What is Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP)? Benefits, Compare PHP to IOP

We Level Up Florida can help with inpatient primary mental health therapy. Depending on the extent of secondary behavioral disorders, we can first help assess your condition and thereafter guide you to suitable treatment options.


While, we do not offer PHP, IOP nor outpatient level of care at this time our specialists can assist you in determining the proper treatment level of care for your personal circumstances. They can also explain the differences between PHP and inpatient services. Programs, services, and treatments vary. Get a free mental health assessment and find out what treatment options are most suitable for you. Call to learn more.

What is PHP Mental Health Treatment?

PHP stands for Partial Hospitalization Program. It is used to treat mental illness and substance abuse. Partial hospitalization focuses on the overall treatment of the individual. Also, PHP treatment is intended to avert or reduce inpatient treatment.

According to the Department of Health & Human Services (DHHS) [1], partial hospitalization programs (PHPs) are structured to provide intensive psychiatric care through active treatment that utilizes a combination of the clinically recognized items and services.

PHP is sometimes referred to as “day treatment.” which allows clients to go home at night and spend the day receiving treatment safely inside the treatment facility. Please note that transportation to and from PHP is not provided.

Partial Hospitalization Program Benefits

PHP patients receive many of the same treatments as a residential treatment program, such as:

  • Individual therapy:  One-on-one sessions between patients and counselors provide opportunities for individuals to process emotions during the recovery process.
  • Behavioral therapy: One of the core treatment methods for addiction. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) works with individuals to determine negative thought patterns that lead to unhealthy behavior, like abusing drugs or alcohol.
  • Group therapy: Group therapy is a significant part of the treatment. Group therapy provides patients with the opportunity to share their insights, learn from the experiences of others, and give and receive support with fellow peers.
  • Family therapy: Sharing difficult emotions like fear, anger, disappointment, and frustration in a safe therapeutic environment can be transformational for family and individual recovery.
  • Support groups: Less formal gatherings of people who are suffering from substance abuse. They provide a safe environment for discussion of personal issues related to addiction and how it affects people’s lives. 
  • Art therapy: Some people do not feel comfortable talking about their feelings or have a hard time putting them into words. Art can be a therapeutic method in for them to release deep emotions and provide insight into their primary therapist during PHP treatment.
  • Fitness and nutrition: Some PHPs offer recreational activities and nutritional education. Feeling good physically can boost someone’s mental state and increase their desire to live a healthy life without substance use.

Some PHPs also offer medication-assisted treatment (MAT) to treat mild to moderate detoxification symptoms.

Is a Partial Hospitalization Program For You?

This type of addiction treatment program is more intense than IOP (Intensive Outpatient) treatment but less intensive than inpatient rehab. Compared to IOP, PHP needs more sessions each week. This commitment is comparable to that of an inpatient or residential treatment program. The primary difference is that in PHP, the patient does not reside onsite at the facility during their treatment. Patients can choose their own housing accommodations.

Care at the partial hospitalization level is for individuals who meet one of the following two criteria:

  • Clients who have accomplished inpatient or residential treatment for substance abuse or mental health disorder and can benefit from a structured level of support as they transition to a more independent lifestyle.
  • Clients whose mental health, behavioral health, or substance-related needs do not require treatment at the inpatient or residential level.

In order to qualify for PHP, clients must show a degree of stability that allows them to fully participate in all therapeutic activities. Also, they must not have any physical or psychological needs that require 24/7 care.

Usually, a medical professional assesses how long someone needs to be in treatment based on several factors, such as the severity of addiction and other mental issues (co-occurring disorders). Partial hospitalization programs may last from several weeks to a few months. The exact length of treatment depends on your personal progress. You could spend several months or a few weeks in the program.

Comparing PHP and IOP

IOP and PHP are higher levels of care and are different from the contemporary outpatient services that last about an hour a day for three days a week.

Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP)

  • Full-time
  • 5 days per week
  • 6 to 8 hours per day
Partial Hospitalization Treatment
Partial Hospitalization Treatment

Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)

  • Part-time (day or evening)
  • 3+ days per week
  • 10 to 15 hours per week

Both of IOPs and PHPs are completed in rehabilitation facilities. Usually, a medical professional assesses how long someone needs to be in treatment based on several factors, such as the severity of addiction and other mental issues (co-occurring disorders). Partial hospitalization programs may last from several weeks to a few months.

Take Control of Your Life Today. Our friendly mental health specialists won’t give up on you. While we do not offer a Partial Hospitalization Program we can help provide a complementary behavioral assessment. We Level Up FL is committed to client success and invests in your recovery even after you leave through family and alumni resources available to clients and their families.

We Level Up FL is a primary inpatient mental health center offering exclusive inpatient treatments. We treat the entirety of behavioral health disorders including their secondary corresponding illnesses to improve long-term recovery outcomes.

Sources

[1] Department of Health & Human Services – https://www.cms.gov/regulations-and-guidance/guidance/transmittals/downloads/r10bp.pdf

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