through his personal journey of recovery.
Russ Rhodes, LPC began working with individuals struggling with substance misuse while employed by the Division of Children and Family Services in 2012. It became apparent that drugs and alcohol were the primary factors that disrupted families in his work. After 3 years in this field, he decided he wanted to become a therapist.
Service to others is important to Russ. He has a deeply spiritual outlook, and this shows itself in his belief in others. “I consider myself a cheerleader of the human spirit. I believe that it is never too late to begin one’s healing journey, and that there is no work more worthy or sacred.” Russ has a robust mindfulness meditation practice which has been strongly informed by DBT.
Russ is originally from a small town in Oklahoma and moved to Baton Rouge as a teenager. He moved to New Orleans in 2016 and has loved it here ever since. He received a BA in Psychology from the University of Arkansas, and a Masters of Science from Southeastern Louisiana University. Russ uses a mixture of modalities such as DBT, Person Centered Counseling, and Existential Counseling.
Our late afternoon/early evening Intensive Outpatient Program provides comprehensive support, insightful therapy, and pathways toward lasting healing. When seeking guidance, community, and tools for recovery, our evening IOP program delivers a holistic approach tailored to the client’s needs.
Each client receives individual therapy weekly with a licensed clinician.
Join us as we embark on this empowering journey. Schedule an assessment and tour today by contacting us at (504) 605-4095.
Imagine Recovery is highly skilled in treating substance misuse, addiction and mental health in a way that makes sobriety and mental wellness a permanent way of life. We provide multiple types of creative therapeutic approaches; each is proven to help people get back on a healthy path and enjoy life again.
Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)
Now day and evening!
Imagine Recovery’s IOP is 10 hours a week for 10 weeks. It consists of nine hours of group therapy and one individual therapy session weekly. The program is designed to serve adults 18 and older seeking recovery from substance misuse, substance use disorders, and co-occurring mental health conditions.
Our clinical team consists of 7 licensed clinicians (licensed social workers, professional counselors, addiction counselors) and 3 addiction medicine psychiatrists. Our clinical staff is highly experienced in treating substance misuse and other mental health disorders including depression, anxiety, and personality disorders, self-harm behaviors, bipolar disorder, ADHD, PTSD, and trauma-related conditions.
We now offer 2 choices for IOP, a day program and late afternoon/evening program.
- Day IOP groups are held Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 10:00am-1:00pm.
- Evening IOP groups are held Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 4:00-7:00pm.
Each client is assigned a primary therapist upon admission and receives one individual therapy session weekly.
Imagine Recovery Intensive Outpatient Program Services Provided
- Group therapy three times per week, three hours per session. One 3-hour group per week is dedicated to Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) skills learning
- Weekly individual therapy sessions
- Family education and therapy sessions
- Psychoeducation on substance misuse, addiction, and mental health
- Tremendous caring and support from our staff and the Imagine community of clients and alumni
Additionally, Imagine Recovery provides clients with an introduction to the 12-Step program developed by Alcoholics Anonymous. It is our belief attendance and participation in 12-Step programming offer our clients the opportunity to join a worldwide recovery community. As well, it allows them to continue their growth post-treatment and enjoy support long after leaving our care. Clients will also learn about alternative recovery options such as SMART Recovery, Recovery Dharma and Celebrate Recovery.
Types of IOP groups:
Psychoeducation
Psychoeducation groups address the neuroscience of addiction and co-occurring mental health issues. Through education and support, clients practice new behavioral skills in a safe environment.
Recovery Skills
We understand the challenges of staying sober. In early recovery, clients frequently experience triggers and may often feel intense cravings to use drugs or alcohol. This happens despite their motivation to abstain from alcohol and other substances. Clients learn basic recovery skills that prevent relapse, and make sobriety more enjoyable.
Process Groups
Self-love, acceptance, healthy relationships, and wellness are essential to a fulfilling life. For that reason, we teach clients positive coping skills. They learn to accept and experience feelings and develop self-esteem and emotional maturity. Additionally, they learn to identify personal strengths, set boundaries, and establish better communication skills.
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
One 3-hour group per week is dedicated to DBT skills. These skills are incredibly important in achieving mental health wellness and long-term recovery.
Emotion Regulation: This helps a person process and understand their emotions. One learns skills so they won’t feel out of control when emotional situations arise.
Mindfulness: Practicing mindfulness skills makes a person experience each moment and event as it happens. Therefore, each moment in life takes on a deeper meaning.
Distress Tolerance: These skills enable people to handle stressful events. They accept reality, rather than fight it. Then, they can apply healthy coping skills that allow them to deal with what’s happening.
Interpersonal Effectiveness: People learn to be effective in interpersonal interactions with others. They practice achieving their goals without alienating the other person. This helps with current relationships and building new ones.
Music Therapy
Music therapy is used within a therapeutic relationship to address the physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs of people.
Qualified music therapists assess the needs and strengths of each client. From there, they can provide relevant treatment through creating, moving to, and listening to music. As a matter of fact, music therapy can help people of all ages and abilities.
It can be beneficial for those who deal with:
- Mental disorders/emotional distress
- Addiction to drugs or alcohol
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Grief and loss
- Traumatic brain injury
- Alzheimer’s disease/Dementia
- Terminal illness
- Chronic pain
- Autism Spectrum disorder
- Down Syndrome
- ADD/ADHD
- Developmental disabilities
- Sensory impairments
Nutrition
Consistent good nutrition makes a huge difference in anyone’s life. It proves especially important for those in recovery from substance use disorders and mental health challenges. Many people ignore their basic nutritional needs when struggling with substance misuse and other mental health issues. Often, they suffer problems related to their physical health and sleep. Learning to eat healthy again and take good care of themselves physiologically helps individuals focus on all aspects of their recovery and overall wellness.
