A Virtual Partial Hospitalization Program (vPHP) is a type of comprehensive mental health treatment that allows you to receive a high level of care via telehealth. These programs are covered by many insurance plans, which makes them accessible and affordable to many people who would benefit from treatment. The therapeutic benefits of virtual treatment are similarly effective to the care you’d receive in in-person treatment.

Some people may attend one vPHP for a few months and then transition to lower levels of treatment, for instance, a Virtual Intensive Outpatient Program (vIOP), followed by outpatient therapy. Some people come back to vPHP to receive more treatment and refresh their skills after a life event impacts their mental health. Other times, it’s a combination of challenges or stress and burnout that overwhelms their ability to cope and brings them back to vPHP. 

If you’re experiencing a mental health emergency, call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988.

In this blog post, we’ll explore some reasons you might want to try vPHP and give you an overview of what it’s all about.

Why would I choose Virtual PHP?

Virtual PHP makes treatment more accessible to people who have mobility challenges or conditions that may make in-person treatment difficult, such as agoraphobia. People who don’t live near a treatment center also benefit from vPHP because they can receive treatment at home rather than making a long commute every day or seeking other accommodations.

Some clients prefer virtual treatment because it’s more convenient and they have their pets and loved ones nearby to support them. It makes life during treatment simpler and easier for people who have difficulty with daily routines and household tasks. For those who are worried about the stigma of receiving mental health treatment, vPHP helps them maintain their privacy. 

vPHP is available for people in almost any living situation. Whether you live alone, with a significant other or roommate, or with your family, vPHP is an option to consider. Lightfully provides vPHP to clients across the state of California. 

What treatments are included in vPHP?

At Lightfully, each of our clients receives a personalized treatment plan that includes several types of evidence-based treatment. Your care team of licensed clinicians will use our Precision Care Model (PCM) to create your unique treatment plan based on an in-depth evaluation. Our comprehensive approach goes beyond skill-building to explore your triggers and mental health patterns. We help clients with core life processes in four areas: thoughts, feelings, behaviors and emotions. You’ll do some experimentation to find out what skills help you most and really make them your own. Your loved ones will have the opportunity to learn about your condition and how they can best support you during family therapy sessions. You’ll have the option to attend weekly medication management sessions with a psychiatrist as well.

Giving and receiving support from other clients during the treatment process plays an important role in an individual’s recovery. Interactive group therapy sessions make up four to six hours of treatment time each day. These include process groups, skills groups, focus groups and more. Process groups are a type of forum where you can talk with other clients about challenges in your day-to-day life. Group participants can provide perspectives to consider from a peer’s point of view and share strategies that have helped them with their own mental health.

Here’s a list of what’s included in vPHP at Lightfully: 

• Personalized treatment plan
• Programming five days a week
• Four to six hours per day of interactive group sessions
• At least 20 hours a week of clinical services by licensed or associate licensed providers
• Weekly psychiatry sessions
• Medication management
• Weekly therapy sessions
• Biweekly family therapy sessions

What mental health conditions are treated in Lightfully’s Virtual PHP?

We work with clients who have a wide range of mental health conditions in vPHP. You can expect to work with an individual therapist who has experience treating your condition. There are likely to be at least a few other people in your group treatments who have similar conditions as well.

We treat people who have conditions like these and more in vPHP:

• Depression and mood disorders
• Anxiety disorders
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Trauma-related disorders
• Agoraphobia

Explore your virtual treatment options at Lightfully

Lightfully’s Virtual PHP is a great place to begin your treatment journey. It can make your transition into treatment easier in a number of ways. Receiving treatment via telehealth shortens your morning routine and eliminates the daily commute. You get to stay close to your loved ones, and you maintain your privacy. vPHP is the highest level of treatment that we offer via telehealth, and it’s available to clients in California.

Most clients who start out in vPHP will transition to our Virtual Intensive Outpatient Program (vIOP) and taper their number of sessions each week as they start to improve. Receiving treatment in your home environment can make it easier to start practicing the skills you’re working on in treatment. If you have a condition that makes it hard to leave home, you’re likely to meet some people in vPHP who’ve had similar experiences. 

Are you considering a virtual mental health treatment program? The first step is scheduling an assessment. Please contact us or reach out to our Admissions Concierge Team. We look forward to talking with you.