Picking the right substance abuse treatment plan is an important part of your recovery. If you select the option that aligns closest with your needs, you can expect your treatment to be more rewarding and less difficult for you.
A partial hospitalization program (PHP) is one option that you may be considering. But before you commit to it, you’ll want to take some time to research exactly what it entails.
We’ve put together this blog post to help you do that. Keep reading to learn how a partial hospitalization program works and for information that will help you figure out whether this option is right for you.
What is a Partial Hospitalization Program? (PHP)
A partial hospitalization program is a type of substance abuse treatment. During one, a patient will spend some, but not all of their time in a hospital receiving care.
This is the key way that PHPs are different from other types of treatment like residential rehab. In rehab, a patient stays in a facility 24/7 for a set amount of time. But in a PHP, that same patient would typically only spend 3-5 hours at a hospital at some point during the day.
What are the benefits of this style of treatment?
People choose PHPs over other options because of the flexibility that they offer. Partial hospitalization programs enable individuals who need substance abuse recovery support to get the help that they need without having to disrupt their lives to get it.
It’s often possible for someone who participates in a PHP to continue working and continue meeting their familial obligations. The same isn’t true for many other types of substance abuse recovery treatment.
What Happens During a PHP?
A typical day in a partial hospitalization program can be very similar to a typical day in a residential rehab program. Some days, the only difference between the two options will be the amount of time that a patient spends receiving treatment.
With that in mind, you can expect your PHP to include a lot of 1-on-1 therapy. Therapy is the foundation of every serious substance abuse treatment option because it’s how patients get the guidance they need to identify and resolve the root causes of their addiction.
On top of that, a PHP may also include a wide variety of alternative treatments. These vary from facility to facility, but can include:
- Skills-building classes
- Group therapy
- 12-step meetings (or non-12-step meetings depending on the facility)
- Outdoor outings
- Exercise
- And more
The specific treatments that you get on a daily basis will often rotate since you aren’t spending your entire day at the treatment center.
How a PHP Fits into a Broader Treatment Plan
A partial hospitalization program can be the second part of your overall substance abuse recovery plan. Before you can get started with one, you need to complete detox.
This is when your body gets rid of the last traces of the substance that you’ve been abusing. It’s an important part of preparing yourself for treatment.
After detox, if you choose a PHP, it will be the most intensive part of your recovery plan. Yours can last for as little as a few weeks or for as much as several months.
Once the PHP is complete, you will be ready to get started with aftercare. This is when you gradually transition your recovery plan away from getting professional assistance and back into your own hands.
Who is a PHP right for?
Partial hospitalization programs provide patients with a ton of freedom. There are positives and negatives to this.
On the plus side, the freedom offered by PHPs enables those who participate in them to maintain their current professional and personal lifestyle. But on the downside, having this extra freedom could make you more likely to have a relapse.
This means that a PHP is best for someone who is confident in their ability to handle the extra freedom that they provide. You should have a good support system and a positive home environment to get the most out of this treatment option.
For Your PHP, Choose Zoe Behavioral Health
Where you choose to complete your PHP can have a big impact on how successful it is. You want to make sure that you’re working with highly qualified addiction specialists who can offer you personalized support just where you need it.
That’s exactly what we offer at Zoe Behavioral Health. Our PHP programs can be built around your needs so that you’re getting as much out of them as possible.
Get in touch with us today to learn more about what we can do for you.