Partial Hospitalization Program
A partial hospitalization program is a short-term form of psychiatric treatment taking place at a hospital facility. It is not an inpatient program; instead, the patient attends structured therapeutic sessions during the day and then goes home. Therefore, a partial hospitalization program is somewhat less comprehensive than inpatient treatment, but it is significantly more intensive than typical outpatient treatment.
Many partial hospitalization programs provide services for three to five days each week, usually for a period of two to four weeks. A team of mental health professionals work together with a patient to monitor medication and help with the management of the mental illness and its symptoms. Individual counseling takes place to provide patients with an outlet for discussing their feelings as well as learn new strategies for dealing with problems. Group therapy is another important aspect of the program designed to increase the patient's interactions with others who have the same diagnosis.