When you think of addiction treatment, it is often residential rehabilitation (rehab) that comes to mind – where you go away for some time, isolated from the rest of the world, as you recover and journey toward sobriety. Unfortunately, this prevailing notion of rehab is also what often pushes people away from seeking rehab, as it also means putting your life on hold – not something one wants in today’s fast-paced world, where you feel like if you blink, you will miss an entire era.
But this stereotypical notion of addiction treatment is far, far away from the truth, as stereotypes often are. Addiction treatment has evolved over the ages, and now we have more flexible and feasible options than we used to before. Two such outpatient rehab (yes, you read it right – outpatient rehab is indeed a thing!) options are partial hospitalization programs (PHPs) and intensive outpatient programs (IOPs), both of which can be as effective as or even better than residential rehab.
What Is a Partial Hospitalization Program?
A partial hospitalization program (PHP) is the most intensive outpatient rehab designed for those who need a higher level of care than traditional outpatient services but do not require round-the-clock supervision.
PHPs can run up to 8 hours a day and 5 days a week, totaling around 30-40 hours per week. Your day in PHP will consist of structured sessions, including psychiatric evaluations (psych evals), individual and group therapy, life skills training, and medical monitoring, among others. After you are done with the scheduled hours of treatment daily, you can return to the comfort of your home or a sober living residence. This structured setting offers consistency in care and reinforces new, healthy routines critical for your enduring recovery.
What Is An Intensive Outpatient Program?
An intensive outpatient program (IOP) is not as intensive as a PHP and is designed for those who need more flexibility but also a higher level of care than traditional outpatient services. IOP is structured and minimally intensive, involving psych evals, individual and group therapy, life skills training, and medical monitoring, among others. It ranges from 9-12 hours per week, allowing you to maintain your daily routine and life outside of treatment, whether it is your studies, job, family, or other daily responsibilities.
Typically, IOPs are ideal for those with mild to moderate substance use disorders (addiction) or even for those who have already completed more intensive programs like residential rehab or a PHP and need a step-down option as they transition back to independent living.
Difference Between PHP and IOP
While PHP and IOP are both intensive outpatient rehab options for those struggling with mild to severe addiction problems, there are some differences between PHPs and IOPs.
PHPs require more time commitment, as you will participate in full-day treatment sessions lasting up to 8 hours. You will undergo frequent monitoring to establish stability, especially during the early days of your recovery.
Comparatively, IOPs require a lower investment of time. You will attend treatment sessions for a few hours a day (typically 3 hours), several times a week. IOPs run in the morning, afternoon, and evening, so you get more room for your daily life and responsibilities.
Moreover, PHPs and IOPs do not exist separately from one another; in fact, both of them can contribute to more integrated care. You can transition from PHP to IOP as your condition stabilizes and you need lower levels of care to maintain your recovery.
How to Choose Between PHP and IOP for Addiction Treatment?
Choosing between PHP and IOP depends on several factors, like the duration and severity of your condition, as well as your unique needs and circumstances. Basically, you will need to refer to licensed mental health practitioners to make this decision, as they will perform a comprehensive psych eval for an accurate diagnosis and the level of care you need.
Depending on the kind of care your diagnosis warrants, you will either be referred to a PHP or an IOP. Of course, for more severe conditions that require round-the-clock supervision, you can even be referred to a residential treatment. However, your inputs will also be taken into consideration, like the time you can give, your financial condition, your home environment, and so on.
In some cases, when a person’s condition is too severe for outpatient care but doesn’t require full hospitalization, a sober living environment might be suggested alongside PHP or IOP. Supportive transitional housing offers a substance-free setting that can significantly enhance treatment outcomes, especially when someone lacks a safe home base.
Benefits of Both Programs in Long-Term Recovery
Here are the benefits of IOP and PHP in long-term recovery:
- PHPs and IOPs offer a combination of care options under one program that are both intensive and consistent.
- PHPs and IOPs are both flexible programs in that you do not require overnight hospital stays and can return to your daily life after completing the scheduled hours of treatment. When you do not lose touch with the outside world, you can practice the tools and skills you gained in real-life settings, further reinforcing them.
- PHPs and IOPs can work in conjunction with one another to lay the groundwork for an enduring recovery, as IOP can serve as a step-down option for you as your condition stabilizes.
- PHPs and IOPs incorporate personalized aftercare plans, so you receive the care and support you need even after the completion of the program(s) to sustain your recovery and prevent relapse as you move toward independent living.
- You will be an active participant in both PHP and IOP, as you will collaborate with the mental health practitioners on your team to make them relevant to your goals and your journey ahead in life.
- Both PHPs and IOPs seek to involve your family and loved ones so that you will receive the love and encouragement you need as you navigate your recovery journey. Having a supportive environment can make these outpatient rehab options more effective in sustaining your recovery.
Final Reflections
Choosing between residential rehab or outpatient rehab can feel like an overwhelming choice, but it is good to have all the information you need at your fingertips, as you are more empowered to make the decision that feels right for you. The best thing about outpatient rehab options is that you will still have a foot in the outside world, which can become a reinforcement for the new, sober life you are building for yourself, thereby making them more effective options than residential rehab in many ways.
So, by understanding their unique features, structures, and benefits, you can explore the best path to your care as you embrace the recovery journey ahead with hope and confidence.
