What Is a Teen PHP?
A Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) is one of the most intensive forms of outpatient treatment available for teens, providing a level of care just below inpatient treatment. In a teen PHP, adolescents attend a full-day therapy program typically 5 days a week, while returning home in the evenings.
The Redpoint Center's PHP for teens in Colorado offers a highly structured treatment schedule on weekdays. During these hours, teens engage in a variety of therapeutic activities much like they would in a residential facility – including individual therapy, multiple group therapy sessions, family therapy, and skill-building workshops. This level of care is often recommended for teens who need more intensive support than a standard outpatient or IOP can provide, but who can still be safe at home overnight.
In a Teen PHP, the focus is on stabilization and rapid skill acquisition. Because teens in PHP spend many hours per week in treatment (often ~20-30 hours), there's opportunity for deeper therapeutic work in a short time frame.
PHP essentially condenses a comprehensive treatment environment into daytime hours, which is why it's sometimes called "day treatment." This level of care is also a common step-down from inpatient psychiatric hospital stays or residential facility, allowing for a gradual transition back to normal life.
What to Expect in Teen PHP
At The Redpoint Center, the teen PHP is a highly structured, therapeutic day program. Each day's schedule is carefully planned to maximize healing and growth.
Daily Structure
- —— Weekly individual therapy sessions
- —— Daily group therapy with different therapeutic focuses
- —— Family therapy and parent education sessions
- —— Academic time and support to prevent falling behind
- —— Medical and psychiatric care as needed
- —— Therapeutic activities and structured breaks
- —— Meal times during program hours
The daily structure includes various therapeutic activities such as check-in groups, individual therapy, skills groups, and process groups where teens can share experiences and practice new skills.
Recreation and Art Activities
We recognize that teens need variety and movement throughout their treatment day. Our PHP incorporates recreational and art activities that break up the therapeutic schedule and keep teens engaged and active. These activities provide healthy outlets for self-expression and help teens stay physically active while building positive peer relationships in a supportive environment.
PHP vs. IOP
The main differences between PHP and IOP are the time commitment and intensity of care. PHP is longer hours, five days a week, and is intended for higher severity situations – it provides more supervision and a more controlled daily routine.
PHP is ideal when:
- • Stepping down from inpatient care
- • Experiencing acute symptoms needing daily support
- • Requiring medication stabilization
- • Needing intensive skill-building quickly
Many teens step down from PHP to IOP once they've achieved some stability. Both PHP and IOP are critical parts of the continuum of care, allowing us to tailor treatment intensity to each teen's needs.
Comprehensive PHP Services
Individual Therapy
One-on-one sessions with a dedicated therapist are a core component of PHP. In these sessions, teens work on their personal treatment goals and can process sensitive issues privately. Therapists may use modalities like CBT, DBT, or trauma-focused therapy depending on the teen's needs.
Group Therapy
Group sessions are a primary component of PHP, with different focuses throughout the program. Groups may include DBT skills where teens practice mindfulness and emotion regulation techniques together, or focus on relapse prevention or substance use education if some participants are dealing with addictions.
Family Therapy and Parent Education
Given the intensive nature of PHP, family involvement is a priority. We encourage the whole family to take part in family therapy sessions and educational meetings where parents learn about their teen's challenges. We recognize that healing as a family unit is crucial.
Medical and Psychiatric Care
Because PHP often deals with moderate to severe cases, The Redpoint Center provides comprehensive care that may include psychiatric evaluation and medication management as needed. We also address any medical issues that may impact treatment.
Teen PHP tends to yield results relatively quickly – the structured routine and immersive support can lead to noticeable improvements in mood, behavior, and coping skills within weeks. At The Redpoint Center, we provide intensive support while keeping teens connected to family and the comfort of home each evening.
The Redpoint Center's Teen PHP Approach
Intensive, Personalized Care
Our program ensures each teen gets plenty of individualized attention. Treatment plans are highly customized to address each teen's unique challenges and goals.
Expert Clinical Team
Our multidisciplinary team includes licensed therapists and specialized counselors. Everyone is experienced with adolescents, bringing professionalism and relatability teens respond to.
Comprehensive Services
We address not only the primary issue but also co-occurring disorders and practical needs. From recovery coaching to academic support, we tackle the whole problem, not just surface symptoms.
Transition Planning
From day one, we plan for life after PHP. We prepare detailed aftercare plans, practice relapse prevention, and ensure smooth transitions to lower levels of care or ongoing support.
Focus on Co-occurring Issues
Many teens in PHP have dual diagnoses – for example, depression and substance abuse, or anxiety and an eating disorder. The Redpoint Center's program is well-equipped for this.
Integrated Treatment
Our clinicians use an integrative, trauma-informed approach to simultaneously treat multiple issues. We don't silo mental health and addiction treatment; instead, we have specialized tracks and groups that bring the approaches together.
Evidence-Based Outcomes
We utilize evidence-based interventions and monitor progress throughout treatment. This allows us to adjust the plan as needed to ensure the best outcomes for each teen.
Is PHP Right for Your Teen?
PHP is often the right choice when a teen's mental health or substance issue is significantly impairing their daily functioning but they remain safe enough to be at home nights and weekends.
PHP may be appropriate after:
- —— Inpatient hospitalization for safety
- —— Residential treatment completion
- —— When weekly therapy isn't enough
- —— During mental health crisis stabilization
Benefits of PHP include:
- —— Rapid symptom stabilization
- —— Intensive skill development
- —— Close medical monitoring
- —— Family involvement and healing
- —— Smooth transition to ongoing care
The good news is that PHP tends to yield results relatively quickly – the structured routine and immersive support can lead to noticeable improvements in mood, behavior, and coping skills within weeks.
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