Weekly Therapy, IOP, or PHP: How to Know Which Level of Care Fits

Crisis & emergency information. Virginia Family Wellness is not a crisis service. If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health emergency, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) or call 911. If you are in immediate danger, go to the nearest emergency department.

You Don't Have to Choose the Right Level of Care Alone

A level of care is how much structure and support your treatment gives you each week. At Virginia Family Wellness, care ranges from individual therapy sessions to structured outpatient programs: the Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) and the Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP).

This guide explains how the three compare, so you know what to ask when you meet with us. You don't need to decide before reaching out. Every client journey begins with a confidential intake assessment with a licensed or supervised clinician, who recommends the level of care that fits your needs.

At a Glance

	Individual Therapy	Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)	Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP)
Who it's for	Children, teens, and adults	Adults	Adults
Schedule	Sessions about 45 to 60 minutes, weekly, biweekly, or monthly	3 days a week, about 3 hours a day	5 days a week, about 5 hours a day
Typical length	Set with your therapist around your goals	Most clients attend 4 to 6 weeks	Most clients attend 3 to 4 weeks
What's included	One-on-one time with a licensed therapist	Group therapy, skills-based treatment, and a weekly visit with a psychiatrist/nurse practitioner for psychiatric care and medication management	Group therapy, skills-based groups, psychiatrist/nurse practitioner visits twice a week for psychiatric care and medication management, and consistent individual clinical support
Where	In person in North Chesterfield, or telehealth for eligible clients located in Virginia	Telehealth for eligible Virginia residents	In person in North Chesterfield
Evenings	Not applicable	Home every evening	Home every evening

How long someone attends IOP or PHP depends on their needs and progress.

Individual Therapy May Fit When…

Individual therapy gives you dedicated time with a licensed therapist to talk through what you're experiencing and work toward change. It can help with anxiety and depression, trauma, stress, life transitions, emotional regulation, self-esteem, and relationship challenges.

It may be a good starting point if your symptoms affect your life, but you can still manage most day-to-day responsibilities, and regular sessions give you enough support.

Learn about individual therapy

Intensive Outpatient Program May Fit When…

IOP is for adults who need more support than traditional outpatient therapy can provide but don't need the full-day structure of PHP. It may be appropriate if you:

• Want structured treatment while continuing to work, attend school, or care for family
• Are stepping up from traditional outpatient therapy
• Are stepping down from PHP or another higher level of care
• Need consistent support while managing everyday responsibilities
• Are stable enough to live at home and participate in outpatient treatment

Learn about IOP

Partial Hospitalization Program May Fit When…

PHP is our highest level of outpatient care. It is for adults whose symptoms are interfering with everyday life and who need more support than traditional outpatient therapy provides. It may be appropriate if you:

• Need more structure and support than weekly therapy can offer
• Are struggling to manage day-to-day responsibilities because of your symptoms
• Have tried outpatient treatment but need additional support
• Are stepping down from a psychiatric hospitalization or higher level of care
• Are afraid of returning to the hospital and want extra support to stay on track
• Are stable enough to live at home while receiving intensive treatment during the day

Learn about PHP

Your Care Can Change as You Do

These levels of care are connected. Some people start in PHP and step down to IOP, then to individual therapy. Others step up from weekly therapy to IOP when they need more support. Your care team begins planning for what comes next early in treatment, so you have a clear direction when a program ends, and you don't have to start over when your needs change.

What Happens at Your Intake Assessment

During your confidential intake assessment, a licensed clinician learns about what you're experiencing, your history, and your goals. From there, they recommend the level of care that best fits your needs.

Questions you might bring:

• How many hours a week can I realistically set aside for treatment?
• Can I keep working or going to school during treatment? (For IOP and PHP, we can help with Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and short-term disability paperwork and provide accommodation letters.)
• Is telehealth an option for the care I'm being recommended?
• What will my insurance cover? (See Pricing & insurance.)

Start With One Conversation

You don't need to know exactly what you need before reaching out. We'll listen to what's bringing you in and help you find the right next step.

Schedule an Assessment or call (804) 476-2668.

Related: All services · Individual therapy · IOP · PHP · FAQ