Going into a Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) can seem overwhelming if you don’t really know what a day there actually looks like. Are you there for weeks, months, what will you do with your time? How much downtime do you get?
Partial hospitalization is structured mental health or addiction treatment that takes place during the day and lets you return home or to a supportive living situation overnight. It is more intensive than outpatient therapy but doesn’t involve an overnight hospital stay.
Programs vary widely. However, most PHPs are very structured and work to deliver treatment, stability, and provide practical coping skills and education.
In this blog, we will talk about a day in partial hospitalization and what actually happens.
What does a day in Partial Hospitalization look like?
Morning Check-in
A normal day in PHP begins with a morning check-in. This allows the treatment team to get a picture of how you are feeling and if there are any problems that need to be looked into.
The program you’re enrolled in may ask about your mood, sleep, stress levels, cravings, medications, or other symptoms. You can also review what challenges you ran into after you left the program the day before.
The check-in allows your team to monitor your progress and determine if additional help is required.
Group Therapy
A primary component of the partial hospitalization program is group therapy. These are sessions led by licensed professional therapists where the patient meets other individuals facing the same difficulties.
Different groups may target topics such as:
- Managing stressful life events and unpleasant feelings
- recognizing unhealthy thought patterns
- Developing your communication skills
- managing anxiety or depression
- preventing relapse
- Developing healthy routines and habits
- Improving personal relationships
- Managing triggers and adverse circumstances
In general, you’re encouraged to share your story but there’s no pressure to do so in the very beginning. Most of us need some time to adjust to a new group environment.
Individual Therapy
Some programs offer individual therapy on-site during the day and/or at scheduled times.
Individual sessions offer a confidential space for you and a therapist to talk about what’s going on. It can include anything you feel you aren’t comfortable sharing with the group. This might range from your goals in treatment to relationships to events in your past to particular symptoms you’re experiencing or situations that hinder your progress.
Your therapist can also provide the following services. Identify patterns in your behavior and assist you in finding tools for you to manage them.
Medication Management
In patients prescribed psychotropic medication, medication management might also be included in the PHP treatment process. A psychiatrist, nurse practitioner or other clinician could meet with you, review medications you are taking and monitor how you are tolerating the treatment.
They might focus on the benefits and side effects of medication, any medication response and shifts in appetite, sleep or mood. Medication may not be appropriate for all patients and in cases when it is part of treatment in PHP, frequent monitoring allows for a check-in.
Educational and skills-based sessions
Instead of just talking about your problems, you can also attend programs that help you learn new coping skills and build practical techniques to use beyond your treatment. Some of the lessons you can learn might include how to identify triggering factors, how to manage intense feelings, how to set boundaries with others, and how to communicate. In the case of a patient participating in addiction therapy, this might include learning about the warning signs of a relapse and coping strategies.
Lunch and Breaks
During most PHP routines there will be breaks and there will usually be time for lunch. While breaks might sound like nothing at all they can provide a useful change to catch up with participants or perhaps incorporate some habits that you would like to adopt. Many PHP programs encourage individuals to bring their lunch from home.
Some places may provide lunches; the routine depends upon the place.
Breaks from the routine of therapy also provide you with an opportunity to reset you before the next group.
Treatment Planning
A core component of PHP may also include treatment planning. Throughout your time in the PHP program, your treatment team will revisit your goals with you to assess your progress.
You can and will communicate to your team what areas have already improved, where you are still struggling, and what focus you need for the remaining duration. These plans are not set in stone; rather they can evolve over time with your unique needs and progress.
An individual who needs intense, all-day support may very well eventually be prepared and benefit from reduced therapy hours and be able to successfully progress into conventional outpatient services.
Putting the Coping Skills to Real-Life
Tests In many cases, the value of PHP is that you get to put your newfound or rediscovered coping skills into practice within the support system of treatment before having to put those skills to use on your own. For example, if you feel anxious when faced with tricky conversations and have been working on the way you approach them in therapy, you and your therapist can do role-playing exercises that simulate those conversations. For someone who is struggling with addiction, they might talk about how they’ll respond if confronted with an object associated with substance use or faced with intense cravings. It can be more empowering to have a strategy and have practiced it in advance when you’re faced with a similar situation.
Before Calling It a Day
When the PHP day is over, the programs often have a wrap-up session that might offer a brief time for each group member to reflect on their day and any insights gained during therapy. This may allow for you to pinpoint one or two things that would be helpful to review or practice at home, or it may be a time for the team to consider any concerns that must be addressed before your next treatment day. As there is no overnight treatment in PHP, participants typically need an evening plan. Your team might work together with you to come up with a schedule that allows for continued benefit and progress outside of treatment.
Then what happens when you’re done for the day?
A difference between PHP and inpatient care. Another difference of PHP is that typically, you go home or to another secure location at the end of the treatment day.
That allows you to get practice outside, where you may be working on skills in real time, but allows you to get daytime, supported care.
However it also means where you’re going matters most, whether or not you home offers security.
How long does a PHP day take?
A day treatment schedule varies depending on the program, but a PHP typically involves several hours of treatment several times a week. For some, days last much of the day, while for others they are shorter or have alternative timing.
The length of stay also varies, with some clients needing to stay for a few weeks and others needing more time.
Your treatment team will typically assign a daily treatment schedule based on symptoms, safety, progress, and treatment needs.
Could Partial Hospitalization Work for You?
A PHP can work well for someone who requires some additional services but doesn’t require constant professional oversight. PHP treatment provides structure, therapies, skills, routine interaction with professionals, and an avenue for slowly moving toward greater independence. If PHP feels like a promising alternative, inquire with a mental health treatment facility about the typical day at PHP, the types of therapies offered, medication management practices, attendance policies, family inclusion, and plans for transition to another level of treatment.
Conclusion
Life for a day in the partial program isn’t completely laid back, but definitely more centered around life and getting your life back in order. For your day that’s divided between group therapies, check-ins and skill-based workshops the overall objective is to offer substantial assistance and instill confidence.
Pine Meadows Recovery is a top rehab center for people dealing with drug and alcohol issues. The facility is run by experienced members who have helped many people come out of their addiction to alcohol and other substances. Feel free to learn more in detail about the rehab programs provided by the center.
Contact details
Website: Pine Meadows Recovery
Phone: (866) 604-6920
Email: info@pinemeadowsrecovery.com
Address: 4633 Washington Rd., Kenosha, WI 53144, USA
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is a partial hospitalization program?
Partial hospitalization programs offer some hours of intensive treatment each day, but don’t require overnight lodging.
2. What does a PHP day look like?
In a typical PHP day you might see check-ins, group and individual therapies, skills training, breaks and sessions for treatment planning.
3. How many hours are in each day in a PHP program?
Most day hospital programs offer a few hours of structured therapy during the daytime.
4. Will I have to stay overnight for partial hospitalization?
Most participants do not have to stay overnight during a partial hospitalization program; they will go home or to a transitional living environment at the end of the day.
5. Does partial hospitalization include group therapy?
It is possible that you will be in group therapy during your partial hospitalization stay.
6. Can I receive medication management through PHP?
Some PHP facilities work with licensed mental health professionals to offer medication management for individuals seeking care.
7. What skills will I gain from the partial hospitalization program?
Depending on the PHP and the individual participant’s treatment plan, the program may cover coping strategies, communication skills, managing triggers, stress management, and problem-solving techniques.
8. What is the difference between PHP and inpatient?
While an inpatient program involves residential treatment, a PHP is a day treatment program where the participant returns to their home at night.
9. Can family members participate in a PHP program?
Some programs may offer family group sessions or education as they may be beneficial to the participant’s ongoing treatment.
10. What will occur once my PHP program is complete?
A PHP program is designed to be a temporary form of treatment. Participants will typically proceed to a lower level of care once their symptoms have stabilized, which often includes outpatient therapy.