Understand the purpose of each setting, confirm your proposed session mix and prepare practical questions before care begins.
Individual and group therapy provide different settings for care. If Virtual IOP is being considered, assessment determines eligibility and the proposed structure. You must be physically present in Massachusetts for every virtual session.
You can ask questions before deciding on care.
Illustrative imageIndividual therapy is a one-to-one setting that may help you address personal concerns, while group therapy involves participating with other adults and may offer shared learning, discussion or practice. MVBH offers both forms of therapy, but your Virtual IOP assessment and proposed care plan determine what applies to you. Review the Virtual IOP eligibility information and follow the admissions process, which begins with a call or callback form, followed by insurance verification and prescreen, intake and, if accepted, treatment. You must be in Massachusetts for every virtual session. A referral does not guarantee admission or a start date. Call 911 for immediate danger; call or text 988 for suicidal thoughts or emotional distress.
Individual and group settings can serve complementary purposes, but their inclusion, frequency and sequence depend on your proposed care plan. The Virtual IOP program overview explains the program, and the admission assessment process determines whether it is clinically appropriate for you. Neither therapy format alone establishes your eligibility or level of care.
Discuss needs, availability and location during assessment. The resulting recommendation may include Virtual IOP or another adult outpatient level of care.
The proposed care plan should identify individual, group-based and other activities and connect them with the needs found during assessment.
If timing, privacy, technology or participation becomes difficult, contact the team through the communication method provided for your care.
NIMH describes psychotherapy as treatment that commonly takes place one-to-one with a mental health professional or with other patients in a group. Both settings aim to support therapeutic work, but the experience differs because one is private and the other is shared.
In a proposed plan, individual time may provide room for personal context, while group time may support discussion and practice with others. Assessment determines whether Virtual IOP fits your needs. Your care proposal should identify the formats included without implying a universal schedule, ratio or curriculum.
One-to-one and shared settings support different kinds of therapeutic work. The individual therapy information explains the personal format, while the group therapy overview introduces participation with others. Ask admissions whether the recommended program includes either format and how often each may occur.
Individual time may provide more privacy for personal context, obstacles, troubling issues and priorities.
Group time may involve listening, discussion and practicing skills or communication with other participants.
Assessment helps determine appropriate therapy formats and activities. Ask admissions about current schedules, the proposed care plan and individual eligibility.
Individual therapy may provide space to explore troubling issues, personal context, obstacles and patterns that feel difficult to discuss with others. A one-to-one setting can also help connect personal priorities with the broader goals of care.
Group therapy may involve listening, speaking and practicing alongside other participants. Different perspectives can help adults examine communication, coping and common challenges. These are useful distinctions between the formats, not a promise of a particular Virtual IOP curriculum, group composition, frequency or outcome. Neither format replaces emergency, inpatient, residential, overnight, hospital or on-site withdrawal-management care.
Ask admissions about current schedules and the proposed care plan. The Half Day Treatment information provides another program comparison. For general questions, use the contact option.
Your care proposal should identify the included activities and explain the participation expectations that apply to you.
Compare current session times with work, caregiving, appointments and access to a private room.
Confirm that you can remain physically in Massachusetts throughout every scheduled virtual session.
Available days and times can matter when arranging care. SAMHSA includes the days and times you can meet among the information to consider. Ask admissions about current schedules and the proposed care plan.
Compare the proposed schedule with your work, caregiving and appointments. For virtual participation, choose a quiet place with good internet access where you can talk openly. Ask admissions about individual eligibility.
Prepare in three phases: set up the space, identify what needs attention and note any follow-up after the sessions. If assessment suggests a different intensity, compare ongoing outpatient treatment with Full Day Treatment details instead of assuming Virtual IOP is the only option. The clinically appropriate format and level of care depend on individual assessment.
Check your internet, device, sound and privacy before virtual care. Ask admissions to confirm the current technology and session access requirements.
Notice whether a concern feels suitable for shared discussion or would be more comfortable in a one-to-one setting.
Record practical next steps, unresolved access questions and any instructed follow-up. Do not create your own medication, placement or discharge changes based on general website information.
For virtual care, choose a quiet place with reliable internet where you can speak privately. This follows HHS guidance for preparing for telehealth. Reduce the chance that someone will enter, overhear or view your screen, and keep your session access information nearby.
In a group, share only what you are comfortable discussing in that setting. Write down questions that require clinical clarification rather than treating a general group comment as individualized direction. Ask admissions to confirm current privacy expectations, technology requirements and the appropriate contact for personal questions.
Questions about care fit, session formats or responsibilities can be discussed during the eligibility and placement conversation. For current access information, use the contact option. Call 911 for immediate danger; call or text 988 for suicidal thoughts or emotional distress.
Medication questions, possible care-level changes, coordination with an existing clinician and post-discharge directions require individualized clarification. Ask admissions who handles each type of question and how to contact that person for the recommended program.
If you have hospital discharge instructions or a named follow-up clinician, continue following those directions. Write down the exact point that is unclear and raise it at the next appropriate conversation. General comments do not replace individualized clinical direction or confirm a change in care.
You can bring your own questions to a conversation with admissions.
Use a quiet room with a closed door when possible, headphones if appropriate and a device that others cannot easily view. Choose a place where you can speak openly and consider who might enter or overhear. MVBH can explain the privacy and technology expectations that apply before you start. If reliable privacy is not available, tell admissions during assessment because it may affect whether virtual participation is workable.
Tell admissions about known scheduling limits before your start is arranged. The proposed plan should identify its expected activities and current times. If a later conflict develops, use the communication method provided by the care team as soon as possible. Do not assume a session can be skipped, moved, replaced or made up; the response depends on your circumstances and care plan.
Yes. A family member or supporter can help you think through timing, technology, privacy, insurance verification and travel to Amesbury, MA if in-person care is considered. They may also contact MVBH for general information about treatment options. Whether they can participate in discussions about an adult’s care depends on the adult’s permission and applicable privacy boundaries. The supporter should not enter clinical information in the website callback form.
Before starting, make sure your device, internet connection, audio and video work in the private space you plan to use. MVBH can explain the technology expectations and the communication method for a failure during a session. Telephone participation, replacement sessions, equipment and technical support should not be assumed. Raising connection concerns during assessment helps determine whether virtual participation is practical for you.
They may be treated differently by an insurer, but the answer depends on the specific services in your proposed plan and your benefits. The admissions sequence includes insurance verification after your call or callback request and prescreen. This does not guarantee approval, network status or personal cost. Your insurer or benefit administrator can explain coverage, authorization requirements and cost sharing for the service information provided during verification.
General information supports a conversation with your care team. Your clinical assessment determines treatment fit.
Editorial lead: Tim Francis, SUD and Behavioral Health Expert. AI-assisted drafting supports research and synthesis. This page does not provide individual medical advice.
