Virtual Substance Use & Dual Diagnosis IOP available throughout South Dakota
MWI Health's virtual IOP delivers the same structured, evidence-based treatment as our in-person program, through secure, HIPAA-compliant video you can join from home. Same licensed clinical team, same program, no commute and no waiting rooms.
Whether you are seeking treatment for a substance use disorder or a co-occurring disorder, our team usually enrolls new patients within days of your first call.
What is virtual IOP
The same program, delivered online
Virtual IOP, also called online IOP, is our intensive outpatient program delivered through secure, HIPAA-compliant video instead of in person. It runs on the same three-day-per-week schedule with the same group therapy, individual counseling, and psychiatric support, led by the same licensed clinical team, so you get the full program from wherever you are in South Dakota.
It carries our two IOP tracks: Substance Use IOP and Dual Diagnosis IOP for a substance use disorder occurring alongside a mental health condition. For the full clinical detail, session structure, and monthly curriculum, see the IOP overview.
Virtual IOP works as a step down from inpatient, residential, or partial hospitalization care, or as a step up when weekly therapy is not enough. Before enrollment, a licensed clinician completes a confidential assessment, including a substance use screening, to confirm the right level of care and whether virtual or in-person fits best.
Available online
Both IOP tracks, delivered virtually
Your clinical assessment determines which track fits your diagnosis, history, and goals. Both run on the same Monday, Wednesday, Thursday morning schedule, in person in Downtown Sioux Falls or virtually across South Dakota.
Substance Use IOP
Outpatient treatment for alcohol and drug use disorders, with relapse prevention, motivational work, and recovery support, delivered online by licensed addiction clinicians.
Requires a current substance use disorder diagnosis Learn about Substance Use IOPDual Diagnosis IOP
Integrated treatment for a substance use disorder occurring alongside a mental health condition such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, or a mood disorder, addressed together by one clinical team, online.
Requires a substance use disorder plus a mental health condition Learn about Dual Diagnosis IOP
Your care team
Randie Abbas
Licensed Addiction Counselor
The clinicians who lead our virtual sessions are the same team you would meet in person. As a Licensed Addiction Counselor, Randie guides group and individual counseling and relapse prevention across both IOP tracks, online and on site.
Meet Randie AbbasIs this right for you
Is online IOP right for you?
Virtual IOP is not a compromise on care. Research consistently shows that telehealth IOP produces outcomes comparable to in-person treatment for most substance use and co-occurring mental health conditions. For many people, being able to take part from home removes the barriers that would otherwise keep them from getting consistent support.
We recommend online IOP for adults who need the structure and frequency of intensive outpatient treatment but prefer the flexibility and privacy of joining remotely. It is especially valuable in rural South Dakota, for people with transportation barriers, and for those balancing work or caregiving.
If you are not sure whether virtual or in-person IOP is the better fit, our admissions team will walk you through both during your confidential assessment.
You need the structure and frequency of IOP but cannot or prefer not to travel to an in-person clinic
You live in a rural part of South Dakota where local IOP options are limited or unavailable
You are stepping down from inpatient, residential, or partial hospitalization care and need continued support that fits your schedule
Work, caregiving, or family responsibilities make attending in person three mornings per week difficult
You value the privacy of receiving care from home, without a clinic visit or waiting room
The benefits
Why people choose online IOP
Virtual IOP removes the barriers that keep people from consistent, quality care. Here is why our online program works for patients across South Dakota.
No commute, no disruption
Three mornings a week of driving, parking, waiting rooms, and childcare adds up. Virtual IOP lets you log in from home or anywhere private, and get back to your day the moment the session ends.
Access from anywhere in South Dakota
Whether you are in Sioux Falls, Rapid City, Aberdeen, Brookings, Watertown, Pierre, Mitchell, Yankton, or a rural part of the state, our virtual IOP reaches you, including places where local IOP options are limited or unavailable.
The same clinical quality
Virtual IOP is not a lighter version of the program. You get the same group curriculum, the same licensed therapists and psychiatric providers, and the same evidence-based approach as our in-person patients.
Privacy you control
Not everyone is ready for an employer, neighbor, or community to know they are in treatment. Virtual IOP keeps that in your hands: no visible clinic visits, no parking-lot encounters, care that stays yours.
Covered like in-person care
Medicaid and most major insurance plans, along with telehealth parity rules, generally cover virtual behavioral health treatment at the same rate as in-person care. Most people with active coverage pay the same for online IOP as they would on site.
Research-backed outcomes
Peer-reviewed studies have found telehealth IOP produces outcomes comparable to in-person care for substance use disorders and co-occurring conditions, including retention, symptom reduction, and patient satisfaction.
Virtual IOP schedule
A time that fits around your life
Our IOP meets Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM, virtually for patients throughout South Dakota or in person at our Downtown Sioux Falls clinic (317 North Main Avenue, Ste 100).
Virtual IOP
Join structured sessions from anywhere in South Dakota, including Sioux Falls, Rapid City, Aberdeen, Brookings, Watertown, Pierre, Mitchell, and Yankton, through secure, HIPAA-compliant video. Same schedule, same clinical team, same evidence-based curriculum as in person, three mornings per week.
Downtown Sioux Falls
Prefer to attend on site? The same program runs in person at our Downtown Sioux Falls clinic, three mornings per week, built to fit around afternoon work and family commitments.
Admissions & intake
How to start virtual IOP
From your first call to your first session, our team handles insurance verification, the clinical assessment, scheduling, and getting you set up on secure video. Most people begin within days of their first contact.
Contact us
Same dayCall (605) 800-7477 or submit the intake form. Our coordinator gathers basic information and answers your first questions.
Insurance verification
Within 24 hoursWe contact your insurance directly to verify IOP benefits and explain any out-of-pocket costs before you decide anything. We handle this for you.
Clinical assessment
1 to 2 daysA licensed clinician completes a confidential evaluation to confirm your diagnosis, the right level of care, and whether virtual or in-person IOP fits best.
Get set up & begin
Within daysWe send a secure video link and help you get set up, then schedule your first session so you can join from anywhere in South Dakota.
Meet your clinical team and group members online. Review program expectations, scheduling, and confidentiality.
Work with your therapist to set personalized goals based on your assessment and clinical needs.
Begin group therapy and individual counseling by video as part of your structured weekly schedule.
When appropriate, meet a psychiatric provider by video for medication evaluation and management.
Good to know
Virtual IOP questions
For most people, yes. Peer-reviewed studies have found that telehealth IOP produces outcomes comparable to in-person care, including retention, symptom reduction, and satisfaction, for substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health conditions. During your assessment, our team confirms whether virtual or in-person IOP is the better fit for you.
You need a private space and a device with a camera and microphone, a smartphone, tablet, or computer, plus a reliable internet connection. We send a secure link before your first session, and our team helps you get set up so the technology never gets in the way of your care.
Our virtual IOP is available to patients throughout South Dakota, including Sioux Falls, Rapid City, Aberdeen, Brookings, Watertown, Pierre, Mitchell, Yankton, and rural areas where local IOP options may be limited. You join the same program and clinical team from wherever you are in the state.
In most cases, yes. Medicaid and most major insurance plans, along with telehealth parity rules, generally cover virtual behavioral health treatment at the same rate as in-person care. Our admissions team verifies your specific benefits before treatment begins so you know your costs up front. Call (605) 800-7477 to check.
Often, yes. Because virtual and in-person IOP follow the same schedule, curriculum, and clinical team, many people move between them as their needs or circumstances change. Your clinical team helps you make the switch smoothly.
Yes. Sessions run on secure, HIPAA-compliant video, and joining from home means no clinic visits or waiting rooms. You control where you take part, which is one reason many people choose virtual IOP for the added privacy.
Medically reviewed
Reviewed by Clay J. Pavlis, MD
Board-certified psychiatrist and Chief Medical Officer of MWI Health.
Explore our programs
Related programs at MWI Health
Explore the tracks available online, or see the full IOP overview.
In crisis? Get help now
This page is not for emergencies. If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, use one of these resources right away.
Start online IOP from anywhere in South Dakota
Our admissions team is here Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, to verify your insurance, answer your questions, and get your virtual IOP scheduled, usually within one to three business days.
Not for emergencies. If you are in immediate danger, call 911 or call or text 988 for crisis support, available 24/7.