Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) offers intensive therapy, medication management, and medical care for behavioral health management.
Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHPs) are another useful tool for mental health services for people who don’t need to stay in a hospital. PHPs offer structured, intensive care that is more intense than standard outpatient therapy but less restrictive than inpatient treatment. Here are some of the different kinds of treatments and techniques that may be offered in a PHP, along with their benefits:
- Individual Therapy: In individual therapy, the patient and doctor talk to each other one-on-one. It lets the care be tailored to the person and can help them work through specific problems.
- Group therapy: Group therapy is a type of treatment in which several patients work with one or more therapists at the same time. It gives people a place to feel safe and helps them learn how to get along with others.
- Medication management is the process of using medicines to help mental health problems. Patients in a PHP may get help with managing their medications from a doctor or nurse practitioner.
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a type of therapy that works on changing negative thought patterns and behaviors. It is often used to help anxiety, depression, and drug abuse.
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a type of therapy that blends mindfulness and acceptance-based strategies with cognitive-behavioral techniques. It is often used to treat eating disorders, drug abuse, and borderline personality disorder.
- Family therapy is a type of treatment in which the patient and their family members are both involved. It is often used to help solve family fights, problems with communication, and mental health problems that affect the whole family.
Outpatient mental health treatments can benefit from a PHP in the following ways:
- This type of treatment is more intensive than regular outpatient therapy.
- Patients can get the care they need while still being able to do some things on their own.
- Taking care of various mental health and drug abuse problems at the same time.
- Group therapy helps people feel like they are part of a community that cares about them.
- Allows for continuity of care, since people can get the care they need without having to stop what they’re doing.
In general, PHPs are another useful tool for outpatient mental health services. By giving individuals a wide range of treatments and therapies, a PHP can give them more intensive care and help them do better.
| Factor | Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) | Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) |
|---|---|---|
| Level of Care | Less intensive than PHP but more than traditional outpatient therapy | More intensive than IOP but less than inpatient treatment |
| Length of Treatment | Typically several hours per week for 6-8 weeks | Typically several hours per day for 1-2 weeks |
| Frequency of Sessions | Usually 3-5 days a week, with sessions lasting 2-3 hours | Usually 5-7 days a week, with sessions lasting 6-8 hours |
| Types of Therapies Offered | Group therapy, individual therapy, medication management, CBT, DBT, and family therapy | Same as IOP, with additional therapies such as art therapy and music therapy |
| Patient Independence | Patients can still live at home and maintain some level of independence | Patients may need to stay at a treatment facility or nearby housing during the program |
| Cost | Typically less expensive than PHP | Typically more expensive than IOP |
NOTE: If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, please don’t use our services; rather, call 911 or 988 or visit your local emergency room for help. For a list of other resources, click here. For information on Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, click here.