When your mental health symptoms are affecting multiple areas of your life, there are intensive treatment options besides inpatient hospitalization. A Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) is a Day Treatment Program that offers a high level of mental health treatment while allowing clients to live at home. It covers the middle ground in the continuum of care between outpatient and Residential Treatment (RTC).
PHP gives you the space and the support you need to heal on a deep level. It’s a big time commitment, but if you can make it work, PHP can set you up for years of mental wellness.
In this article, we’ll share seven things you should know before starting PHP.
7 things to know before starting adult PHP
The thought of spending entire days in treatment can seem overwhelming. It will challenge you in good ways, and there will be tough moments. However, living with a mental health condition is difficult in its own way. The temporary discomfort of opening up to your innermost thoughts and feelings will allow you to process and reframe them. You’ll also build resilience and develop skills for maintaining your mental wellness in the long term.
The following are seven things you should know before starting PHP:
PHP provides intensive daily treatment while you live at home.
You may decide to commute to an in-person Partial Hospitalization Program or attend Virtual PHP remotely. For people who don’t need support with basic functioning, staying at home during treatment gives them the benefit of comfort and connection with loved ones. It also makes treatment more affordable than inpatient hospitalization. PHP includes five full days of personalized treatment per week, and treatment can last anywhere between two weeks and several months.
Treatment includes individual therapy, group sessions and psychiatric care.
PHP allows you to receive a range of different treatments that address different aspects of your mental health. Your licensed clinicians will create a week-by-week treatment plan based on an in-depth assessment. Group treatments play a big role in PHP, and you also receive three individual therapy sessions per week, medication management, and family therapy sessions. The Precision Care Model (PCM) framework we use at Lightfully incorporates different evidence-based treatments to help you with four core life processes: thoughts, emotions, behaviors and relationships.
You’ll have great conversations with people who understand you.
The power of group therapy sessions shouldn’t be underestimated. In PHP, you’ll meet people who really get you because they’re going through similar experiences. This social aspect of treatment helps you feel less alone and more like you belong in a supportive community. You may even start friendships that last a lifetime.
You’ll develop practical coping skills for real-world application.
Along with the insight you’ll gain into your mental health, you’ll develop coping skills that help you care for yourself proactively. You’ll work on emotion regulation and mindfulness skills you can use every day to feel grounded and focused. You’ll also work on skills for distress tolerance, communication and building strong relationships.
Family involvement enhances treatment outcomes.
Family therapy sessions don’t have to include biological family; you can invite anyone who’s close to you that you consider chosen family. These sessions help your loved ones learn more about what you’re experiencing and how they can best support you. You may work on your roles and dynamics, routines, quality time, and norms for communication.
Insurance often covers PHP as a medical necessity.
Because of mental health parity laws, insurance providers are required to cover mental health services at the same rates as other medical care. At Lightfully, we accept most insurance plans. Our Admissions Concierge Team can help you verify coverage and plan how you’ll finance your treatment.
Successful completion requires commitment and active participation.
Like many other things in life, the benefits you’ll get out of PHP match the effort you put into it. Clients are required to come to treatment unless they’re excused for an illness or an urgent need. There may be activities assigned as “homework” between sessions. One of the most important expectations is that you care for yourself well so you’ll have the capacity to stay engaged.
Lightfully offers a compassionate and personalized PHP experience
There’s still a lot of stigma around mental health conditions and intensive treatment, which can hold people back from getting the help they need. Needing a higher level of care doesn’t say anything about your worth as a person. Seeking treatment isn’t a sign of weakness — it’s a sign of courage.
PHP offers intensive support with the flexibility to maintain important connections to home and family life. Now that you know more about what to expect in PHP, you can start to consider what you’re looking for in a treatment center. Finding clinicians you trust who are experienced in treating your condition is one of the most important things. You may want to ask about their credentials and treatment outcomes or look at client testimonials and reviews.
We applaud you for taking the initiative to learn about your treatment options. Are you ready to find out if PHP is right for you? We can help. Reach out to our Admissions Concierge Team or contact us with any questions.
