Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)
Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)
Two Specialized Programs. Faster Progress. No Filler. Real ERP From Specialists Trained by world renowned OCD researchers and clinicians.
Natalie Noel, LMHC | Anxiety & OCD Treatment Specialists | Tampa, FL
Weekly therapy works for most people with OCD and anxiety. But for some people — those with severe symptoms, those who have not made enough progress with weekly sessions, those facing a time-sensitive situation, or those who simply want to recover faster — one appointment per week is not enough. The time between sessions is too long. The OCD rebuilds. The anxiety cycle continues.
That is what our Intensive Outpatient Programs are designed for. More treatment time, compressed into a defined period, delivered by specialists who treat nothing but OCD and anxiety disorders. Not a program padded with activities to fill your schedule. Not a generic mental health IOP. A focused, evidence-based ERP program built around getting you — or your child — back to your life as quickly as possible.
We offer two distinct IOP programs, designed for different levels of severity, different schedules, and different preferences. Both are available to adults, teenagers, and children in Florida.
Who Our IOP Programs Are For
Our IOP programs are designed for people who need more than weekly therapy can provide. This includes:
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Why Our IOP Is Different From Most
Most IOP programs fill treatment hours with a mix of group therapy, mindfulness, journaling, coping skills groups, and activities designed to fill your schedule rather than treat your condition. This is because they are filling the time that insurance has approved for treatment. We do not prolong treatment in any way and are not under the pressure of any insurance panels. We can make your treatment completely individualized based on your symptoms and severity.
Every hour of our IOP is clinically purposeful. You will not find filler activities, generic coping skills workshops, or therapeutic approaches that have nothing to do with OCD and anxiety. What you will find is real ERP — the same approach that the IOCDF, the APA, and the AACAP identify as the gold standard for OCD — delivered by clinicians trained at some of the most respected OCD programs in the country.
We work closely with psychiatrists when medication is part of your treatment picture. We do not provide medication management ourselves, but we maintain relationships with trusted psychiatrists and coordinate care actively when needed. Medication is never required to participate in our IOP — but we will be honest with you about how medication may affect your rate of progress.
Required First Step — The Initial Evaluation
All prospective IOP clients must complete a 1.5-hour initial evaluation with a clinician before enrolling in either program. This evaluation is not a formality.
Initial Evaluation — What to Expect
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Duration
1.5 Hours
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Cost
$300
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Format
In-Person or Virtual
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What happens during the evaluation:
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The evaluation is required because our IOP programs are intensive and specialized. We do not enroll clients in an IOP without first understanding exactly what we are treating and how to treat it. We also will not admit a prospective patient into either of our IOP programs if we don’t think they will benefit.
The Two Programs
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Standard Virtual IOP $3,800 · 2-Week Package · 18 Hours The Standard Virtual IOP delivers concentrated ERP to multiple clients simultaneously without compromising the individualized nature of each person’s treatment. Each client is in their own private virtual room with their own individualized exposure hierarchy. Schedule
How Sessions Work
Privacy Note: Clients will not see or interact with other clients during exposure practice. Your OCD content and personal information remain entirely private.
Best For
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Premium One-on-One IOP $4,500 · 2-Week Package · 15 Hours The Premium One-on-One IOP is for clients who need — or prefer — exclusive, continuous clinician access throughout their intensive treatment. Every hour is one clinician and one client. No group component. No shared schedule. No rotating attention. Schedule & Format
Family Involvement & Parent Coaching Family involvement is built into treatment from the first session. Parents learn the ERP model, receive specific coaching on responding to OCD at home, identify accommodation patterns, and actively support between-session practice. For adults, family coaching sessions can be incorporated alongside individual sessions without constraints. Best For
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Which Program Is Right for You?
| Standard Virtual IOP | Premium One-on-One IOP | |
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| Price | $3,800 (+ $300 evaluation) | $4,500 (+ $300 evaluation) |
| Format | Virtual — group-based with individual rotation | In-person, virtual, or hybrid |
| Hours | 18 hours over 2 weeks | 15 hours over 2 weeks |
| Schedule | Fixed: Mon / Tue / Thu, 9 a.m.–noon | Flexible: arranged with clinician |
| Clinician Access | Rotating individual time within sessions | Exclusive 1:1 throughout |
| Skills Group | Yes — one per week, cameras optional | Optional |
| Family Involvement | Limited — standard parent coaching | Extensive — integrated throughout |
| Best For | Moderate to severe OCD/anxiety, fixed schedule, value-focused | Severe/complex presentations, children, maximum flexibility, family-intensive |
| Availability | Florida (virtual only) | Florida (in-person or virtual) & New York (virtual) |
Our Commitment to Real Treatment
We want to be direct about what makes our IOP different from many programs you may encounter.
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No Filler We will not fill your treatment hours with activities, groups, or therapeutic approaches unrelated to OCD and anxiety. Every hour is spent in ERP work — psychoeducation, exposure hierarchy building, active exposure practice, between-session review, family coaching, and relapse prevention. No Unnecessary Prolonging of Treatment We do not extend treatment beyond what is clinically needed. Our goal is remission — or a level of functioning where weekly outpatient therapy can maintain your gains — as efficiently as possible. Our IOP programs have a defined endpoint. You know exactly how many hours you are purchasing and what the clinical objectives are. |
No Watered-Down ERP Many programs that describe themselves as ERP-based deliver imaginal exposure without real-world practice, or insight-oriented work dressed up as ERP. Exposures begin early, real-world practice is central, response prevention is enforced, and progress is measured with standardized tools at every session. Psychiatrist Coordination We are therapists, not psychiatrists. For clients where medication may be relevant, we coordinate actively with trusted psychiatrists and will be transparent about how medication may affect your prognosis. Medication is never required to participate in either program. |
Policies and Important Information
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Frequently Asked Questions
How is your IOP different from a regular IOP at a mental health clinic?
Most mental health IOPs are staffed by generalist clinicians and include a broad mix of group therapy, coping skills training, mindfulness, and other modalities. Our IOP is a specialty program — we treat only OCD and anxiety disorders, our entire team has received specialized training in ERP, and every hour of our programs is focused on the ERP work that the research consistently identifies as the most effective treatment for OCD and anxiety.
My child has severe OCD and has been refusing treatment. Which program is better?
The Premium One-on-One IOP is almost always the right choice for children with severe OCD who have been refusing treatment. The scheduling flexibility means the clinician can work at a pace the child can accept. The extensive parent involvement component addresses the family accommodation patterns that are often maintaining both the OCD and the treatment refusal. And the exclusive one-on-one relationship is better suited for building therapeutic alliance with a resistant child than a group-adjacent format.
What happens after the IOP ends?
The final session of both programs includes relapse prevention planning — a specific, personalized plan for maintaining your gains, recognizing early warning signs, and knowing exactly what to do if symptoms spike. Most clients step down to standard weekly outpatient therapy with one of our clinicians. For clients who live outside Tampa, we provide recommendations for ERP-trained therapists in their area and a thorough clinical summary to ease the transition.
Is the $300 evaluation fee applied toward the IOP package?
No — the $300 initial evaluation fee is separate from and in addition to the IOP package price. The evaluation is a thorough 1.5-hour clinical assessment that happens before IOP enrollment. It is billed and completed before any package is purchased.
How do I know if I am ready for IOP rather than regular weekly therapy?
The initial evaluation answers this question definitively. Generally, IOP is most appropriate when OCD or anxiety is significantly impairing daily functioning and weekly therapy is not producing adequate progress, when a time-sensitive situation requires faster treatment, or when a prior course of inadequate treatment has allowed symptoms to escalate. If you are unsure, contact our office — we will give you an honest assessment of whether IOP is the right level of care.
Ready to discuss which IOP program is right for you?
📞 (813) 812-4940
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✉️ info@anxietyocdspecialists.com
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📍 730 S Sterling Ave, Suite 306, Tampa, FL 33609
Meet Your Counselors
NATALIE NOEL, LMHC
MATT MCCANN, LMHC
MARIO JUSTER-KRUSE, LMHC
NONA ZAMIRI, LMHC
MARIAH RAMIREZ, LMHC
Why We Love Our Work
To say that Natalie changed my life and rescued me from an incredibly painful existence would be an understatement!"
Choosing to undergo treatment at Anxiety & OCD Treatment of Tampa Bay was one of the best decisions I have ever made, forever changing my life's course. Wherever you are at this moment, reading this testimonial, know this - OCD is conquerable, no matter how insurmountable it may seem at this given moment. You can beat this. You are not alone.”
For anyone suffering from OCD and reading this, I would like to say: Don't hesitate, don't procrastinate, and don't let your obsessions control your life for another day. Exposure Response Prevention Treatment produces real results and in my experience, swift results. And without a doubt, Natalie is one of the best providers you can seek assistance from!"
Any time I describe Natalie, it is as the woman who saved my marriage, my job...my life. She will always have a special place in my family's life."
Before my OCD treatment my thoughts were all consuming. Every moment of every day was filled with thoughts of fear and ‘what if’s’. I’d love to say, “I’ve been cured,” but again, there is no cure, but there’s Anxiety & OCD Treatment of Tampa Bay!"
Natalie held me accountable for my progress while reminding me to care for myself as we worked through my fears and emotions. I have been in some sort of therapy most of my life but working with Natalie was different. Natalie instilled confidence in me when I had none."
I am very satisfied with Natalie's approach, knowledge, and commitment to my success. I recommend Anxiety & OCD Treatment of Tampa Bay for anyone in need of effective mental health treatment."
I drive about 100 miles one way for treatment sessions with Natalie. It is worth the drive."
Through my sessions with Natalie, I learned a healthier outlook on life and effective ways to cope with my anxiety. Natalie is an extremely talented professional who displays clinical acumen, compassion, and empathy."
I went to several therapists before, but their treatments were not the right fit for me. I found Anxiety & OCD Treatment of Tampa Bay and my life changed."