Is PHP Right for You? How to Determine if Partial Hospitalization is Needed

When you or a loved one is discharged from an inpatient hospital stay or a residential treatment center, the next steps in care can feel overwhelming. Do you return to traditional outpatient therapy? Is it too soon to go home without structure? What if symptoms are starting to resurface or escalate after some progress?

This is where Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHP) come in,  offering a vital bridge between inpatient care and outpatient therapy. PHP is designed for those who need more support than weekly sessions can provide, yet don’t require 24-hour supervision in a hospital.

The River’s Bend PHP program is built to meet individuals and families right at that crossroads providing structured, evidence-based support for mental health, substance use disorders (SUD), and co-occurring conditions.

Understanding PHP: What Is It?

PHP is a short-term, intensive treatment program that typically involves 5 days per week of structured care. Clients participate in group therapy, individual counseling, psychiatric support, medication management, and skills-building sessions, all while returning home each evening.¹

It’s often referred to as a “step-down” from inpatient care, yet it’s just as powerful as a step-up when someone is struggling with their symptoms and needs more than what traditional outpatient therapy offers.

Who Is PHP For?

The individuals who benefit most from PHP often fall into one of the following categories:

1. Recently Discharged from Inpatient or Residential Care

Coming home after inpatient treatment can feel like stepping off a cliff without a net. PHP provides that net offering structure, routine, and therapeutic continuity. It helps solidify the progress made during inpatient treatment while supporting reintegration into daily life.²

2. Struggling with Escalating Symptoms

If you’ve been in individual or group therapy but notice increasing symptoms of depression, anxiety, or substance use, PHP offers a way to intensify your treatment without starting over.³

3. Living with Co-Occurring Disorders

For individuals navigating both mental health and substance use issues, PHP delivers integrated care under one roof. This coordinated approach improves outcomes and reduces relapse risks.⁴

4. Family Members Seeking Stability for a Loved One

It’s heartbreaking to watch someone you care about bounce between crisis points. PHP can offer a level of structure and support that prevents hospitalization, supports safety, and helps restore hope for everyone involved.

Signs PHP Might Be Right for You (or a Loved One)

Here are some signs that PHP could be the right next step:

• You’ve recently completed detox or inpatient treatment and are unsure how to maintain progress.
• You’re attending therapy, but sessions feel too far apart to manage your symptoms.
• You’re struggling with daily functioning maintaining a job, managing relationships, or taking care of basic needs.
• You’re experiencing an increase in symptoms, such as suicidal ideation, panic attacks, substance cravings, or mood swings.
• Your support system feels overwhelmed or unsure how to help.
• You need more than talk therapy, including medication management, psychoeducation, and skill-building.

If any of these apply, it may be time to explore PHP.

How PHP Supports Recovery for Mental Health, Substance Use, and Co-Occurring Disorders

At River’s Bend, our PHP is tailored to address a range of challenges, including:

Mental Health Conditions

Depression, anxiety, PTSD, bipolar disorder, and other mental health concerns often fluctuate in severity. When symptoms escalate, PHP helps stabilize and support recovery through consistent therapeutic engagement and structured care.

Substance Use Disorders (SUD)

Early recovery is fragile. Without structure, cravings and triggers can easily lead to relapse. PHP provides daily accountability, relapse prevention strategies, and a space to explore underlying causes of addiction.

Co-Occurring Disorders

When mental health and addiction issues intersect, treatment becomes more complex and more critical. Our PHP uses an integrated, dual-diagnosis approach that treats both conditions simultaneously, improving long-term outcomes and preventing the cycle of relapse and rehospitalization.

A Typical Day in PHP at River’s Bend

Many people wonder, “What does PHP actually look like?”

Here’s what a typical day might include:

• Morning check-in and goal setting
• Group therapy focused on DBT, CBT, relapse prevention, or trauma recovery
• Individual sessions with a therapist or counselor
• Medication management with a psychiatrist or nurse practitioner
• Skill-building workshops on mindfulness, emotion regulation, communication, or coping strategies
• Family support and coordination, if needed

The program typically runs Monday through Friday, from late morning to mid-afternoon, allowing participants to return home to their own bed each night while still receiving intensive care during the day.

How PHP Differs from IOP (Intensive Outpatient)

People often ask: “What’s the difference between PHP and IOP?”

The main differences lie in the level of intensity and hours per week:

	PHP	IOP
Frequency	Based on clinical criteria	3 days/week
Daily Hours	5–6 hours/day	3–4 hours/day
Focus	Stabilization & transition	Skill-building & maintenance
Best for	Recent inpatient discharge, high acuity	Mild to moderate symptoms, work/school balance

We work closely with each client to determine where they are on the continuum, and which level of care will help them move forward most effectively.

For Families: Your Role in Recovery

If you’re a loved one or caregiver, know this: you are not alone, and you are part of the solution.

Families often face the stress of not knowing what to do next especially after an inpatient discharge or during a mental health crisis. PHP can offer:

• Peace of mind that your loved one is receiving daily support and monitoring
• Professional guidance on how to support recovery without enabling
• Opportunities for involvement, through family therapy or check-ins
• A structured plan that’s coordinated, compassionate, and clinically sound

Our team at River’s Bend includes experienced therapists, psychiatrists, and nurses who view families as essential partners in the healing process.

When Is the Right Time to Call?

There’s no perfect moment, yet earlier is always better. Whether you’ve just left a treatment center or are feeling things begin to slip, PHP can provide the structure and care to help you or your loved one regain control.

Here’s when to reach out:

• After a hospitalization, residential stay, or detox
• When outpatient therapy isn’t enough
• When symptoms are interfering with daily life
• When you’re unsure what to do next

You don’t need to have all the answers. That’s what we’re here for.

Let’s Talk: Contact the River’s Bend Intake Team

Every recovery journey is different, but no one should walk it alone.

If you’re wondering whether PHP is the right next step, our intake team is here to help. We offer confidential consultations where we listen, assess your needs, and help you understand your options.

References

1. Khawaja IS, Westermeyer JJ. Providing Crisis-oriented and Recovery-based Treatment in Partial Hospitalization Programs. Psychiatry (Edgmont). 2010 Feb;7(2):28-31. PMID: 20376273; PMCID: PMC2848466 ↩︎
2. Shah, M. J., & Tumuluru, R. V. (2024). Stepping Down from Inpatient and Stepping up from Partial Hospitalization Programs. Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America, 34(1), 39–48. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chc.2024.06.003  ↩︎
3. Center for Substance Abuse Treatment. Managing Depressive Symptoms in Substance Abuse Clients During Early Recovery. Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) Series, No. 48. HHS Publication No. (SMA) 13-4353. Rockville, MD: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2008 ↩︎
4. Yule, A. (2019). Integrating treatment for Co-Occurring Mental Health Conditions. Alcohol Research, 40(1). https://doi.org/10.35946/arcr.v40.1.07  ↩︎