Why Choose A Virtual IOP?
Virtual IOPs: Why they are just as effective as in-person
- Skills training works very well online– With DBTs structured approach-mindfulness, interpersonal effectiveness, emotion regulation and distress tolerance skill sets- all fit naturally into a video format.
- Group participation is often stronger– Many clients feel more comfortable speaking from their homes; this can help people open up sooner.
- Fewer missed sessions– No commute, fewer barriers to attending, easier scheduling that leads to better attendance, one of the strongest predictors of success.
- Privacy- For some people logging in from home reduces the anxiety of walking into a new building and sitting in a new waiting room.
- VIRTUAL DBT IOPs ARE NOT A ‘LIGHTER’ VERSION OF THE REAL THING. THEY ARE THE SAME TREATMENT DELIVERD IN A MORE ACCESSIBLE WAY.
Virtual IOPs Are Just as Effective as In-Person Care: What BWG Research Shows:
The research compared patient outcomes from BWG’s pre-COVID, in-person DBT-based IOP (2019) with outcomes from the rapidly adapted virtual IOP provided in 2021. The programs used the same core curriculum, facilitators, and interventions—only the delivery format changed. This research was conducted by Licensed Psychologist, Dr. Barbara Ballash, who specializes in CBT and DBT.
- Key Finding: Virtual IOPs Are Equally Effective
- Using validated screening tools for depression and anxiety, the study found no significant differences in symptom improvement between the in-person and virtual groups. In other words:
- BWG’s virtual IOP produced the same clinical gains as the traditional in-person IOP, even among individuals with serious mental illness.
How This Study Fits into the Larger Evidence Base
–Recent research aligns strongly with BWG’s findings
- Telehealth IOPs show comparable outcomes to in-person programs, including similar reductions in depression, anxiety, and substance-use symptoms (Contreras-Schwartz et al., 2024; Bulkes et al., 2021).
- Attendance and completion rates are often higher for virtual IOPs, likely due to fewer logistical barriers (Waite et al., 2022)
- Virtual IOPs show equal improvements in depression, anxiety, and emotion dysregulation compared to in-person programs.
- Studies report high retention and satisfaction with telehealth DBT groups.
- Telehealth DBT is effective for individuals with complex needs, including SMI and chronic emotion dysregulation.
Bottom line:
Virtual DBT IOPs deliver the same outcomes as in-person care — with added flexibility that helps more people stay engaged and get better.
Please contact me with any questions about the virtual DBT IOP.
Cathryn E. Knezevich, M.Ed., PCC
Therapist and DBT IOP Director
The Behavioral Wellness Group
8224 Mentor Ave #208 Mentor OH 44060
P: 440 392 2222 #304 F: 440 565 2349
cknezevich@behavioralwellnessgroup.com
www.behavioralwellnessgroup.com