PHPs vs. IOPs: Why Transitioning Is A Crucial Step In Your Mental Health Journey

What are the signs that you’ve come far enough in your mental health treatment plan that you can safely move to a lower level of care? Experts say that if you feel more in control of your symptoms and want more freedom, you can consider the transition. And when in doubt, you can always trust the recommendations of the clinical team working with you.

Partial Hospitalization Programs

Let’s demystify some of the jargon first, in case you’re getting confused. A partial hospitalization program (PHP) is a type of outpatient treatment program that provides individuals with a high level of structured support, usually for four to six hours a day for a minimum of five days a week. It is the most intensive of non-residential programs and is often recommended for patients transitioning from inpatient to outpatient treatments, those with severe mental health symptoms that interfere with daily life, or those who are at risk of a mental health relapse. 

Intensive Outpatient Programs

On the other hand, intensive outpatient programs (IOPs) are a step down from PHPs, offering a similar level of structured care and supervision without the same time commitments. As part of these programs, patients typically attend treatment for two to three hours a day for a minimum of three days a week, allowing them the flexibility to carry out daily activities such as work or school. 

IOPs may be recommended as part of a standalone treatment program, but they are also used to help patients in PHPs transition smoothly to a lower level of care so that they can gradually adjust to life outside of intensive treatment, while still having access to therapy - making them helpful for maintaining progress and preventing relapses. If you’ve made significant progress in PHP, an IOP is the natural next step.

When to Transition

So, when is the best time to make the transition? There’s no right answer. It really depends on how you feel. However, experts like Mission Connection say that you may be ready to move into an IOP after developing adequate coping skills from a PHP. If you’re more capable of managing your symptoms independently or notice you’re functioning better in daily life, you may benefit a lot from the transfer.

Additionally, if you’ve developed a robust support network, you may even prefer a less intensive program, as you’ll have more resources beyond treatment. You may not need to rely so much on a treatment center if you can get help elsewhere.

Finally, your treatment team may recommend a transfer to a lower level of care if they feel that you’ve made significant progress toward recovery.

Of course, the path to healing isn’t linear. Whether you’re ready to move to an IOP from a PHP depends on how you feel. If it’s something you want to consider, there’s no harm in discussing your options with a mental health professional.

Mission Connection
City: San Juan Capistrano
Address: 30310 Rancho Viejo Rd.
Website: https://missionconnectionhealthcare.com/