What Is PHP Therapy vs. IOP?
Outpatient addiction treatment is an effective, flexible option for people to get help without needing to move to an inpatient or residential drug and alcohol rehab. For many, an outpatient treatment plan can offer the therapy, support, and education they need to overcome addiction while still making it possible to continue working, going to school, or taking care of their family at home.
There are many types of outpatient help for mental health and addiction treatment, including partial hospitalization programs (PHPs) and intensive outpatient programs (IOPs). So, what is PHP therapy vs. IOP, and how are these different programs designed to help people treat an addiction to drugs or alcohol?
At WhiteSands Treatment’s addiction treatment facilities in Florida, our team of experts offers a full range of professional help for substance abuse, including inpatient programs, medical detox, and outpatient services like PHPs and IOPs.
We can help you or your loved one understand your insurance coverage for treatment and explore treatment options, including Florida outpatient addiction rehab, personalized to meet your unique needs. Let’s discuss PHPs and IOPs and the differences between these two effective programs for overcoming addiction.
What Is the Meaning of Partial Hospitalization?
When wondering about PHP therapy vs. IOP, it’s helpful to understand that these forms of outpatient addiction treatment are more similar than different. The American Society of Addiction Medicine says there are five main levels to the spectrum of addiction treatment programs:
- Early intervention services
- Outpatient services
- Intensive outpatient or partial hospitalization services
- Residential or inpatient services
- Medically managed intensive inpatient services
Patients in a partial hospitalization program will typically come to a treatment facility for intensive treatment for four to six hours a day, five days a week. While at the facility, they’ll receive individual and group therapy and also work on important skills like coping skills and relapse prevention. Occupational therapy, family counseling, and other services are also frequent components of a PHP for addiction treatment.
What Are the Benefits of a Partial Hospitalization Program?
A partial hospitalization program can be a good option for people who are struggling with addiction and need more support than a traditional outpatient program, but not so severe that they need a full-time inpatient program during which they live in a treatment facility. Patients can get regular care and treatment most days each week for several months, meaning they’ll benefit from ongoing guidance, therapy, and support.
Outpatient treatment, including PHPs, typically costs less than inpatient drug and alcohol rehab programs. Many people will transition into a partial hospitalization program – such as “stepping down” after first beginning treatment with medical detox and inpatient addiction treatment.
However, PHP’s biggest benefit for many is its flexibility. While patients must come to a facility for several hours of treatment at a time, they can return home each night and don’t need to move into a rehab center while they get help. This can make it easier for people to get the intensive, ongoing addiction treatment they need while still being able to live at home and keep their jobs.
The body of evidence shows that PHPs can be effective treatment options for mental health and addiction. One analysis published in Psychiatry said a partial hospitalization program can provide equivalent or even better outcomes for mental health treatment. Patients and families were more satisfied with PHP care one year after discharge than those in an inpatient mental health treatment program.
What Is Intensive Outpatient Treatment?
To fully understand what is PHP therapy vs. IOP, let’s discuss Florida drug and alcohol outpatient rehab options other than PHPs in more depth. An intensive outpatient program, or IOP, for addiction, is more intensive and active than a traditional outpatient treatment model. Patients will typically come to a facility for several hours of treatment and therapy several days each week.
However, treatment times are shorter and less frequent than a PHP. A PHP patient will likely come to a facility for treatment six hours a day, five days each week, for several months, while an IOP patient might only report for treatment three hours at a time, three days a week.
Either program will offer evidence-based therapy and treatment services, with a focus on addressing the mental aspects of addiction and learning how to achieve long-lasting recovery. However, an IOP can be considered a step down in intensity of treatment when compared to a partial hospitalization program.
Like PHPs, IOPs are often a step down from more intensive addiction treatment, such as medically supervised detox, residential drug or alcohol rehab programs, or partial hospitalization. IOPs can also provide specialized treatment, such as an IOP rehab for veterans.
What Are the Benefits of Assisted Outpatient Treatment?
There are many kinds of outpatient treatment for mental health and substance use disorders or addictions. In mental health care, assisted outpatient treatment can help people who have serious mental health challenges and might otherwise fall into a cycle of hospitalizations, homelessness, or the criminal justice system.
According to the Treatment Advocacy Center, assisted outpatient treatment improves overall treatment outcomes and reduces the rate of hospitalization or arrest. As the name implies, assisted outpatient treatment is all about assisting people with serious mental illness who have a prior history of inconsistent treatment to get the help and motivation they need to follow through on a treatment program.
Learn More About PHP Therapy vs. IOP at WhiteSands Treatment
If you’re considering what is PHP therapy vs. IOP and which type of addiction treatment will be best suited for you or your loved one, you’re not alone. Our team at WhiteSands Treatment can help you explore treatment options, including outpatient programs like PHPs or IOPs, to determine what will work best for your addiction treatment options in Florida.
We can help you verify insurance coverage and learn how to get ready to make the most out of your time getting help with drug or alcohol addiction from compassionate experts. Take the first step today toward your brighter future by calling us at 877-855-3470.
External Sources
- National Library of Medicine – Intensive Outpatient Treatment and the Continuum of Care
- National Library of Medicine – Providing Crisis-Oriented and Recovery-Based Treatment in Partial Hospitalization Programs
- Treatment Advocacy Center – Assisted Outpatient Treatment: Improving Outcomes and Saving Money
If you or a loved one needs help with abuse and/or treatment, please call the WhiteSands Treatment at (877) 855-3470. Our addiction specialists can assess your recovery needs and help you get the addiction treatment that provides the best chance for your long-term recovery.
About the Author
Jackie has been involved in the substance abuse and addiction treatment sector for over five years and this is something that she is truly eager about. She has a passion for writing and continuously works to create informative pieces that not only educate and inform the public about the disease of addiction but also provide solutions for those who struggle with drug and alcohol abuse.
