PHP (Partial Hospitalization Program)

PHP was a nice stepping stone. After Residential treatment, where everything is done for you, PHP is a good stepping stone to return to every day life. I no longer had my laundry done for me or had every meal cooked for me, now I had to take care of myself. I went shopping once a week to find food to cook for myself. I had to do my own laundry and make my own bed. However, I was only taking care of myself.

Going from taking care of everyone but myself, to being taken care of 24/7, was a drastic change. I had gone from taking care of my two kids 24/7 to relying on someone else, their father, to take care of them while I was away. In the time that I was away I worried about them a lot, but I had to believe that they were safe and well cared for, so that I could focus on my own care and recovery.

PHP was a good stepping stone to getting back into normal life. I could call and talk to my kids, my mom, their dad, whenever I wanted or needed, but I didn't have to take care of anyone but myself. I got into a good routine of taking my meds, taking regular showers, brushing my teeth every day, and doing my own laundry. These seem like simple enough things, but they were things that I had been neglecting at home, before going to residential. It was a good way to establish a routine that would benefit me when I returned home.

On top of establishing healthy habits and routines, we still had group therapy every day of the week, Monday through Friday. We were in groups for 6 hours a day, and had a half hour for lunch, which was prepared for us, plus we got individual therapy every week and a care coordinator that could help us with things outside of the normal therapy spectrum. Our groups were varied and we learned more about CBT, DBT, talk therapy, meditation, and processing.