Determining the right level of care is an essential part of the recovery journey, and a partial hospitalization program (PHP) offers a balanced option for those who need intensive treatment without the requirement of overnight stays. PHP provides structured, therapeutic care during daytime hours, allowing individuals to return home each evening while still receiving the clinical support necessary for meaningful progress. At Free by the Sea, we offer a PHP that delivers personalized, evidence-based treatment for addiction and co-occurring mental health conditions, helping clients build a strong foundation for lasting recovery while staying connected to their daily lives.
What is a Partial Hospitalization Program for Addiction Treatment?
A partial hospitalization program, also known as a PHP, is a treatment option for those struggling with substance abuse or mental health challenges. It usually requires the patient to be at the recovery center in person 4 to 5 days a week for a minimum of about 5 hours a day. A partial hospitalization program php is a level of care that can deliver many of the same structured services as inpatient treatment while allowing a person to keep living at home.
The supportive environment of a PHP is ideal for those who need a step down from residential treatment, whether they are transitioning from a higher level of care or need a higher level of flexibility. When a patient is in need of medical attention but does not need inpatient services, partial hospitalization is a superb option. The individual gets all their inpatient care with the convenience that they get to go home each night. Free by the Sea works through close coordination with local medical providers to meet your healing journey needs.
What Therapies Are Used During Partial Hospitalization Treatment?
Partial hospitalization treatment offers programs for addiction recovery as well as mental health treatment for co-occurring disorders such as trauma, anxiety, and depression:
- Group counseling: Group therapy is offered during partial hospitalization programs to enhance the therapy experience for the individual. In a group setting, participants share their perspectives to receive peer support and build a sense of community and accountability.
- Individual Counseling: During your partial stay at our PHP center, you will receive individual counseling. This counseling includes 1:1 sessions, providing individualized treatment plans tailored to your individual needs, designed to work through the individual challenges and obstacles you face in long-term recovery, and to prepare you for a lifetime to continue recovery.
- Cognitive behavioral therapy: This therapy is to help individuals with their coping skills and to recognize unhealthy patterns. Cognitive behavioral therapy helps individuals build coping skills and manage triggers related to addiction and co-occurring symptoms, and can effectively treat depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder when these occur alongside substance use.
- Dialectical behavior therapy: Dialectical behavior therapy DBT is a talk therapy that helps individuals learn mindfulness skills, support emotion regulation, and improve relationships while creating a life worth living in recovery.
Services Provided for Partial Hospitalization Programs
Before the partial hospitalization treatment begins, an evaluation of the patient’s medical history and addiction history is performed. This helps determine the right personalized care for the patient. Some of the services provided at the recovery center for partial hospitalization are:
Services for medical needs
In a PHP, professionals monitor medical conditions and treat physical addiction complications and tend to the patient’s medical needs. When clinically appropriate, medication management may also be coordinated as part of care. Free by the Sea works through close coordination with local medical providers to meet your needs on site.
Aftercare Services
Planning for the future and aftercare programs are other continuing care programs that are offered, with aftercare designed to support lasting recovery. In this particular effective care service, the staff helps the individual with their plans and aftercare programs to help keep them sober, and they may also receive recovery resources to support life after PHP. They help them find support groups and help them to have a substance-free home for lasting wellness after formal treatment ends.
Holistic Treatment
At Free by the Sea, we offer holistic care alongside our evidence-based therapies. These interventions, such as art therapy, yoga, and experiential approaches, help treat individuals as a whole by addressing mental, physical, and spiritual health simultaneously. Holistic care can help improve self-esteem, teach healthier habits, and reduce the risk of relapse through stress management.
Family Involvement
Family involvement in addiction treatment supports the well-being of the entire family unit. With counseling sessions and education about addiction and enablement, our family program at Free by the Sea helps strengthen the family bond. This can create a better environment for recovery after treatment and helps family members process the effects their loved one’s addiction has on their lives.
Is a PHP Right for You?
A partial hospitalization program (PHP) may be the right fit if you are committed to maintaining sobriety when away from the recovery center and have a stable, supportive home environment to return to each evening. This level of care is particularly well-suited for individuals who have recently completed inpatient treatment and need continued structure as they transition back to daily life, as well as for those living in sober living arrangements or with family members who actively support their recovery.
PHPs also offer a more intensive option than standard outpatient services, making it an excellent choice for individuals with longer histories of addiction or those managing dual diagnosis disorders, where both substance use and mental health conditions require coordinated, integrated care. At Free by the Sea, we work with each client to determine whether PHP aligns with their clinical needs and personal circumstances, ensuring that the level of care supports both immediate stabilization and long-term recovery goals.
What Are the Benefits of PHP?
When deciding which level of care is best for you, it’s good to consider the advantages of a PHP:
- Intensive daily structure: Clients spend most of their day at the center participating in evidence-based therapies, skill-building groups, and educational classes about addiction, ensuring they receive the clinical support needed to make meaningful progress.
- Flexibility to maintain daily responsibilities: Because clients return home each evening, they can stay connected to family, work, or sober living arrangements while still receiving a high level of therapeutic care.
- Smooth transition between levels of care: PHPs provide a natural step-down from residential treatment or a step-up from outpatient care, making it a flexible option that adapts to changing clinical needs throughout the recovery journey.
- Integrated dual diagnosis support: Treatment addresses both addiction and co-occurring mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety, trauma, and other mood disorders, all within a coordinated, evidence-based framework.
- Relapse stabilization: For individuals who have experienced a setback, PHP offers the structure needed to regain stability and rebuild recovery skills in a supportive, clinically supervised environment.
Partial Hospitalization Programs for Dual Diagnosis
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, over one in five U.S. adults live with mental illness. Our partial hospitalization program includes dual diagnosis care, treating both substance use disorders and mental health concerns. A person who has both a substance use issue and co-occurring mental health conditions can benefit from this kind of care. Common conditions treated in PHP can include PTSD and eating disorders when they occur alongside substance use or other behavioral health needs.
PHP vs. Inpatient or Other Outpatient Programs
Choosing the right level of care is a critical decision in the recovery journey, and understanding the differences between PHP, IOP, inpatient, and outpatient programs can help you determine which option best aligns with your clinical needs, personal circumstances, and recovery goals.
An intensive outpatient program (IOP) offers structured therapeutic care for individuals who require more support than standard outpatient services but do not need the 24/7 supervision of inpatient or residential treatment. Clients typically attend programming three to five days per week for several hours each session, allowing them to receive meaningful clinical support while maintaining work, school, or family responsibilities. IOPs focus on relapse prevention, coping skills development, and addressing underlying mental health conditions, making it an ideal step-down option after completing a PHP or residential care.
Outpatient programs allow the patient to stay in their home and have less intensity than inpatient programs. Outpatient care is for people who have a less severe addiction and less severe withdrawal symptoms. The average length of time for an outpatient program is a few times a week, and a minimum of a couple of hours per day. The average length of the programs is approximately three months but can last up to a year.
Outpatient programs are great for people who have to continue to work but still desire to seek treatment. In these instances, the individuals can have their behavioral health therapy after work or during the day before they go to work, with flexible treatment options for people balancing care with daily responsibilities. Outpatient rehab in Washington state can be part of your aftercare plan, following inpatient programs and PHP programs.
Inpatient programs require the individual to stay at the recovery facility during treatment. Inpatient programs are also called residential treatment programs. The individual receives 24/7 care, monitoring, and support, which includes care from medical professionals.
During the day, the patient is in group and individual therapy sessions. It will work on your behavioral health. This is the most intensive program. It provides a great deal more than traditional outpatient services for behavioral health and substance use disorders.
How Do Admissions Work At Free By The Sea?
The admissions process at Free by the Sea is designed to be straightforward, compassionate, and free of pressure, guiding individuals from the first point of contact through the start of their treatment program. From the moment you reach out, the team works to reduce uncertainty by handling the clinical and administrative details so you can focus on your recovery. The process typically begins with a confidential phone call, followed by an in-person intake and assessment, and concludes with the development of an individualized treatment plan.
Initial Contact and Confidential Assessment
The admissions journey starts when you or a loved one calls Free by the Sea, where a team member will conduct a confidential pre-assessment to understand your situation. This initial conversation, which is protected by federal confidentiality regulations, gathers basic information about your substance use history, mental health, and insurance coverage to help determine the appropriate level of care. This no-obligation call is an opportunity to ask questions, explore treatment options, and begin the process of admission without pressure.
Insurance Coverage and Verification
Insurance verification is a critical step that helps you understand what services may be covered and what out-of-pocket costs to expect before you begin treatment. To verify your benefits, the admissions team will ask for basic information including your insurance card, member ID, policyholder details, date of birth, and group number if available. Free by the Sea accepts a range of private insurance plans, including:
- Aetna
- Ambetter
- Blue Cross Blue Shield
- Cigna
- UnitedHealthcare
- Kaiser Permanente
Our team works directly with your provider to confirm coverage, check for prior authorization requirements, and estimate any deductibles or copays. This service is free, confidential, and carries no commitment to begin treatment.
Get the Help You Deserve Today!
Addiction is a chronic brain disorder, and like other chronic illnesses, it requires professional treatment and ongoing support to achieve lasting recovery. At Free by the Sea, we are committed to providing compassionate, evidence-based care in a setting that supports healing for the whole person. Our facility is LegitScript-certified, reflecting our dedication to the highest standards of quality, transparency, and ethical practice. Contact us today to learn more about how we can support you or your loved one on the path to recovery.
Frequently Asked Questions
The length of treatment is personalized based on individual needs. Individuals participating in a PHP can expect to spend approximately 20 to 30 hours per week in treatment. PHP programs typically meet 4-6 hours daily, 5-7 days a week. PHPs can last from 2 to 6 weeks depending on goals. The average stay is approximately 4 weeks.
Yes, insurance typically covers the cost of a PHP. Coverage depends on your specific plan. If you are unsure what your plan covers, contact our admissions team. They can help you understand treatment costs.
Yes, our PHP at Free by the Sea can help treat mental health and addiction together through a combination of evidence-based and holistic therapies.
After completing a partial hospitalization program, individuals can transition to a lower level of care, whether that’s an IOP, standard outpatient treatment, or aftercare services. We offer a full continuum of care at Free by the Sea and can help coordinate your transition after completing our PHP.
Dr. Richard Crabbe joined our team in 2019 as our psychiatrist and medical director. He attended the University of Ghana Medical School where he became a Medical Doctor in 1977. From 1978 through 1984, he was a medical officer in the Ghana Navy and provided a variety of services from general medicine to surgeries. He received his Certificate in General Psychology from the American Board of Psychology and Neurology in 2002.
