Agape Counseling Services Inc

Agape Counseling Services Inc offers two levels of outpatient addiction treatment — a standard Outpatient Program and an Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) — from its clinic on U.S. Highway 9 in Lanoka Harbor. For people who have completed a higher level of care or who are entering treatment for the first time without needing residential placement, these programs provide structured substance abuse treatment while allowing clients to remain connected to their home, their jobs, and their support networks.

The IOP level is particularly well-suited to individuals in the early stages of sustained recovery who need consistent clinical contact and peer accountability. Both levels incorporate group counseling and substance abuse sessions, which are core to building the community connections that research links to longer-term recovery outcomes. The clinic's extended weekday hours — 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM Monday through Friday — mean that scheduling does not become a barrier to staying enrolled.

A meaningful share of people seeking addiction treatment are also managing trauma, PTSD, or other co-occurring mental health conditions. Agape Counseling Services treats both simultaneously, addressing dual diagnosis within its outpatient and IOP tracks rather than requiring clients to seek mental health care elsewhere. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) provides the clinical framework for this work, helping clients develop concrete skills for managing the thoughts and behaviors that intersect with both substance use and trauma responses.

This integrated approach matters for the recovery community that Sober Nation serves — people who are thinking beyond detox and asking what kind of ongoing support will actually hold. For veterans, young adults, and others who carry both substance use and trauma histories, a program that treats co-occurring disorders as central rather than secondary can make a significant difference in long-term outcomes.

Agape's confirmed population list is notably broad. The clinic serves veterans, pregnant women, young adults (18–25), seniors, men, women, individuals with HIV/AIDS support needs, and people who are court-ordered into substance abuse treatment. Bilingual services are also available, extending access to clients who need language support. This range means that families navigating addiction treatment for a loved one are more likely to find that Agape has experience with their specific situation.

On the financial side, Agape accepts Medicaid, state insurance, self-pay, and sliding scale fees, and offers financial assistance for those who qualify. The clinic explicitly notes no wait time for admission — a practical differentiator in a region where delayed access to outpatient programs can disrupt recovery momentum. Individuals or families ready to take the next step can reach Agape at (609) 242-0086 or by email at [email protected].

Recovery is rarely sustained in isolation, and Agape Counseling Services builds structured peer connection directly into its programs. Group counseling and dedicated substance abuse sessions and groups are confirmed components of the clinic's services, giving clients regular opportunities to engage with others who are navigating similar challenges. For people in the outpatient phase of recovery — where the sober living community and alumni networks they will eventually lean on are still being built — this kind of structured group environment serves as an important bridge.

The group format also reinforces the CBT skills being developed in individual treatment, allowing clients to practice new ways of thinking and communicating in a supported setting before applying them in everyday life. For families and individuals evaluating outpatient programs in Ocean County, the presence of ongoing group support is one of the markers of a recovery center invested in outcomes beyond the intake appointment.