Trusted Partial Hospitalization (PHP) for Addiction Recovery in Massachusetts

The Need For Partial Hospitalization Programs for Addiction in Massachusetts

Massachusetts has been heavily impacted by the national addiction crisis, particularly regarding opioid-related deaths and the devastating impact of fentanyl. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health indicates that there are thousands of opioid-related overdose deaths in Massachusetts in any given year; the majority of these deaths have been due to fentanyl.[1] In addition to opioids, the concerns of alcohol use disorder, cocaine use, and misuse of prescription medications are prevalent throughout numerous regions of Massachusetts, from cities to rural towns.[2]

Although Massachusetts has more treatment options available than many other states, there are still significant gaps between the number of people in need of addiction treatment and those who actually receive appropriate levels of care. These significant gaps exist for several reasons, including the misconception that one has to abandon their job, family, and life in order to access appropriate addiction treatment.

A partial hospitalization program (PHP) is an alternative to traditional, inpatient-level treatment, which does not require overnight stays. If you live in Massachusetts and require a greater level of support to recover from addiction than what standard outpatient services can provide, but you also have a stable living situation as well as responsibilities you cannot abandon, PHPs offer comprehensive therapeutic interventions during the day while allowing individuals in recovery to sleep in their own beds each night.

What Partial Hospitalization Programs Offer

Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHPs) are considered the highest level of outpatient addiction treatment. The clinical services and intensity of a PHP mirror those found in inpatient settings; thus, PHPs differ from other outpatient counseling and even intensive outpatient programs.[3]

Participants attend programming five to seven days per week, with daily sessions lasting five to eight hours. This creates an immersive therapeutic environment that becomes the primary focus during active treatment. The amount of time dedicated to PHP programs (between 25 and 40 hours a week) allows treatment teams to assess patients extensively, provide numerous individual and group therapy sessions every day, closely monitor patients throughout the treatment process, and respond to patients in a timely manner when challenges arise.

Each day includes a variety of therapeutic interventions designed to achieve multiple objectives related to addressing addiction.

• Individual Therapy Sessions: Individual therapy sessions provide patients an opportunity to receive personalized attention on the root causes of substance use, trauma history, and personal barriers to recovery.
• Group Therapy: Group therapy sessions allow patients to share experiences, learn from their peers and practice interpersonal skills.
• Psychiatric Services: Psychiatric services provide evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of co-occurring mental health conditions (i.e., depression, anxiety and PTSD) that can occur with substance use disorders.
• Family Therapy: Family Therapy addresses the relational damage addiction causes and educates family members on how to best support recovery.
• Psychoeducation Workshops: Psychoeducation programming provides education on the science of addiction, coping skills, and relapse prevention.
• Experiential Therapies: Experiential therapy offers an alternative means of healing through artistic, musical, or mindfulness-based approaches.

The medical and psychiatric oversight at PHPs sets PHPs apart from lower levels of care. Most PHPs employ or work closely with a psychiatrist or psychiatric nurse practitioner, as well as medical staff who prescribe medications, provide regular evaluation of patients’ physical health, and monitor and assist in preventing medical complications that could interfere with a patient’s recovery.

When You Should Consider a Partial Hospitalization Program

PHPs are suitable for many individuals who are at multiple stages of their recovery journey. Understanding whether this level of care matches someone’s needs requires considering both clinical factors and practical circumstances.

Stepping Down After A Higher-Level Care

Individuals who have completed a higher level of care from either a residential treatment program or a medical detoxification program frequently enter a PHP program. The transition back to independent living for many individuals after being in a higher level of care may feel overwhelming, so PHP provides a bridge from higher levels of care to independent living while still receiving ongoing support.

As the transition is progressive and less severe than jumping directly from a higher level of care, the PHP approach significantly reduces relapse risk compared to jumping directly from residential care to minimal outpatient support.

Severe Addiction Without A Need for Residential Treatment

It is not necessary for all individuals with a severe addiction to attend a residential treatment program. PHP works well for individuals whose substance use disorder is serious and requires intensive intervention, but who are medically stable after detox, have safe and supportive housing, possess reliable transportation, and demonstrate enough stability to refrain from substance use between sessions. These individuals need more than weekly counseling but don’t require 24-hour supervision.

Complex Co-occurring Disorders

Residents in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts who are combating both addiction and a mental health condition would likely receive the greatest benefit from participation in a PHP. As a result of the regular contact with the psychiatric staff, individuals with co-occurring mental health conditions have a greater opportunity for sophisticated management of their mental health conditions.

Treating both addiction and mental health at the same time provides superior post-treatment success than treating one of the conditions in isolation.[4]

Previous Treatment Efforts Were Unsuccessful

The intensity of PHP programming and support provided to participants allows clinical teams to determine what relationships or barriers resulted in the failure to maintain sobriety in previous attempts and how to build a sustainable plan for future success.

A Day in a Partial Hospitalization Program

Understanding PHP’s daily rhythm helps prospective participants know what to expect and prepare for the commitment involved.

Schedule and Structure

Most Massachusetts PHP programs operate Monday through Friday, with some including Saturdays. Hours typically run from mid-morning through late afternoon, such as 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM or 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, though some programs offer alternative schedules, including evening sessions for those with daytime work commitments.

Daily programming follows a structured flow. Mornings often begin with community meetings where all participants gather to check in and discuss goals. Mid-morning typically brings therapeutic groups such as a process group exploring emotions and interpersonal patterns, or a skills-based group teaching cognitive behavioral techniques. Individual therapy sessions occur on a rotating basis throughout the week, ensuring each person meets privately with their primary therapist multiple times.

Afternoons might include educational groups teaching recovery principles, specialized groups addressing specific issues, experiential therapies incorporating creativity and movement, or family sessions when relatives can attend. Days conclude with closing groups that review what was learned.

The Therapeutic Approaches Used in PHP Programs

The therapeutic approach of PHPs employs evidence-based treatment modalities on what is determined to be effective for intervening successfully with substance use disorders to attain documented positive treatment outcomes.

The evidence-based treatment modalities utilized in PHP may include but are not limited to:

Medical and Psychiatric Care

Psychiatrists or psychiatric nurse practitioners meet regularly with participants to evaluate mental health symptoms, prescribe and adjust psychiatric medications, provide medication-assisted treatment for opioid or alcohol use disorders when appropriate, and monitor for any medical complications. Nursing staff check vital signs, coordinate care with outside physicians, and ensure participants’ physical safety.

Family Involvement and Real-World Practice

When it comes to family involvement and practicing in the real world, treatment through PHP understands that addiction impacts the entire family unit. Addressing this need for loved ones to be involved in care can be done through family therapy sessions on a weekly or bi-weekly basis in order to help repair communication, trust, and boundaries between family members. Family members learn how they can be supportive of recovery without enabling negative addiction behaviors.

Benefits of PHP Programs in Massachusetts

One of PHP’s greatest benefits is that participants have the opportunity to apply what they’ve learned immediately. Participants go through intensive treatment during the day and live their lives at home in the evenings; therefore, participants learning how to manage cravings in the morning have the chance to apply these skills later that same evening and then process this during group therapy the following day. This provides immediate feedback, allowing participants to develop skills at a significantly faster rate than they would in a residential setting, where they may be removed from real-world challenges.

Research supports the effectiveness of PHP. Evidence demonstrates that partial hospitalization achieves the same outcomes as residential care (to the extent that individuals are properly selected) while offering additional economic and practical benefits. The intensity of the treatment provided (25-40 hours per week) is sufficient to provide the level of treatment needed to create a behavioral change.

Long-term follow-up studies of PHP participants indicate that many continue to live sober, improve their mental health functioning, enhance their quality of life, return to or sustain steady employment, and restore relationships with family members.[5]

In comparison to standard outpatient counseling, PHP provides substantially more treatment intensity, closer monitoring and psychiatric care, as well as greater peer support and encouragement through daily interactions. Active participation and consistent attendance during PHP strongly correlate with long-term success. This means that those who attend consistently and complete the full recommended number of weeks will see better results. Additionally, individuals who seek out authentic engagement (actively participating in group sessions) and take the steps necessary to implement new skills into their lives display better results than those who do not engage.

PHP Treatment Duration and What Comes Next

PHP programs typically last for multiple weeks; however, the duration of PHP will vary based on the individual’s needs and progress in treatment. For instance, most Massachusetts residents experience treatment over a 3-5 week period; however, a select number of individuals may complete programming in a two-week period, while others may remain in a PHP program for 6-8 weeks. The treatment team will frequently evaluate patients to determine their readiness for a step-down to a less intensive stage of care.

As soon as participants begin treatment, step-down planning will begin. The next level of care for most is intensive outpatient programming that typically entails three to five days weekly of ongoing treatment. This is less intense than PHP yet still much more than standard outpatient care. If a participant is sufficiently stable in their support system and progress, they may be able to step directly to standard outpatient therapy.

Comprehensive discharge planning will begin during the early stages of PHP. Case managers will connect the participant with an outpatient therapist near their home, identify mutual support groups in Massachusetts that promote their engagement in recovery, arrange for sober living (if needed), and help coordinate employment resources and ongoing psychiatric care. Case managers will also help link participants with peer recovery support services, while maintaining an ongoing connection to the participant’s case management team if the participant should need further assistance.

Begin Healing with PHP in Massachusetts Today

If your addiction has created disruption in your life to the point that weekly therapy is not sufficient, then you may be a candidate for the support you need from a Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) offered through Epiphany Wellness in Massachusetts. The PHP offered by Epiphany Wellness incorporates evidence-based therapy, psychiatric care, family involvement, and peer support in a structured daily program designed to help address the full spectrum of recovery while allowing participants to return home at the end of their day. Contact us to get started and speak with an admissions specialist.