What is a partial hospitalization program?
A partial hospitalization program (PHP) is full-day treatment for addiction and mental health that doesn’t require an overnight stay. You spend the day in therapy with our clinicians, then go home in the evening and practice what you learned in your real life.
Each day is built around therapy, coping skills and getting your footing back. If you need intensive care but don’t want or need to move into a residential program, PHP is often the right next step.
Who PHP is for
PHP can be a good fit for adults who:
- Need more support than weekly therapy or standard outpatient care
- Are stepping down from detox, inpatient or residential treatment
- Are dealing with depression, anxiety, trauma or mood problems alongside substance use
- Can go home each evening to a safe place, or live in sober housing
When a different level of care fits better
PHP isn’t right for everyone. We may recommend a higher or different level of care if you:
- Need medical or psychiatric monitoring around the clock
- Are in an acute mental health crisis
- Don’t have a safe, stable place to live
- Need medical detox or inpatient stabilization first
Your assessment at admission tells us which level of care fits. If it isn’t PHP, we’ll help you find the right place.
What a typical day looks like
Every plan is different, but most PHP days include:
- Group therapy on relapse prevention, coping strategies and managing emotions
- Individual therapy with a licensed clinician
- Psychiatric support and medication management when it’s clinically appropriate
- Skills work on routines, accountability and daily life
At the end of the day you go home, which lets you try new skills in real situations while you still have daily support.
Therapies we use
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) helps you spot and change thought patterns and habits tied to substance use.
- Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) builds skills for handling strong emotions and distress.
- Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) helps you accept hard feelings and act on what matters to you.
- Trauma-informed care makes room to work through past trauma safely.
- Dual diagnosis treatment treats depression, anxiety or PTSD at the same time as addiction.
- Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) uses medications like Suboxone or Vivitrol to ease cravings, alongside therapy.
What we treat
Our day program treats addiction to alcohol, opioids (including heroin, fentanyl and prescription painkillers), cocaine, methamphetamine, benzodiazepines, marijuana, prescription stimulants and sedatives, and more than one substance at once.
Why PHP Matters
Nationally, an estimated 40.3 million people had a substance use disorder in 2020, and among the roughly 15 million people with alcohol use disorder, fewer than 8% receive treatment. In 2021, nearly one in three adults had either a substance use disorder or a mental illness in the past year, rising to 46% among young adults 18 to 25, which is part of why PHP combines addiction treatment with real psychiatric support rather than treating the two separately.
PHP compared with other levels of care
| Inpatient | PHP (Day Treatment) | IOP | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Where you sleep | At the facility | At home | At home |
| Treatment time | 24/7 | About 5–6 hours a day, 5 days a week | About 3 hours a session, 3–5 days a week |
| Best for | Medical or psychiatric stabilization | Daily structure while living at home | Keeping up with work, school or family |
Many people move from PHP into our intensive outpatient program as they get steadier.
Insurance and cost
Most major insurance plans cover PHP when it’s medically necessary. We work with Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, Harvard Pilgrim, Humana, UnitedHealthcare and others. Cost depends on your plan and the services you need, so the quickest way to know is to let us check.
Check your insurance. It’s free and doesn’t commit you to anything.
Do you need a referral?
No. Most people call us directly. Referrals also come from therapists, psychiatrists, primary care doctors, hospitals and detox programs, and with your permission we’ll coordinate with any providers you already see.
How to start
Call or send your insurance details
Talk to our admissions team at (877) 920-6583, or use the insurance form. We check your benefits for you.
Confidential assessment
A short conversation about your substance use, mental health and treatment history, so we can recommend the right level of care.
Start your program
We handle the paperwork and coordinate with your insurance. Often you can start right away.
After PHP
PHP is usually one step in a longer plan. Most people move on to:
- Our intensive outpatient program
- Ongoing outpatient counseling
- Continued psychiatric care and medication management, if needed
Before you finish, you and your care team build an aftercare plan so you leave with support in place.
Questions about day treatment
What is a partial hospitalization program?
A partial hospitalization program (PHP), also called day treatment, is one of the most intensive kinds of outpatient care. You spend most of the day in therapy and structured programming, then go home or to sober housing at night.
How many hours a day is your PHP?
Most days run about 5 to 6 hours, five days a week. Your exact schedule is set during admission.
Who is a good fit for PHP?
People who have finished detox or inpatient care but still need daily structure, people with addiction and a mental health condition who don't need 24/7 supervision, and anyone who lives somewhere safe and supportive. If you're not sure, our admissions team will help you decide.
Can I keep working while I'm in PHP?
Day treatment takes up most of a weekday, so many people take leave or reduce their hours. If you need to keep working full time, our intensive outpatient program has evening sessions.
Is PHP more effective than regular outpatient care?
For people who need more than standard outpatient care, it often is. PHP gives you far more hours of therapy each week, which leaves room for deeper work on relapse prevention, mental health and coping skills.
What should I bring?
Comfortable clothes, a notebook or journal, your insurance card and ID, and any prescribed medications in their original bottles. You go home every day, so there's no overnight bag.
Do people from Cambridge or Dedham come to GBAC?
Yes. Many clients from Cambridge and Dedham choose our Needham location because it's close to home, and families can stay involved without long drives.
Is GBAC easy to reach from Quincy and the South Shore?
Yes. Our Needham location is just off I-95, so clients from Quincy, Milton and the South Shore can get here without driving into the city.
How far is GBAC from Waltham and Weston?
Just a few minutes. Many families in MetroWest choose our day program because the commute is short.