How Can a Partial Hospitalization Program for Depression Help You Heal?
Learn more about how a comprehensive, supportive, and structured partial hospitalization program for depression can benefit you.
What Is Depression?
We all have ups and downs in life, and it’s normal to feel sad from time to time. However, depression is much more than just occasional sadness.
It’s a persistent and often overwhelming feeling of sadness, hopelessness, and loss of interest that lasts for weeks, months, or even longer. If you are struggling with symptoms, finding a partial hospitalization program for depression can help you heal.
How Can Depression Affect You?
Feelings of depression can interfere with one’s daily life, causing problems with work, school, or relationships.
People with depression often experience changes in their sleep and eating patterns. They might also experience:1
- Problems with concentration and memory
- Low energy
- Low self-esteem
- Difficulty expressing themselves
- Thoughts of death or suicide
Who May Be Diagnosed With Depression?
Depression can affect anyone, regardless of age, race, or socioeconomic status. In fact, it’s one of the most common mental health problems in the world. According to the World Health Organization, more than 280 million people worldwide have depression.2
Depression is a serious condition, but the good news is that it’s also treatable. A partial hospitalization program for depression is one type of treatment option that can help people cope with depressive symptoms and manage their condition.
What Is a Partial Hospitalization Program for Depression (PHP)?
A partial hospitalization program is a structured program where you attend treatment during the day but return home in the evening. It’s a step between full-time hospital care and outpatient care.
In a partial hospitalization program for depression, an individual typically spends five to six hours a day, five days a week, in the program.
During this time, they will take part in different types of therapies along with educational sessions where they can learn more about depression and how to manage it.
What Is The Goal of a Partial Hospitalization Program for Depression?
The goal of a partial hospitalization program for depression is to help individuals gain better control over their symptoms in order to holistically heal. It aims to equip individuals with the skills they need to cope with depression in everyday life.
Once someone has finished the program, they should be better able to handle the challenges that come with depression. They may also be ready to transition to less intensive forms of treatment, like regular outpatient care.
Comparing a Partial Hospitalization Program for Depression With Other Depression Treatment Programs
There are other options beyond a PHP for depression. Depending on your needs and the severity of your symptoms, your doctor may recommend another option, such as:
Inpatient Treatment
In an inpatient program, you will stay at the facility full-time. You get around-the-clock care from a team of mental health professionals.
This type of program is usually for people with severe depression symptoms that make it hard for them to take care of themselves or pose a risk to their own or others’ safety. Inpatient care provides a safe, controlled environment for treatment.
In contrast, a partial hospitalization program for depression will also provide intensive care but instead allows you to live at home. This means you can continue with some of your usual activities and responsibilities while receiving treatment.
Outpatient Treatment
Outpatient programs are less intensive than an inpatient or partial hospitalization program. In an outpatient program, you live at home and attend treatment sessions a few times a week. These programs often include individual therapy, group therapy, and medication management.
A partial hospitalization program for depression, on the other hand, requires more of your time. You attend the program for several hours a day, usually five days a week.
This allows for more intensive and varied treatment, which can be beneficial if your depression is more severe or if other treatments haven’t worked for you.
Is an Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) and Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) the Same?
An intensive outpatient program (IOP) is a bit of a middle ground between outpatient programs and partial hospitalization programs. This can be a good option if you need more support than an outpatient program provides but can’t commit to a PHP.
A partial hospitalization program for depression involves more hours of treatment per week than an IOP. This extra time allows for a broader range of therapies and more opportunities to learn and practice coping skills.
What Kind of Treatment Do You Need?
The right treatment program for you depends on your individual needs. If you’ve tried outpatient care and it wasn’t enough, a partial hospitalization program for depression may be the best choice.
Or, if you need more support than an outpatient program provides but can’t commit to five or six hours of treatment each day, an IOP may be a better option. Talk to your doctor or mental health care provider about which type of program is best for you.
Objectives of a Partial Hospitalization Program for Depression
Stabilizing the Patient's Condition
The first goal of a partial hospitalization program for depression is to help stabilize the patient’s condition. This means reducing the intensity of depression symptoms.
For instance, someone may have feelings of sadness or hopelessness that are so strong they make it hard for them to do everyday tasks.
In a PHP, mental health professionals work with patients to reduce and work through these feelings.
Developing Coping Mechanisms and Skills
The second goal of a partial hospitalization program for depression is to help the patient develop coping skills. This can include learning to manage stress, developing healthy coping strategies for difficult emotions, and identifying risks for your depression.
Your treatment team will help you acquire the skills needed to manage your mental health on an ongoing basis.
Ensuring Smooth Transition to Routine Life
The third goal of a partial hospitalization program for depression is to help you transition back to your routine life. This might mean going back to work or school, or taking care of responsibilities at home.
A PHP helps you make this transition by gradually reducing the intensity of treatment. Over time, as your condition stabilizes and you get better at using your coping skills, you’ll spend less time in the program and more time in your usual environment.
This gradual transition can make it easier for you to adjust and can reduce the risk of your depression symptoms coming back.
Typical Duration of Partial Hospitalization Program for Depression
The length of stay in a partial hospitalization program for depression can be different for everyone. It depends on many things, such as your symptoms and how well you respond to the treatment. Most people usually stay in a PHP for several weeks up to a few months.
The length of your stay in the program is important because it gives you the time needed to learn and practice coping skills. This can reduce the risk of your depression symptoms coming back later.
Can You Leave a PHP For Depression Early?
You can leave a partial hospitalization program for depression early if you and your treatment team agree that you’re ready. If you’ve made good progress and you feel like you’re able to manage your depression on your own, then you might be ready to leave the program.
However, leaving early should be a decision made with your treatment team. They have the expertise to know if you’re truly ready to handle your depression outside the program. If you leave too soon without being ready, it might be hard for you to keep up with your progress.
Psychotherapy in a Partial Hospitalization Program for Depression
Psychotherapy can help you through a broad range of mental health problems and emotional difficulties. It helps you learn about your condition, your moods, feelings, thoughts, and behavior. With the insights and knowledge you gain, you can learn coping and stress management skills.3
Some therapy in a partial hospitalization program for depression can include:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
One type of psychotherapy used in a partial hospitalization program for depression is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).
CBT helps you understand how your thoughts and feelings influence your behavior. It also teaches you to identify and change thought patterns that lead to harmful behaviors or feelings of sadness.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
DBT is another therapy often used in a partial hospitalization program for depression. It involves the balance of accepting things as they are while also working to change them.
This balance can help you deal with conflicting feelings and reduce behaviors that might make your depression worse.
Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT)
MBCT is a kind of therapy that combines cognitive therapy methods with mindfulness techniques. You might learn to focus on your breath or the sensations in your body. This can help you notice when you start to have negative thoughts that could lead to depression.
Then, you can use the skills you learn in therapy to respond to these thoughts in a healthier way..4
Medication Management in a Partial Hospitalization Program for Depression
In a partial hospitalization program for depression, medication may also be a part of your treatment plan. Different types of medication can help with depression. These may include antidepressants, mood stabilizers, or antipsychotics.
Antidepressants help balance chemicals in your brain that affect your mood, mood stabilizers can help prevent mood swings, and antipsychotics can help if you have symptoms like hallucinations or delusions.
How to Know If You Need Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)
The professionals in a partial hospitalization program for depression will keep a close eye on how your medication is working. This involves regular check-ins to see how you’re feeling, if the medication is helping, and if there are any side effects.
It’s also important for you to tell the professionals in the partial hospitalization program for depression about any side effects you notice. That way, they can help you manage these side effects, or they can adjust your medication if needed.
The Role of Family and Social Support in PHP
In a partial hospitalization program for depression, you’re not alone. People who care about you, like your family and friends, can be a big part of your recovery. This is because having support can make dealing with depression easier.
Your family and friends can do things like listen when you need to talk, offer encouragement, and help with everyday tasks. This can help reduce stress, which can make your depression easier to manage.
In many partial hospitalization programs for depression, family members can even be a part of treatment. They might come to some of your therapy sessions, or they might meet with a therapist on their own.
How Do These Sessions Work?
During these sessions, they can learn more about depression and how to support you. They can also talk about their own feelings and learn how to take care of their own mental health.
Besides family, other people can also be part of your support network. This might include friends, coworkers, or people you meet in the partial hospitalization program for depression.
You can build your support network by reaching out to people you trust, joining a support group, or making connections with people who have similar experiences. This can help you feel understood and less alone.
Navigating the Challenges of a Partial Hospitalization Program for Depression
Joining a partial hospitalization program for depression is a significant step in recovery. However, like every journey, it comes with its own set of challenges. One of these is adapting to the daily structure. You’ll be going through a set schedule of therapies and activities which might be a new experience for you.
Feelings of fatigue or being overwhelmed by the intensity of therapy sessions can also be a challenge. Therapy often involves talking about feelings or experiences that might be difficult or uncomfortable. It’s normal to feel tired after these sessions.
Another hurdle could be the process of opening up about your feelings. It’s not easy to discuss personal experiences, especially when they’re painful or distressing. It can take time to feel comfortable sharing these things, even in a supportive environment.
Strategies to Overcome Potential Challenges
While these challenges might seem daunting, there are strategies to help navigate them. Setting small, achievable goals can make a big difference. Instead of focusing on the end result, you can concentrate on making a little bit of progress each day. This can make the journey feel more manageable.
Coping skills learned in therapy, like deep breathing exercises or mindfulness techniques, are also valuable tools to combat feelings of being overwhelmed.
If therapy feels intense, you can use these techniques to find calmness and balance. Regular exercise, a balanced diet, and enough sleep can also help your body and mind stay strong.
Safety Measures and Risk Management in PHP
Safety is paramount in a partial hospitalization program for depression. To ensure this, there are guidelines in place that everyone must follow.
Risk management is a key component of safety. The program staff is trained to handle a variety of difficult situations that might arise.
For example, if someone is experiencing intense emotional distress or having thoughts of self-harm, the staff have procedures in place to provide immediate help.
How Can Safety Measures Keep Patients Safe?
Promoting a safe and respectful environment is a shared responsibility between the staff and those attending the program. If someone is not respecting the rules, the staff will address the situation in a way that maintains the safety and integrity of the program.
Also, all of your conversations with the staff are confidential and will not be shared without your consent. The treatment facility is a secure, closed-off space that has limited access to ensure maximum healing and recovery for patients.
Rise Above Treatment's Partial Hospitalization Program for Depression
Rise Above Treatment, located in the sunny city of Murrieta, California, offers a fresh take on the partial hospitalization program for depression.
Our team knows that every person is unique. That’s why we work to create a plan that fits you, using a mix of different therapies and activities that can help you take back your life from depression.
A Whole-Person Approach to Healing
Our approach is holistic and comprehensive, taking into account all aspects of your physical, mental, and spiritual health. We work hard to also ensure that the program environment is a safe space.
How Can We Help?
Rise Above Treatment’s team of experienced clinicians and counselors are devoted to helping you make the changes you need to improve your health and well-being. We’ll work with you every step of the way, offering guidance and support in a non-judgmental atmosphere.
We are also available to answer any questions you might have and will provide feedback to help you remain on track with your goals.
Reach Out to Rise Above Today and Begin Healing
If you want to reach your full potential and get back to living life on your own terms, Rise Above Treatment is an excellent option.
With our caring team and supportive atmosphere, it can be the perfect place to begin your journey towards recovery. Don’t hesitate to reach out to us today; we’ll be here with you every step of the way.
Table of Contents
Are you ready to Rise Above your mental health and addiction challenges?
Reach out to us today. Let us provide the support and guidance needed for sustainable recovery and wellness, allowing you to lead the happy, healthy, and fulfilling life you deserve.
