Adult Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP)

PHP at the Psychiatric Institute of Washington (PIW) offers structured care during the day, allowing you to return home each evening. You can get the steady support you need while progressing toward your goals. 

Highlights of our program include:

• Outpatient support: The partial hospitalization program takes place in a hospital setting, but it’s for people who don’t need 24-hour care. Staff take time to listen, understand your experiences and support your healing journey.
• Working through trauma: PIW is among the few programs in the District using a trauma-based approach. This model helps you learn how past experiences affect your thoughts, feelings and daily life. We help you identify behaviors that aren’t working for you and find new ways to move forward.
• Special services for active-duty military: We are a TRICARE® in-network mental health care provider. You receive treatment from staff who understand military culture and know what’s involved in helping you return to duty. They regularly update Command. At the same time, staff protect your personal information.
• Connected care: After finishing PHP, you may be eligible to continue healing through our intensive outpatient program (IOP). You keep working with many of the same staff who already know you and your history. This makes it a little easier to keep building on your progress.

This program may be a good fit if you’re 18 or older and need additional help managing severe mental health symptoms.

PHP is for people experiencing:

• Sadness, hopelessness or lack of motivation
• Constant worry or racing thoughts
• Sudden mood swings or shifts in energy
• Difficulty coping with major life changes
• Panic attacks or intense fear that’s hard to control
• Challenges with concentration, sleeping or keeping up with daily life
• Overwhelming emotions due to past trauma

Our PHP runs five days a week, five hours a day, 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. A structured schedule helps support your recovery and equip you with skills to navigate daily life. 

Here’s what to expect:

• Coordination: Your care includes regular check-ins with a psychiatrist, along with consistent monitoring from a nurse practitioner. Staff, including mental health professionals, stay connected throughout your treatment to help you reach your goals.
• Therapy: Group, individual and educational sessions help you understand your emotions and build coping strategies. You also have time to reflect on what recovery looks like for you and plant the seeds for lasting change.
• Medication management: Drugs like antidepressants help many people feel better. If they are necessary for you, we thoughtfully prescribe the appropriate option for your needs. Staff check in with you regularly to see whether the drugs are working as expected and make adjustments if necessary.
• Expressive arts: Staff guide you through creative ways of exploring your emotions and experiences. These activities support healing by helping you connect with your thoughts in a different way.
• Discharge planning: Your plan may include continuing treatment in our intensive outpatient program (IOP). It may also involve reconnecting with community-based providers you’ve already been working with. 

Call 202-790-0786 to schedule a no-cost and confidential mental health intake assessment. Assessments for our partial hospitalization program are available on weekdays during business hours.

In case of a mental health crisis, call 988. For medical emergencies, call 911. You can also access assistance at your nearest emergency room.