Online Intensive Outpatient Treatment for Substance Use in North Dakota and Minnesota
Insurance is accepted through Sanford (ND and MN) and Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota. ND Medicaid is also accepted.
What is Intensive Outpatient Treatment (the level 2.1 program )?
Level 2.1, Intensive Outpatient Treatment (IOP) is a recovery program designed for people who want and need more frequent support throughout their week but do not need to live in a facility to maintain recovery and safety. It typically includes 9 hours a week of therapy services including groups, individual counseling, and family therapy sessions, if the family wants to be involved.
The program allows you to continue working and building your healing lifestyle while getting professional support nearly every other day.
My program runs 9 hours per week, is delivered online and includes group sessions, individual sessions, and family support.
The Schedule:
The program takes 12-weeks with an option for continuing at a lower level (level 1), if desired.
❋ One individual session weekly on Wednesday or Thursday or a day that works around your schedule
❋ Wednesday 6–8pm for group
❋ Saturday & Sunday 5–8pm for group
❋ Thursday 5–6:30pm (family group) for family members looking to learn more and receive their own support
Families are encouraged to come to this group with you to help support healthy relationships and rebuild bridges of love between you and your spouse, parent, and/or adult children.
You're struggling with substance use and have additional struggles including emotional overwhelm, difficulties maintaining mental wellness and/or relationships that you want to improve while healing yourself
You've tried therapy or treatment before and it wasn't enough
You've been referred by another therapist and you're trying to figure out who to work with
You want a judgment-free zone, somewhere you have the freedom to be honest about where you are and how you feel
You are looking for a harm reduction program that does not expect and demand sobriety to qualify for support
This program is for you if:
If any of this sounds like you, you're in the right place.
If You've Already Tried Treatment Before and It Didn't Work
If you've been through therapy before and it didn't work, or you've done intensive outpatient treatment before and it worked for a while then it didn't, or you had such a bad experience that you swore you wouldn't do it again, you're not alone in that. And it makes sense that you might feel cautious about signing up, or that you want to know whether this is actually going to work.
I know some programs feel judgmental, rigid, or like they were built for someone else entirely. And that some therapists might not have understood what you were going through or given you the support you needed. You might have been in spaces that pushed a specific idea of what recovery had to look like.
That's not what this is.
My Approach to Therapy
I approach therapy with a very “meet you where you are” and “sitting with you in the darkness” where I don’t just support your change journey, I also help you feel validated in the struggles you’re having when you do try to make change and why it sometimes feels like you’re stuck in the in-between. I remind you of the strengths and gifts you have already and how that can help you even more with recovery. If you slip, I’m not here to judge or make you feel like a failure. In fact, one of my favorite activities as a therapist is finding the small wins such as awareness, effort, and attempts that show you tried. The shift from a “fuck it” moment turned into a “I don’t really want to use” is worth celebrating for weeks!
My best suggestion is give me a call and hear and feel the energy of me in conversation. Then you’ll know whether I’m the right fit or not :)
What makes this different from normal therapy or treatment
Weekly therapy is one person, one hour, once a week. And sometimes that's exactly what's needed. But sometimes it isn't, and if you've been showing up week after week and nothing's shifting, it just means you might need more.
What Intensive Outpatient Treatment Actually Offers You
More frequency
Enough consistent contact to actually build momentum
Group support
Where you are around people who understand exactly what you’re going through
Flexibility
If being in a group doesn’t align with you, we can do more individual sessions
We go beyond triggers and cravings
My holistic approach means we do not keep talking about triggers and cravings. We release the energy of cravings, addiction, and attachment to a substance within the body and then replace it with healthier options, mind-body-spirit.
I don’t ask you to be 100% sober on the first day
If you don’t want to be, I help you find alternative tools that, if you use them, will let your mind know there’s something else available and you have a choice. Choice is the key to changing anything.
What to Expect, From First Contact to the Last Session
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The first step is reaching out to schedule the evaluation. The first call can be where you ask questions and get to know me, I encourage you to trust your first impression :) You can call, text, or email me. If I’m not available right away for a call, I’ll call back as soon as I can. All methods of contact I try to get back to you within 24 hours.
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The intake process starts with getting your name, date of birth and email so I can send the electronic paperwork through my EHR system. If paper is better, I can send them by mail. We meet just you and I first, to go through the basics of what groups are like and ensure we are a good fit and the program is what you want/need :) If you’ve already done an evaluation with another provider, this onboarding call will make sure all questions are answered and you are comfortable to move forward.
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The program is 9 hours a week total with 1- 2 hour group, 2 3 hour groups and an individual session each week to dive deeper into your specific private topics. There is also a family session that is not required but highly encouraged if you have a spouse or parent or adult child that is willing to attend to improve the relationship.
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Individual sessions with me are very fluid and change depending on your needs that day/week. They are based on what you feel would help you and who you are as an individual. Sometimes people want to vent about all their triggering moments in the week, others want guidance on problem solving something specific. Others, enjoy the collective meditation and shared peaceful hour.
Group is more structured and I take you through a journey of self awareness and growth. I have videos, discussion topics, journal prompts, and presentations that I share to teach, guide, and support you in the growth recovery journey. During groups, you see everyone’s faces and have a virtual “face to face” with moments of me sharing my screen for a presentation or video. I do not expect and require you to talk or share, however I find a group of 5-10 usually supports the most comfortable space and sharing so I do not typically have more than 8-10 in a group. When we do energy healing practices, we sit quietly while I verbally guide you through your healing and we reflect on the experience afterwards. There is no rush or hurried feeling when it comes to group. It is very laid back and slow pace to ensure integration and a positive experience. We learn and heal only when we feel safe, so safety is the primary goal for group.
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The last week of the program talks a lot about “what’s next” and helps you decide on the plan you feel will work best for you. I generally recommend folks to step down into level 1 where you still get weekly support (individual or group or both) that way you slowly decrease the structure and support to prevent destabilization to your progress. Level 1 is very flexible so if needed you can do extra crisis sessions for a particularly difficult week, or step down to once a month when things are feeling very stable for you. I have clients that I see 2 times a year just to check in and celebrate the wins of sobriety. It is really up to you what you feel is best for you. I am the expert at helping you be the expert for your life.
What We Cover
Inside the program, here's what we cover:
❋ Mindfulness
❋ Harm reduction
❋ Family sessions
❋ Group sessions, processing alongside people who understand
❋ Emotional regulation
❋ Energy-based modalities
❋ Somatic and body-based practices
❋ Each week has a general topic and each day of that week we cover something new about that topic
❋ Trauma-informed approaches
❋ Individual sessions
❋ Coping tools and strategies you can use outside of sessions
❋ Topics include Chakras and energy healing (week 8), Saboteurs/Sage (week 4), Inner Family=inner Peace (week 10) and Discernment and Self-Respect (Week 2).
But what I cover is only part of it. Here's how the program itself is built differently:
It’s judgment-free, religion-free program
This is a non-religious spiritual program. Meaning it leans into quantum physics and energy healing that eastern medicine has used for thousands of years to find wholeness and healing in body-mind-spirit.
There’s a holistic approach that goes deeper
Holistic approach means we look at the whole person when healing and go beyond traditional therapy (or aka talk therapy)
100% online with after-hours and weekend sessions
All sessions happen online, from wherever you are, on a schedule that works around your life and schedule. The only requirement is confidentiality and privacy :)
If Group Therapy Makes You Feel Anxious
You might find the idea of sitting in a virtual room with strangers and talking about something personal, very uncomfortable. If you have any social anxiety, or if you've never really been good at opening up with people you don't know, that discomfort makes complete sense.
There are typically 3 reasons why sometimes people don’t like group programs
They are introverts
And they don’t enjoy being in large groups. If you relate with that then we can stick with individual sessions and honor your preferences.
The previous therapist/leader was not actively protective
They have been in groups where the therapist/leader was not actively protective in the group and bullying were not addressed so the dynamics became hostile or uncomfortable. Which is why I establish safety from the very beginning and do not tolerate any comments or vibes that are hurtful in the healing space.
They haven’t experienced a safe space
A space where the conversations are about growth and healing and celebrating your gifts, together. My approach is very strengths and positive focused. We celebrate the wins and focus on where you’re going and the growth you’re practicing
If there’s additional reasons beyond that, please feel free to share with me so we can find what works best for you. I am heavy on honoring you, your choices, and you being the expert in your life. You know what works for you, I am here to support you in that journey.
Get Support Without Rearranging Your Life to Do It
Every session takes place online. Because sessions are available after hours and on weekends, you can still go to work. You can still be there for your family. You can still show up to the parts of your life that matter and get real, structured support around all of it. This is not a program that asks you to put your life on hold. All sessions are fully HIPAA-compliant: private, secure, and confidential. What you share in this space stays in this space.
Some of the feedback I receive regularly from clients about what they take from sessions include feeling:
❋ Hopeful
❋ Proud of themselves
❋ Like they can trust themselves again
❋ Free
❋ Lighter
❋ Clear-headed
❋ In control
❋ Supported
❋ Grounded
❋ Optimistic
❋ Excited for their healing journey
❋ Like themselves again
Insurance is Accepted
Insurance is accepted through Sanford (ND and MN) and Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota. ND Medicaid is also accepted.
Questions People Ask Before Signing Up
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The only guarantee I make is that if you keep showing up to help yourself, then I will keep showing up to help you. Clients that benefit the most from my services are ones that put in the effort, put in the work of looking at themselves and are open to support and guidance. They are willing to identify their patterns and attempt to create new patterns. The 6 week mental fitness program many of my clients go through say it completely changed their life. 1 client said “it helped me heal narcissistic abuse”. And every single 1 of those clients did the work to get that outcome. It’s not as hard as you think, 1 small step everyday makes a huge shift over time.
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Many programs require groups. I do not. Level 2.1 program is a group setup however if you do not feel groups are best for you, then don’t do them and we can consider level 1 options. Find what works for you. If you’re not sure then let’s have a chat about it and we will come up with a plan that feels good to you. It’s your life and your journey.
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Yes. All sessions are fully HIPAA-compliant: private, secure, and confidential. The online space does present unique challenges on the clients end to ensure privacy and confidentiality. I take confidentiality for group members very seriously and will remove anyone that risks the safe confidential space of the group.
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My approach as a therapist comes from a “meet you where you are” lens. I have many clients that are not ready to completely quit, and some that are ready to quit completely. I am a safe space for all who are ready to receive support in YOUR goals. If your goal is to prevent problems and use responsibly, then I am here to help you figure out how to do that. If you are on the fence and not sure if you are ready, then I’m here to help you decide. If you’re ready to quit then I’m here for that too! The only ask is that you are ready to try some new things and have an open mind and heart.
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For an individual session, I usually start by asking how your week was and check in. Typically at some point I’ll ask about any use or triggers just so there’s clarity about changes and honesty about where you’re feeling success and where you want more improvement.
Groups typically start with a sentence or 2 for those that want to share their wins and then we celebrate with them and get started on the topic. We go through some presentation and intro to the topic, discussion, journaling, meditation.
All sessions end with closure and reflection on “what are you taking with you today” and your “golden nugget”.
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This program is not religious at all. It is however a quantum physics and energy based approach, and has some spiritual components that ARE NOT specific to any religion. There are many contributions to my approach including Buddhism, Paganism, and Eastern medicine contributions such as the chakras and systems that acupuncture work within. Science has proven that we are not simply a physical being, we have an electromagnetic energy that we emit around us and that is the energy I help you heal and create movement through for recovery.
Most clients I see start out not even wanting to be in treatment
❋ They are forced by courts
❋ They’ve had bad experiences with treatment in the past
❋ Or negative experiences with therapists that made them feel judged
But within the first session, I usually receive feedback that they feel safe and sometimes will share they are excited for the healing journey.
As we work together these are the wins some of my clients have seen:
They have celebrated weeks/months sober, a new job, a new awareness of why they used, healing of past experiences and triggers, relationships improve within months, increased self acceptance and validation of who they are and their experiences, and I have many clients that celebrate their 1 year sober date with a session to reflect and check in about their amazing success!
My biggest goal when I meet a new client is to be a safe place
I don’t force anyone to change, I simply hold the safe space for them to land when they are ready, whether that’s now or a few months, or next year… I’ll be here with a smile and reminder of how amazing you are! Even when it seems you’re lost in the darkness, I promise you, I can find that sliver of hope to share with you.