Can I Work While In A Mental Health Program?

Hannah Bingler LPC, LAC.

Clinical Director

I received my Masters in Counseling from the University of Denver in 2020. I have worked in a variety of settings, including inpatient, outpatient, and private practice. I use a holistic approach rooted in psychodynamic therapy. I am familiar with CBT, DBT, Motivational Interviewing, Reality Therapy, Gestalt Therapy, and Person-centered approaches. I am trained in Accelerated Resolution Therapy and use it regularly to address issues that clients present with. I work with my clients to help them understand and address the roots of their presenting problems.

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Colorado Mental Health services was a beacon of hope during one of the darkest times in my life. From the moment I arrived, the staff treated me with compassion, respect, and unwavering support. They truly understood what I was going through and provided not just a place to heal, but the tools and guidance I needed to rebuild my life.

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Now, a year later, I’m beyond grateful for the life I have today, and I owe so much of that to Colorado Mental Health services. If you or a loved one is struggling and looking for a place that truly cares, I can’t recommend Colorado Mental Health services highly enough. They don’t just offer treatment—they offer hope, healing, and a future worth fighting for.

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I am grateful for Colorado Mental Health services. My experience into the world of recovery was with much apprehension. The staff at the inpatient facility, though PHP and IOP were extremely understanding and helpful while I came to a real understanding of what addiction is and how it has affected my life.

If you are reading this for yourself or a loved one I can relate. I looked for every reason why I didn’t need recovery. I thought I could manage addiction on my own. With every reason I could imagine why I didn’t belong there were 10 reasons why I did.

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Nothing is like Colorado Mental Health services. It was the best choice I’ve ever made regarding my addiction & recovery. Caring, professional staff (many whom are in long term recovery themselves and understand), comprehensive program, group & 1 on 1 therapy, and activities like yoga, hiking, and gym in a comfortable atmosphere in the beautiful, nature-filled Morrson/Conifer area. There 4 stage program changed my life. Detox, residential treatment, PHP, & IOP. And then there’s the excellent alumni program with tons of support through meetings, events & activities. If you’re committed to fighting an addiction, this is the place to go.

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Megan Wilkins

Colorado Mental Health services is an incredible rehab facility. I received amazing care all the way from in patient to outpatient treatment. All of the staff and nurses were so kind and understanding and willing to help with anything that I needed. The therapists were also very helpful and provided great insight into our sessions and were incredibly knowledgeable. Colorado Mental Health services really helped me to regain control over my life and be able to find a new path and direction to head into. I could not recommend this facility enough and the amazing staff you get to meet and work with. I had a really great experience with them!

Emily

Colorado Mental Health services is so much more than an addiction treatment program. This program and the incredible staff have allowed me to find a sense of purpose and a tight knit community. The skills and coping mechanisms taught during group therapy are so vital to my recovery and I continue to use them every day outside of treatment. The staff provided constant support and guidance every step of the way and continue to even after completing the program. Their unwavering support, deep knowledge, and compassion made the daunting journey of sobriety feel genuinely achievable and worthwhile. The uncertainty on the road to recovery can be overwhelming and may seem unfeasible at first. For anyone who is struggling with these fears and looking for some semblance of hope and meaningful connections this is your place.

It’s possible to work while in a mental health program. Outpatient programs in particular can support you as you continue working. Over 60 million people received mental health treatment or counseling in 2023 in the US — the equivalent of 1 in 5 people [1].

For many people, accessing mental health treatment while still maintaining a job is one of the biggest obstacles to care, especially to help pay for the costs of care.

It’s important, though, that you research and choose a program that first serves your mental health needs and then fits around your work commitments.

Here’s how you can receive effective mental health treatment and still have flexibility to work.

Care and Independence With Intensive Outpatient Programs

An Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) offers structured mental health care, consisting of regular therapy sessions at a health care facility. But in the evening, you can return home, unlike residential programs.

At Colorado Mental Health Services, our IOP runs for 3 days a week, 3 hours a day. The average duration is 12 weeks but can be extended to 20 weeks. Our program includes:

3 group sessions
2 individual therapy sessions
Medication management
Weekly psychiatric services

Throughout treatment we combine evidence-based therapies such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) to help you identify negative thought patterns, build resiliency, and improve emotion regulation. We also integrate holistic activities into our IOP to nurture your physical and mental well-being.

The flexibility of IOPs means that you can work around sessions and maintain your personal routine and responsibilities.

People tend to choose IOPs when they have mental health symptoms that disrupt their daily functioning but they don’t require round-the-clock supervision. Some people also select IOPs as a step-down after finishing residential programs and are ready to transition into more independent living.

Why People Work While In A Mental Health Program

Working while receiving care for mental health can help you maintain a consistent routine and a sense of autonomy that is beneficial for mental health. On top of that, working can give you access to a bigger community of people who can support you in your recovery, motivate you in your projects, or simply provide company. Community is an essential component of healing.

Some people also like being able to integrate skills and takeaways from their IOP directly into their daily work lives in real time.

Perhaps the biggest motivator to work while in an IOP is that you can earn an income while undergoing treatment. Outpatient programs also tend to be more affordable than inpatient programs and so provide more economical treatment.

Working while participating in an IOP doesn’t mean compromising the quality of care you receive. Outpatient programs are clinically proven to reduce mental health symptoms and also have high rates of retention [2]. One study even found that groups in outpatient programs had higher response rates to treatment for depression than groups in inpatient programs [3].

In summary, people choose to work while in a mental health program because they:

Receive clinically-proven care for mental health
Feel more independent
Integrate new skills into life in real-time
Continue to earn money
Maintain a personal routine
Have a bigger community

Is Working While In A Mental Health Program A Good Idea?

Working while in a mental health program can actually benefit your mental health recovery. Productive behaviors, structure, and greater financial stability can lower stress and anxiety and boost confidence. Applying what you learn from the IOP in real time can help improve your resiliency and self-perception.

Of course, it’s important to strike the right balance. Mental health has to be your priority, and based on your mental health history, current needs, and goals, working may not be conducive to your healing. If your work makes you feel fatigued or distracted, or triggers your disorder(s), it’s best not to work while receiving care.

If you’re not sure whether to work and attend a mental health program, speak with our admissions team. We can give informed advice about how to move forward.

Tips to Work While in A Mental Health Program

Many people work while in a mental health program such as an IOP. These tips are useful to stay focused, streamline both responsibilities, and get the care you deserve.

With Your Care Team	With Your Employer
Communicate work hours before you start the program and specify if you need extra time to commute.	Be transparent about the time you need per week to attend sessions.
Ask if telehealth options are available to conduct sessions virtually when needed.	Say ‘no’ to overtime or projects that extend your work hours.
Discuss at-work coping and self-care practices to nurture your mind and body.	Try to complete work that matches your energy levels before and after your sessions.

Maintain a trusted network of people who know you’re in a mental health program and also working. These people can offer you support and guidance when you need it and can help sustain a healthy equilibrium between both aspects of your life.

Mental Health IOP at Colorado Mental Health Services

At our treatment center located in Lakewood, CO, we believe that everyone should have access to high-quality mental health care and a higher quality of living.

Our Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) is run by a team of licensed professionals who personalize all care to each person’s needs. We use a combination of evidence-backed therapies such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) with holistic activities to help people heal. We accommodate anyone who is working while in the program, and we consistently deliver effective treatment.

You deserve to find mental peace. Speak with our admissions team about our IOP.

Sources

[1] Statista. (August 2025). Number of U.S. adults who received mental health treatment or counseling in the past year from 2002 to 2024. statista.com.

[2] Watkins, L. et al. (August 2023). Clinical Effectiveness of an Intensive Outpatient Program for Integrated Treatment of Comorbid Substance Abuse and Mental Health Disorders. Cognitive and Behavioral Practices.

[3] Dreissen, M. et al. (December 2019). Effectiveness of inpatient versus outpatient complex treatment programs in depressive disorders: a quasi-experimental study under naturalistic conditions. BMC Psychiatry.

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