A Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) is a type of day treatment program that helps people recover from all kinds of mental health conditions. Clients use their time in PHP to learn about themselves. They also explore their mental health, work on reducing symptoms, and develop skills to manage their condition in their everyday life. 

It’s a form of structured outpatient program that offers hours of personalized support, five days a week. PHP makes this high level of mental health care accessible because these programs are often covered by health insurance.

In this article, we’ll talk about what makes PHP unique and what you can expect in PHP at Lightfully.

What makes PHP different from other levels of care? 

PHP is unique from other levels of care because it includes several different types of evidence-based treatment and five full treatment days each week — without the overnight stay. In PHP, clients have frequent sessions with their individual therapist, and they have the option to see a psychiatrist weekly. At Lightfully, PHP includes our Safe & Sound Emotion Regulation sessions.

PHP is part of a broader continuum of care. For many people, it’s an important step in their mental health treatment journey. PHP may be a good fit for people transitioning out of Residential Treatment (RTC) or inpatient hospitalization, which are 24-hour care programs. 

After completing PHP, a person might step down to an Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP). IOP builds on concepts learned in PHP and gives clients more opportunities to focus on applying them to their everyday lives.

Daily structure and components of PHP 

Lightfully clients attend 6-7 hours of treatment each day in PHP. It’s a lot of work, but the treatment environment makes the experience comfortable and immersive. It’s kind of like going to school for your mental health. 

Clients spend a good amount of time learning and practicing skills in group sessions. They have high-impact individual and family therapy sessions. They also participate in group activities designed to practice emotion regulation techniques and do mindfulness activities each day.

The following elements are included in Lightfully’s PHP:

• Two primary therapist sessions a week 
• One family therapy session a week 
• One medication management session a week with a psychiatrist
• Personalized treatment plan 
• Collective treatment team meetings every other week
• Safe & Sound Emotion Regulation sessions
• Four group sessions every day led by a licensed clinician

Who is a good candidate for PHP?

People who need more support than traditional outpatient therapy are often good candidates for PHP. If a person is struggling to function or their mental health is a high enough priority to step away from other commitments, PHP may be the right choice. 

Clients often stay in PHP for several months. We also have a Short-Term Option that allows people to make use of holiday breaks or focus on seasonal mental health concerns.

What to expect in PHP treatment 

At Lightfully, we provide treatment for the whole person. We get to know our clients through an in-depth assessment, and our licensed clinicians use the data to create a personalized weekly treatment plan. We provide education about the different treatment modalities we recommend, and we’ll work with you to make sure you feel confident about your treatment plan.

Lightfully takes a unique approach to treatment called Precision Care Model (PCM), which you can think of as a fully personalized framework using the most effective aspects of evidence-based modalities. These include: 

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
• Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)
• Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
• Cognitive processing therapy (CPT)

We also incorporate compassion-based and somatic therapies to target the drivers behind mental health disorders and symptoms.

The first weeks of PHP are about getting to know your treatment team, learning concepts, identifying goals to work on and solidifying treatment plans. 

As you go, important themes will come to the surface and your therapist will help you work through them. We keep treatment plans flexible, and they often change as you make progress and uncover new insights. 

In your final weeks, you’ll start preparing to transition to lower levels of care. With your consent, we can share information with other care providers to make each transition as smooth as possible.

Explore PHP treatment at Lightfully

Partial Hospitalization Programs bridge the gap between intensive inpatient care and traditional weekly therapy sessions, offering comprehensive daily treatment while allowing you to sleep at home. It’s a great way to receive a high level of care in a comfortable environment. It’s not as expensive as inpatient hospital stays, and it also allows you to maintain more independence and privacy.

Are you considering higher levels of mental health care for yourself or a loved one? Let’s talk through your options together. Contact us with questions or reach out to our Admissions Concierge Team today.