Completing a residential treatment program for addiction brings major changes and adjustments on the recovery journey. No doubt you’ve been through a lot. But when this stage of treatment ends, most people need additional support before diving back into their regular lives. This is why outpatient rehab, the step-down level of care after inpatient treatment, is a crucial next phase of your recovery. And for many, the first stage of outpatient treatment is a partial hospitalization program.
What is a Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP)?
A partial hospitalization program (also known as PHP for short) in addiction treatment blends elements of both inpatient and outpatient programming together. It represents a midpoint along the treatment intensity continuum between the two programs. In PHP, you’re focused on resolving your most pressing addiction challenges, understanding your addiction triggers, and learning healthy coping behaviors, shares Psychiatry Journal.
During residential or inpatient treatment, you lived onsite at the treatment facility and received 24/7 care in a highly structured environment. When you finish inpatient treatment and transition into PHP addiction treatment, you may opt to live in a temporary sober living home or return to your own home if it’s a stable situation.
PHP sober living homes may be based at the treatment facility or offsite. This transitional residence provides the structured, supportive environment you’ve grown accustomed to in residential treatment. You live alongside others who are also pursuing their recovery goals. There’s also a residential staff member who may be on duty each day.
Partial hospitalization programs will provide a range of about 25 to 40 hours per week of individual and group therapy-based programming. This makes PHP addiction treatment more involved than traditional outpatient rehab. The duration of a PHP may vary, but some can last for a few months before you transition into an intensive outpatient program (IOP) or traditional outpatient programming (OP).
A partial hospitalization program for addiction is designed to help you maintain a healthy level of function in order to prevent drug or alcohol relapse, as well as full hospitalization. At this point in your recovery, you’ve completed detox and are medically stable. But you’re also motivated to get better, actively working on your recovery, and capable of accomplishing basic personal responsibilities each day.
What to Expect in PHP Addiction Treatment
Participating in a partial hospitalization program for addiction equips you to maintain your recovery amidst the real-world rhythms of regular everyday life. That means you’re participating in treatment often five days a week. Therapy sessions may last from six to eight hours each day, incorporating both group and individual participation, as well as family therapy. Your treatment experience may include medication-assisted treatment, evidence-based treatment, experiential therapy, and wellness-based treatment. Some therapy modalities you’ll encounter include:
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
- Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)
- Motivational enhancement therapy (MET)
- Trauma-informed care (TIC)
- Yoga
- Acupuncture
- Breathwork therapy
- Twelve step facilitation
- Exercise and nutrition therapy
- Outdoor therapy
- Art therapy
In addition to therapy, PHP addiction treatment often includes specialized life skills classes. These classes may teach you personal finance, nutrition, and culinary skills, for example. For some, these specific skills were deprioritized in favor of addiction for so long. Consequently, taking these classes empowers participants to live normal, independent lives again. You’re also encouraged to attend support groups outside of regular therapy sessions.
The Benefits of Participating in a Partial Hospitalization Program
What makes a partial hospitalization program for addiction so helpful while you’re navigating your recovery? Some of its key benefits include:
- Increased flexibility: A PHP addiction treatment program gives you additional freedoms and flexibility that were not available during residential treatment. You may receive access to your car, phone, and laptop during treatment. You also have the option to live at home during PHP as well, or you can choose to stay at a temporary sober living home. This means more opportunity to connect with loved ones.
- Continued comprehensive treatment: Partial hospitalization programs provide a smoother transition for you when coming out of inpatient treatment. With PHP, you still have access to intensive, holistic addiction treatment while gradually stepping back into regular life. This helps to prevent relapse in early recovery.
- Empowerment to stay the course: PHP allows you to continue your recovery alongside supportive therapists, staff members, and other program participants. At the same time, you learn valuable coping mechanisms and life skills that empower you to succeed in your recovery long after treatment ends.
Achieve Lasting Recovery in New England
Overcoming addiction has its challenges. But with the right addiction treatment support, you can successfully navigate each step on your way to real, lasting recovery. At Sana at Stowe in Stowe, Vermont, we provide a full continuum of care in our drug and alcohol addiction treatment programs. From detox and withdrawal management to residential treatment, PHP, outpatient treatment, and more, we can help you reclaim the healthy, addiction-free life you deserve. To get started, call us today.
