An outpatient treatment program (OP) gives you regular therapy and clinical support while you live at home and keep up with work, school, and family. At The Carter Treatment Center, OP is the least intensive of our core levels of care, with fewer weekly hours than our partial hospitalization program (PHP) or intensive outpatient program (IOP).
Most people start OP after finishing PHP or IOP, once they’re ready for fewer sessions but still want regular clinical support. This page explains what OP involves, who it fits, how it compares to PHP and IOP, and how to check your insurance.
We offer outpatient treatment at our Alpharetta location, serving communities across metro Atlanta.
Not sure which level of care fits? Our admissions team can help you decide.
An outpatient treatment program is the least structured level of clinical addiction care. You meet with your treatment team on a set schedule, often once a week, and spend the rest of your time at home, at work, or in school. Compared with IOP, there are fewer sessions; compared with weekly therapy on your own, you still have a clinical team, a treatment plan, and regular progress check-ins.
OP typically includes:
Your schedule depends on your treatment plan. Most people in OP attend sessions about once a week, and some meet a few times a month, which leaves room for a full-time job or class schedule. Your therapist will adjust the schedule as your needs change.
There’s no set timeline. Some people stay in OP for a few months, and others stay connected for a year or longer. How long you stay depends on how stable your recovery feels, what’s happening at home and work, any mental health needs, and the support you have outside treatment.
OP may be a good fit if:
OP may not be enough if you’re drinking or using daily, have recently relapsed, or need medical support for withdrawal. In those cases, our team may recommend intensive outpatient treatment or a partial hospitalization program first.
All three programs let you live at home. The difference is how much time you spend in treatment each week and how much structure you need right now. Your admissions team will recommend a level based on your assessment, and you can move up or down as things change.
| Program | Weekly structure | Often a fit when |
|---|---|---|
| Partial hospitalization program (PHP) | Most of the day, most weekdays | You need daily structure and close clinical support |
| Intensive outpatient program (IOP) | Several sessions a week | You need structured treatment but can keep up with work or school |
| Outpatient treatment program (OP) | Fewer sessions, often weekly | Your recovery is steadier and you want ongoing therapy and accountability |
Every person’s treatment plan is customized, but most OP experiences include:
You’ll meet one-on-one with a licensed therapist in individual therapy to work through stress, relationships, relapse triggers, and the goals you set for life after treatment. Because OP sessions are less frequent, this time is often where you talk through what happened during the week and plan for what’s coming up.
Some OP plans include therapist-led group therapy sessions. Group gives you a place to hear how others are handling the same problems, practice new skills, and stay accountable to people who understand recovery.
If you live with anxiety, depression, trauma, or another mental health condition, your care continues in OP. Your team treats it alongside substance use through our co-occurring disorder treatment.
Sessions may cover stress management, communication, emotional regulation, and setting boundaries with people who still drink or use. In OP, you practice these skills in your real routine and bring back what worked and what didn’t.
As you take on more independence, your therapist helps you spot early warning signs, decide what you’ll do when cravings or stress hit, and build a plan for who to call.
All levels of care at The Carter Treatment Center use evidence-based, person-centered treatment. OP may include:
Clients who are prescribed medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for alcohol or opioid addiction may continue receiving medication management during OP.
Staying in treatment after the most structured phase gives you time to use new skills in your normal routine, with a therapist to check in with when something goes wrong.
Outpatient treatment helps you:
When you and your therapist agree you’re ready, OP ends with an aftercare plan built around what’s worked for you.
Most people move on to some combination of:
You can also return to a more structured level of care if you need it later. That’s a normal part of recovery for many people, not a setback.
Outpatient care is the most common setting for addiction treatment in Georgia. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), 266 of the state’s 309 licensed substance use treatment facilities (86.1%) offered outpatient care in 2022, and outpatient clients made up 34,436 (94.2%) of the people in treatment on March 31, 2022.
We serve people throughout metro Atlanta, including Alpharetta, Cumming, Buford, Gainesville, and Lawrenceville.
If you’re not sure whether OP is the right level of care, our admissions team can talk through your situation and help you decide between OP, IOP, PHP, or our early intervention program.
You can find our Alpharetta outpatient treatment center at 10425 Old Alabama Rd Connector, #101, Alpharetta, GA 30022.
Many insurance plans cover outpatient addiction treatment, but coverage varies by plan. Our admissions team can check your benefits before you start and explain what your plan covers and what you may owe out of pocket. You can verify your insurance online or call us with questions about payment options.
An outpatient treatment program provides ongoing therapy and recovery support while you live at home. At The Carter Treatment Center, OP is usually the next step after completing PHP or IOP.
OP tends to fit people whose recovery is fairly stable and who want continued therapy and accountability while working, studying, or caring for family. If you’ve recently relapsed or are using daily, a more structured program like IOP or PHP may be a better place to start.
OP includes individual therapy and, for some people, group therapy, along with relapse prevention planning and care for co-occurring mental health conditions. If you’re already on medication-assisted treatment, your medication management can continue during OP.
It depends on your treatment plan. Most people attend about once a week, some meet a few times a month, and your therapist adjusts the schedule as your needs change.
Yes. OP is built around the idea that you keep working, going to school, or caring for family while you’re in treatment. Your schedule is set with those commitments in mind.
Many insurance plans cover outpatient addiction treatment, though benefits vary. Our admissions team can verify your coverage before you start and explain any out-of-pocket costs.
We offer outpatient treatment at our Alpharetta location, serving people throughout metro Atlanta and North Fulton.
Whether you’re stepping down from PHP or IOP or looking for more support than therapy on your own, our admissions team can help you figure out if OP is the right level of care. They can also check your insurance and answer questions about scheduling before you commit to anything.
Call (404) 689-9980 or contact us online to get started.
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