Are you looking for a level of care between inpatient and outpatient treatment? Perhaps you have just been discharged from inpatient treatment, but you still want accountability and support. Consider the Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) at Rubicon Mental Health Center in Watchung, New Jersey.

Serving individuals from New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and New York, we provide empathetic, patient-centered mental health care to help individuals improve their mental health and overall well-being. Our PHP provides intensive treatment for a variety of mental health conditions without requiring a commitment to an inpatient facility. Learn more about our PHP, how it compares to our other levels of care, who it is best for, and what to expect during treatment.

Key Takeaways

• Our Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) provides structured, intensive outpatient care, acting as a step up from an outpatient program and a step down from an inpatient program.
• PHP is ideal for patients who have recently been discharged from inpatient programs, have severe mental health symptoms that disrupt their lives, or are not getting enough help from traditional outpatient therapy.
• PHP schedules are different for every patient, but they often include individual therapy, group therapy, family counseling, holistic therapy, case management, and more.
• PHP provides enhanced support and structure and requires more days per week and more hours per day than other levels of outpatient care.
• Rubicon Mental Health Center provides a Partial Hospitalization Program, as well as an Intensive Outpatient Program and Outpatient Program, for individuals from New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and New York.

What Is PHP?

A partial hospitalization program is considered the highest intensity outpatient care option. It is a step up from traditional outpatient programs and a step down from standard inpatient treatment. It is structured and provides intensive mental health treatment without requiring patients to stay overnight. Patients in PHPs get access to comprehensive mental health services, including different therapies and treatments, all in one place. Partial hospitalization programs offer:

• Structured support on a predictable schedule
• Daily accountability
• Intensive therapy and mental health services
• Connection and community with peers

At Rubicon Mental Health Center, patients in our PHP attend sessions five days per week for six hours a day. This allows for intensive treatment while still allowing patients to go home at night and handle other responsibilities.

Our PHP is staffed by master’s-level mental health professionals, including clinicians and psychiatric advanced practice nurses (APNs). Each team member is passionate about improving the mental health of each patient, providing whole-person, evidence-based care, and fostering well-being and stability to help patients thrive.

Who Is PHP Right For?

Partial hospitalization programs are effective for patients with a wide range of mental health disorders, including depression, anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), eating disorders, and more. However, not everyone with these disorders will require the high level of care that PHP provides. PHP is best suited for individuals who:

• Have recently been discharged from inpatient programs and want help with transitioning
• Have severe mental health symptoms that interfere with their daily lives
• Are dealing with suicidal ideation
• Are struggling with acute episodes of depression, anxiety, etc., but don’t require 24/7 supervision
• Are not getting effective help from traditional outpatient therapy
• Want to get comprehensive treatment without disrupting their lives

PHP is best for patients who have a stable place to stay at night and can attend structured treatment during the day. If a patient must work during the day or doesn’t have a safe place to stay at night, PHP might not be the best fit. Other programs, such as intensive outpatient or inpatient, may be a better option.

Daily PHP Schedule and Therapies

During a PHP, individuals participate in various therapies and treatment modalities. Every patient’s schedule is different, as it is highly individualized to their diagnosis, treatment goals, and other factors. However, some of the therapies and services that may be part of the PHP at Rubicon Mental Health Center include:

• Individual therapy
• Group therapy
• Family counseling
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
• Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
• Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
• Motivational Interviewing (MI)
• Case management services
• Psychiatric assessment/medication management
• Wellness Recovery Action Planning (WRAP)
• Illness Management in Recovery (IMR)
• Pre-vocational services
• Co-occurring disorders treatment
• Holistic healing and therapies

Some patients may receive more one-on-one therapy, while others may focus more on group therapy and family counseling. Others will need assistance with medication management and MAT, while others may want to concentrate on pre-vocational services and case management.

PHP vs. IOP vs. OP

At Rubicon Mental Health Center, we offer three main levels of care. Along with our Partial Hospitalization Program, we also offer an Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) and an Outpatient Program (OP). It’s helpful to evaluate the different care levels to see how PHP compares.

If you’re not entirely sure which level of care you need, you can undergo a clinical assessment that will help you and your care team decide the best program for your needs.

Stepping Down to IOP

At Rubicon Mental Health Center, many patients in the Partial Hospitalization Program eventually step down to the Intensive Outpatient Program. Here, we aim to meet patients where they are. If a patient once needed the structured, intensive support that PHP offers, but they no longer need as much support, we can help them transition into the IOP. Transitioning may be an option when:

• The patient’s symptoms are stable or aren’t controlling their everyday life
• The patient has learned tools to manage their symptoms independently
• The patient is ready to manage their condition while balancing daily responsibilities
• The patient has a strong support network outside of treatment

Patients in both programs get access to the same therapies and services, but the time commitments are different. IOP is still structured and intensive, but patients only need to attend three hours per day for three days per week. This allows them to return to school, work, or other responsibilities during the day, not only on nights or on weekends. When transitioning from PHP to IOP, our team will provide reintegration support, guidance on relapse prevention, and other tools to help you stay balanced, healthy, and supported.

PHP Insurance and Admissions

When people are considering mental health treatment, cost and insurance coverage are major factors to take into account. Although different insurance providers have different policies, many insurances cover PHPs in New Jersey if the treatment is deemed medically necessary. Most private insurers and NJ Medicaid must cover PHP under federal parity laws and the Affordable Care Act.

At Rubicon Mental Health Center, we accept most major private insurance plans, including Aetna, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, and Blue Cross Blue Shield. Our admissions team will work with you to verify your insurance and navigate your benefits. We can also help you maximize your coverage to minimize out-of-pocket expenses for your treatment. Our Admissions Department is open 24/7 and can be reached at admissions@rubiconbhc.com.

Learn More About Our Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) Near You in NJ, PA, & NY

If a Partial Hospitalization Program sounds like the right fit for you, turn to Rubicon Mental Health Center in Watchung, New Jersey. We provide behavioral health services and programs, including PHP, with a whole-person, evidence-based approach. Each of our programs is rooted in a threefold disease model that addresses physical, mental, and spiritual health to help every patient improve their mental health and overall well-being.

At Rubicon Mental Health Center, we meet patients where they are. We accept and support individuals who may not meet the typical criteria, while still providing structured, comprehensive care that adapts as their needs change.

Wellness is just a phone call away, and we’re here for you 24/7. To learn more about our PHP near you in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and New York, or to discuss your insurance coverage, contact us online or call (908)-678-1870 today.