Teen & Adolescent Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) for Treatment

Choosing to enroll your child in a partial hospitalization program (PHP) is a courageous and meaningful step. Whether your family is just beginning to seek help for behavioral, emotional, or mental health concerns—or your child is stepping down from inpatient care—a PHP can be exactly the structured, supportive environment they need to begin healing.

At Pine Tree Recovery Center in Portland, Maine, our adolescent partial hospitalization program offers a warm, structured environment where your child can thrive. Our focus extends beyond merely addressing surface-level symptoms. Instead, we encourage young people to delve deep into the underlying factors contributing to their struggles.

Issues such as trauma, challenging home environments, and mental health disorders often lie at the heart of behavioral concerns, which can manifest as aggression, disengagement, substance use, and more. Through our holistic, evidence-based PHP, we assist children in overcoming immediate challenges while simultaneously equipping them with the skills they need to build lasting resilience and emotional strength.

If you’re ready to support your child on this pivotal journey—or if you’d like to learn more about our programs—reach out for a free and confidential conversation. Explore how our all-encompassing behavioral health services can offer the guidance and resources your child needs to reclaim their health and well-being. A new path is possible, and Pine Tree Recovery Center can walk with you and your child every step of the way.

What Is a Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP)?

A partial hospitalization program (PHP) is a step down in care from inpatient/residential treatment. However, depending on various factors, some children may enter our PHP as a first point of care if they don’t require detox.

Pine Tree Recovery Center’s adolescent PHP enables children to live at home or within our adolescent sober housing option. With both choices, children participate in a host of treatment options multiple days a week for several hours per day as part of an intensive and structured program.

Similar to inpatient care, Pine Tree Recovery Center’s adolescent PHP provides individual, group, and family therapy as well as medication-assisted treatment (MAT), educational sessions, relapse prevention, life skills training, and holistic therapies. Along with employing evidence-based strategies such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and motivational interviewing (MI), we offer various holistic modalities, such as art and music therapy, yoga, meditation, mindfulness practices, and more.

However, we don’t just treat the symptoms of behavioral and substance use issues. We empower children to examine the reasons behind their actions and emotions and to take the time to address them. This approach is built on the fact that behavioral challenges, substance use, and mental and emotional health issues frequently intersect, with each aspect influencing the others. Our PHP allows children to explore these interconnected areas more thoroughly, helping them gain insight into the underlying factors that contribute to their behavior.

Pine Tree Recovery Center’s adolescent PHP also focuses on the family as a source of strength and support. Along with ongoing communication with parents and guardians, we foster family involvement and growth via family therapy, workshops, and parent support groups. Both in-person and virtual sessions are available to serve in- and out-of-state clients.

Moreover, recognizing that education plays a crucial role in your child’s future, we prioritize academic engagement at Pine Tree Recovery Center. We work closely with each student’s home school district to support attendance credits and align with their academic programs. Our committed educators offer individualized support and targeted interventions to assist your child in achieving or maintaining strong academic performance. In addition to therapeutic activities, we dedicate time each day for educational pursuits, which includes two hours of structured academic and physical education activities.

Every child is unique, and so is their journey through Pine Tree Recovery Center’s levels of care. As such, we tailor each treatment experience to meet your child’s specific physical, mental, and emotional needs, ensuring a personalized approach that considers their individual preferences and goals. Before your child transitions out of our program, we develop a thorough aftercare plan that facilitates a smooth shift from our intensive treatment to a less intensive option such as our intensive outpatient program (IOP) and/or one of our outpatient models that include virtual care options.

What Is the Treatment Process in a PHP Program?

At Pine Tree Recovery Center, we recognize that each child is unique, which is why our adolescent PHP is specifically tailored to meet each child’s individual needs and preferences. Thus, the treatment process begins with a thorough evaluation of your child’s medical and mental health history. Our experienced professionals engage with both you and your child to collect vital information that informs the creation of a personalized treatment plan, addressing aspects such as the recommended duration, medications, therapies, and more.

The treatment regimen typically includes a variety of individual, group, and family therapy sessions, integrated with holistic practices like yoga, meditation, physical exercise, and expressive therapies such as art and music. Additionally, academic instruction is an integral part of our PHP. This comprehensive approach emphasizes healing the whole person while also cultivating essential life skills, communication abilities, and coping strategies that promote lasting growth and recovery.

In addition to one-on-one sessions with counselors, children engage in group therapy, providing them with opportunities to connect with peers, work through conflicts, and share their experiences and achievements. These group settings foster a supportive atmosphere where participants are encouraged to express their emotions and uplift one another.

Families also embark on their own journey of growth. In addition to joint therapy sessions with their children, family members can join parent support groups and workshops, available through both in-person and virtual formats.

The Benefits of Partial Hospitalization for Your Teen’s Substance Use Disorder (SUD)

Pine Tree Recovery Center’s PHP provides holistic care that treats the underlying issues that drive teen behaviors, substance use, and mental and emotional concerns. Within a safe and structured environment, children can identify and address these underlying issues and ultimately build the skills necessary to thrive today, tomorrow, and always.

Additional benefits of our adolescent PHP include:

• Ongoing Intensive Therapy—Teens participate in individual, group, and family therapy sessions, which employ evidence-based care including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), motivational interviewing (MI), trauma-informed care, eye movement desensitization reprocessing (EMDR), and more.
• Access to Psychiatric Services—Our PHPs offer medication management and one-on-one meetings with a licensed, on-staff psychiatrist as needed.
• Safety and Inclusion—Our safe and nurturing environments, which are specifically designed for adolescents, offer healing, a sense of community, and the opportunity for transformational growth.
• Gradual Transition to New Normal—Pine Tree Recovery Center’s full continuum of adolescent care allows children to progress at their own pace and fosters gradual transitions between levels of care. We empower children to step down to lower levels of care after they’ve built the skills and acquired the coping tools necessary to successfully integrate into their new normal.
• Relapse-Prevention Training—Teens learn to identify and work through their personal relapse triggers.
• Life Skills Development—Our PHP focuses on instilling children with the life skills they need to thrive on their own—mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually—once treatment comes to an end.
• Family Growth and Healing—Along with regular updates on your child’s progress, we equip families with tools and techniques required to help strengthen relationships, build trust, and promote growth. In addition to psychoeducation and individual and family therapy, we offer engaging family workshops and supportive parent groups to foster continued growth.
• Academic Growth—Our educators regularly communicate with your child’s school to ensure your child maintains academic progress and can seamlessly transition back to school at the completion of formalized care. In addition, our dedicated educators provide personalized attention and critical interventions to help your child regain or maintain good academic standing. In effect, we strive to reignite your child’s passion for learning and set them up for long-term success.
• Dual Diagnosis Care—Mental health and substance use disorders often occur concurrently, a phenomenon known as co-occurring disorders or a dual-diagnosis. Given the complex interrelationship between the disorders, best practice is to treat both conditions at the same time. Pine Tree Recovery Center offers a host of dual-diagnosis treatment options that treat conditions such as anxiety, depression, and trauma alongside substance use disorders.
• Peer Support—Teens have the ability to offer one another peer support, encouragement, and advice based on their personal experiences. Teens also hone their communication skills and develop healthy friendships with one another.

Teen Mental Health in a Substance Use PHP Treatment Program

Mental health challenges, behavioral issues, and substance use often intertwine, creating a complex cycle that can exacerbate each condition and lead to a downward spiral. This is especially concerning for adolescents, who face heightened vulnerability during this critical stage of brain development. As their brains mature, the circuits responsible for executive functions—like impulse control and decision-making—are among the last to fully develop, making children particularly susceptible to both mental health disorders and substance use issues.1

Research from the National Institute on Drug Abuse reveals that adolescents struggling with substance use disorders frequently experience co-occurring mental health conditions, a phenomenon known as dual diagnosis. Moreover, developing a substance use disorder can increase the risk of mental illness later in life, establishing a troubling connection that can persist across time.1

While the challenges associated with dual diagnosis can feel daunting, there is hope. At Pine Tree Recovery Center, we specialize in dual diagnosis care that addresses both mental health and substance use issues simultaneously. By employing evidence-based strategies, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and motivational interviewing (MI), we empower children to develop strong coping skills and cultivate a genuine desire for change.

Research consistently shows that treating both conditions concurrently is more effective than addressing them separately.2 By providing a seamless recovery journey, we help adolescents navigate their challenges and lay a solid foundation for lasting recovery.

Is a PHP Program a Good Fit for My Child?

The decision to enroll your child in a PHP should be based on a combination of your child’s specific needs, the level of support they require, and the insights of professionals involved in their care.

If your child needs medical detox, this is typically your first step in the treatment process. Following or in lieu of detox, children often proceed to inpatient care or a PHP. Pine Tree Recovery Center’s PHP is available with or without housing. The former enables children to participate in intensive care while also living in an environment free of triggers and past stressors. This separation better enables some children to break their destructive habits and patterns of thinking, providing them with a fresh start.

The best way to determine if a PHP is right for your child is to reach out for a free and confidential conversation. Our staff can answer your questions and discuss our full continuum of treatment options. Additionally, they can provide a brief assessment that can help you determine which level of care might be the best place to start.