Partial Hospitalization Program
What Is PHP?
Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) provides intensive treatment at a hospital level of clinical care, but without requiring participants to stay overnight. It's the bridge between residential treatment and outpatient care—offering structure and support while you begin reintegrating into daily life.
According to SAMHSA and the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM), PHP is classified as Level 2.5 care—one step below residential treatment but significantly more intensive than standard outpatient programs. Research published in the Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment shows that PHP achieves outcomes comparable to residential treatment for individuals with stable living environments, but at lower cost and with less disruption to family and work life.
PHP is ideal for individuals who need intensive support but can safely return to a stable home environment each evening. It allows you to apply recovery skills immediately in real-world situations—managing triggers, practicing coping strategies, and navigating daily life sober—while still receiving comprehensive clinical support.
Who Is PHP Right For?
PHP is appropriate for individuals who meet ASAM Level 2.5 criteria, including those who:
- Have completed residential treatment and are ready to step down to less restrictive care
- Have completed detox, are medically stable, and have a safe living environment
- Require intensive treatment but can maintain abstinence outside of 24-hour supervision
- Have co-occurring mental health disorders requiring close monitoring and integrated treatment
- Have moderate to high relapse risk but strong external support systems
- Need more structure than traditional outpatient but don't require residential care
- Are stepping down from inpatient psychiatric care with substance use issues
- Have attempted less intensive treatment without success
The Bridge to Independence
PHP occupies a critical space in the continuum of care. You receive nearly the same intensity of treatment as residential care (20-30 therapy hours vs. 25-35 hours weekly), but you also practice independence daily—returning home, managing evening routines, attending community 12-step meetings, and beginning to rebuild work or educational involvement. This real-world practice, while still closely supported, builds confidence and tests your recovery skills in a way that prepares you for long-term success.
A Day in PHP
Our structured 6-hour programming combines intensive therapy with skill-building and peer support.
Arrival & Morning Check-In
Begin the day with community check-in. Share experiences from the previous evening, set intentions for the day, and connect with peers.
Process Group Therapy
90-minute facilitated group exploring emotions, triggers, relationship dynamics, and recovery challenges. Learn from peers and practice vulnerability in a safe environment.
Individual or Family Therapy
Individual sessions 2-3 times per week with your primary therapist. Family therapy sessions scheduled weekly when appropriate.
Lunch Break
Meal provided on-site or opportunity to practice independence by obtaining lunch nearby and returning on time.
Specialty Group or Educational Workshop
Targeted sessions on topics like relapse prevention, coping skills, mindfulness, trauma recovery, dual diagnosis, life skills, or 12-step principles.
Experiential Therapy or Wrap-Up
Experiential activities (art, music, movement, mindfulness) or closing group to process the day and prepare for evening.
Program Conclusion
Return home, to sober living, or to other commitments. Evening expectations include 12-step meeting attendance, self-care, and recovery-focused activities.
Evening & Weekend Expectations
12-Step Meeting Attendance
Attend at least one community AA/NA/SMART Recovery meeting daily. Build external support network and practice fellowship.
Recovery-Focused Activities
Journaling, meditation, reading recovery literature, connecting with sponsor, working steps, calling peers.
Self-Care & Wellness
Adequate sleep, nutrition, exercise, personal hygiene. Building healthy routines is essential for recovery.
Accountability Check-Ins
Daily contact with sober living house manager, family, or accountability partner. Transparency builds trust.
PHP Treatment Components
Our PHP integrates evidence-based therapies, psychiatric care, and holistic approaches.
Individual Therapy
2-3 sessions per week using CBT, DBT, MI, or trauma-focused approaches tailored to your needs. Address core issues, develop coping strategies, process emotions.
Group Therapy
Daily process groups and specialized groups (relapse prevention, dual diagnosis, trauma, grief, family dynamics). Learn from peers, practice interpersonal skills, reduce isolation.
Psychiatric Services
Comprehensive psychiatric evaluation, medication management for co-occurring disorders, regular monitoring and adjustment. Integrated with addiction treatment.
Family Therapy
Weekly family sessions to improve communication, heal relationships, educate loved ones, and build supportive home environment. Family involvement improves outcomes.
Case Management
Coordination of sober living, legal issues, employment/education support, childcare resources, transportation, insurance. Address life stressors that threaten recovery.
Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)
Buprenorphine, naltrexone, or other FDA-approved medications for opioid or alcohol use disorder, integrated with behavioral therapies.
12-Step Integration
Introduction to 12-step principles, step work, community meeting attendance, sponsor connection, recovery literature study.
Relapse Prevention
Systematic identification of triggers, development of coping strategies, creation of emergency plans, practice of refusal skills.
Experiential Therapies
Art therapy, music therapy, mindfulness, yoga, recreational therapy. Creative approaches to emotional processing and stress reduction.
PHP vs. Other Treatment Levels
How PHP compares to residential, IOP, and outpatient care.
| Factor | Residential | PHP | IOP | Outpatient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ASAM Level | 3.1 / 3.5 | 2.5 | 2.1 | 1.0 |
| Hours/Week | 24/7 supervision | 30-36 hours | 9-12 hours | 1-2 hours |
| Schedule | 24/7 residential | 6 hrs/day, 5-6 days/week | 3 hrs/day, 3-4 days/week | 1-2 sessions/week |
| Housing | Live on-site | Home or sober living | Home or sober living | Home |
| Work/School | Not possible | Limited part-time | Part or full-time | Full-time |
| Best For | High-risk environment, need 24/7 structure | Step down from residential, need intensive support | Maintaining work/family, moderate support need | Stable recovery, ongoing maintenance |
| Duration | 30-90 days | 4-6 weeks | 6-12 weeks | 3-6+ months |
PHP for Dual Diagnosis
PHP is particularly effective for individuals with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders. The intensive daily structure allows for close psychiatric monitoring, medication titration, and integrated therapy that addresses both conditions simultaneously.
Our PHP psychiatric services include:
- Comprehensive diagnostic assessment
- Psychiatrist on-site daily for consultation
- Medication initiation and adjustment
- Dual diagnosis group therapy
- Crisis intervention when needed
- Coordination between psychiatric and addiction teams
Research shows that integrated dual diagnosis treatment produces better outcomes than treating conditions separately. PHP's intensity allows this integration while clients build real-world coping skills.
PHP FAQs
PHP provides the same intensity of treatment as residential but without 24/7 housing. You attend programming 6 hours per day, 5-6 days per week, then return home or to sober living each evening. This allows you to practice recovery skills in real-world settings while maintaining intensive therapeutic support. PHP is appropriate for those who have completed residential treatment or who have stable, supportive living environments.
PHP typically lasts 4-6 weeks, though duration varies based on individual progress and clinical needs. Some clients may attend for 2-3 weeks as a brief intensive, while others benefit from 8-10 weeks of care. Our clinical team reassesses weekly to ensure you're receiving the appropriate level of support.
PHP requires 6 hours of programming daily (typically 9 AM - 3 PM), making full-time work difficult. However, some clients maintain part-time evening work or complete FMLA leave. The intensive nature of PHP is designed to allow focus on recovery without the demands of full-time employment. After stepping down to IOP, most clients can resume work.
Many PHP clients live in sober living homes near our Delray Beach facility. This provides structure, accountability, and peer support outside of treatment hours. Others live with supportive family members or in their own stable housing. Our team can help coordinate sober living placement if needed. Living environment stability is assessed during admission to ensure PHP is the appropriate level of care.