The Different Levels of Mental Health Treatment

Knowing where to start when you or a loved one needs help for mental health can be confusing, overwhelming, or downright mysterious! Here is a breakdown of the different levels of care, from lowest to highest intensity:

Outpatient Therapy

• How often: typically weekly for 50 minute sessions

• For whom: individuals, couples, and/or families who need support and have concerns to work on, but are still able to function normally in their day to day lives

• Setting: therapist’s office or via online video

• Therapy type: often talk therapy that integrates different theories and modalities

Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)

• How often: 3-5 days per week for 3 hour sessions for about 6-8 weeks

• For whom: individuals whose mental health concerns are starting to impact their daily functioning; they may be able to still work and/or attend school, but need extra support to do so

• Setting: a stand-alone treatment center, hospital, or via online (through the center or hospital)

• Therapy type: individual and group therapy, skills training, and medication management

  
  

Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP)

• How often: 5 days per week for 6 hour sessions for about 4-6 weeks

• For whom: individuals whose mental health concerns are so negatively impactful that they are unable to work or attend school without great distress; they are not an acute danger to themselves or others

• Setting: a stand-alone treatment center, hospital, or via online (through the center or hospital)

• Therapy type: individual, family, and group therapy, skills training, and medication management; may also include yoga, meditation, or other body centered treatments

Residential Treatment

• How often: 24/7 care for a month or longer

• For whom: individuals whose mental health or addiction has reached a critical level and they are unable to function without consistent support; there may be a concern of acute danger to self

• Setting: a stand-alone treatment center that often feels “homey”

• Therapy type: individual, family, and group therapy, skills training, and medication management; may also include yoga, meditation, exercise, or other body centered treatments, as well as creativity based therapy

Psychiatric Hospitalization

• How often: 24/7 care for 3-14 days

• For whom: individuals whose mental health or addiction is at a critical level and they may be an immediate danger to self or others (often with acute intent or plan of suicide)

• Setting: hospital

• Therapy type: largely focused on medication management, with group and individual therapy

Mental health treatment is not one size fits all, and there are many treatment level options to fit varying needs. It can be helpful to speak to a doctor or even a local therapist if you’re unsure about what you or a loved needs for treatment.