IOP vs PHP: How to Choose the Right Program for Teens and Young Adults

Intensive outpatient programs (IOP) vs partial hospitalization programs (PHP), what are the differences and what do I need to know as a parent of my teen or young adult who is struggling? When it comes to getting the right level of care for young people struggling with mental health challenges, understanding the differences between IOP and PHP can help you as a parent make an informed decision about the right program option. Yet, how do you decide which program is right for your loved one?

We’re here to guide you through the decision-making process, ensuring your teen or young adult receives the personalized care they need to heal and thrive. Whether it’s IOP or PHP, our goal is to help teens and young adults cultivate resilience and build the skills needed for lasting emotional well-being. Here’s what parents and caregivers need to know to help them decide if an IOP or PHP is right for their child.

Key Highlights 

• Choosing between an Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) and a Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) depends on each teen or young adult’s needs and the level of support required.
• IOP is known as a lower level of care that offers significant support while allowing clients to maintain school and life commitments. This can be an ideal program for someone who is struggling with anxiety, depression, self-harm, or relationship difficulties, yet continues to engage in school.
• PHP is known as a slightly higher level of care as it provides a more structured environment. PHP is best suited for young people struggling to engage in school and need a day-long program to replace the school day and increase mental/emotional stability. This can be an ideal program for teens and young adults who are struggling with school attendance/refusal, moderate to severe depression and anxiety, or a history of suicidal ideation.
• Both programs incorporate individual therapy, group therapy, family therapy, and experiential activities to facilitate healing.

How Can an IOP or PHP at Embark Help My Teen or Young Adult? 

We understand how overwhelming it can be to find the right mental health treatment for your child, and we’re here to help. Embark Behavioral Health’s IOP and PHP programs are specifically designed to address the unique challenges teens and young adults face today. Our IOPs and PHPs combine evidence-based therapies with holistic approaches that promote emotional, mental, and physical well-being.

With a deep understanding of the developmental needs of adolescents and young adults, we create personalized treatment plans that meet teens where they are. Whether it’s managing anxiety and/or depression, processing trauma, or decreasing instances of self-harm or suicidal ideation, our specialized IOPs and PHPs provide the structured support necessary for lasting change in a teen or young adult’s life.

What Is an Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)? 

An Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) is a higher level of therapy where teens and young adults get the mental health care they need while still living at home and keeping up with their daily routines.

What’s a Day Like at an IOP?  

A typical day in an IOP includes a combination of group therapy sessions that provide peer support and allow for shared learning with the guidance of supportive therapists, medication management as needed, family therapy to help families overcome difficult dynamics and conflicts, and individual therapy to support the processing of and building resilience in response to challenging thoughts, emotions, or life events. A variety of evidence-based treatments have been proven to help teens heal such as Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), Family Systems therapy, and Attachment Theory.

During a typical day, your child will come to our IOP and engage in learning more about themes such as emotion regulation, secure attachment, trauma processing, integrative health, interpersonal relationships, and more. A typical day’s schedule at our IOP could look like:

Evening IOP Schedule   

• 4:00 PM-Check-in and Peer-to-Peer
• 5:00 PM-Distress Tolerance Skills  
• 6:00 PM-Music Therapy 

What are the Types of IOP Programs? 

The different types of IOPs include virtual IOPs, in-person IOPs, mental health or substance use-focused IOPs, and dual diagnosis IOPs.

1. In-Person IOP 

• Focus: Face-to-face support for teens and young adults with mental health challenges like anxiety and depression.
• Benefits: Provides personalized care and hands-on therapeutic interventions, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), in a structured environment where teens can engage with peers and therapists directly, fostering connection and emotional growth.

2. Substance Use IOP 

• Focus: Teens facing substance use challenges. 
• Benefits: Integrates therapy, education, and relapse prevention, empowering teens to overcome substance use while staying engaged in their daily lives. 

3. Dual-Diagnosis IOP 

• Focus: Co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders. 
• Benefits: Treats both mental health conditions and substance use simultaneously, providing a more holistic and effective approach to recovery. 

4. Virtual IOP 

• Focus: Provides remote mental health support for teens unable to attend in-person sessions. 
• Benefits: Offers the same evidence-based therapies, including CBT and DBT, in a convenient and flexible online format, allowing teens to receive treatment from the comfort of their own homes while maintaining school and other responsibilities. 

What Is a Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) Or Day Treatment Program? 

A Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) is a safe and structured day treatment option where teens and young adults who are struggling with moderate-to-severe mental health symptoms of anxiety and depression (or other conditions) can receive intensive care during the day. Moderate-to-severe symptoms treated in a PHP can include, but are not limited to school refusal, suicidal ideation, and ongoing instances of self-harm.

PHP offers a daily therapeutic structure of group therapy, family therapy, individual therapy, and medication management, and also offers academic/executive functioning support. PHP is designed to increase mental/emotional stabilization to support adolescents, teens, and young adults remaining safe at home.

What is a Day Like at a PHP? 

A day at an Embark Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) also known as a partial care program or day treatment program for teens and young adults is designed to provide a balance of structure, support, and therapeutic care. Each day can begin with check-ins and mindfulness in group therapy sessions, where teens can connect with peers facing similar challenges.

Throughout the day, teens and young adults participate in group therapy, skills-building sessions, and other activities and evidence-based therapies all led by expert clinicians. Lunch and breaks are provided to give time for reflection and social interaction in a safe space. By the end of the day, teens return home, where they can practice the coping skills they’ve learned, offering a blend of intensive care and the comfort of their home environment.

A typical day at an Embark PHP or day treatment program could look like this:

• 9:00 AM- Check-in and Mindfulness 
• 10:00 AM-Trauma Focused CBT Skills
• 11:00 AM-Academic and Executive Functioning
• 12:00 PM- Lunch
• 12:30 PM- Peer-to-Peer Process Group
• 1:30 PM- Experiential and Coping Skills

What are the Different Types of PHPs? 

1. General Mental Health PHP 

• Focus: Anxiety, depression, and other mental health challenges. 
• Benefits: Offers a structured environment with evidence-based therapies such as Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). Teens and young adults work on emotional regulation, developing healthier coping skills to manage mental health concerns. 

2. Substance Use PHP 

• Focus: Teens facing substance use disorders and substance use issues. 
• Benefits: Combines therapy, education, and relapse prevention strategies to support recovery. This program empowers participants to overcome substance use challenges while maintaining daily responsibilities at home and school. 

3. Dual-Diagnosis PHP 

• Focus: Co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders. 
• Benefits: Addresses both mental health concerns and substance use simultaneously, offering comprehensive care that promotes long-term recovery and emotional stability. 

What’s similar between IOP and PHP? 

The most important similarity between Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP) and Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHP) is that both offer a greater structure, frequency, and duration of outpatient therapy without requiring overnight stays, allowing teens to continue their daily routines.

What Therapies are Used in IOPs and PHPs? 

IOPs and PHPs use similar types of proven therapies to help teens and young adults dealing with mental health issues or substance use disorders. These therapies teach young people skills and strategies to manage their conditions and find lasting recovery. 

Common therapies in both IOPs and PHPs include: 

• Individual therapy: gives a safe space to talk about feelings and develop coping skills. 
• Group therapy: provides support from peers and builds a sense of community through shared healing. 
• Family therapy: which works on family issues and improves communication between young people and their families. 

IOPs and PHPs may also use specific therapies like: 

• Trauma-focused Cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT): helps change negative thoughts and behaviors. 
• Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT): improves skills in managing emotions and relating to others. 
• Art therapy or music therapy: helps teens and young adults express feelings and heal. 
• Attachment-focused therapy: addresses attachment issues that are affecting a teen or young adult’s mental health. 
• Experiential therapy: engages teens hands-on through therapeutic activities that build self-esteem through real-life experiences. 

What Conditions are Treated in IOPs and PHPs? 

Common conditions treated in IOPs and PHPs include mood disorders, anxiety, substance abuse, eating disorders, and behavior problems. These programs provide complete care to meet the specific needs of teens and young adults. 

• Anxiety: IOP and PHP provide structured therapy to help teens and young adults manage overwhelming thoughts and build healthy coping skills. 
• Depression: These programs offer a supportive environment to address the root causes of depression and promote emotional resilience. 
• Disordered eating: IOP and PHP offer specialized therapies to help young people develop a healthier relationship with food and body image. 
• Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): IOPs and PHPs create a focused setting where teens and young adults can improve attention and impulse control. 
• Bipolar disorder: IOP and PHP provide consistent therapy and support to help teens stabilize moods and develop skills to manage emotional highs and lows. 
• Gaming addiction: IOPs and PHPs help teens regain balance by addressing compulsive behaviors and promoting healthier ways to engage with technology. 
• Oppositional defiant disorder: IOPs and PHPs focus on improving behavior, communication, and problem-solving skills in a safe, structured environment. 
• Reactive attachment disorder: These programs offer therapy to help teens and young adults build trust, improve relationships, and heal from early emotional trauma. 
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): IOP and PHP provide trauma-focused care, helping teens process and heal from past trauma and triggers in a safe space. 
• Self-harm: IOPs and PHPs offer a compassionate environment where teens learn to address the underlying causes of self-harm and how to use healthy coping mechanisms. 
• Suicidal ideation: IOP and PHP provide safe, structured support for teens struggling with suicidal thoughts, helping them address and overcome suicidal ideation. 
• Other mental health challenges: These programs offer flexible, personalized care to address a variety of mental health issues with specialized, compassionate support. 

What’s the difference between IOP and PHP? 

The key differences between IOP and PHP come down to treatment intensity, frequency, and flexibility. PHPs provide a higher level of care for teens and young adults struggling with severe mental health conditions like suicidality or self-harm, with daily, intensive therapy sessions lasting several hours each day under close supervision. IOP, while still focused on healing, is more flexible, with fewer sessions each week, allowing teens and young adults to balance therapy with school and other daily activities. 

Treatment Intensity and Frequency 

IOP  

Intensity: IOPs provide less treatment throughout the week and each day while providing teens with support and care for mental health conditions like anxiety and depression. 

Frequency: IOPs can occur 3 days a week, or more if a teen or young adult needs and can last 3 hours a day or more. 

PHP  

Intensity: PHPs provide a more intensive level of care for teens and young adults who may be a danger to themselves and are struggling with mental health conditions like anxiety, depression, self-harm, or suicidality in a safe and structured environment. 

Frequency: PHPs can occur 5 days a week or more depending on the treatment needed, lasting 5 hours a day or more. 

Duration and Flexibility of Programs 

IOP  

Duration: IOPs can last on average from 8 to 12 weeks, or longer if a teen or young adult needs more treatment. 

Flexibility: IOPs are designed to be flexible often offering therapy sessions in the afternoon or evening, making it easier to fit treatment into a teen or young adult’s busy schedule. 

PHP 

Duration: PHPs can last on average 4 to 6 weeks, or longer if a teen or young adult needs them. 

Flexibility: PHPs are less flexible than IOPs. Teens and young adults in a partial hospitalization program typically attend daily therapy sessions that last several hours, usually during the day, and return home in the evening after treatment. 

Level of Care and Support 

IOP  

Level of Care: IOPs provide a moderate level of care for teens and young adults. IOPs are designed for teens who need structured support alongside their existing schedule, but not full-time care. 

Level of Support: IOPs offer more flexibility and independence, with more group healing and support. Teens are supported through regular therapy sessions while continuing to manage their school, work, or home responsibilities. 

PHP  

Level of Care: PHPs offer a high level of care, with daily therapy sessions lasting several hours. PHPs provide intensive therapeutic support similar to residential treatment, but unlike residential treatment teens and young adults return home after treatment. 

Level of Support: PHPs provide close monitoring and supervision throughout the day, ensuring that teens have consistent access to mental health professionals and structured therapy activities during their treatment hours. 

How Effective are IOPs and PHPs at Helping Teens and Young Adults? 

Research shows that both IOPs and PHPs are good treatment options for teens and young adults with mental health and substance use issues. These treatments work well because they provide a structured setting, use therapies based on evidence, and focus on personalized care. 

For example, a study published in the International Journal of Eating Disorders showed that participants struggling with eating disorders showed fewer symptoms after attending both virtual and in-person IOPs. 

How Do I Choose Between an IOP or PHP Program for My Teen or Young Adult? 

Choosing the right care for your adolescent, teen, or young adult is very important. Think about your what treatment your teen needs, if your teen is struggling with safety issues, your family’s schedule, insurance coverage, and if they need a structured environment or greater flexibility. 

1. Safety 

It is very important to keep your teen or young adult safe during treatment. Our IOP and PHP programs focus on creating a safe, supportive environment. Our specialists are trained to handle different situations, like substance use problems and mental health crises. You can feel confident that safety comes first. They provide supervised therapy sessions and structured daily activities. Every part of the program is made to support the well-being and growth of your adolescent, teen, or young adult. 

2. Scheduling and Time Commitment 

When choosing between IOP and PHP programs, think about the schedule and time needed for each one. PHP treatment will usually require more time every week, while IOP care will be more flexible. 

It’s important to talk openly about the schedule with your teen, family members, and the treatment center. This way, you can find the best program for your family’s needs. That will help everyone take part in the treatment process. 

3. Understand What Treatment Needs Your Teen Has 

Understanding what your teen needs for treatment is important when you choose between an Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) and a Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP). Think about their specific needs, like how serious their mental health issue is and what level of care they need based on their treatment history. 

If your adolescent teen or young adult is struggling with mental health conditions like anxiety and depression, but could keep up their daily schedule, IOP may be a better fit.

4. Consider Insurance Coverage and Financial Aspects 

Navigating the money side of treatment is important. Understanding insurance coverage for Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOPs) and Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHPs) can be tricky. The coverage can change based on your specific insurance plan. So, it’s important to contact your provider to check your benefits. 

Parents should consider their plan’s deductible, co-pay costs, if PHP or IOP is covered, preauthorization requirements, if they are in or out of network with the provider, length of coverage their insurance will cover, and how many treatment sessions are approved when looking at insurance coverage for a PHP or IOP. 

5. Consider Your Teen’s Treatment History 

Reviewing your teen’s treatment history is important for deciding what to do next. Knowing what treatments, they had before, what worked, and what did not helps create a better plan. For example, if your teen or young adult has had treatment in traditional outpatient therapy, but they’re still struggling, a PHP or IOP could be a good treatment option. Remember to think about the progress they made, any setbacks they faced, and how they reacted to past treatments before figuring out the best way to move forward. 

6. Contact a Treatment Provider for Help 

If you’re having trouble figuring out if an IOP or PHP is the right choice for your adolescent, teen, or young adult, contact us. We’re here to help, and we’ll walk you through a personalized assessment, figuring out if an IOP or PHP is the right fit for your son or daughter, as well as any other treatment programs that could help your son or daughter. 

If IOP and PHP Aren’t the Right Fit? What Are Some Other Treatment Options? 

If IOP or PHP programs aren’t the best fit for your teen or young adult, Embark offers a range of other treatment options tailored to meet their needs. From residential treatment centers that provide 24/7 care in a structured environment, therapeutic boarding schools that provide a focus on academic healing and adventure therapy, transitional living programs that help teens and young adults transition back home, and virtual IOPs that provide flexible online treatment for adolescents, teens, and young adults, we’re here to help your family overcome mental health challenges and heal. Additionally, we offer experiential therapies and specialized programs designed to help your child overcome trauma, anxiety, depression, and more. 

Why Choose Embark’s IOP or PHP Programs? We’re Here to Help You Find the Right Treatment 

At Embark Behavioral Health, we understand the importance of finding the right care for your adolescent, teen, or young adult. Our IOP and PHP programs are designed to offer the structure and support needed to address complex mental health challenges while allowing for the flexibility to maintain daily routines. With a focus on personalized treatment plans, compassionate care, and evidence-based therapies, we’re here to help your family find the right path to healing and lasting change. 

IOP vs PHP FAQ 

How do Transitions from IOP and PHP Levels of Care Work? 

Transitions between levels of care are personal. They depend on each adolescent, teen, or young adult’s progress and needs. When moving from PHP to IOP, or the other way around, the treatment team and family work together to assess the situation. This helps make sure the change goes smoothly and support continues. 

Are there situations when IOP or PHP is More Beneficial? 

When thinking about how much care a young person needs, parents should look at how serious their condition is and what support they have. In these cases, IOP or PHP might help more. Daily functioning and how stable their health is also matter. 

Are PHPs and IOPs usually Covered by Insurance? 

Yes, insurance usually covers both PHPs and IOPs. It’s important to know what your insurance covers and if there will be any costs you have to pay yourself before starting a program. It’s a good idea to ask your insurance provider for details about your coverage. 

How do I start the conversation about going to an IOP or PHP with my teen? 

• Pick a safe place and time. 
• Share your worries with love and support. 
• Talk about how these programs can help your teen build good coping skills. 
• Focus on how they can solve their problems. 

Can a teen transition from PHP to IOP if their condition improves? 

Yes, moving from PHP to IOP is usual if a teen’s condition gets better. This step-down method gives ongoing support while helping them become more independent.