Mental Health Treatment Los Angeles
There are many different terms out there for treatment programs that support individuals with mental health disorders and addictions, and that makes figuring out what you need much more complicated. Here are some of the most common terms, and what you can expect in each type of treatment.
Common Treatment Options for Mental Health and Substance Use:
Inpatient psychiatric hospitalization:
This typically happens on an emergency basis. When a person is an imminent danger to themselves (acutely suicidal), danger to others (acutely homicidal or experiencing impulsive, dangerous thoughts), or gravely disabled (struggling to stay connected to reality, and/or unable to care for their own basic needs), hospitalization is often necessary. The pathway to hospital admission is often through a crisis center or an emergency room, and often happens within hours or a day. Patients are often admitted on an involuntary basis, meaning they cannot leave the facility without a physician’s approval. While many psychiatric hospitals allow patients to “check themselves in” voluntarily, they still need to meet one of the above criteria. Inpatient hospital stays are typically short-term in nature, ranging from a few days to a few weeks.
Medical detox and withdrawal management:
There are certain substances, such as alcohol, benzodiazepines (Xanax, Ativan, Klonopin, etc.), and opioids (OxyContin, Vicodin, heroin, fentanyl, morphine, etc.) that can cause physically dangerous side effects when one goes through withdrawal. The withdrawal process for these substances can even be fatal. Because of that, medical detox is highly recommended and medically necessary. This is a supervised process in a medical facility, where patients are monitored and treated to help them get through withdrawals as safely as possible. This can be done at specific detox facilities and hospitals. The detox process typically takes a few days to a week, and afterward, patients can transfer to other programs.
Residential Treatment:
Quest Behavioral Health is a residential treatment center that helps treat individuals suffering from mental health disorders. Residential Treatment facilities typically look and feel more like a house, as patients may stay here for 30 days and want to feel at home. Long-term doesn’t mean that patients live here permanently. Many are like Quest, in that patients may stay anywhere from 30 to 90 days. Residential Treatment facilities are recommended for those who really want to work on their mental health recovery in a focused environment and need a little more time to do that effectively.
Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHP):
These programs can be a great option for individuals who have recently been hospitalized or in residential treatment. A PHP is a short-term program that individuals attend for most of the day. Many PHP’s last 2-4 weeks, and patients attend the program as if it were a job, 9am-5pm or similar hours. Patients do not stay at a facility during a PHP, but go home in the evening or stay in a sober living environment. PHP’s usually include group and individual therapy, meetings with a psychiatrist, and other activities such as art or equine therapy. They also typically
provide lunch.
Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP):
IOP is another step-down option for those who have recently been to a psychiatric hospital or in residential treatment. IOP is a great option for those who are working, and can’t commit to the time requirement of a PHP. IOPs typically last longer than PHPs, often 6 to 8 weeks, but patients spend less time there each week. Many IOPs meet a few times a week, for 2 to 3 hours. An IOP may feel a lot like group therapy, along with having a psychiatrist.
Outpatient treatment:
This is any kind of treatment during which the patient goes to a provider, and then goes home. Examples are seeing a psychiatrist at a clinic, meeting with a therapist in her office, attending a support group, or going to a methadone clinic. Telehealth appointments are also considered to be outpatient.