Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) in Los Angeles County

A partial hospitalization program (PHP) delivers 5 to 6 hours of clinical addiction treatment per day, 5 days a week, while you sleep at home or in supportive housing. LACATC's PHP in Encino, CA bridges the gap between residential care and outpatient life. Most insurance plans cover PHP as a standard level of care.

Full Daytime Clinical Programming
Sleep at Home or Sober Living
Step-Down From Residential Care
Most Insurance Plans Accepted

an adult carrying a folder and tote bag through a building entrance

48.5M
48.5 million Americans had a substance use disorder in 2023
Source: SAMHSA
15.6%
Only 15.6% of people needing addiction treatment received it
Source: SAMHSA
26.9%
U.S. overdose deaths fell 26.9% in 2024 as treatment expanded
Source: CDC

A partial hospitalization program is the most intensive form of outpatient addiction treatment, providing hospital-level daytime programming without an overnight stay. PHP sits directly between residential care and IOP within addiction treatment programs at LACATC in Los Angeles, sharing the same clinicians. Patients attend 5 to 6 hours of treatment daily at our Encino facility, then return home each evening.

What is the difference between PHP, IOP, and residential treatment?

The difference between PHP, IOP, and residential treatment is the number of weekly treatment hours and where you sleep at night. Confusion between these 3 levels stops people from choosing any of them, so here is the plain comparison.

Residential: live on-site with 24/7 support, roughly 30 to 90 days
PHP: 25 to 30 treatment hours weekly, sleep at home, no overnight care
IOP: 9 to 15 treatment hours weekly, built around work or school

Patients often complete all 3 in sequence, stepping down as stability grows. Insurance plans recognize each level separately, so coverage continues as you move between them.

Hospital-level care by day. Your own bed by night.

What does PHP at LACATC include?

PHP at LACATC includes daily group therapy, weekly individual therapy, psychiatric care, and medication management, delivered by the same team that runs our residential program. Continuity matters, because switching providers between levels of care is where progress leaks. Your chart, your therapist, and your goals all carry forward.

Each week covers 5 clinical components:

Group therapy on cravings, triggers, and relapse prevention
Individual sessions using cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for addiction treatment
Psychiatric care for co-occurring depression, anxiety, and PTSD
Medication management, including MAT where prescribed
Family sessions that prepare the household for your return

Programming runs Monday through Friday, roughly 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Encino campus. Lunch, transportation planning, and sober living referrals are coordinated by your case manager.

Who is PHP right for?

PHP is right for people who have completed detox or residential care, and for those whose addiction is serious but whose home life is stable and substance-free. Veterans transitioning out of residential addiction treatment program in Los Angeles commonly enter PHP as their first step back toward civilian routine.

3 signs PHP fits your situation: you have completed detox, your evenings are safe and substance-free, and you need more clinical support than 3 sessions a week can provide.

Can PHP treat co-occurring mental health conditions?

Yes, PHP treats mental health and addiction together through dual diagnosis treatment for co-occurring disorders in Los Angeles. Psychiatric care is built into the daily schedule, not referred out.

The same team, from detox to your last outpatient session.

How long does PHP last?

PHP lasts 2 to 6 weeks for most LACATC patients. The timeline follows 3 clinical milestones rather than a fixed calendar.

Week 1: stabilization, schedule adherence, and medication tuning
Weeks 2 to 4: skill practice in real evening and weekend conditions
Final week: step-down planning into IOP with the same clinicians

FAQ

Yes, most commercial plans, TRICARE, and Medi-Cal cover PHP as a recognized level of care. LACATC verifies benefits and handles prior authorization before your first day, and you receive the coverage summary in writing.

Full-time work is difficult during PHP because programming runs during business hours. Patients who need to work typically move to IOP, which meets mornings or evenings, once their clinical team confirms they are stable enough.

No. PHP patients sleep at home or in sober living housing that LACATC helps arrange, then return for treatment the next morning. Overnight clinical needs indicate residential care instead.

Intensive treatment does not have to mean leaving your life behind for months. Call LACATC or begin addiction treatment today at LACATC to verify coverage, complete a clinical assessment, and reserve a PHP start date in Encino this week.