What kinds of clinical services are there?
Clinical services are differentiated based on levels of care. These levels are determined by intensity, frequency, and duration of treatment. Some levels of care, like inpatient, residential, and partial hospitalization offer higher intensity and frequency of therapeutic care, while outpatient services are offered with less frequency over a longer period of time and allow you to maintain your daily activities in the community. Clinical services can be offered on an individual basis or in a group setting. Working with a licensed therapist can help you to decide which type of clinical service best meets your needs. Remember that this can always change over time!
“I wish I knew of services earlier. I wish I had known about services and I wish I had known that other people felt the same way as I did.”
Crisis
If you or a friend are having a psychiatric emergency, you can call 211 and ask for the mobile crisis team, call 911, or go to the ER.
You may have better luck at the emergency room if you are brought in by the mobile crisis team or by 911—otherwise you may just wait.
Outpatient
Like a visit to the doctor, outpatient treatment allows you to stay home and maintain your daily activities in the community. Usually you visit a therapist about once a week for about 45 minutes. Outpatient services can be one-on-one or in a group.
Intensive Outpatient Treatment (IOP)
IOP is Intensive Outpatient treatment—for people who need more intensive support to deal with their addiction, prevent hospitalization, or transition out of the hospital after a crisis.
You live at your own place, but you receive a lot more services for a period of several weeks, until you’re feeling more stable. Usually IOP involves group therapy 2-3 times a week for about 3 hours each time.
IOP is covered by most insurance plans. If your insurance runs out before you are ready to leave, your treatment coordinator can ask for an extension.
“When I first got out of the hospital, I wanted to start my life from scratch. IOP helped me transition to being out in the world again.”
Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP)
A Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) is a very intensive short-term program for people experiencing acute psychiatric issues but who do not require the 24 hour setting of a hospital. At a PHP, you receive therapy and education and participate in groups 3-5 days per week for most of the day, but you go home at night.