Intensive day treatment with the clinical depth of residential programming and the flexibility to return home each evening.
Medically reviewed by Dr. An Nguyen, Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Clinical Director, Desert Recovery Centers
A partial hospitalization program, commonly called PHP, is an intensive level of outpatient care that provides structured clinical programming during the day while allowing you to return home or to supportive housing each evening. PHP occupies a critical space in the continuum of care — more intensive than a standard outpatient program, but with greater independence than residential treatment.
At Desert Recovery Centers, our PHP operates out of our Phoenix location and typically runs five to six days per week, with approximately five to six hours of programming each day. During that time, you participate in individual therapy, group counseling, psychiatric sessions, experiential therapies, and skill-building workshops — the same evidence-based modalities used in our residential program, delivered at a comparable clinical intensity.
PHP is designed for individuals who need more than weekly therapy sessions but who do not require 24-hour residential supervision. It serves as both a step-down from residential treatment and a step-up for individuals who need more intensive care than traditional outpatient therapy provides.
Choosing the right level of care depends on your clinical needs, living situation, and where you are in your recovery journey. Here is how PHP compares to the levels immediately above and below it:
In residential treatment, you live at the facility full-time with 24-hour clinical support. PHP provides the same caliber of therapeutic programming — individual therapy, group work, psychiatric care — but you return to your home or supportive housing each evening. Residential is appropriate when you need around-the-clock supervision, a complete break from your environment, or medical monitoring. PHP is appropriate when you are clinically stable enough to manage evenings independently but still need full-day clinical intensity.
PHP typically involves 5 to 6 hours of programming per day, five to six days per week. IOP provides 3 to 4 hours of programming per day, three to five days per week. The clinical content overlaps significantly, but PHP offers more hours, more sessions, and tighter clinical oversight. Many clients step down from PHP to IOP as they demonstrate increased stability and the ability to manage more of their daily life independently.
The most effective treatment follows a graduated pathway: residential to PHP to IOP to outpatient aftercare. Each step reduces the intensity of clinical programming while increasing your independence, ensuring you are never left without adequate support at any stage of your recovery.
Each day in our PHP is structured to maximize clinical benefit while building the real-world skills you need for sustained recovery. A typical PHP day includes:
Morning check-in: review your current mental and emotional state with your clinical team
Individual therapy: weekly one-on-one sessions with a licensed therapist focused on your specific treatment goals
Process group: facilitated peer discussion addressing shared challenges, triggers, and recovery milestones
Psychoeducational group: structured learning on topics like relapse prevention, emotional regulation, and coping skills
Psychiatric session: regular medication management and psychiatric monitoring as part of your treatment plan
Experiential therapy: art therapy, mindfulness exercises, or other experiential modalities integrated into the weekly schedule
Skill-building workshop: practical sessions on communication, stress management, and life skills for post-treatment success
End-of-day reflection: guided journaling or mindfulness to integrate the day's clinical work before returning home
The exact schedule is tailored to your treatment plan and may vary from week to week as your clinical team adjusts the focus based on your progress.
PHP at Desert Recovery Centers uses the same evidence-based modalities as our residential program, ensuring clinical continuity as you step down through levels of care.
CBT remains a core component of PHP, helping you continue to identify and restructure unhelpful thought patterns. In PHP, the focus shifts toward applying CBT skills in real-world situations you encounter during evenings and weekends outside the program.
DBT skills training in mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotional regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness are reinforced through PHP groups. The semi-independent structure of PHP creates natural opportunities to practice these skills in daily life.
Peer-facilitated groups provide a space to share experiences, process challenges, and build the interpersonal connections that support long-term recovery. Group dynamics in PHP often reflect the real-world social situations you are learning to navigate.
Our psychiatric providers continue to monitor and adjust your medications during PHP, ensuring that your psychiatric treatment plan evolves alongside your clinical progress. Regular psychiatric sessions are built into the PHP schedule.
PHP places increasing emphasis on practical relapse prevention strategies and life skills as you prepare for greater independence. Sessions cover trigger identification, coping strategies, healthy routines, communication skills, and planning for the transition to IOP or outpatient care.
PHP at Desert Recovery Centers typically lasts two to four weeks. Clients stepping down from residential treatment who are progressing well may move through PHP in as little as two weeks. Clients entering PHP directly, or those managing complex co-occurring conditions, may benefit from three to four weeks of programming.
The timeline is never arbitrary. Your clinical team reviews your progress using objective clinical criteria and collaborates with you on step-down decisions. The goal is to provide enough structure to solidify the gains you have made while building confidence in your ability to function independently.
When you are ready, the typical next step is our Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP), which provides continued therapeutic support at a reduced intensity — allowing you to resume more of your daily responsibilities while maintaining clinical engagement.
Partial hospitalization is a recognized, medically necessary level of care, and most major insurance plans in Arizona provide coverage for PHP services. Our admissions team handles the insurance verification process, communicates directly with your insurance carrier, and provides a clear picture of your benefits before you begin programming.
If you are currently in residential treatment at DRC, the transition to PHP is coordinated by your existing clinical team. If you are entering PHP directly, our admissions team will guide you through the intake process, verify your insurance, and schedule your start date.
To learn more about our PHP or to begin the admissions process, call (623) 305-0496. Our team is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
If you complete residential treatment at DRC and step down to PHP, you continue working with the same clinical team. There is no need to retell your story, rebuild therapeutic rapport, or adjust to a new treatment philosophy.
Our PHP maintains the same commitment to small-group programming that defines our residential facilities. You receive individualized attention, not assembly-line treatment.
PHP at DRC addresses addiction and co-occurring mental health conditions simultaneously. Our psychiatric and therapeutic teams work together to ensure that all aspects of your clinical picture are treated at every level of care.
The semi-independent structure of PHP creates a natural testing ground for the coping strategies and life skills you are building. You practice applying what you learn in therapy to your actual daily environment, with clinical support available the next morning.
When your clinical team determines you are ready for less intensive programming, the transition to our IOP is smooth and coordinated. Your treatment plan evolves with you — there are no gaps in care.
Desert Recovery Centers (a Joint Commission accredited luxury treatment center in Arizona) offers a structured Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) that provides 5 to 6 hours of daily clinical programming, five to six days per week. PHP includes individual therapy, group counseling, psychiatric care, and experiential therapies while clients return home or to supportive housing each evening.
PHP at DRC provides the same evidence-based clinical modalities as residential treatment — CBT, DBT, psychiatric care, experiential therapy — but clients attend during the day and return home each evening. PHP is appropriate for clients stepping down from residential treatment or those who need intensive clinical support without 24-hour supervision.
PHP at Desert Recovery Centers typically lasts 2 to 4 weeks. Duration is based on individual clinical progress, co-occurring conditions, and readiness to step down to the Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP). The clinical team reviews progress regularly using objective criteria to guide step-down recommendations.
Our admissions team is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Whether you're ready to start treatment or just have questions, we're here for you.
Most clients begin treatment within 48 hours of their first call.