A Guide to Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) for Addiction

If you’re exploring treatment options and feeling uncertain about the appropriate level of care for yourself or a loved one, you’re not alone. One of the most common “in-between” options is a Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP). For many individuals, it strikes the right balance of structure, support, and real-life practice.

In this guide, we’ll explain what PHP is, who it’s intended for, how it compares to other levels of care such as Intensive Outpatient Programs, and what you can expect from our PHP at Oasis Treatment Centers in Costa Mesa.

Understanding Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) and Its Target Audience

A Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) is a highly structured, clinically supervised addiction treatment program that operates during the day without overnight stays. You can think of PHP as a treatment that feels close to inpatient in intensity, but allows you to go home (or to sober living) afterward.

The Primary Objective of PHP

The main goal of PHP is to assist you in:

• Stabilizing early recovery after detox or a relapse
• Building coping skills that can be immediately applied
• Creating a consistent treatment routine that minimizes chaos and uncertainty
• Receiving strong clinical support while still maintaining some level of independence

This program is ideal when you require more than weekly therapy sessions but do not need 24/7 residential supervision.

Who Typically Gains the Most from PHP

Individuals who tend to thrive in PHP include:

• Those transitioning from medically supervised detox or inpatient/residential rehab
• People who require more structure than an Intensive Outpatient Program or standard outpatient care
• Anyone facing high relapse risk, intense cravings, or an unstable early recovery routine
• Individuals managing co-occurring mental health issues like anxiety, depression, PTSD symptoms, or mood instability (when clinically appropriate)

This highlights the significant differences between various treatment options such as outpatient vs partial hospitalization, which can help clarify your decision-making process.

What the commitment looks like

PHP is a real time commitment. Most programs involve multiple hours per day, multiple days per week. Consistent attendance is not just a “nice to have.” It’s often one of the biggest reasons people start to feel steady again.

PHP vs. Inpatient, IOP, and Standard Outpatient: What’s the Difference?

Choosing a level of care can feel confusing because the names sound similar. The simplest way to compare them is by structure and supervision.

The basic differences in structure

• Inpatient/residential: 24/7 support and supervision. You live onsite.
• PHP: Structured treatment during the day, then you return home (or to sober living) at night.
• IOP: Fewer treatment hours than PHP, usually a few days a week. For more information on Intensive Outpatient Programs, including typical schedules, check out this resource.
• Standard outpatient: The most flexible option, often weekly or biweekly sessions.

When each level makes sense

A higher level of care is usually recommended when there are concerns like:

• Safety risks
• Unmanaged withdrawal symptoms
• Severe cravings or repeated relapse
• Unstable mental health symptoms
• A home environment that makes sobriety hard to protect

For instance, if someone is experiencing [delirium tremens](https://www.riverrocktreatment.com/delirium-tremens-explained-your-guide-to-withdrawal-symptoms/), a higher level of care would be essential.

A lower level may work when someone is medically stable, mentally stable enough to function day to day, and has strong support at home or in sober living.

PHP as a “step-down” or “step-up”

PHP often acts as a bridge. It commonly supports people who are:

• Stepping down from detox or residential treatment into real life with a strong safety net
• Stepping up when outpatient or IOP simply isn’t enough to stop the cycle

The “best” level of care is the one that matches what’s happening right now, not what you wish was enough. If you’re considering sobriety through methods like Alcoholics Anonymous, it might be helpful to read this step-by-step guide for additional insights.

What to Expect in Our PHP at Oasis Treatment Centers

At Oasis, our Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) is part of a full continuum of care. This structure ensures that you’re not bouncing between disconnected programs. Instead, we can support you through the stages of recovery with a plan that fits your needs.

Our levels of care include:

• Medically supervised detox (drug detox and alcohol detox)
• Inpatient/residential treatment (when needed)
• Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP)
• Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP), including evening IOP
• Outpatient treatment
• Aftercare planning and ongoing support

Our center is located in Costa Mesa, in the heart of Orange County, and we’ve built a comfortable, home-like environment so you can focus on getting better instead of just getting through the day.

With over 30 years of experience, we have helped thousands of people, and we’re proud of the 5-star care we provide. However, we understand that recovery is personal, and outcomes depend on many factors. What we can promise is a treatment experience that’s evidence-based, supportive, and tailored to you.

Intake and Assessment: How We Build Your Plan

Before starting PHP, we’ll complete an intake and clinical assessment to understand:

• Your substance use history and current patterns
• Prior treatment (if any)
• Relapse risks and triggers
• Mental health symptoms and history
• Medications and medical needs
• Your goals, responsibilities, and recovery supports

From there, we create a personalized care plan, not a cookie-cutter schedule. This approach allows us to seamlessly transition you into our Intensive Outpatient Program when you’re ready or if your situation requires it. Our program information can provide further insights into the various treatment options available at our facility.

Practical support to help you start

If getting to treatment feels like a barrier, you’re not alone. We offer pick-up available from any location in the USA to help remove access obstacles and help you get started safely.

A Typical Day in PHP (Structure Without Overnight Stay)

Every PHP has its own flow, but here’s the general rhythm you can expect in a well-run day program like ours.

A realistic daily flow may include:

• Morning check-in and goal-setting
• Group therapy (process groups and skills-focused groups)
• Psychoeducation (learning how addiction and recovery work in the brain and body)
• Coping skills practice (cravings, stress, emotional regulation, communication)
• Individual sessions as scheduled
• Relapse prevention planning and routine building
• Wrap-up and planning for the evening

Accountability that supports progress

PHP includes built-in accountability, such as:

• Consistent attendance and participation
• Progress tracking with your clinical team
• Coordinated support that keeps your goals in focus

In early recovery, structure helps reduce decision fatigue. When your brain is healing, having a set plan for the day can make it easier to stay grounded and follow through.

What happens outside of program hours

PHP does not end when the day ends. Outside of treatment hours, you’ll usually be working on:

• Practicing the coping skills you’re learning
• Recovery assignments or reflections
• Building healthy routines (sleep, meals, movement, meetings/support)
• Strengthening boundaries with people, places, and patterns that trigger use. This boundary advice could be crucial as improper boundaries can lead to unhealthy relationships which may hinder recovery. For more insights on this topic, check out this helpful resource.

This is where real momentum builds, because you’re learning skills in treatment and then using them in real life right away.

If you or someone you know is struggling with cocaine addiction, our PHP can provide the necessary support to navigate this challenging journey.

Therapies and Clinical Approaches We Use

PHP should never feel like generic “sit and listen” programming. At Oasis, we focus on evidence-based approaches and individualized care, especially because addiction often overlaps with anxiety, depression, trauma, and chronic stress.

While each plan is tailored, PHP commonly includes therapies and approaches like:

• CBT and DBT-informed skills (thought patterns, emotional regulation, distress tolerance)
• Trauma-informed care (because many people have lived through painful experiences, even if they’ve never talked about them)
• Motivational interviewing (strengthening internal motivation and reducing shame)
• Relapse prevention therapy (triggers, cravings, warning signs, and response plans)
• Psychoeducation (how substances affect mood, sleep, relationships, and decision-making)
• Process groups (connection, honest feedback, and learning you’re not alone)

We also look at the whole picture. When relevant to recovery stability, we can address psychological, social, medical, vocational, and legal stressors because those pressures can easily become relapse fuel if they’re ignored.

Support for co-occurring mental health concerns

Many people come to us with more than addiction alone. Our care can include integrated support for co-occurring concerns like:

• Anxiety and panic symptoms
• Depression
• PTSD symptoms and trauma-related stress
• Bipolar symptoms (as clinically appropriate)

The goal is not to label you. It’s to treat what’s actually happening so you can stabilize and move forward.

Medication Support and When MAT May Be Part of PHP

Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) simply means medication plus counseling to support recovery for certain substance use disorders.

MAT is not “one-size-fits-all,” and it’s not a shortcut. It’s a medical option that may be recommended based on a full evaluation, especially when it can:

• Reduce cravings
• Stabilize brain and body symptoms in early recovery
• Lower risk of relapse or overdose for some individuals

MAT may begin during detox—a phase where understanding withdrawal symptoms such as Delirium Tremens becomes crucial—and continue through PHP with monitoring, coordination, and therapy support. When medication is part of your plan, it is supervised and combined with behavioral treatment. It is not used in isolation.

Also worth noting is our specialized approach towards alcohol addiction treatment in Vermont, which incorporates these principles while focusing on the unique challenges posed by alcohol dependency.

How We Decide if PHP Is the Right Fit

PHP is a strong option, but it has to match your current needs and safety.

When we’re determining fit, we look at key factors like:

• Withdrawal stability and medical safety
• Psychiatric symptoms and emotional stability
• Cravings intensity and relapse history
• Current substance use patterns
• Home environment (supportive vs triggering)
• Ability to attend consistently and engage in treatment

We also consider practical supports such as transportation, stable housing, and whether you have a safe place to return to each evening.

If someone’s home environment is high stress, unpredictable, or actively triggering, PHP may still be possible, but we’ll want a clear boundaries plan. In some cases, sober living or a higher level of care may be the safer call.

It’s important to note that if you’re experiencing severe withdrawal symptoms, such as those described in our guide to withdrawal symptoms, it may indicate that PHP is the right choice for you.

Signs You May Need More Support Than IOP or Standard Outpatient

If you’re trying outpatient or IOP and it’s not holding, that does not mean you “failed.” It usually means you need a stronger level of support right now.

Common signs PHP may be a better fit include:

• Struggling to stay abstinent between sessions
• Frequent urges, near-relapses, or repeated “day one” cycles
• Mood instability, anxiety, or depression that disrupts daily functioning
• High stress at home or limited sober support
• A history of relapse after lower levels of care
• Difficulty following through without daily accountability

How Long PHP Lasts—and What Progress Looks Like

There’s no single perfect timeline for a Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP). PHP commonly lasts several weeks, but the exact length depends on your clinical needs, progress, and stability.

What progress looks like in PHP

Progress is not just “white-knuckling it.” We look for signs like:

• Reduced or stopped substance use
• More stable mood and fewer crisis moments
• Stronger coping skills during stress and cravings
• A clear relapse prevention plan you understand and can use
• Better routines (sleep, meals, daily structure)
• Improved support system and recovery connections

These indicators are essential in determining how effectively the PHP is working for you. It’s crucial to remember that every individual’s journey is unique, and progress may look different from one person to another.

Stepping down gradually

As stability improves, we plan a step-down that often looks like:

• PHP → IOP (including evening IOP when helpful) → outpatient → aftercare

Recovery tends to go better when support decreases gradually, not abruptly.

Benefits of PHP for Addiction Recovery (Why It Works for Many People)

PHP works well for many people because it blends intensity and independence.

Key benefits include:

• High structure with real-world practice: You get strong clinical support while still practicing skills at home.
• Clinical oversight without full residential stay: Great for people who are medically stable but still need daily support.
• Community and connection: Consistent peer groups reduce isolation and make recovery feel more doable.
• Dual-diagnosis support: Addressing mental health symptoms can reduce relapse risk.
• Continuity of care: Staying within one treatment team as you step down can make the process smoother and less stressful.

For those navigating the path to sobriety, resources such as Alcoholics Anonymous can provide valuable support.

Moreover, it’s important to recognize that the journey to recovery is often accompanied by various challenges. According to research published on PubMed Central, understanding these challenges can significantly enhance the effectiveness of treatment programs like PHP.

Challenges to Plan For (and How We Help You Manage Them)

PHP is powerful, but it comes with real-life logistics. Planning ahead makes it much easier.

Scheduling and time commitment

PHP requires dedicated time. We’ll help you think through work, school, and family responsibilities so treatment can become the priority it needs to be, especially early on.

Transportation and getting started

Transportation can be a barrier, especially when someone is overwhelmed or coming out of a relapse. We offer pick-up from any location in the USA to help you take that first step.

Triggers at home

If home is stressful or triggering, we’ll help you build a practical plan that includes boundaries, support contacts, cravings coping tools, and a clear relapse prevention strategy.

Motivation dips and cravings

Dips in motivation happen. Cravings happen. That’s not a character flaw, it’s part of early recovery for many people. In PHP, you’re learning skills and using them with daily support, so you don’t have to handle those moments alone.

Financial and coverage concerns

Cost is a valid concern. We can walk you through a confidential review of options and next steps, so you can make an informed decision without pressure.

How PHP Fits Into Our Full Continuum of Care at Oasis

One of the biggest advantages of coming to Oasis is that we can support you through the full recovery pathway, adjusting intensity as you stabilize.

A common path looks like: Detox (drug detox or alcohol detox) → inpatient/residential (when needed) → PHP → IOP (including evening IOP) → outpatient → aftercare

Step-down care matters because it reduces the drop-off that often happens when people leave a higher level of support too quickly. We keep your plan personalized and adaptable based on progress, setbacks, and real-life demands.

Our focus is simple: comprehensive, evidence-based care in a peaceful, supportive environment in Costa Mesa, Orange County.

While navigating these challenges might seem daunting, with our evidence-based care approach at Oasis, we ensure that each step taken towards recovery is supported with the right resources and guidance.

Getting Started With Our Partial Hospitalization Program

The first step is a confidential call and assessment. We’ll listen, ask a few questions about what’s going on, and help you understand the right level of care for your situation.

What to prepare (if you can)

It can help to have:

• A brief substance use history and current use patterns
• Current medications and medical concerns
• Prior treatment history (if any)
• Any mental health symptoms you’re noticing
• Scheduling needs and responsibilities

What happens next

If PHP is the right fit, we’ll coordinate your intake, build your personalized treatment plan, confirm a start date, and help arrange detox or inpatient/residential first if that’s clinically needed.

If you’re ready to talk it through, contact Oasis Treatment Centers in Costa Mesa today. We’ll help you explore our Partial Hospitalization Program and build a recovery plan that fits your life, starting now.