PHP and IOP: More Support Without an Overnight Stay

You keep your appointments. You take your medicine. Still, the days are slipping. Work gets missed, the house goes quiet, and the week between visits feels very long. When weekly care is not enough, a partial hospitalization program (PHP) or an intensive outpatient program (IOP) may be the next step. Both give you more treatment each week while you still sleep at home.

If someone is in danger right now, do not wait for a program to call back. Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room for a life-threatening emergency, including an overdose. For suicidal thoughts or an emotional crisis in the United States, call or text 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org.12

Zoom

What is the difference between PHP and IOP?

PHP and IOP are both outpatient programs. You go home after treatment and do not stay overnight. PHP is the more intensive of the two. Medicare.gov says PHP usually includes 4 to 8 hours of care each day.3 IOP sits between once-a-week therapy and PHP.4 Medicare also sets weekly minimums for its own coverage: at least 20 hours of therapeutic services for PHP and at least 9 for IOP.5 Other programs and insurers may use different schedules.

The right choice depends on what you need during treatment and between sessions. Your clinician should weigh safety, medical needs, daily functioning, and the support you have at home. A diagnosis, or a number of hours, cannot answer those questions alone.

What PHP and IOP mean

A PHP gives you a structured day of psychiatric treatment, and then you go home. The word “hospitalization” can be confusing. Medicare describes PHP as outpatient care that serves as an alternative to inpatient psychiatric care, given for less than 24 hours a day.35 Medicare covers PHP in hospital outpatient departments and community mental health centers.3 Programs outside Medicare may run in other settings, such as a company-run day treatment center.6

An IOP gives you several treatment sessions each week, usually in shorter blocks than PHP. Medicare.gov says IOP may include group and individual therapy, mental health education, and medication management.4 Schedules vary. Mayo Clinic’s hospital-based IOP, for example, runs three-hour sessions, with a morning track by telehealth and an afternoon track in person.7

In both settings, the goal is active treatment. That is different from a social group. Medicare covers group psychotherapy but not support groups that bring people together to talk and socialize.3

How the levels of care compare

This table shows broad differences, not admission rules. Some companies call their residential programs “inpatient,” so ask what a program means by the word. A home-like residential program is not a hospital. Ask which medical and psychiatric staff are on site, and what happens in an emergency.897

Length varies too. Some people need a short stretch of extra support. Others need several weeks, or a different setting. Ask how the program decides when to change the plan.

When might you need more than weekly care?

Ask your clinician about PHP or IOP when symptoms are getting worse, daily life is slipping, or progress is hard to hold between visits. You might be missing work because of depression or avoiding school because of anxiety.510 Some people need frequent help just to use their coping skills. A recent crisis or emergency visit is another reason to look again at the plan. Mayo Clinic’s adult program, for example, works with people who are getting inpatient or emergency care. It also takes people whose outpatient clinician worries that a higher level of care may soon be needed.7

You do not have to move through every level in order. A program may come before a hospital stay, after one, or straight from outpatient care. UCLA’s teen PHP, for example, takes referrals from its inpatient team, outpatient clinicians, and emergency department, and also responds to a parent’s inquiry.10

An IOP may fit someone who needs regular treatment and has enough support between sessions. A PHP may fit when a fuller treatment day is needed. Medicare’s rules show the difference. PHP is for people who would otherwise need inpatient care. IOP is not meant for people who need inpatient-level care.35 A clinician should decide which fits after an assessment. An easier schedule should not be the only reason to choose one.

Ask your clinician to explain the plan in plain words. What needs more attention? What help is needed at home? What change would mean a different level of care?

The diagnosis is only part of the decision

Programs may treat depression, anxiety, panic, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), trauma, bipolar disorder, psychosis, or trouble managing intense emotions. Some treat substance use and mental health together. UCLA, for example, lists separate adult programs for OCD, psychosis-related thought disorders, perinatal mental health, and dual diagnosis.111012 Ask the program to confirm that it treats your concerns.

Two people with the same diagnosis can need different care. One may manage well between sessions. Another may have severe sleep loss, unsafe behavior, major medical problems, or trouble meeting basic needs.

Specialty care matters. Mayo Clinic says eating disorder care can include a dietitian for meal planning and a team that watches for medical problems. It advises choosing a professional with special training in eating disorders.13 A general mental health IOP may not offer those services. For OCD, ask whether the program offers exposure and response prevention (ERP). ERP is a form of CBT and the first-line psychological treatment for OCD.14

For alcohol or drug use, ask about integrated treatment and a withdrawal assessment. A regular psychiatric PHP or IOP does not replace medical withdrawal care.15 Severe alcohol withdrawal can cause seizures, delirium, or death. Confusion, hallucinations, seizures, or vomiting that will not stop need prompt medical care, such as an emergency room. They should not wait for the next group session.9

Three examples

These made-up examples show questions to discuss with a clinician. They do not place anyone in a program.

An adult with depression is missing work and losing her routine, even with regular visits. Her clinician reviews symptoms, medicine, physical health, and safety. Then they talk about whether more frequent therapy could help.

A teenager has just left the hospital. The family and team think about how much support he needs during the day, what home needs to look like, and how to get back to school. The next step could be a day program or another plan.

An adult with OCD spends hours on rituals. Instead of joining any open group, his clinician looks for treatment that targets OCD and checks how much support he needs to do it.

Safety outside program hours

PHP and IOP end each day. Medicare describes both as care for less than 24 hours a day. Neither offers the round-the-clock watch of a hospital.5 Before you start, the team needs to know whether you can stay safe outside program hours, and what to do if that changes.

Suicidal thoughts need prompt professional attention. They do not, by themselves, decide which program is safe. The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) brief suicide safety assessment asks how often and how recently the thoughts happen, including right now. It also asks about any plan and access to means such as guns or medicines, past suicide attempts or self-harm, other symptoms, stress, and support.16 Some programs do treat people with suicidal thoughts or urges after an evaluation. They work with each person on a safety plan and crisis coping skills.717 That does not mean IOP is safe for everyone with suicidal thoughts.

If someone is thinking about killing themselves right now, they need an emergency mental health evaluation and should not be left alone. Call 911, go to the nearest emergency room, or call or text 988.161

Asking someone to promise to stay safe does not work. It can give a false sense of security. A safety plan is different. Clinicians should help build one, including how to lock up or remove guns, medicines, and other dangerous items. Limiting access to dangerous objects saves lives.16

Severe mania, psychosis, or a serious physical illness on top of psychiatric symptoms can call for urgent assessment and possibly hospital care.713 Eating disorder complications and dangerous withdrawal may need more medical care than a psychiatric day program offers.139 Mania means a clear shift toward extremely “up,” elated, irritable, or energized behavior. Psychosis means some loss of contact with reality, such as hearing voices or holding false beliefs.1819

Having few supports is a reason to ask for more help, not a personal failing. Tell the team about unsafe housing, being alone a lot, caregiving duties, or a home that makes recovery harder.

From referral to your first day

You can start with your psychiatrist, psychiatric nurse practitioner, therapist, or primary care clinician. You can also ask your health plan for in-network programs, or call a program yourself. Some plans require a referral or approval first.20 Some programs need a referral from a mental health professional. UCLA’s adult PHP, for example, requires one from the treating provider. Others accept a first call from a patient or parent.211022

The intake team will ask about symptoms, past treatment, safety, medical problems, substance use, and practical needs. Bring an accurate medication list. Mention any recent hospital or emergency visits.

Three separate questions need answers. Is this program a good clinical fit? Does it have an opening? Will your plan approve and cover it? A yes to one does not answer the others.

Once you start, you and the team should agree on goals that matter in daily life. You might want to return to school, face what anxiety made you avoid, or keep a steady routine. Medicare expects goals that are measurable, functional, and time-framed, with the plan reviewed along the way.5

Plan for the time between sessions. Ask whom to call with urgent concerns, when that person can be reached, and what needs emergency care. If there is a waitlist, ask your clinician for a plan while you wait. A spot on a waitlist does not mean it is safe to wait without extra support.

What treatment includes

Many programs combine group therapy with individual sessions and care coordination. Some add psychiatrist visits, nursing, or family sessions. Others arrange some of these separately or charge extra.457218 Ask what the program actually provides and who provides it.

Therapy and skills practice

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) helps people notice harmful automatic thoughts, see how those thoughts shape feelings and actions, and change patterns that keep them stuck.23

Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) was first built for borderline personality disorder. It teaches mindfulness and skills to control intense emotions, reduce self-destructive behavior, and improve relationships.24 Standard outpatient DBT has four parts: individual therapy, skills training, phone coaching in the moment, and a support team for the therapists. Some shorter programs teach only some of the skills.25 So a “DBT-informed” group is not always full DBT. Ask which parts the program offers.

ERP helps people with OCD slowly face feared situations, objects, or thoughts while resisting compulsions. The therapist coaches you through it, and you practice between sessions.14 Ask whether staff have specific ERP training. A general anxiety group may not provide ERP.

For trauma, ask what the therapy involves and how it is paced. Groups can feel awkward at first. Ask how staff help people take part and how privacy is protected. For online groups, federal telehealth guidance says consent forms should explain the limits of confidentiality.26

Medication and care coordination

Some programs schedule regular psychiatrist visits. UCLA’s adult PHP, for example, has patients meet weekly with a psychiatrist and a therapist.21 Others offer psychiatrist visits only as needed. Lightfully, for example, lists psychiatrist sessions in its IOP “as needed,” with a supplemental fee.8 Ask who will prescribe, who will handle side effects and refills, and whether those visits cost extra.

With your permission, the program should share updates with your outpatient team. Do not stop a medicine or cancel ongoing care on your own because you are starting a program.

What a day can look like

These schedules are teaching examples, not a standard and not any specific program’s schedule. Individual therapy and psychiatrist visits may happen on some days, not every day.

A sample IOP block might run from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. It could include a check-in, a therapy group, a short break, skills practice, and planning for the next day. These examples do not show how many hours an insurer will count as treatment.

What research says about results

Many people in structured programs improve during treatment. The strength of the evidence varies. When a program shares its results, ask who was studied and what changed.

A 2024 review found 15 studies of 10 teen PHPs. Every study found improvement from admission to discharge. But only one compared PHP with another level of care, and only one followed teens after discharge. The authors said controlled studies with follow-up are still needed to show whether PHP itself works and whether gains last.27

A 2024 study of a specialist IOP for depressed and suicidal teens found that self-reported depression, suicidal thoughts and behaviors, and non-suicidal self-injury improved during treatment.17 It looked back at one program’s records and had no control group of teens who got other care or no IOP. So it cannot show that every teen program gets the same results, or that IOP can safely replace hospital care.

Older randomized trials, pooled in a Cochrane review, found that for the adults who qualified for those trials, care in an acute psychiatric day hospital was as effective as inpatient care. The authors estimated that at least one in five people admitted to the hospital could feasibly be cared for in a day hospital instead.28 But the review’s search ended in June 2010. It does not prove that every modern U.S. PHP or IOP equals hospital care.

Two studies compared virtual and in-person intensive programs. Symptoms improved in both formats, with no statistically significant difference between them.2930 Both compared people treated before the pandemic with people treated during it, instead of assigning the format at random. That limits what they can show.

Research on substance use IOPs is a separate body of evidence.15 It is not proof for programs that treat depression, anxiety, or other conditions.

Ask a program how it tracks symptoms, daily life, attendance, and how people do after discharge. The real question for you is whether the treatment fits your needs and whether your progress is being measured.

In-person or virtual care

Virtual programs can be easier to reach, but they still need your full attention and a private space. Federal telehealth guidance lists common group rules, such as keeping your camera on and joining from a room where you can be alone.26

The team should confirm where you are at each session, have a local emergency contact, and plan with you for a dropped call or a crisis.31 An online program is not an emergency room. Clinicians must also be licensed, or legally allowed to practice, in the state where you are during the session. Tell the program before you travel or move.3233

If you have Medicare, check before you assume a virtual program is covered. Medicare’s PHP and IOP benefits are built around care at a hospital, clinic, or community mental health center. Medicare describes IOP as care given somewhere other than your home.5

In-person care may suit some people better, and virtual care may suit others. Encouraging studies do not show that either format is right for everyone.2930 Ask about interpreters, disability access, and help with long groups. Plan for transportation, childcare, and caregiving early.

PHP and IOP for teens

Teen programs should be built for the ages they serve. UCLA’s teen PHP, for example, serves ages 12.5 to 17. It requires parents to attend at least one one-hour family session each week.10 Ask how parents take part.34 Also ask whose permission is needed, how your teen helps make decisions, what stays private, and what must be shared for safety.

School planning matters. Ask whether the program offers schoolwork support or works with your child’s school. UCLA’s teen PHP has an on-site school program, run with the Los Angeles Unified School District, when school is in session. That is one program’s feature, not something every PHP offers.10 Before discharge, plan for missed work, attendance, and the return to class. Make room for your teen’s own goals.

If your teen talks about wanting to hurt themselves or someone else, or their behavior is unsafe, get help right away. Do not wait for a program to start.34

Insurance and costs

Call both the program’s admissions team and the member services number on your insurance card. Ask about your exact plan, the specific program and location, network status, prior approval, covered services, and what you will owe. Read your plan’s coverage documents.20 An insurer’s logo on a program’s website is not a promise to pay for your care.

Ask for a written estimate. It should include program charges, separate psychiatrist visits, deductibles, copays or coinsurance, and out-of-network costs. Ask about charges for missed days. Travel, meals, and time off work can add costs too.

A deductible is what you pay for covered care before your plan starts to pay.35 A copayment is a fixed amount, such as $20, for a covered service. Coinsurance is a percentage of the cost, such as 20%. HealthCare.gov describes both as what you pay after you meet your deductible.3637

Medicare

Medicare Part B covers PHP and IOP as separate benefits.34

• PHP: A physician must certify that you need at least 20 hours of therapeutic services a week. The physician must recertify that need at least every 30 days and certify that you would otherwise need inpatient care. Medicare covers PHP in hospital outpatient departments and community mental health centers.35
• IOP: A physician must certify a need for at least 9 hours of therapeutic services a week, under a written plan of care. That need is reviewed at least every other month. At opioid treatment programs, certain other licensed clinicians may also certify. You do not need to qualify for inpatient care, and IOP is not meant for people who need inpatient-level care. Settings include hospitals, community mental health centers, federally qualified health centers, rural health clinics, and, for opioid use disorder, opioid treatment programs.45

These are Medicare rules, not general clinical definitions. In Original Medicare, you pay the Part B deductible first. Then you pay coinsurance for each program day at a hospital outpatient setting or community mental health center, plus a share of each professional’s fee. Opioid use disorder treatment at a participating opioid treatment program usually has no copayment. Medicare generally does not cover meals or transportation for these programs.345 If you have a Medicare Advantage plan, ask your plan what you will pay.4 Confirm that the program and its clinicians accept Medicare assignment.3

California Medi-Cal and the Inland Empire

In Medi-Cal, health plans such as IEHP must provide or arrange non-specialty mental health services. County mental health plans provide or arrange specialty mental health services for members who meet the access rules. The state requires the health plan to coordinate with the county.38 This guidance does not name PHP or IOP. It does not promise coverage at any particular program.

IEHP announced a change for Medi-Cal members effective May 1, 2026. Its corrected April 23 notice says that, as of that date, IEHP would stop covering PHP and IOP services for Medi-Cal members “over the age of 21.” IEHP says both Riverside and San Bernardino Counties offer services similar to PHP and IOP. It says members who call are screened and referred to the county or to their primary care provider, whichever fits.39 IEHP’s first notice, dated April 2, made an exception for eating disorder and substance use services. The April 23 correction says it was issued to fix the Riverside County phone number. Its text does not repeat the exception, so ask IEHP whether it still applies.4039 Ask IEHP how the change applies to your age, condition, and plan. Both notices cover Medi-Cal members only.

These lines can help you find services. They do not mean a program has an opening today.3924142

• IEHP behavioral health call center: 1-800-440-4347 (TTY 1-800-718-4347), Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Riverside County: Riverside University Health System–Behavioral Health CARES Line, 1-800-499-3008.
• San Bernardino County: Department of Behavioral Health Access Unit, 1-888-743-1478.

Commercial insurance and access problems

California’s mental health parity law requires state-regulated commercial health plans and insurers to cover medically necessary mental health and substance use treatment, including outpatient care. The Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC) says these plans must “arrange coverage for out-of-network services for medically necessary treatment when services are not available in-network.”20 Coverage still depends on your plan and situation.

If you cannot get an appointment, or you disagree with a denial, ask the plan for the reason in writing and file a grievance. Your clinician can help explain why you need the care. For a DMHC-regulated plan, you usually go through the plan’s grievance process for 30 days before filing a complaint with the DMHC. If your health problem is urgent, you can ask the DMHC for help right away.43 The DMHC Help Center is 1-888-466-2219 (TDD 1-877-688-9891).44 Never delay emergency care over an insurance problem.

Making room for treatment

Ask about the full time commitment, including travel and visits outside group hours. Some people keep working or going to school. Others need a short break. Do not assume that an evening IOP fits every job, or that you can do virtual treatment while you work.

Eligible employees of covered employers may use Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) leave for a serious mental health condition. FMLA leave may be unpaid, or it may run at the same time as paid leave from your employer.45 In California, the California Family Rights Act (CFRA) covers employers with five or more employees. It can give eligible workers up to 12 weeks of job-protected leave a year for a serious health condition. Whether you are paid depends on your employer’s policy, your paid time off, and state disability benefits.46 Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, reasonable accommodations can include changed work schedules, such as working around therapy visits, and sometimes unpaid leave.47 Talk with your clinician and your human resources office. What applies to you depends on your job and the law.

Questions to ask before you enroll

• Do you treat my age group, my main concerns, and any other conditions I have?
• Which therapies do you provide, and who delivers them?
• What is the schedule, the attendance policy, and the time commitment?
• Who prescribes medication, and are psychiatrist visits included?
• What happens if symptoms get worse overnight or between sessions?
• How can family or other supports take part, with my consent?
• What language, disability, school, or work support is available?
• What has my insurer approved, and what might I owe?
• How will you measure progress and coordinate care after discharge?

You can check many California licenses, including those for physicians, registered nurses, psychologists, and licensed therapists, through the Department of Consumer Affairs license search.48 Ask which agency oversees the program itself. If a program advertises accreditation, ask who reviewed it and what the review covered. A license or accreditation is useful, but it does not prove a program is the best match for you. Be wary of pressure to enroll right away, vague answers, or promises that everyone gets better.

Planning care after discharge

Discharge planning should start while you are still in the program. UCLA’s teen PHP, for example, gives every patient a discharge plan with treatment and medication referrals. It also urges patients to start seeing their outpatient clinicians before they leave.10 Ask who will provide ongoing therapy and medication care, when the first follow-up visits are, and how records will reach those clinicians. The plan should include an up-to-date medication list and warning signs to watch for. It should also include your safety plan, with concrete steps such as telling a trusted person or calling a crisis line.16

Progress includes daily life, not only symptom scores. Leaving a program does not mean treatment ends. If your needs change later, a new assessment may lead to more support again. Call your clinician early, before daily life becomes unmanageable.

An example to explore: Lightfully Behavioral Health

Lightfully Behavioral Health is one California company that runs PHP and IOP programs. It appears here as an example of how to check a program. It is not a ranking, an endorsement of results, or a promise of admission. Here is what its own website said when it was checked on October 8, 2026:

• Adults: PHP (which it calls a Day Treatment Program) and IOP for people 18 and older. Its listed program sites did not include the Inland Empire.612
• Virtual care: a virtual PHP option, and a virtual IOP that it says is designed for “adults located anywhere in the state of California.”49 For Inland Empire readers, the virtual option may be the relevant one.
• Insurance: the admissions page says Lightfully works with most major commercial insurance plans. It states, “We do not accept Medicare at this time.” The page text does not mention Medi-Cal.22
• Teens: the Lightfully Teen pages describe programs for ages 12 to 17. On October 8, 2026, they also showed the notice “Lightfully Teen services are not currently available.”50 Families should ask admissions whether any teen program is open.

Start with Lightfully’s levels-of-care overview and its admissions page. Ask which program fits your age and needs, what the current schedule includes, how psychiatric care is arranged and whether it costs extra, and what happens if symptoms get worse outside program hours. Confirm benefits and costs with both admissions and your insurer. Then talk it over with your clinician, alongside other programs. A website listing can start your search. It does not confirm that you qualify or that a spot is open.

When to get help now

Do not wait for an intake, a callback, or an insurance decision if someone is in danger. Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room for a life-threatening emergency, including an overdose. For suicidal thoughts or an emotional crisis, call or text 988. More crisis lines, including Riverside and San Bernardino County resources, are listed below.12

Key takeaways

• PHP and IOP add treatment while you live at home. PHP is the more intensive of the two.34
• The right level depends on safety, medical needs, daily life, and support at home, not on a diagnosis alone.
• Suicidal thoughts right now call for an emergency evaluation, not a waitlist.16
• Ask what a program actually provides: the type of therapy, psychiatrist visits, family involvement, and help between sessions.
• Check coverage with both the program and your plan. IEHP Medi-Cal announced it would stop covering PHP and IOP for members over 21, effective May 1, 2026.39
• Plan your next step before you leave the program.

Frequently asked questions

Do I stay overnight in a PHP?

No. PHP is outpatient care, and you go home each day. If you need overnight supervision, a clinician should assess a different level of care.35

Is PHP always better than IOP?

No. More hours do not automatically mean a better fit. The right level is the one that meets your needs safely and offers the treatment you need.

Do I have to be in the hospital first?

No. Some programs accept people straight from outpatient care after an assessment. Others take people leaving inpatient or emergency care.710

Can someone with suicidal thoughts attend IOP?

Some people can, after a professional evaluation and with a safety plan.717 Anyone thinking about suicide right now needs an emergency evaluation and should not be left alone. Call 911, go to the nearest emergency room, or call or text 988.161 A website cannot decide whether a program is safe for you.

Can a virtual IOP replace in-person treatment?

For some people, yes. It depends on clinical needs, privacy, technology, where you are, and emergency planning.29303132 Confirm coverage too. Medicare describes its IOP benefit as care given somewhere other than your home.5

What if insurance denies the program?

Ask for the reason in writing, the plan rules that were used, and how to file a grievance or appeal. Your clinician may help explain why you need the care. If a DMHC-regulated plan does not fix the problem, the DMHC can help.2043

Related reading on NP FADY

• Urgent Mental Health Care: Finding the Support You Need Right Away
• If Depression Means the Hospital: What Inpatient Care Is Actually Like, and How a 5150 Works in California
• When Weekly Visits Are Not Enough, on eating disorder levels of care
• How to Find a Psychiatrist Who Takes Your Insurance
• Online or In-Person Psychiatry: Which Fits You
• When Someone You Love Says They Don’t Want to Be Here: A Family Guide to Safety Planning

References

1. National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH): Suicide Prevention. Last reviewed August 2025. Accessed October 8, 2026.

2. IEHP: Mental Health and Wellness. Accessed October 8, 2026.

3. Medicare.gov: Mental health care (outpatient): Partial hospitalization. Accessed October 8, 2026.

4. Medicare.gov: Mental health care (outpatient): Intensive outpatient program services. Accessed October 8, 2026.

5. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services: Medicare & Mental Health Coverage, MLN Booklet MLN1986542. March 2026; partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient sections, pages 28 to 30. Accessed October 8, 2026.

6. Lightfully Behavioral Health: Day Treatment Program (PHP). Company website. Accessed October 8, 2026.

7. Mayo Clinic: Inpatient Psychiatric Units in Minnesota, overview (Adult Transitions Program section). November 8, 2024. Accessed October 8, 2026.

8. Lightfully Behavioral Health: Levels of Care. Company website. Accessed October 8, 2026.

9. American Society of Addiction Medicine. The ASAM Clinical Practice Guideline on Alcohol Withdrawal Management. J Addict Med. 2020;14(3S Suppl 1):1-72. doi:10.1097/ADM.0000000000000668. PMID 32511109.

10. UCLA Health, Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital: Adolescent Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP). Accessed October 8, 2026.

11. UCLA Health, Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital: Adult Partial Hospitalization & Intensive Outpatient Programs. Accessed October 8, 2026.

12. Lightfully Behavioral Health: Intensive Outpatient Program. Company website. Accessed October 8, 2026.

13. Mayo Clinic: Eating disorder treatment: Know your options. July 17, 2025. Accessed October 8, 2026.

14. International OCD Foundation: Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP). Accessed October 8, 2026.

15. McCarty D, Braude L, Lyman DR, Dougherty RH, Daniels AS, Ghose SS, Delphin-Rittmon ME. Substance abuse intensive outpatient programs: assessing the evidence. Psychiatr Serv. 2014;65(6):718-726. doi:10.1176/appi.ps.201300249. PMID 24445620.

16. NIMH: Adult Outpatient Brief Suicide Safety Assessment Guide (ASQ Toolkit). Accessed October 8, 2026.

17. Bero KM, Teresi GI, Porta G, Poling K, Brent DA, Goldstein TR. Treatment Outcomes of an Adolescent Intensive Outpatient Program for Depressed and Suicidal Youth. JAACAP Open. 2025;3(3):576-588. Published online December 11, 2024. doi:10.1016/j.jaacop.2024.10.006. PMID 40922758.

18. NIMH: Bipolar Disorder. Last reviewed December 2024. Accessed October 8, 2026.

19. NIMH: Understanding Psychosis. NIH Publication No. 23-MH-8110. Accessed October 8, 2026.

20. California Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC): Behavioral Health Care. Accessed October 8, 2026.

21. UCLA Health, Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital: Adult Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP). Accessed October 8, 2026.

22. Lightfully Behavioral Health: Admissions. Company website. Accessed October 8, 2026.

23. NIMH: Psychotherapies. Last reviewed February 2024. Accessed October 8, 2026.

24. NIMH: Borderline Personality Disorder. Revised 2025. Accessed October 8, 2026.

25. Behavioral Tech Institute: What is DBT?. Accessed October 8, 2026.

26. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: Group teletherapy. Last updated September 18, 2024. Accessed October 8, 2026.

27. Rubenson MP, Gurtovenko K, Simmons SW, Thompson AD. Systematic Review: Patient Outcomes in Transdiagnostic Adolescent Partial Hospitalization Programs. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2024;63(2):136-153. doi:10.1016/j.jaac.2023.03.022. PMID 37271333.

28. Marshall M, Crowther R, Sledge WH, Rathbone J, Soares-Weiser K. Day hospital versus admission for acute psychiatric disorders. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2011;(12):CD004026. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD004026.pub2. PMID 22161384. Literature search June 2010.

29. Bulkes NZ, Davis K, Kay B, Riemann BC. Comparing efficacy of telehealth to in-person mental health care in intensive-treatment-seeking adults. J Psychiatr Res. 2022;145:347-352. doi:10.1016/j.jpsychires.2021.11.003. PMID 34799124.

30. Gannon JM, Brar JS, Zawacki S, Painter T, O’Toole K, Chengappa KNR. From Office-Based Treatment to Telehealth: Comparing Clinical Outcomes and Patient Participation in a Psychiatric Intensive Outpatient Program with a Large Transdiagnostic Sample. Telemed J E Health. 2022;28(8):1126-1133. doi:10.1089/tmj.2021.0421. PMID 34964653.

31. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: Creating an emergency plan for telebehavioral health. Last updated September 18, 2024. Accessed October 8, 2026.

32. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: Getting started with licensure. Last updated February 21, 2024. Accessed October 8, 2026.

33. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: Licensing across state lines. Last updated April 30, 2025. Accessed October 8, 2026.

34. NIMH: Children and Mental Health: Is This Just a Stage?. Accessed October 8, 2026.

35. HealthCare.gov glossary: Deductible. Accessed October 8, 2026.

36. HealthCare.gov glossary: Copayment. Accessed October 8, 2026.

37. HealthCare.gov glossary: Coinsurance. Accessed October 8, 2026.

38. California Department of Health Care Services: All Plan Letter 26-002, Medi-Cal Managed Care Plan Responsibilities for Non-Specialty Mental Health Services. February 2, 2026; supersedes APL 22-006. Accessed October 8, 2026.

39. IEHP provider notice: CORRECTION: Discontinuation of Behavioral Health Services – PHP and IOP Coverage for Members Over Age 21. April 23, 2026; effective May 1, 2026. Accessed October 8, 2026.

40. IEHP provider notice: Discontinuation of Behavioral Health Services - PHP and IOP Coverage for Members Over Age 21. April 2, 2026; effective May 1, 2026. Accessed October 8, 2026.

41. Riverside University Health System: Mental Health Urgent Cares. Accessed October 8, 2026.

42. San Bernardino County Department of Behavioral Health. Accessed October 8, 2026.

43. DMHC: How to File a Complaint. Accessed October 8, 2026.

44. DMHC: Contact Us. Accessed October 8, 2026.

45. U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division: Fact Sheet #28O: Mental Health Conditions and the FMLA. May 2022. Accessed October 8, 2026.

46. California Civil Rights Department: Family Care and Medical Leave quick reference guide. Accessed October 8, 2026.

47. U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission: Depression, PTSD, & Other Mental Health Conditions in the Workplace: Your Legal Rights. December 12, 2016. Accessed October 8, 2026.

48. California Department of Consumer Affairs: DCA License Search. Accessed October 8, 2026.

49. Lightfully Behavioral Health: Virtual Treatment: Serving California. Company website. Accessed October 8, 2026.

50. Lightfully Teen. Company website; teen-services notice read October 8, 2026. Accessed October 8, 2026.

This article is for education and is not a substitute for care from a qualified health professional. It does not recommend any specific program. Do not start, stop, or change medication without your prescriber’s guidance. Evidence last checked October 8, 2026.

If you or someone you know is in crisis

• Call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room for any life-threatening emergency.
• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — call or text 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org, available 24/7, free and confidential. En español: marque 988 y oprima 2, o envíe AYUDA al 988. Deaf or hard of hearing: 988 videophone (ASL) or TTY 711 then 988. Veterans: 988 and press 1, or text 838255.
• Crisis Text Line — text HOME to 741741.
• The Trevor Project (crisis support for LGBTQ+ young people) — call 1-866-488-7386, or text START to 678-678.
• National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN) — call 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or text HOPE to 64673; free, confidential, 24/7. Online chat at RAINN.org/hotline.
• National Domestic Violence Hotline — call 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or text START to 88788; 24/7, help in 200+ languages. Online chat at TheHotline.org. If your phone or computer may be monitored, calling from a safer device is an option.
• Riverside County — Inland SoCal Crisis Helpline 951-686-HELP (4357), 24/7 (Inland SoCal United Way / 211+, in partnership with RUHS-BH); Community Access, Referral, Evaluation and Support (CARES) Line 800-499-3008, 24/7.
• San Bernardino County — Access Unit (Behavioral Health Helpline) 888-743-1478, 24/7; Mobile Crisis/CCRT 800-398-0018 (24/7, all ages) or text 909-420-0560. Arrowhead Regional Medical Center (ARMC) has a dedicated walk-in adolescent psychiatric ER (ages 13–17).
• Children under 13 — call 911 for immediate danger, contact your county's mobile crisis team (they respond to all ages), or go to the nearest pediatric emergency room.
• California Peer-Run Warm Line (non-crisis — someone to talk to) — call or text 1-855-600-WARM (9276); daytime and evening hours, not a 24/7 line.
• NP Fady (non-emergency) — for routine scheduling or questions, call (909) 707-6261. This line is not monitored for emergencies.