You may know that you need more support than weekly therapy but feel unsure whether inpatient treatment is necessary.
A partial hospitalization program, commonly called PHP, provides intensive behavioral health treatment during the day without requiring you to stay overnight.
PHP can help you stabilize symptoms, build coping skills, and receive consistent clinical support while living at home or in supportive housing.
What does partial hospitalization mean?
Despite its name, partial hospitalization does not mean that you are admitted to a hospital for part of the day.
PHP is a structured outpatient level of care for adults experiencing mental health conditions, substance use disorders, or both. Clients participate in several hours of programming during the day and return home or to supportive housing in the evening.
PHP typically provides more clinical contact and structure than an Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) or weekly therapy. However, it does not include the 24-hour supervision provided in residential treatment.
The ASAM Criteria classifies the intensive level of care commonly called PHP as Level 2.5. This framework helps clinicians match clients with services based on their individual medical, psychological, and social needs.
Who qualifies for PHP?
PHP may be appropriate for someone who is medically stable but needs substantial support to manage symptoms, prevent hospitalization, or continue progressing after residential treatment.
It may be a good fit for adults who:
- Need more support than IOP or weekly outpatient therapy provides
- Are transitioning from residential treatment
- Experience mental health or substance use symptoms that interfere with daily functioning
- Benefit from frequent clinical contact or medication management
- Have a stable home environment or access to supportive housing
- Can safely manage evenings outside a treatment setting
- Are ready to participate consistently in a structured program
PHP is not appropriate for every situation. Someone experiencing acute withdrawal, an immediate safety concern, severe medical instability, or symptoms requiring continuous monitoring may need detox, inpatient, or residential care first.
A professional assessment can determine which level of care provides the right balance of safety, structure, and independence.
How PHP differs from other levels of care
Behavioral health treatment is not one-size-fits-all. Levels of care differ based on how much structure, supervision, and clinical support a person needs.
PHP vs. inpatient treatment
An inpatient rehab program provides 24-hour structure and support. Clients live at the treatment location and participate in a full schedule of clinical and experiential programming.
PHP also provides intensive treatment, but clients do not stay overnight. They attend programming during the day and return home or to supportive housing afterward.
Inpatient or residential treatment may be more appropriate when someone needs stabilization, continuous support, or separation from an environment that makes recovery more difficult.
PHP vs. IOP
An intensive outpatient program provides structured treatment several days per week but involves fewer hours than PHP. IOP allows clients to manage more work, school, family, and community responsibilities outside treatment.
PHP is generally better suited to clients who need substantial daily structure. IOP may be appropriate once a client is more stable and ready for greater independence.
The right choice depends on your symptoms, safety, home environment, support system, and ability to use coping skills between sessions.
Our PHP vs. IOP comparison explains these differences in greater detail.
A typical PHP schedule
At The Raleigh House, PHP may involve approximately 40 hours of programming each week. The specific schedule and services included depend on each client’s clinical needs.
Programming may include:
- Individual and group therapy
- Family systems therapy
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
- Psychiatric support and medication management when appropriate
- Trauma-focused and experiential therapies
- Mindfulness and emotional-regulation practices
- Education about mental health and substance use
- Nutrition, movement, and wellness support
Clinical and experiential programming at The Raleigh House continues on Saturdays and Sundays. Recovery does not pause for the weekend, and consistent programming helps clients maintain structure as they work toward greater stability.
Is PHP right for you?
It can be difficult to determine how much care you need, especially when symptoms change from day to day. You do not have to make that decision alone.
During The Raleigh House admissions process, the team will ask about your symptoms, substance use, medical needs, medications, safety, home environment, support system, previous treatment, and daily responsibilities.
PHP may be the right level of care if you are stable enough to live outside a treatment facility but still need intensive support throughout the week. If your needs change, your care team may recommend stepping down to IOP or moving into a more structured level of care.
Frequently asked questions
Is PHP the same as inpatient treatment?
No. Both provide intensive behavioral health treatment, but inpatient clients live at the treatment facility and receive 24-hour support. PHP clients attend daytime programming and return home or to supportive housing in the evening.
How long is a PHP program?
The length of PHP depends on your symptoms, progress, treatment goals, and insurance authorization. Treatment should be based on your evolving clinical needs rather than a predetermined timeline.
Does insurance cover PHP?
Many commercial insurance plans include behavioral health benefits for PHP, but coverage varies. Medical necessity, authorization requirements, deductibles, coinsurance, and out-of-network benefits may affect your costs. Benefits should be verified before treatment begins.
Explore Partial Hospitalization in Denver
PHP at The Raleigh House is part of a connected continuum that allows care to evolve as your needs change.
The Ranch at The Raleigh House is located on 40 acres in the peaceful Colorado countryside near Denver. It provides a nature-immersive setting for detox, stabilization, and residential care before clients transition to outpatient treatment.
The Center for Integrative Behavioral Health is located in the Denver Tech Center. This welcoming, physically accessible setting supports residential, PHP, IOP, and continued outpatient care while clients begin returning to everyday responsibilities.
If you are unsure whether PHP is the right fit, contact admissions at The Raleigh House to discuss your needs and learn more about the available levels of care.