What is a PHP for adolescents, teens, and young adults?
A PHP for adolescents and teens is an intensive therapeutic day program offering family, group, and individual therapy for serious mental health challenges that allows youth to return home to family in the evenings.
PHPs, also commonly referred to as day treatment programs, partial care programs, and therapeutic day programs, are designed to help youth who may be experiencing mental health issues related to self-harm or suicidal ideation, providing a safe, structured, and healing treatment environment. PHPs are a good option for adolescents, teens, and young adults who need intensive therapeutic treatment during the day, but who don't need the 24/7 care environment of a residential treatment center.




How effective are PHPs at helping teens and youth?
Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHPs) have proven to be highly effective in supporting adolescents and young adults facing mental health challenges. A study published in 2024 in the Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry found that PHPs helped adolescents improve their mental health and functioning overall after discharge from the program.
Another study published in the International Journal of Eating Disorders found that Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHPs) are effective in treating children and adolescents with avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID). Adolescents and children in this study showed significant improvements in weight and reductions in ARFID symptoms from admission to discharge, with these gains generally maintained at six and twelve months after leaving the PHP.


What's a day at a PHP for teens, adolescents, and young adults like?
A day a PHP treatment program offers teens and young adults a balanced mix of structure, support, and therapeutic care. Throughout the day, they engage in group therapy, skills-building sessions, and evidence-based activities guided by expert clinicians, with breaks for reflection and safe socialization. In the evening, they come home ready to use their new coping skills in the comfort and support of family.
Here's what a typical day at PHP for teens and adolescents can look like:
Who will be helping my teen or youth heal at a PHP?
Our team of healing PHP therapists, psychiatrists, counselors, and life coaches provides compassionate mental health treatment for children, adolescents, teens, and young adults by utilizing trauma-informed techniques.
Find a PHP treatment center that best fits your teen’s or young adult’s needs
Embark has partial hospitalization programs for teens, adolescents, and young adults across the country. Find a PHP near you by clicking below or by calling our PHP specialists for help finding a program.
Stories of healing
Our PHPs have helped thousands of adolescents, teens, and young adults overcome difficult mental health conditions and create lives filled with joy. Take a look at some of the stories of healing from teens and families we've helped below:

Is your teen struggling with a different mental health condition?
Contact us and we'll help you figure out if a PHP is the best option to help your adolescent, teen, or young adult, or if another treatment option will be the best fit.
PHP FAQ

What if my teen or young adult needs a different level of care?
If a partial hospitalization program isn't the best fit for your teen or youth, don't lose hope. At Embark, we offer a variety of treatment options throughout the U.S. that are here to help your family heal. Here are some steps up in treatment that can provide a higher level of care or treatment if your adolescent, teen, or young adult needs intensive care:
Need help finding the right program?
Talk to our program specialists, we'll help you find the right option for your adolescent, teen, or young adult.