Intensive Program

Bio Behavioral is one of the few treatment facilities in the country offering intensive out-patient treatment for anxiety, obsessive compulsive related, and mood disorders. Our intensive program was established in 1978 and has continued to expand and improve over the years. 

Our School Refusal Program offers intensive treatment for children and adolescents who are struggling with academic attendance due to a variety of factors. To read more about our School Refusal Program, click here. 

We found that intensive programs work better than weekly sessions for many individuals and unlike many programs around the country, our program emphasizes individual rather than group treatment. This one-on-one care allows our clinicians to meet each person's unique treatment needs and goals. 

An intensive program may be recommended in many circumstances including:

• For those who have tried individual therapy in the past and did not attain their goals.  
• For those  who are severely struggling to function in their daily life, such as attending school and work or are having difficulty caring for themselves or their homes. 
• For those seeking to achieve their goals during a set time period in order to return to their daily life; for example, students who want to start or return to school or individuals who want to remain in their jobs or improve their condition during a medical leave of absence. 

We accept children, adolescents, and adults into our intensive program. Individuals who typically enter this program have tried traditional weekly therapy with minimal gains or require more frequent sessions due to the severity of their illness and difficulty functioning in daily life. 

Disorders typically targeted in our intensive program include: 

• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
• Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD)
• Hoarding disorder
• Panic Disorder with Agoraphobia 
• Social Anxiety
• Depression
• Self injurious behaviors 
• Children and adolescents who are having significant difficulty attending school regularly or have stopped attending school are also candidates for the program.

Every incoming patient at Bio Behavioral initially meets with either a licensed psychologist or psychiatrist for a consultation appointment. Our clinical team reviews the case to design the most appropriate treatment program. Recommendations may include follow-up neuropsychological assessments, medical evaluations, as well as psychological and/or psychiatric treatment.

The frequency of treatment depends on many factors, including the functioning level of the patient and the severity of the illness. We recommend a minimum of four weeks of treatment in order to achieve therapeutic goals, although patients often extend their stay to meet further goals. Sessions can range from 90 minutes to six hours per day. 

All treatment strategies are based on the latest research findings and patients are educated about effective treatment. We believe in promoting a balanced lifestyle consisting of  social relationships, productive work, and sufficient nutrition and exercise. Our intensive program aims to decrease psychological conditions and help our patients build a satisfying and productive life beyond the symptoms. 

All session time is spent one on one with a therapist. Treatment can be conducted in a variety of settings, which may include public places, the individual’s home, and any other locations specific to the problem. Everything is done at the patient's pace and practiced in session with the therapist's coaching. At Bio Behavioral we believe strongly that practice with the therapist  leads to the greatest progress in therapy. 

After the initial four weeks, the treatment team re-evaluates in order to determine the continued frequency of treatment. At this time, the number of sessions or daily time may be reduced according to the needs of the patient. Medication and nutritional supplementation may be employed at the same time as the behavior therapy. 

Psychoeducation is an important component of any program. Previous treatments may have failed due to inappropriate treatments for the disorder. Some of the specific cognitive behavior treatment approaches we use are the following; exposure in vivo or in imagination, exposure and response prevention; behavioral activation, interoceptive cue exposure, cognitive therapy, three and a half box technique (for hoarding), dialectical behavior therapy etc.

Maintaining gains and preventing relapse is an important aspect of our program. Follow-up therapy is a crucial step towards recovery. In our program, we recommend that patients continue their treatment on a less frequent basis after intensive treatment. Patients may do weekly sessions for a period of time and then decrease sessions to every other week and so on. The slow reduction in treatment allows patients to practice the newly learned skills while still being monitored by our staff for any possible indicators of relapse. We recommend that patients maintain some level of treatment for six months to a year for maximum long term gains. 

Patients also may return at a later time for a “booster” program which typically consists of daily sessions for a shorter duration of time (typically 2 weeks) in order to regain the progress achieved during the initial intensive program.

Bio Behavioral strongly believes that family involvement is an integral component of therapeutic effectiveness. We therefore recommend that family members meet with the treatment team to provide relevant background information and learn techniques to best support their loved one’s progress. The intensive program consists of family sessions within the first week of the program and regularly throughout the program. Phone sessions can be scheduled for family members not present. The level of family involvement is determined on a case by case basis.

Bio Behavioral is conveniently located in a suburb of Long Island easily accessed by train from Manhattan (a 30 minute ride on the Long Island Railroad) and near major highways. There are a number of local motels as well as extended stay facilities in neighboring towns. Our child and adolescent patients and their families may qualify to stay at a local Ronald McDonald House at a very reasonable cost. Our staff will be happy to provide you with a list of options and make the process as convenient as possible.