Could your child benefit from intensive mental health treatment? When seeking a treatment provider, it’s important to distinguish between different levels of care. Depending on your situation and your child’s condition, a partial hospitalization program (PHP) may be the best option. PHPs serve as a valuable middle ground between intensive outpatient programs and fully inpatient care. The best approach for your child will depend on their specific needs. Learning more about PHPs can help you understand why they may offer the ideal level of care for your child.

Why a PHP may be better suited than inpatient treatment for your child

• less social disruption — Inpatient care can be very disruptive to your child’s social life. Children can spend days or weeks in an adolescent inpatient mental health facility. Even with group therapy, this experience can be isolating. Peer support is just as important for adolescent mental health as support from parents and teachers, according to the journal School Mental Health. Close bonds with friends can provide comfort and stability. With a PHP, your child can get comprehensive treatment without losing their social tethers. PHPs often run from morning to afternoon for several days a week. After treatment, your child can come home to spend quality time with friends and family.

• increased flexibility for school — Inpatient treatment may cause your child to fall behind in school. Mental health should take top priority; however, it’s important to consider the impact of inpatient care on your child’s life. An academic gap can add to the disruption caused by inpatient treatment. If inpatient care is not necessary, a PHP can be a better option for balancing schoolwork. PHPs are designed to be relatively flexible. Treatment providers work to accommodate the academic responsibilities of each patient.

• more family time — Family involvement can be crucial in your child’s mental health journey. With inpatient treatment, family time is typically limited to certain visiting hours. PHPs, however, offer many opportunities for family involvement and support. A PHP does not require any overnight stays. This means your child can return to your home environment each evening. PHPs also tend to incorporate family therapy sessions. This allows your family to work through issues together.

• less restrictive environment — Inpatient treatment is intended to help patients work through major crises. To ensure their safety, patients are typically limited to a few common areas in the inpatient mental health facility. Though this can be necessary, the restriction can make patients feel frustrated and disempowered. With a PHP, your child can still benefit from a highly secure and monitored environment. However, they can also return home at the end of the day to move freely.

• encouraging independence — PHPs offer comprehensive treatment while also encouraging independence. One of the key goals of a PHP is equipping your child with the skills they need to thrive in a less intensive treatment environment. During their course of treatment, your child will develop essential coping skills to help them deal with challenging situations outside of a clinical setting. After a course of PHP treatment, your child may be able to transition to an outpatient treatment option.

• transition toward outpatient — Has your child spent time in inpatient care? A PHP could be a good transitory step toward outpatient treatment. While your child may not be ready for traditional therapy or other less intensive care options, a PHP can provide a helpful bridge, serving as an opportunity to adjust to outpatient therapy without losing the comprehensive support of hospitalization. After a PHP, your child might be ready for intensive outpatient (IOP) therapy. An IOP offers structured, evidence-based treatment designed to improve mental health while accommodating your child’s academics and other responsibilities.

Not sure whether you should opt for a PHP? There are several situations where a PHP might be the best option. If your child’s condition is too severe for traditional therapy, though not severe enough to require inpatient care, a PHP can be a great choice. A PHP can also be a helpful transition between an inpatient facility near you and intensive outpatient care. Consulting with a mental health professional about your child’s condition can help you determine the best next step.

Embrace U’s evidence-based partial hospitalization program can help your child

Are you ready to help your child get the mental health treatment they need? Embrace U is here to help. With partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient programs offered at multiple clinics in Middle Tennessee, we can help your family find the best way forward.

Contact our team today for more information about our programs or to schedule an initial appointment.