Understanding Levels of Care in Mental Health Treatment

By Jade Caswell, MA, NCC, LMHC

            Navigating mental health care can be challenging, particularly given the number of treatment options you may be presented. As mental health conditions vary in complexity and severity, matching the right treatment to your diagnosis is key to treatment success. Below are descriptions of common levels of mental health care, ranked from most intensive care to least intensive. The goal is usually to use the least restrictive level that can safely provide the treatment an individual needs. It is also possible to move up or down the continuum as needs change. Whether someone is experiencing acute symptoms or needing support and guidance in an outpatient setting, there's a level of care designed to fit every mental health journey.

Inpatient Psychiatric Hospitalization- This level of care is focused primarily on stabilization of acute mental health symptoms and is typically short-term. Immediate safety, stabilization, or intensive medical/psychiatric monitoring are goals of this level of care. Psychiatric hospitalization is usually warranted for the following: imminent suicide risk, severe mania or psychosis, or inability to care for basic needs.

Residential Treatment- Individuals at a residential level of care benefit from structured, around-the-clock support. Residential treatment can be a step-down option from inpatient psychiatric care and provide more long-term support. Services include individual/group therapy, psychiatric care, medication management, and skills work.

Partial Hospitalization Treatment- This level of care provides individuals with mental health services for most of the day, typically for 5 days per week. Considered a 'step down' from residential treatment, individuals benefitting from this type of treatment spend the night in their own homes and receive mental health treatment during the day.

Intensive Outpatient Program- This program requires less hours than PHP, and individuals often benefit from similar services including individual/group therapy and psychiatric care. Intensive outpatient is typically 3-5 days per week and lasts around 3 hours. Individuals often continue their normal schedules, including work or school responsibilities outside of treatment.

Outpatient Therapy- Considered the least intensive tier of treatment, individuals typically attend outpatient therapy once per week. Scheduling may be flexible, and depends on a client's needs, preferences and/or treatment progress. Outpatient therapy offers independence and flexibility and is a good option for people who are stable enough to live at home safely and do not need 24-hour monitoring. Outpatient therapy can be conducted via a telehealth platform or in-person at an office.

            At SanaMente Counseling, we offer outpatient services, including individual, couples, family and group counseling. Flexible scheduling options and telehealth sessions are offered to provide convenience and reduce barriers to care. If additional care is warranted beyond outpatient services, we also can provide referrals to additional mental health services in the community, including psychiatric care, medication management, psychological assessments, and other treatment facilities.

Ready to start your journey to wellness? Give our office a call today at 813-335-9794. We look forward to hearing from you!