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If your teen has recently exited a residential inpatient program and is transitioning home, or attending outpatient therapy but needs more support, partial hospitalization programs (PHP) offer a balance of daily structure, intense therapies, and evening flexibility. They are highly effective and can reduce future teen inpatient hospitalization stays.
Read on to learn more about the benefits of PHP and if it is the right fit for your teen.
What is a Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP)?
PHPS are structured, daily treatment programs that bridge inpatient residential and outpatient care. Teens typically attend PHP for 5 to 6 days a week, for most of the day. Day-to-day activities are similar to inpatient, including individual therapy, group therapy, and medication management, but offer the chance to practice and implement coping skills in real-world settings.
Teens return home each evening after PHP and typically have the weekends or Sundays free. PHPs are ideal for teens who are:
- Exiting an inpatient residential treatment and needing ongoing daily structure or support.
- Teens attending outpatient treatment but showing no signs of improvement, or if their symptoms are worsening.
- Experiencing moderate to severe mental health challenges such as self-harm or aggression, but do not require 24/7 care.
- Struggling with conditions such as ADHD, eating disorders, trauma, or substance abuse that often require structured therapeutic support.
5 Benefits of PHP for Teens
PHP strikes a balance between structure and freedom. It helps teens become more independent while still providing daily clinical oversight. For teens who are recovering from substance abuse disorder and mental health issues, PHP offers several benefits [1]:
- Full Continuum of Care: PHPs offer comprehensive care, more than just regular outpatient therapy sessions. If your teen needs extra support beyond weekly sessions, PHP can be an ideal option. During PHP, teens have access to individual therapies, group therapy, medication management, family therapy, and recreational activities that may include hiking, sports, yoga, and art and music therapies.
- Routine and Structure: Mental health disorders such as ADHD, PTSD, and bipolar disorder can make it difficult for teens to establish a consistent routine. They may struggle to stay focused, motivated, organized, set goals, or regulate their emotions. PHP can help teens feel more stable and give them a sense of progress throughout recovery.
- Life Skill Development: PHP helps teens build lifelong skills for independence in both individual and group settings. Teens can get advice from peers and work on specific strategies with their therapist to regulate emotions, communicate, and stay organized. Many PHP programs offer skill-building workshops and activities that can improve teens’ functioning in the home and prepare them for employment, college, and other milestones of development.
- Peer Support Network: According to the Department of Health and Human Services, nearly 49.5% of teens struggle with a mental health condition [2]. Group therapy is a common part of PHP programs. This helps teens meet others who have had similar experiences, which makes them feel less alone and isolated.
- Family Involvement: PHP increases family involvement compared to standard inpatient care since teens return home in the evening each day. Most PHPS for teens also incorporate family therapy as part of treatment to improve dynamics in the home and foster communication skills, active listening, empathy, respect, boundaries, and shared decision-making.
Is PHP Effective? What The Research Says
PHPs are an effective approach for teens and can significantly reduce symptoms of mental health challenges, including eating disorders, ADHD, bipolar disorder, and substance abuse. Research shows they can reduce future inpatient hospitalization stays by 23% [1].
Another study found that a 6-week PHP program “decreased symptom severity and improved relational health”. These improvements were greater than in standard outpatient programs [3].
Supporting Texas Teens and Their Families: How PHP Works at Clearfork Academy
Our PHP program at Clearfork Academy allows teens to maintain a sense of routine and autonomy. Teens receive similar services as inpatient care, as well as academic support, family involvement, and aftercare planning focused on their transition to outpatient and long-term recovery.
Our PHP meets 5 days a week, for 6 to 8 hours a day. Some of the treatments offered in our partial hospitalization program (PHP) for teens include:
- Evidence-Based Therapies like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR).
- Group Therapy and Peer Support are key parts of our PHP program to emphasize the importance of community. We focus on helping teens foster connections with others who have had similar experiences and hold each other accountable.
- Medication Management is provided under the clinical supervision and monitoring of our psychiatric care team. We can also provide medication-assisted treatment (MAT) in severe cases of substance use disorders (opioids and alcohol) to reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms.
- Tailored Care for teenage boys and girls recognizes the unique struggles that arise during development. Interventions are designed to meet the needs of growing teens, recognizing that hormones, social media, academic stress, identity development, and peer pressure all play a significant role in adolescence.
Structured Support For Teens in Texas
Clearfork Academy is a network of behavioral health facilities in Texas committed to helping teens recover from behavioral addictions, substance abuse, and mental health disorders. Our licensed and accredited facilities are dedicated to providing structured, evidence-based care and education for parents and caregivers of youth.
Discover more about how Clearfork Academy can support your teen. Contact our admissions team today.
Sources
[1] Marcus, M. et al. 2025. The Impact of Pathway of Care on Treatment Outcomes in Adolescent Partial Hospitalization Programs. Sage Journals.
[2] Department of Health and Human Services. Office of the Attorney General. Youth Mental Health.
[3] Berry, K. et al. 2023. The Impact of Family Therapy Participation on Youths and Young Adult Engagement and Retention in a Telehealth Intensive Outpatient Program: Quality Improvement Analysis.
Mike Carter, LCDC
Alumni Relations Manager
Mike grew up on a dairy farm in Parker County, Texas. At the age of 59, he went back to college and graduated 41 years after his first graduation from Weatherford College. God placed on his heart at that time the passion to begin to help others as they walked from addictions, alcoholism, and abuse of substances. He is a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor and in the past few years he has worn many hats, from intake and assessment, group counseling, individual and family counseling, intensive outpatient and now he is working with clients, therapist, and families on discharge planning and aftercare. He also coordinates our Alumni Outreach Program.
