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Intensive Outpatient (IOP) at The Archangel Centers in Charlotte is structured group and individual therapy delivered three or five days a week, three clinical hours per session. IOP is the middle level of our outpatient continuum: more clinically intense than Outpatient, less time-intensive than the full clinical day of PHP. It is the right level of care for many Charlotte-area clients stepping down from a higher level or initiating treatment with moderate-severity presentations who need clinical depth without a full clinical day.
The Charlotte clinic operates under appropriate North Carolina state licensure for outpatient SUD and co-occurring mental health treatment. Clinical leadership is held by Jamie Salsberg, Clinical Director across both Archangel locations. We do not assert accreditations the clinic does not hold.
IOP runs in morning or evening blocks where possible, compatible with employment and caregiving schedules. Typical length is approximately 30 days, set by clinical progress rather than calendar. Each client is assigned a primary therapist and meets weekly for individual therapy in addition to group work.
The primary clinical modalities are cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, motivational interviewing, narrative therapy, and relapse prevention. EMDR is available in individual therapy for clients whose primary therapist recommends targeted trauma processing. MAT is integrated when clinically indicated. The Archangel Centers does not provide medical detox or inpatient rehabilitation on-site; for clients requiring those levels first, the admissions team coordinates placement with accredited partner facilities and schedules the step-down to IOP before partner discharge.
The Charlotte clinic operates under appropriate North Carolina state licensure for outpatient SUD and co-occurring mental health treatment. Clinical work follows the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) framework. Additional accreditations appear on the site only when formally held.
IOP provides structured group and individual therapy at an intensity that fits around employment and caregiving. Clients live at home or in sober living and attend the clinic for clinical hours.
The track that fits depends on the clinical picture and life schedule. The Clinical Director reviews the assessment before the level-of-care decision is finalized.
| Track | Frequency | Hours per session | Total clinical hours per week |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3-day IOP | Three days per week | 3 hours | 9 |
| 5-day IOP | Five days per week | 3 hours | 15 |
Group sessions run in morning or evening blocks where possible. Each three-hour session includes a structured check-in, the day's skill or topic module, in-session practice, and a closing round. Individual therapy is scheduled separately, at least weekly with the assigned primary therapist. The medical provider conducts the initial consult during the intake week. Take-home practice from group work is reviewed in subsequent sessions. Family programming is available under release. Case management coordinates FMLA, short-term disability, employment communications, and legal coordination.
The IOP group curriculum follows the same evidence-based content as PHP, adapted for the shorter clinical week:
Outside the three clinical hours per day, IOP clients continue work, school, parenting, and the broader life structure. Evenings (or mornings, for clients in the evening track) are for skill practice from the day's module, recovery community meeting attendance, and family communication. Clients in sober living continue house structure under coordination with sober-living staff and releases.
Group rooms, private therapy offices, the medical office, family programming rooms, and a wellness space, designed for clinical depth and nervous-system regulation.
The 3-day and 5-day tracks let the clinical team match intensity to the picture without forcing every client into the same week.
Most IOP clients continue working through the program. Case management handles FMLA or short-term disability paperwork when accommodations are needed.
Most clients leave the first call with a clinical assessment, insurance verification, clinical review, and a scheduled start date. Same-week placement is often possible.
Suboxone is the primary option, with Sublocade and Vivitrol available based on clinical fit. Methadone is not in the formulary; clients who need methadone are referred to a federally licensed opioid treatment program in the Charlotte metro.
Trauma-informed care is the default in groups; EMDR is available in individual therapy for clients whose primary therapist recommends targeted processing. The program is outpatient SUD treatment with integrated trauma-informed care, not a primary trauma program.
Group curriculum rotates so each cohort covers the CBT skill set and the DBT four-module curriculum across the IOP episode.
The therapist holds the longitudinal view across IOP, OP, and alumni programming, preserved across step-down where scheduling allows.
ASAM Criteria across six dimensions, LOCUS, PHQ-9, GAD-7, Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale, biopsychosocial, nutrition, and pain screens drive the treatment plan.
The family track includes scheduled family therapy, family support participation, and therapist progress updates to designated family members under release.
Works with most major commercial insurance plans, including Aetna, Cigna, BlueCross BlueShield of North Carolina, and Tricare. Benefits verified free.
Intake includes the full clinical battery, a treatment plan drafted with the assigned primary therapist, and safety planning before the client leaves the building. The medical provider consult occurs during the intake week. Group integration begins on the first scheduled day.
Middle weeks rotate through the CBT skill set, DBT four-module curriculum, relapse prevention, dual-diagnosis content, and trauma-informed processing. Individual therapy focuses on patterns specific to the client's picture. Family programming intensifies. MAT adjustments are made as the medical provider observes response across weeks.
Skills are applied in real life between sessions. Family relationships are addressed in scheduled family work. Employment, legal, and practical issues are handled in case management. Pre-step-down signals appear: consistent attendance, reduced acute symptoms, established sober living or stable housing, family engagement, written aftercare plan in progress.
Step-down to OP typically occurs after approximately 30 days, driven by clinical progress. The assigned primary therapist remains in place across the step-down. External provider referrals are arranged where appropriate. Alumni programming begins.
24/7 admissions line: (888) 464-2144. Insurance verification runs in real time during the call. Free and confidential.
A licensed clinician conducts the assessment by phone, video, or in person using ASAM Criteria, LOCUS, PHQ-9, GAD-7, the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale, and the biopsychosocial history.
For clients in active withdrawal or with significant physical dependence, the team coordinates placement at an accredited partner detox facility. The IOP intake is scheduled before partner discharge. The Archangel Centers does not operate medical detox on-site.
Direct IOP admissions typically begin within 24 to 72 hours of the clinical assessment. The medical provider sees the new client during the intake week when MAT or psychiatric medication is part of the plan.
Most major insurance plans are required to cover medically necessary addiction treatment under the Affordable Care Act and the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act. The Archangel Centers works with most major commercial insurance plans, including Aetna, Cigna, BlueCross BlueShield of North Carolina, and Tricare. Benefits are verified free before treatment begins.
For NC Medicaid managed-care coverage, see NC Medicaid rehab coverage. Call (888) 464-2144 or use verify your insurance.
The Charlotte clinic serves clients across Mecklenburg County and the broader Charlotte metro, including Matthews, Huntersville, Pineville, Concord, Gastonia, Mint Hill, Cornelius, and Indian Trail. Virtual treatment is not currently structured for North Carolina residents; IOP is delivered in person at the Charlotte clinic.
Recovery starts with an assessment, not a commitment. The clinical team conducts a confidential evaluation to determine whether IOP is the right starting level of care, with insurance verification in the same call. Same-week placement is often possible.
Call (888) 464-2144 or verify your insurance. The admissions line is open 24 hours a day, confidentially.
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This page was prepared by The Archangel Centers editorial team. The Archangel Centers is an outpatient provider; medical detox and inpatient rehabilitation are not delivered on-site. This is general educational information, not medical advice.
1. The Archangel Centers internal program documentation (accessed 2026-06-07) 2. American Society of Addiction Medicine, "The ASAM Criteria," fourth edition 3. SAMHSA, "TIP 47: Substance Abuse: Clinical Issues in Intensive Outpatient Treatment"
“I came back from rock bottom. I'm here because I want to show others they can too. This isn't just a business. It's my mission.”- Mike Sorrentino, Founder
Mike and Lauren Sorrentino did not set out to build a generic treatment center. They wanted a recovery-grounded program that mixes lived experience, licensed clinical expertise, and family programming that actually moves the needle for the people who love someone in active addiction.
The clinic that resulted is small enough that each client knows their primary therapist by name, but resourced enough to deliver the full ASAM continuum from Partial Care through outpatient continuing care, with MAT and EMDR available when clinically indicated.
Read the Full StoryMost clients leave the first admissions call with a clinical assessment, an insurance verification, and a scheduled start date. Recovery starts with a decision, not a commitment. The admissions line is staffed around the clock.
Confidential, 24/7 admissions. Same-week placement is often available. Verify your insurance free of charge before any commitment.
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