Teen Intensive Outpatient Program NC

07/19/2026

Five Lessons Five Years Have Reinforced

As we continue celebrating five years of our Adolescent Intensive Outpatient Program, I've been reflecting on what these years have reinforced for me.

While I've spent more than 30 years working with children, adolescents, and families, these past five years have reaffirmed some truths that continue to guide the way we care for every teen who walks through our doors.

❤️ Healing happens in relationships.
Teens don't heal because someone tells them what to do. Healing begins when they feel safe enough to be themselves, understood without judgment, and genuinely connected to the people helping them.

🌿 Families are part of the solution.
One of the greatest privileges of this work is watching parents gain new understanding, confidence, and hope. When families begin to heal together, lasting change becomes possible.

⭐ Progress isn't measured by perfection.
Sometimes progress is returning to school for one class. Sometimes it's using a coping skill instead of self-harming. Sometimes it's simply believing tomorrow might be a little better than today. Those moments matter.

🌱 Every teen is more than their struggles.
No young person should ever be defined by anxiety, depression, trauma, self-harm, or school refusal. Every teen has inherent worth, unique strengths, and the capacity for growth.

🛡️ Safety and trust create the conditions for healing.
Meaningful change begins when teens know they are emotionally safe, accepted without judgment, and surrounded by people who won't give up on them.

As I reflect on these past five years, I feel incredibly grateful—for the teens and families who have trusted us, for the remarkable clinicians who make this work possible every day, and for the physicians, therapists, schools, and community partners who have allowed us to be part of so many journeys.

It is a privilege that I never take for granted.

Thank you for allowing us to walk alongside your families over the past five years. Here's to many more years of hope, healing, and growth.

— Kristin Krippa & the Krippa Family Psychological & Wellness Services Team

07/16/2026

# # # Celebrating 5 Years of Serving Teens

Last month came and went, and in the busyness of serving families, we missed an important milestone.

In **June 2021**, Krippa Family Psychological & Wellness Services welcomed our very first adolescent Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) clients. Five years later, we're taking a moment to reflect on what an incredible journey it has been.

Over the past five years, we've had the privilege of walking alongside many adolescents and their families during some of the most difficult moments of their lives. We've celebrated victories that once seemed impossible, witnessed remarkable resilience, and watched young people rediscover hope, confidence, and connection.

What started as a single program has grown into one of the longest-running adolescent IOPs in our area. Today we proudly offer:
• In-person IOP in Cary
• In-person IOP in Cornelius
• Virtual IOP serving teens across North Carolina

None of this would have been possible without our extraordinary clinicians, mental health technicians, psychiatric providers, referral partners, schools, physicians, and—most importantly—the families who trusted us with their care.

To every teen who has walked through our doors: thank you for allowing us to be part of your journey. Your courage inspires us every day.

As we look toward the future, our commitment remains the same as it was in June 2021: to provide compassionate, evidence-based care that helps adolescents and families build lives worth living.

Thank you for being part of our story. Here's to the next five years of hope, healing, and growth.

07/15/2026

Introducing "The Perfectly Imperfect" – a supportive space for young adults to embrace self-love and address body image concerns. Facilitated by Abby Hite, LCSW-A, this group meets in person and welcomes ages 18+. Join us at 104 Fountain Brook Circle A, Cary, for weekly sessions at $50 each. Let's work together to overcome insecurities and celebrate our unique selves. For more info, visit www.ncpsychologist.com or call 919-893-9444.

05/25/2026

One of the more challenging questions parents face is knowing if their teen's behaviors require a higher level of care or not. This is also a question many individual providers face as well. The reason being is that many providers don't know what the levels of care actually are and when they should recommend them to their client. The most basic answer is if your teen or your client needs more than once a week individual therapy it's very possible they actually need IOP. It can be a lot more nuanced than that. We created a Level of Care decision tree for families and providers to use when deciding if their teen may need a higher level of care. This is not a diagnostic tool but a guideline to help you decide when to seek additional services. You can click below to sign up to receive a copy of our Levels of care decision tree for free.

Free guide to determine adolescent levels of care

04/20/2026

Did you know your mental health journey can begin with a simple click? At Krippa Family Psychological & Wellness Services, we offer expert care and resources designed to support your emotional well-being. Explore our website to learn more about our compassionate, professional services and how we help individuals and families thrive. Discover how we can be part of your wellness journey today.

Visit your website to find the support you're looking for.

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09/19/2025

Krippa Family Psychological & Wellness Services’ Virtual Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) for adolescents across North Carolina—now enrolling and meeting afterschool at 4:00 PM. Groups run by Dr. Sarah Spade

Who it’s for

Teens (ages 11–18 (if still in High School) experiencing:

Anxiety, depression, or mood changes

School avoidance or social stress

Emotion regulation challenges, self-esteem concerns, or family conflict

Need for more than once-weekly therapy—without inpatient care

Self-harm
Suicidal Ideation
What teens (and families) can expect

Afterschool schedule at 4:00 PM to reduce school disruption

Evidence-based care: DBT-informed skills (mindfulness, emotion regulation, distress tolerance, interpersonal effectiveness) CBT, Movement

Group therapy + individual support to build insight and real-life coping

Family involvement: parent DBT Skills group and regular check-ins to strengthen home routines

Care coordination with existing therapists, schools, and medical providers

Safety planning & crisis navigation with clear communication pathways

Why Virtual?

Accessible statewide (NC residents)

Consistent attendance from home

Lower barriers for busy families and rural communities

How to get started

Quick phone consult to confirm fit and answer questions

Intake & safety plan tailored to your teen

Begin the program—groups start at 4:00 PM on scheduled weekdays

Now enrolling for rolling starts.
Call: (919) 893-9444-Option 1
Email: [email protected]
Learn more: teeniopnc.com

If your teen is already working with a therapist, we’re happy to coordinate care. If you’re unsure whether IOP is the right level, we can help you decide.

07/27/2024

Krippa Family Psychological is teaming up with Healing Hearts Healing Minds to bring additional mental health services to the triangle to prevent trends su***de. Healing Hearts Healing Minds is a 501(c)3 and is currently seeking donations to help build a much needed teen su***de prevention program. Donations are tax deductible. Please share with anyone who might be able to make a much needed donation. Su***de is the second leading cause of death for teens.