Kansas City Kansas VA Clinic

A partial hospitalization program (PHP) is a short-term form of intensive rehab, usually for those with acute symptoms that are hard to manage but don’t require 24-hour care. PHPs have structured programming (i.e. individual and/or group therapy), and usually meet 3-5 days a week for around 6 hours (i.e. 9am-3m). Some PHPs are residential (patients sleep on site) and some are not, so patients sleep at home. PHPs can last from 1-6 months, and some offer transportation and meals.

Clients exiting detox, stepping down from inpatient rehab, or at an increased risk of relapse often enroll in intensive outpatient programs (IOP). These programs offer high-level support, including multiple therapeutic sessions per week. Clients typically receive between nine and 20 hours of treatment weekly. Intensive outpatient rehabs generally offer an array of services, including individual, group, and family counseling and recovery education. Medication assisted treatment (MAT) is widely available for those in alcohol and/or opioid recovery.

Clients receiving treatment at an outpatient facility are often further along in their recovery journey than those in inpatient care, meaning they may require less intensive supervision and support. Outpatient services generally include addiction counseling, recovery education, and community reintegration support. Most outpatient rehabs offer evening, night, and weekend services to accommodate clients’ needs. Clients who are in early recovery or are at an increased relapse risk may enroll in partial hospitalization (PHP) or intensive outpatient (IOP) programs.

Completing a drug or alcohol rehab program shouldn't spell the end of substance abuse treatment. Aftercare involves making a sustainable plan for recovery, including ongoing support. This can include sober living arrangements like halfway houses, career counseling, and setting a patient up with community programs like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or Narcotics Anonymous (NA).