A lot of people who are beginning to look into substance use disorder (SUD) treatment spend time reading about the Differences Between Outpatient and Partial Hospitalization Programs. It can be challenging to make sense of all the different levels of care, especially in the early stages of treatment.

Luckily, at Kasa Recovery in Los Angeles, we offer two levels of care with a straightforward and compassionate approach. We know that helping our clients heal is our utmost priority, and the best way to do that is by providing the level of care that works for them and their pace of recovery.

Outpatient Treatment

 

Outpatient treatment is a step-down program from residential care or PHP and is the least intensive level of structured addiction treatment. Clients live at home or in a sober living environment and make scheduled trips to the treatment center one to several times per week.

Kasa Recovery’s outpatient program includes one or two weekly therapy sessions for relapse prevention and for integrating healthy coping skills into daily life.

This level of care is best for people who have successfully completed a higher level of treatment, like residential treatment or PHP, and feel ready to maintain their recovery in a less clinical setting. It is also a good fit for individuals with a stable home environment and support network, who can balance work, school, and family or daily obligations while undergoing treatment.

Outpatient treatment also provides flexibility and independence, allowing clients to continue making progress in recovery while gaining confidence and self-management skills to succeed without daily supervision. However, this level of freedom also means the level of structure is less than a PHP or residential treatment. As such, outpatient care may not be appropriate for a client who is still struggling with cravings, relapse triggers, and co-occurring mental health symptoms or disorders.

 

What Is Partial Hospitalization (PHP)?

 

Partial Hospitalization Program, or PHP, is a level of care that provides a high level of structure to clients without requiring them to stay overnight in the treatment facility. PHPs are also called day programs because clients check into treatment for a full day or half a day most days of the week and then return to their home or sober living environment in the evenings.

Kasa Recovery’s PHP care level offers an immersive, supportive treatment environment that includes evidence-based therapies, individual and group counseling, medication management, and holistic modalities such as mindfulness practices, yoga, and art therapy.

A partial hospitalization program is designed to provide intensive treatment in a safe, structured environment and is an excellent choice for people who need daily therapeutic contact but do not need or want 24-hour residential care. PHP is also a great step-down care level for people who are transitioning out of inpatient treatment.

At Kasa Recovery, the PHP level of care provides a continuum of care that fills the gap between residential treatment and outpatient care. PHP is more structured than outpatient care, providing a balance of accountability and freedom for clients transitioning back into their communities.

Differences Between Outpatient and Partial Hospitalization Programs

As mentioned before, the Differences Between Outpatient and Partial Hospitalization lie in their level of care and what each program can provide.

While both outpatient and partial hospitalization allow clients to live at home and receive treatment during the day, partial hospitalization is more intensive than standard outpatient care. Outpatient programs are designed for individuals who are already relatively stable in their recovery and require only minimal clinical supervision. Clients typically meet once or twice a week to focus on relapse prevention, ongoing therapy, and maintaining a balanced lifestyle.

PHP requires several hours of treatment per day for five or six days per week. The more frequent meetings provide continued clinical monitoring and therapeutic support for clients in earlier stages of recovery or people who need help managing co-occurring disorders.

Another difference is the level of structure. PHPs have a highly structured day that includes a lot of individually tailored counseling, group and family therapy, and psychiatric services. In contrast, outpatient care offers more flexibility, allowing clients to schedule appointments around work or school. The cost is another difference. PHPs are more resource and time-intensive than standard outpatient programs due to the additional hours of therapy and clinical staff support provided.

So while both outpatient and partial hospitalization are common and effective levels of SUD treatment, the differences between outpatient and Partial Hospitalization programs come down to the time commitment, intensity, and level of clinical supervision provided.

Outpatient vs. PHP: Which Level of Care Is Right for You?

So how do you know which level of care is right for you? The answer depends on your current level of stability, your environment, and your personal needs and preferences.

Some clients are better suited for PHP if they are still struggling with cravings, lack emotional stability, or have co-occurring mental health conditions that PHP can help them structure and manage. Others are better suited to outpatient care if they are further along in their recovery, have a reliable support system, and can maintain responsibility for their daily routine and tasks.

At Kasa Recovery, our clinical team will help assess and determine what level of care is most appropriate for each client based on their current stage of recovery. We look at mental health history, substance use history, and other lifestyle factors to help build a tailored treatment plan for each individual. Both PHP and outpatient care have their place in the treatment continuum at Kasa Recovery, and we are happy to guide people through the process.

Transitioning Out of PHP or Up to PHP

Transitions between levels of care are quite common in SUD treatment and an important part of the continuum of care that helps people move from intensive inpatient treatment to the greater freedom of outpatient care.

Many Kasa Recovery clients will start their treatment journey in PHP and then transition to an outpatient level of care as they continue to make progress in their recovery and build confidence in their ability to maintain sobriety in the world.

Kasa Recovery takes a holistic approach to helping clients find their perfect treatment level. When working with a client, our team of treatment professionals will work closely with them and help make the transition out of PHP or into PHP (whichever is appropriate) as seamless as possible, with as little disruption as possible to their treatment progress.

Find the Right Level of Care for You with Kasa Recovery

Knowing the Differences Between Outpatient and Partial Hospitalization Programs can help you make informed decisions about the most effective treatment path for you or a loved one. An intensive outpatient program or standard outpatient treatment can be a flexible and low-barrier option for people with a stable support system and strong self-management skills. Partial hospitalization, on the other hand, provides the structure and intensity required for deep healing work in a less intensive way than residential treatment.

At Kasa Recovery, we offer both levels of care as part of our holistic treatment approach and in a compassionate, person-centered way to meet each person’s individual needs.

Contact Kasa Recovery today to learn more about outpatient treatment and PHP and take the first step toward finding the right level of care.