Partial hospitalization program

Key takeaways

• The partial hospitalization program (PHP) is a focused mental health day treatment for adults experiencing severe symptoms
• You’ll come in for six hours, five days a week, for group-based treatment, along with regular check-ins with a psychiatric provider
• At the end of your program, we’ll help plan the next steps in your care, such as intensive outpatient treatment, individual therapy, and medication management

Summary

The partial hospitalization program provides structured care for adults dealing with severe mental health symptoms. It’s a step below inpatient treatment, so you can receive intensive psychiatric support without an overnight stay.

Sometimes mental health symptoms become severe or make it hard to feel steady in your day-to-day life. But you don’t have to push through alone. The partial hospitalization program (PHP) offers intensive daytime treatment to help you stabilize and, when possible, avoid an inpatient stay. You’ll return home each evening while receiving close clinical support throughout the week.

What is a partial hospitalization program for mental health?

PHP is a high level of outpatient mental health care, just below inpatient treatment. You’ll attend sessions Monday through Friday, for about six hours per day (9 a.m. to 3 p.m.), and return home each evening.

PHP offers intensive, structured support in a therapeutic setting. While care is primarily group-based, you’ll also have regular check-ins with a psychiatric expert to monitor symptoms, review medications, and adjust treatment as needed. The program includes:

• Clinician-led group sessions to learn from others and build coping skills
• Ongoing psychiatric care, including medication management
• Support for building structure, stability, and safer routines during a difficult period

Is partial hospitalization right for me?

When you’re struggling with mental health, it’s normal to feel overwhelmed or unsure what to do next. Our goal is to meet you with the support you need at this moment. For some people, that may be PHP. For others, a lower level of care — like our intensive outpatient program (IOP) — may be a better fit. Either way, we’ll help you figure it out through open discussion and evaluation.

PHP may be a good option if you:

• Are transitioning out of inpatient mental health treatment
• Experience severe symptoms of depression, anxiety, or another mental health condition
• Have had recent increases in suicidal thoughts or risky, impulsive behaviors
• Need more support than IOP can provide
• Struggle to function at work, at home, or in relationships

And, if you’re dealing with substance use, our team will work closely with the Recovery Center so your care stays connected.

Will insurance cover PHP costs?

Most insurance plans cover PHP. Before you begin treatment, our team will verify your benefits and explain any associated costs upfront. Please note that we do not accept Medicaid or Medi-Cal for this program.

For more information about billing, insurance, and financial assistance, please visit our website.

Do I need a referral for PHP?

Yes. A referral can come from your therapist, psychiatrist, primary care provider, or another healthcare professional. You can also self-refer by contacting us directly. At your first visit, we’ll conduct an assessment to make sure PHP is the right fit for your needs.

Refer a patient

What comes next

Finishing PHP doesn’t mean you’re on your own. As the program wraps up, we’ll work with you to create an ongoing care plan that builds upon your progress.

Many people step down from PHP to a lower level of outpatient support, such as IOP. You may also continue individual therapy, group therapy, and medication management. Because our services are integrated, we can help coordinate those handoffs, schedule follow-ups, and make sure you have a clear path forward.

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