Mega Doctor News
Living a full and productive life depends on more than prioritizing one’s physical health. Mental health impacts so many parts of our lives, including emotional, psychological and social wellbeing, which ultimately affects how we feel, think and act.
With the immense impact mental health has on our lives, poor mental health can result in the onset of mental illnesses like anxiety and depression, two of the most common conditions worldwide.
In the United States, it’s estimated that more than one in five adults lives with a mental illness, per the National Institute of Mental Health, with one in 20 Americans suffering from a severe mental disorder.
When it comes to access to mental health services, counseling and therapy are among the most common.
While many patients require treatment in an inpatient setting, there are individuals with mental health conditions who can be effectively treated in an outpatient setting.
For a select number of patients, the same treatment goals in an inpatient setting can be achieved via an intensive outpatient program (IOP), a structured and concentrated action plan that allows a patient to remain at home and attend work or school while receiving care for mental health or substance use challenges.
“Intensive outpatient programs are flexible and provide the tools, support and encouragement patients need to build a solid foundation to base their recovery,” says Leticia Sosa, MSSW, LCSW, LCDC-I, CLYL, Director of Outpatient Services, South Texas Health System Behavioral. “The programs entail individualized treatment plans that can helpfoster resilience, enable better responses to challenges and help patients maintain balance in their daily lives.”
In its commitment to providing Rio Grande Valley residents with comprehensive mental health services to meet their diverse needs, STHS Behavioral has created the STHS Behavioral Intensive Outpatient Program to provide the treatment tools and techniques necessary to help patients work through emotional, behavioral and psychological issues without requiring them to stay in the hospital.
“We’re dedicated to providing inpatient and outpatient options for individuals requiring mental and behavioral health services in the Rio Grande Valley. Through the STHS Intensive Outpatient Program, patients can receive quality, compassionate care in the least restrictive and most effective manner possible,” says Jessica Becker, Chief Executive Officer, STHS Behavioral. “The goal of our IOP is to help patients rediscover their well-being without pausing their lives; they basically have the flexibility to maintain their regular work or school schedule while going through phases of their tailored treatment plans.”
Typically involving a combination of individual and group therapy and medication management, the STHS Behavioral IOP will provide patients with effective treatment through plans that factor in an individual’s unique needs, risks, strengths, support structure and recovery goals.
Available to adult and adolescent patients, the IOP program features individualized care plans designed to help them achieve positive results. During their twice-a-week sessions, patients will discuss topics including coping with depression and anxiety, stress and anger management, communication and socialization skills, relaxation skills and more.
To celebrate the launch and integration of this new program, STHS Behavioral will host a special ribbon cutting ceremony that will feature the participation of STHS Behavioral leaders and IOP staff members, as well as testimonials from patients that have benefitted from the IOP program.
Taking place on Wednesday, May 7, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., the ceremony will be held at STHS Behavioral and include a tour of the IOP department that will allow attendees to learn more about the different treatment methods designed to help patients achieve their mental health goals.
For more information or to RSVP, contact the STHS Marketing Department at 956-388-2020 or via email at STHSMarketing@uhsinc.com.
For more information on the STHS Behavioral Intensive Outpatient Program, visit STHSBehavioral.com.
| Who: | South Texas Health System Behavioral |
| What: | STHS Behavioral Intensive Outpatient Program Launch & Ribbon Cutting Ceremony |
| When: | Wednesday, May 7, 2025, from 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. |
| Where: | South Texas Health System Behavioral2101 W. Trenton Rd. Edinburg, TX 78539 |
