So You Want Mental Health Treatment
How to Figure Out What Kind of Treatment is Best for You
Written by: Emily Beck
September 8, 2023
In the mental health world, there are a lot of different treatment options. When looking for help, it can be very confusing to even know where to begin. Websites like PsychologyToday.com and Google are great options, but what if you don’t know what you are looking for?
So how do you know what type of treatment is right for you? How do you begin to understand if you need outpatient, an IOP, PHP, Inpatient, or Residential treatment setting? Is group therapy better for what you need, or should you find an individual therapist?
Let’s Break Down the Different Types of Treatment
Outpatient Treatment
Outpatient treatment is what we think of as more “traditional” therapy. A person may see a therapist weekly, biweekly, or twice weekly, for 45 minutes to an hour, either in person or via phone or video call. This treatment is very specific to the needs of the client and can be as many or as few sessions as the person needs. This is decided by the client and therapist together. Outpatient therapy can be done with individuals, couples, or families.
Group Therapy
Group therapy is done in a group setting, usually with 1 or 2 therapists. Groups usually treat a specific issue, diagnosis, or treatment goal, and are often time limited to a specific number of weeks. There are tons of different options available for group therapy, in person or online.
IOP- Intensive Outpatient Program
An Intensive Outpatient Program, or IOP, is designed for those who need more support than weekly or biweekly therapy, but don’t need to stay overnight in a hospital setting. This type of program typically includes group and individual work and is time limited. For example, you might be seen 3- 5 days a week, half a day for 4-8 weeks, depending on your needs and if the program fits what your specific treatment goals. IOPs are often used to treat substance use disorders.
PHP- Partial Hospitalization Program
A Partial Hospitalization Program, or PHP, is for those who don’t quite need inpatient treatment but need treatment and structure for most of the day, every day or nearly every day, and more than what an IOP can provide. PHPs are often similar to IOPs but have more hours of treatment and more monitoring. This can be true for substance use disorders or any mental health disorder.
Inpatient Treatment-
Inpatient treatment is typically 1-2 weeks. This type of treatment is for emergency situations, and the goal is to prevent someone from harming themselves or others. This may happen if someone has suicidal or homicidal thoughts or severe mental health symptoms that put the person’s or someone else’s safety at risk. After being discharged from inpatient treatment, a client is referred out for something more long term.
Residential Treatment-
In Residential Treatment, someone may go to live in a facility for several weeks or months. These facilities are for people who need more than just a week or two of hospitalization, and have severe mental health symptoms, eating disorders, or substance use needs. In residential treatment, you live at the facility and have 24-hour access to care.
Medication Management-
Medication management must be done by a doctor. A therapist cannot prescribe medication unless they are also a psychiatrist, meaning they went to medical school. Medication management can be managed by a primary care provider, but is usually done by a psychiatrist, as they are experts in this area. If you want to try medication, many doctors will recommend that you do so with some other form of treatment. This could be anything from outpatient therapy to residential treatment.
Mental health treatment is different for everyone, and people often feel overwhelmed trying to figure out where to begin. Outpatient therapy is a great place to start, and you and your therapist can work together to figure out if that is the right course, or if you need a higher level of care. However, if you are having thoughts of self-harm, suicide, or harming someone else, don’t wait to schedule an appointment, please call 911, 988, or proceed to your nearest emergency room.
Interested in starting your mental health treatment journey? Give us a call today at 217-203-2008 and start promoting peace from within.
Resources:
https://www.seton.net/behavioral-health-care/2016/10/06/3-things-know-intensive-outpatient-programs/
https://www.thefreedomcenter.com/what-are-the-differences-between-php-and-iop-treatment/