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Known as PHP for short, a partial hospitalization program provides a bridge between the highly structured environment of inpatient (residential) rehabilitation and the flexibility of outpatient treatment for people who are in treatment for drug or alcohol addiction.
What Is Partial Hospitalization Programming?
Partial hospitalization refers to an intensive, short-term form of addiction treatment that is less acute than inpatient hospitalization or residential treatment but is a higher level of care than outpatient treatment.
A PHP can directly follow inpatient or residential treatment, or it can be a starting point for the recovery process. Though it varies by facility, clients often live on-site at this phase of treatment. As the first treatment after inpatient rehabilitation, PHP can be an integral part of a return to living outside of a controlled environment. It can help establish a healthy rhythm for daily life.
Most PHPs offer a large variety of treatment services and features, including:
Usually, PHPs are utilized in a recovery, psychiatric or acute medical setting, and can be an effective way to balance treatment and skills application.
Who Needs Partial Hospitalization Programming?
The American Society of Addiction Medicine has standardized criteria for which level of care is best for a person with an addictive disorder.
Ideal candidates for PHP have:
- Completed medical detox
- Completed inpatient or residential care
- A relatively stable home and community support
- Enough stability and capacity to participate in therapy
It is also important to determine whether or not a PHP is the best level of treatment for your specific needs. Someone is likely to benefit from PHP if they:
- Need intensive treatment, but do not need to be hospitalized
- Have co-occurring substance use and mental health conditions
- Want a smooth transition from inpatient to independent living
Partial Hospitalization Program Treatment Plan
Clients enrolled in a PHP may engage in evidence-based treatment for approximately 18–20 hours per week and for five to seven days a week. One primary goal in PHP is creating a balanced transition towards independence. The highly structured support of PHP means that medical treatment and counseling support are readily available, while the freedom of PHP also provides many recreational amenities and therapeutic endeavors.
Although program offerings vary among rehab centers, most PHPs offer a daily partial hospitalization program schedule that includes medical support, counseling and access to therapeutic amenities.
At The Recovery Village Palm Beach at Baptist Health, our PHP includes:
- Continued medical treatment for addiction
- Medication management, if appropriate
- Counseling for co-occurring mental health conditions
- Nutritional support
- Individual, group and family therapy
- Skill-building for relapse prevention
- 12-step-based learning
- Access to recreational amenities and therapies, as appropriate
Clients have access to support while they are beginning to live with less structured care than inpatient or detox. As clients develop skills for sobriety and self-confidence as they progress through PHP, they can transition to intensive outpatient care. The Recovery Village Palm Beach at Baptist Health’s nearby outpatient center hosts daily programming for partial hospitalization and other clients. Intensive outpatient care follows PHP at The Recovery Village Palm Beach at Baptist Health, meaning that familiar faces and environments can help ease clients’ transitions to further programming in the same facility.
Therapy in Partial Hospitalization Programs
Most PHP programs focus on therapeutic support more so than medical care because by the time a person reaches this level of care, they should be mentally and physically stable. During a PHP, clients can deepen their knowledge of addiction and recovery, as well as forge bonds with peers in therapy and family members.
Individual Therapy Sessions
Conducted by a therapist, these sessions help a person in recovery identify root causes of addiction and help manage the internal vulnerabilities and resistance patterns that make addiction possible. Clients can also develop self-awareness and habits that lead to more healthier daily behaviors.
Group Therapy
Sessions are facilitated by an addiction treatment professional and may be attended by people in all stages of recovery. Participants can share their experience with and feelings about the challenges of recovery.
Family Therapy
In family therapy, loved ones can share their experience of addiction candidly with a person in recovery. This type of therapy can allow for an uncompromising study of the consequences of the addiction, and by doing so, pave the way for forgiveness and healing.
