Level of care
Partial hospitalization (PHP) for eating disorders
Day treatment, structured clinical hours.
A partial hospitalization program (PHP), often called day treatment, is one of the most intensive forms of eating disorder care that still lets a person live at home. People attend the program for most of the day, several days a week, then return home in the evening. It bridges the gap between 24-hour care and lighter outpatient treatment, offering daily structure and supervised meals without an overnight stay.
This page explains what PHP involves, how it compares to intensive outpatient care, how long it lasts, and who it suits.
What is partial hospitalization?
In a PHP, a person spends most of the day at a treatment program, typically around six hours, five to seven days a week, and goes home at night.1 The day is structured much like residential treatment, with supervised meals, individual and group therapy, and dietitian and medical support, but without overnight care.2
That structure makes PHP useful in two directions. It is a common step down from residential treatment, easing the transition back toward normal life while keeping strong support in place. It is also a step up from outpatient or intensive outpatient care when those have not been enough to interrupt the eating disorder.3 Day treatment is one rung on the continuum of care the National Institute of Mental Health describes, matched to how much support a person needs.4
Living at home is the usual arrangement, but not the only one. Some specialty PHPs accept people from out of state and provide supervised evening housing, such as an affiliated residence or a partner hotel, for those who do not have a home nearby. A person can do PHP this way even without a local home to return to at night.
What a PHP day looks like
A typical PHP day includes:
- Two or more supervised meals, plus snacks, with support managing mealtime anxiety
- Individual therapy and multiple therapy groups
- Dietitian sessions and medical check-ins as needed
- Skills work on emotion regulation, body image, and relapse prevention
- Family involvement, especially for adolescents
Because the person returns home each evening, PHP also gives a chance to practice new skills in real life and bring back what comes up to work on the next day.
PHP vs IOP
These two day-treatment levels are often confused. The difference is intensity.
| PHP | IOP | |
|---|---|---|
| Days per week | 5 to 7 | Often 3 |
| Hours per day | About 6 | About 3 |
| Supervised meals | Usually multiple per day | Often one |
| Fits around work or school | Limited; it is most of the day | Yes, designed to |
| Typical use | Step down from residential, or step up from outpatient | Step down from PHP, or step up from outpatient |
Our guide on PHP vs IOP goes deeper on choosing between them.
Find a PHP for eating disorders
Free and confidential. Call to be connected with a licensed day-treatment program that fits.
Call (602) 834-4077How long it lasts and what comes next
Length depends on progress, but many people spend a few weeks in PHP before stepping down to IOP and then outpatient care.5 Insurance authorizes day treatment in blocks and reviews continued care.
Insurance and cost
Most major commercial plans cover PHP when medical-necessity criteria are met, with pre-authorization and periodic review. Our insurance guides explain how coverage and verification work.
Finding a PHP
When comparing programs, ask about experience with the specific condition, the evidence-based therapies used, how meals and medical care are handled, and the plan for stepping down afterward.
Search for licensed programs, read our guide on helping a loved one start treatment, or compare levels with residential vs PHP. Some PHPs are also offered as virtual programs.
References
-
Academy for Eating Disorders. Medical Care Standards (7th ed., 2023). ↩
-
American Psychiatric Association. Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Patients with Eating Disorders. ↩
-
Academy for Eating Disorders. Worldwide Charter for Action on Eating Disorders. ↩
-
National Institute of Mental Health. Eating Disorders. ↩
-
Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine. Position Papers: Medical Management of Restrictive Eating Disorders in Adolescents and Young Adults. ↩
Common questions
What is a partial hospitalization program (PHP)?
A PHP, also called day treatment, provides structured eating disorder treatment for most of the day, typically five to seven days a week for around six hours a day, while the person lives at home and sleeps in their own bed.
What is the difference between PHP and IOP?
PHP is more intensive: roughly five to seven days a week and about six hours a day, usually including multiple supervised meals. IOP (intensive outpatient) is lighter, often three days a week for a few hours, designed to fit around work or school.
How long does PHP last?
Length varies with progress and needs, but many people are in PHP for a few weeks before stepping down to IOP. It is often used as a step down from residential care or a step up from outpatient care.
Do you live at home during PHP?
Usually. Most people attend during the day and return home in the evening, which makes PHP a good fit when the home environment can be part of recovery. A local home is not always required, though: some programs provide supervised evening housing for people traveling from out of state.
Who is PHP for?
PHP suits people who need daily structure and supervised meals but are medically stable and do not require 24-hour care, whether stepping down from residential treatment or stepping up from less intensive outpatient care.
Partial hospitalization (PHP) by state
States with multiple licensed programs offering partial hospitalization (php).
Find partial hospitalization (php) for an eating disorder
Browse licensed programs offering partial hospitalization (php) by location and level of care, or call to be connected with one.
Talk to a licensed program.
We connect you with treatment that fits. Confidential, free, no obligation.
Call (602) 834-4077