At the Massachusetts Center for Adolescent Wellness (MCAW), we’re deeply committed to addressing a nationwide concern: the vast number of adolescents who go untreated for mental health conditions. Approximately half of all American adolescents are affected by mental health concerns, but few receive the help they need.

MCAW offers an innovative solution for adolescents who need intensive mental health treatment but don’t require round-the-clock supervision. With our partial hospitalization program (PHP) in Massachusetts, we provide day programming to support teen mental health. You can contact our team for more information about enrollment.

What You Should Know About Our PHP

MCAW’s partial hospitalization program addresses mental health concerns in adolescents. We offer comprehensive, therapeutic services while allowing participants to return home at night to their families.

Our PHP for adolescents in Massachusetts provides structure and routine. This gives our patients a sense of stability while they focus on their recovery journey. Patients in our day program meet five to six days a week, six hours a day. Our compassionate team of therapists, nurses, and mental health professionals works together to create a safe and supportive environment for each individual.

What to Expect in the Daily and Weekly Teen PHP Schedule

Understanding the structure of our adolescent partial hospitalization program helps families prepare for their teen’s treatment journey. Our PHP operates Monday through Friday, typically from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. This provides intensive clinical treatment while allowing teens to return home each evening.

Time	Activity	Therapy Type
9:00-9:30 AM	Morning Check-in	Group Process
9:30-10:30 AM	Individual Therapy	One-on-One Clinical
10:30-10:45 AM	Break	Structured Downtime
10:45-11:45 AM	Group Therapy	Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)/Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Skills
11:45 AM-12:45 PM	Lunch & Peer Support	Social Connection
12:45-1:45 PM	Family Therapy (2x/week)	Family Systems
1:45-2:45 PM	Psychoeducation	Mental Health Education
2:45-3:00 PM	Closing Circle	Reflection & Planning

This structured schedule ensures teens receive comprehensive care. It maintains predictability and routine essential for recovery.

How Does Medication Management Work in PHP?

Our adolescent PHP includes comprehensive psychiatric care and medication management as core components of treatment. Licensed child and adolescent psychiatrists provide ongoing medical supervision throughout the program.

Psychiatric Oversight includes:

• Initial psychiatric evaluation within 48 hours of admission
• Weekly psychiatric appointments for medication review
• Ongoing monitoring of medication effectiveness and side effects
• Coordination with family physicians and other healthcare providers
• Crisis intervention and medication adjustments as needed

Our psychiatric team specializes in adolescent mental health challenges. These include mood disorders, anxiety, ADHD, and trauma-related conditions. Medication management is integrated into daily programming. This ensures teens receive consistent clinical oversight while developing healthy medication compliance habits.

What’s the Difference Between PHP and Day Programming?

Day programming in Massachusetts refers to partial hospitalization programs. The main difference between PHPs for mental health and traditional day programs is the level of intensity and structure.

PHPs offer more intensive mental health treatment than traditional day programs. Patients in a PHP receive more hours of therapy. They have access to a broader range of services, including medical and psychiatric care. This higher level of support makes it an ideal option for adolescents. These teens need more than weekly therapy sessions, but don’t require 24/7 supervision.

Who is PHP for? Ages, Eligibility, and Conditions Treated

This form of treatment serves teens ages 13-18 experiencing moderate to severe mental health symptoms. These teens do not require 24/7 supervision and have a stable home environment for evening and weekend support.

Which Adolescents Need to Enroll in a Partial Hospitalization Program?

Adolescents who may need to enroll in a partial hospitalization program include those with anxiety or depression that disrupts daily activities, teens who have experienced trauma, and young people struggling to manage their emotions. MCAW designs adolescent PHPs to help a diverse group of young people. This includes but isn’t limited to:

• Anxiety or depression that disrupts their daily activities
• Young people who have experienced trauma and are finding it difficult to cope
• Teens struggling to manage their emotions and behaviors, which leads to conflicts at home or school
• Addicts who require a structured environment to achieve sobriety
• Adolescents transitioning from inpatient mental health treatment who need support to reintegrate into their daily lives
• Those exhibiting mild to moderate symptoms who don’t pose a risk to themselves or others
• Teens with a strong support system at home

Additional conditions treated include:

• ADHD and attention-related challenges
• Mood disorders, including bipolar disorder
• Self-harm behaviors and suicidal ideation
• Dual diagnosis involving mental health and substance use
• Behavioral disturbances affecting school and family functioning

Our adolescent PHP in Massachusetts is tailored to each patient’s unique needs. It provides them with the necessary skills and tools to manage their mental health conditions.

What Therapies are Offered in Our Adolescent PHP?

Our adolescent partial hospitalization program in Massachusetts integrates various therapy forms tailored to the unique needs of each adolescent. Each therapy type plays a critical role in helping our patients navigate their journey toward wellness.

Core Evidence-Based Therapies Include:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Helps teens identify and change negative thought patterns
• Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): Teaches emotional regulation and distress tolerance skills
• Individual Therapy: One-on-one sessions addressing personal challenges and goals
• Group Therapy: Peer support and skill-building in a supportive environment
• Family Therapy: Strengthening family communication and support systems

What Insurance and Payment Options are Available?

We understand that accessing mental health treatment can be financially challenging for families. MCAW accepts most major insurance plans and provides comprehensive support to help families navigate coverage options.

Insurance Plans Accepted:

• Most major commercial insurance plans
• Medicaid and MassHealth
• Medicare (when applicable)
• TRICARE for military families
• Employee Assistance Programs (EAP)

Financial Support Services:

• Insurance verification and pre-authorization assistance
• Financial counseling to understand coverage and out-of-pocket costs
• Payment plan options for families
• Assistance with appeals and coverage disputes

Our admissions team works closely with families to verify insurance benefits. They explain coverage details before treatment begins, ensuring transparency in all financial aspects of care.

How Does Discharge Planning Work?

Recovery doesn’t end when PHP treatment concludes. Our comprehensive discharge planning process begins at admission. This ensures every teen has a personalized aftercare plan and access to ongoing support.

Discharge Planning Process:

• Regular progress reviews throughout treatment
• Coordination with community providers and school personnel
• Development of individualized aftercare plans
• Connection to step-down care options when appropriate

Step-Down Care Options:

• Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) for continued structured support
• Aftercare programming for ongoing skill reinforcement
• Individual and family therapy continuation
• Psychiatric care coordination

Alumni Support: Our alumni program provides ongoing connection and support for teens who have completed treatment. This includes peer mentorship opportunities, social events, and continued access to resources and support.

Frequently Asked Questions

What mental health challenges are treated in a teen partial hospitalization program?

Partial hospitalization programs treat anxiety, depression, trauma, mood disorders, ADHD, substance use, self-harm, and dual diagnosis in adolescents.

How does medication management work in a teen PHP?

Medication management in PHP involves regular psychiatric evaluations, medication reviews, and ongoing monitoring by a licensed psychiatrist or nurse practitioner.

Are telehealth or virtual PHP options available for teens?

Virtual PHP options are available for eligible teens, providing remote access to therapy, group programming, and psychiatric care through secure telehealth platforms.

Who is eligible for an adolescent PHP?

Teens ages 13–18 experiencing moderate to severe mental health symptoms, who do not require 24/7 supervision and have a stable home environment, are eligible for PHP.

What is discharge planning in a partial hospitalization program?

Discharge planning involves creating a step-down care plan, connecting teens to aftercare, alumni support, and, if needed, an intensive outpatient program (IOP).

What crisis support is available during PHP?

Crisis support includes 24/7 hotline access, emergency protocols, and connections to local and national mental health resources for teens and families.

What outcomes can families expect from an adolescent partial hospitalization program?

Families can expect improvements in symptom management, coping skills, school functioning, and family relationships, with ongoing support after program completion.