What to Expect in a Partial Hospitalization Program

Finding the best level of care is an important part of effective drug or alcohol treatment. Doing this often starts with an assessment from an addiction specialist. Remember to be honest about your history, substance use, and other work and life needs as you undergo this process. When it comes to your health, making short-term sacrifices can be a great choice for your long-term sustainability. Are you looking for assistance navigating the treatment process in the Florida area? Call Gulf Breeze Recovery at 833.551.2304. Our friendly staff is happy to answer your questions about what a partial hospitalization program may look like for you. We’ll also help determine whether a more or less intensive level of care could be needed.

What’s the Definition of a Partial Hospitalization Program?

The best way to understand the partial hospitalization program definition is to compare it to the other primary levels of care. To wit, the following are the major types of offerings of which you’ll be informed during intake:

• Residential treatment programs – Residential treatment is the best step for people with serious chemical dependence. This is because it offers the most intensive level of recovery care. You live onsite at the treatment center for one to three months and engage in daily therapy, receive 24/7 supervision, and get access to copious resources.
• Partial hospitalization programs (PHPs) – Just one step down from residential care, PHPs also offer significant support and accountability. Clients live in supportive housing but attend treatment about five days a week for 4-8 hours at a time. PHPs usually last 5-6 weeks.
• Intensive outpatient programs (IOPs) – Intensive outpatient programs allow clients to reside at home and have lower onsite requirements than PHPs. Generally, activities onsite occur just 3-5 days per week and last 2-5 hours per session. Options of daytime or nighttime sessions may also be given to accommodate clients’ other needs. This program level works well for people stabilized enough to return to work, school, or childcare duties part-time. Sessions usually continue for two to four months.

A partial hospitalization program thus falls in the metaphorical middle of the pack in terms of intensity of care. It can be a good choice if you’ve completed residential treatment but still need significant care before resuming daily life.

What Happens in a Partial Hospitalization Program?

During a PHP, clients benefit from individual therapy sessions, group therapy, and other offerings during their daytime sessions. At night they return to supportive housing and enjoy the comforts of familiar surroundings to integrate the day’s experiences. One-on-one counseling can include offerings like treatment for any co-occurring mental illness the client presents, like anxiety or bipolar disorder. Trauma work may also be offered through accredited therapies like Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. Therapists typically also help clients develop relapse prevention plans during individual counseling to help navigate cravings and triggers going forward.

Group therapy during a PHP helps clients develop a healthy community and learn from one another’s experiences. Group offerings likewise foster accountability as clients learn to show up for each other and feel a sense of kinship. Discussing past drug use with people with similar experiences can prove very powerful. This is so because it reduces the isolation and shame that often burden people with a substance abuse history.

Beyond individual and group therapy, PHPs can feature any of the supportive activities that a residential program might. For instance, exercise therapy such as yoga is a great addition to a PHP since it involves clients’ bodies in the healing journey. Addiction does not affect the body or mind in isolation, and recovery works best when it similarly acknowledges clients’ totality. Moreover, many drugs negatively impact core bodily processes such as cardiovascular function, sleep, and digestion. Engaging in activities that encourage flexibility, blood flow, and deep breathing thus greatly supports the physical side of addiction recovery.

Commit to Your Recovery Through a Partial Hospitalization Program in Beautiful Gulf Breeze, Florida Today

If you or your loved one is stable enough to live in supportive housing during treatment but still needs a high level of intervention, a PHP may be an ideal choice. While rehab commitments are certainly substantial, some clients in PHPs also find they can begin to take on some of their former activities during evening hours. If you or someone you care about may benefit from this form of rehab or another level of care in northwest Florida, call Gulf Breeze Recovery today at 833.551.2304 or use our online contact form.