PHP for teens: Adolescent Partial Hospitalization Program
When your teen is facing anxiety, depression, trauma, or substance use, it can feel like you’re lost in a storm. But you’re not alone. Our adolescent partial hospitalization program (PHP) offers structured care during the day, so your teen can heal while staying connected to their home and family. With expert therapy and a compassionate team, we help teens rebuild stability and confidence. Speak to us today to learn how our PHP can support your teen’s recovery.
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What is a Teen Partial Hospitalization Program?
A partial hospitalization program (PHP) is a type of day treatment designed for adolescents who need more intensive support than traditional outpatient therapy but don’t require overnight care in a hospital setting.
At Key Healthcare, our teen PHP program runs five days a week for up to eight hours per day, typically lasting three to four weeks. It offers comprehensive care in a supportive environment, giving your teen the structure they need while staying connected to home.
PHP is a deeply transformative treatment option built around your teen’s specific needs.
Who Is This Adolescent PHP Program For?
Our adolescent PHP is designed for teens ages 13 to 17 who:
- Are experiencing mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, or PTSD
- Are dealing with substance abuse or co-occurring disorders
- Have recently been discharged from an inpatient program and need continued support
- Are not making progress in outpatient programs and require a higher level of care
- Are showing signs of school refusal, social withdrawal, or self-harm
- Need help building daily routines, emotional regulation, and coping skills
Not sure if a PHP treatment program is the right fit for your teen? Our team will walk you through a comprehensive assessment to determine the most appropriate level of care.
What Does Our Teen PHP Treatment Program Include?
Each day in our partial hospitalization program for teens is designed to help your teen meet key treatment goals in a supportive environment. We understand how overwhelming it can be to find the right treatment option. That’s why our PHP rehab for teens offers a holistic and comprehensive path to healing.
Here’s what your teen can expect from our PHP treatment program:
Comprehensive Assessment
Before your teen begins the program, we conduct a comprehensive assessment to better understand their challenges. This step is critical in developing a specific plan and a personalized treatment plan that aligns with your child’s unique goals. It also helps determine if our PHP fits your family’s needs or if other intensive outpatient programs or inpatient programs may be more appropriate.
Individual Therapy
Your teen will meet with a Masters level therapist for individual therapy multiple times per week. We use evidence-based treatments like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) to address harmful thinking patterns and support relapse prevention. These therapeutic tools are especially effective for teens dealing with mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression, and trauma.
Group Therapy
In group therapy, your teen will connect with other adolescents navigating similar mental health challenges. These sessions help them practice communication and improve social awareness—all within a professionally guided space. It’s also a key component of day treatment that fosters peer support and community.
Family Therapy Sessions
Because your teen’s healing journey involves the entire family, our program includes consistent family therapy sessions. These guided conversations aim to repair strained dynamics, build trust, and give you the tools to support your teen after the program ends. Our team believes family involvement is essential to lasting recovery.
Academic Support
We know that mental health struggles often interfere with school performance. That’s why our treatment center offers dedicated academic support, ensuring your teen keeps up with assignments while managing their emotional and behavioral needs. Balancing education and therapy helps your teen build confidence and prepare for reintegration into school life.
Medication Management
If your child requires medications as part of their mental health treatment, our clinical team provides professional medication management and regular monitoring. We prioritize safety and work collaboratively with families to ensure any psychiatric care is effective and aligned with your teen’s needs.
Mindfulness Practices and Holistic Care
True healing goes beyond symptom control. We incorporate mindfulness practices, expressive arts, and movement into your teen’s daily schedule to support their overall well-being. These holistic elements help teens reconnect with themselves and develop healthy coping skills that improve their daily life and emotional resilience.
Our adolescent partial hospitalization program is a bridge between crisis and long-term wellness. By combining intensive treatment and academic structure, we offer a comprehensive care experience that helps teens thrive.
What Conditions Can Our Los Angeles Partial Hospitalization Program Treat?
Our partial hospitalization program at Key Healthcare treats a range of mental health and addiction conditions in teens, including depression, anxiety, trauma, bipolar disorder, substance use disorders, and much more, all within a structured, supportive, and therapeutic environment.
What Conditions Does the Adolescent PHP Treat?
At Key Healthcare, our PHP treatment program is designed to help teens manage a wide range of mental health issues and behavioral challenges, including:
- Generalized anxiety disorder
- Major depressive disorder
- Bipolar disorder and mood dysregulation
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Substance abuse and dual diagnoses
- Self-harm, suicidal thoughts, and school avoidance
- Social withdrawal and low self-esteem
We take an evidence-based treatment approach to ensure every teen receives the quality treatment they deserve.
Our goal in developing Key Healthcare was to create programs that gave teens the guidance they needed to draw on their strengths and realize their potential to live fulfilling happy lives. Based on our own experiences, we believe that everyone has the ability to change if given the proper structure and connection
Ryan Blivas & Evan Powell
Founders of Key Healthcare
PHP vs. Residential and IOP: What’s the Right Fit for Your Teen?
When your teen is struggling, you just want to find the right kind of help quickly. But it’s not always easy to know which level of care is best. Should they be in therapy a few times a week? Do they need full-time residential treatment? That’s where a Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) comes in, offering the kind of structure and support your teen needs without completely disconnecting them from home.
Here’s how PHP compares to other common treatment options:
PHP vs. Residential Treatment
Residential treatment means your teen would live at the facility full-time. For some families, that level of care is necessary, especially if safety is a concern. But for many, it can feel too intense or disruptive to family life, school, and routine.
With PHP, your teen gets the same full-day support with therapy and medical care, but they come home each evening. This gives them a chance to heal in a stable environment while still staying connected to the people who matter most: you.
PHP vs. Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP)
Intensive outpatient programs typically offer care for just a few hours a day, several times a week. That might be enough for some teens, but if your child is facing more serious mental health challenges, it may not provide the level of support they truly need.
In contrast, PHP is more intensive, with 6 hours of structured treatment each weekday. It’s a great fit when your teen needs more than outpatient therapy but isn’t in crisis. Many families find that PHP offers the structure their teen needs to finally make progress.
How Does Inpatient Hospitalization Fit In?
Inpatient hospitalization is short-term, around-the-clock care for teens in immediate crisis. If your child is at risk of harming themselves or others, this is often the first step.
If you’re feeling unsure about what your teen needs right now, that’s okay. We’re here to talk through your options and help you find the right path forward for your teen, and for your whole family.
It might feel like a big step, but remember why you're here—you’re looking for a way forward.
What Makes Our Teen PHP Different?
We believe your teen deserves compassion and an experienced team fully dedicated to their healing. What sets our PHP for teens apart is the combination of Masters level clinicians, compassionate care, and a truly collaborative approach.
Your teen will work with mental health professionals who use both evidence-based therapies and holistic modalities to support emotional growth and recovery. Our treatment center offers a structured yet nurturing environment that encourages self-discovery and progress. We keep you involved every step of the way with consistent family involvement, ensuring that healing happens both inside and outside of our walls.
Our team also focuses on critical areas like relapse prevention and long-term wellness, equipping your teen with tools they’ll carry for life. When needed, we coordinate care with your child’s school, pediatrician, or other healthcare providers because true healing requires a connected support system.
What Are the Benefits of PHP Treatment for Teens?
Choosing the right treatment program can feel overwhelming, but when you find the right fit, it can truly change everything. Here’s how our PHP for teens can make a lasting difference in your child’s life:
Relief from Anxiety, Depression, and Mood Swings
When your teen gets daily support in a caring environment, things can start to shift quickly. A 2021 study published in Evidence-Based Practice in Child and Adolescent Mental Health found that teens in a partial hospitalization program saw their depression and anxiety scores drop by almost half, in just a few weeks.
Better Focus and Academic Confidence
School can feel overwhelming when your teen is struggling mentally. That’s why we include academic support as part of the program. Your teen can catch up and return to school with more confidence and less pressure.
Stronger Family and Peer Relationships
We involve you every step of the way. With family therapy sessions and group time with peers, your teen learns how to communicate better and feel less alone. In the same 2021 study, over two-thirds of therapists said this kind of support helped them connect better with both teens and their families.
Improved Coping and Relapse Prevention
Your teen will learn tools to manage stress, navigate setbacks, and reduce the risk of future relapses. These coping skills are essential for lifelong emotional resilience.
A Renewed Sense of Hope
Sometimes, teens don’t realize they’re getting better until they see the proof. Therapists in the study found that showing teens how their anxiety or depression scores improved helped them feel more motivated and hopeful. That boost in confidence can be life-changing.
When your teen starts to feel better, everything shifts for them and for your whole family. If you’re ready to give your child the structure and tools they need to thrive, we’re here to walk that journey with you. Reach out today to speak with our treatment team and learn how our PHP for teens can help your family move forward with hope.
FAQ
How long does a teen PHP program usually last?
Our PHP program typically runs for 3 to 4 weeks, but that timeline can vary based on your teen’s progress, the severity of their symptoms, and specific treatment goals. We always personalize care, and if your child needs more time to stabilize and build coping skills, we’ll adjust the plan to best support their healing.
Is this program in-person or virtual?
Yes, our adolescent partial hospitalization program is fully in-person, based in Los Angeles. This means your teen benefits from face-to-face therapy, hands-on support, and a consistent daily routine—all in a structured and supportive environment that fosters real progress.
How is PHP different from intensive outpatient programs?
While both are forms of day treatment, intensive outpatient programs (IOPs) involve fewer program hours—typically 3 hours per day, 3 to 5 days a week. In contrast, our PHP offers a more intensive treatment approach, with 6 hours per day of therapy, academic support, and skill-building. PHP is often the right fit when your teen needs more support than outpatient care alone can provide.
Will my child fall behind in school during PHP?
Not at all. We know how important education is to your teen’s future and overall well-being. Our team provides tailored academic support so your teen can stay on track with their schoolwork while also focusing on mental health treatment. Many teens leave our program feeling more confident and motivated in both school and life.
What happens after PHP ends?
After completing the program, your teen might step down into an intensive outpatient or outpatient program, depending on their progress. Some continue with individual or family therapy, while others benefit from ongoing psychiatric care. Our treatment team will guide you every step of the way to ensure a smooth transition and continuity of care.
Do you offer care for dual diagnosis?
Yes. Many of the patients we treat are managing both mental health challenges and substance abuse—a condition known as dual diagnosis. Our program integrates evidence-based treatments that address both concerns simultaneously, helping your teen develop healthier habits and lasting emotional stability.
Sources:
Lavender, J., Benningfield, M. M., Merritt, J. A., Gibson, R. L., & Bettis, A. H. (2021).Measurement-based care in the adolescent partial hospital setting: Implementation, challenges, & future directions. Evidence-Based Practice in Child and Adolescent Mental Health, 7(4), 439–451.
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Is your teen struggling with mental health or substance use challenges?
Request a confidential call today – our team will walk you through the admissions process, treatment options, costs, and what to expect. Reaching out is a powerful first step toward a healthier future for your teen and your family.
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Insurances we Accept
Key Healthcare works with a majority of health insurance providers and depending on your plan, 100% of the costs may be covered. Verify your insurance to get more information about your coverage.
Rediscover Hope with Key Healthcare’s PHP for Teens
When your teen is hurting, everything else fades into the background. But you don’t have to stay stuck in fear. There is a path forward, one that’s structured and designed to bring lasting change. At Key Healthcare, our partial hospitalization program for teens offers the evidence-based support your child needs to heal emotionally and rebuild their confidence.
Worried about the cost? We accept most major insurance providers, and many families discover that up to 100% of treatment is covered under their plan.
You’ve taken the first step by being here. Now take the next one, contact our expert team today, and find out how our teen PHP can help your child reclaim their future.
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Take the first step by verifying your insurance today and finding out what coverage options are available for your family. Our team will review your benefits and help you understand how to access the care your teen needs.
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Dr. Elnaz Mayeh PhD, LMFT
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