Mental Health Day Treatment Programs

The 3-3-3 rule is a grounding exercise sometimes used to help manage distress or anxiety. It generally involves identifying three things you can see, three sounds you can hear, and moving or noticing three parts of your body. It is a coping technique, not a substitute for professional assessment. A clinician can help determine whether day treatment or another level of care is appropriate.

Mental health day treatment programs provide structured clinical support during the day without requiring residential living. They may include individual and group therapy, psychiatric support, family sessions, skills practice, safety planning, and coordinated aftercare. Alter Behavioral Health offers Partial Hospitalization and Intensive Outpatient Programs for adults with mental health, trauma, substance use, and co-occurring concerns.

Partial Hospitalization Programs generally provide a more intensive level of structured outpatient care, while Intensive Outpatient Programs offer support at a lower level of care than PHP or residential treatment. The appropriate option depends on clinical needs, safety considerations, functioning, and treatment goals. Alter Behavioral Health provides consultation to help identify a suitable program.

Day treatment may benefit adults who need more structure than standard outpatient therapy but do not require residential care, or who are transitioning from a higher level of care. Programs can support people experiencing depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, trauma, PTSD, addiction, and co-occurring conditions. A clinical consultation is needed to determine fit and safety.

Treatment may include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, EMDR, trauma-focused approaches, mindfulness, family therapy, risk assessment, safety planning, and other evidence-based modalities. The mix is tailored to each client’s symptoms, history, goals, and level of care. Psychiatric and clinical support may also be incorporated as part of an individualized treatment plan.

Yes. Alter Behavioral Health provides dual-diagnosis treatment for people whose substance use occurs alongside mental health concerns such as depression, anxiety, trauma, or PTSD. Coordinated care may use PHP, IOP, residential, or crisis stabilization services, depending on clinical needs. Treating both concerns together can support more integrated planning than addressing either issue in isolation.

Level-of-care decisions consider symptoms, safety, substance use, daily functioning, treatment history, support systems, and the need for psychiatric or medical oversight. A consultation can help clarify whether PHP, IOP, residential treatment, crisis stabilization, or another service is appropriate. Alter Behavioral Health’s full-continuum model supports transitions as clinical needs change.

The main insurance providers we have high success rates with are Cigna, UMR, Anthem Blue Cross California, and Aetna. Insurance verification is also available for other major carriers, including GEHA, Meritain Health, Highmark BCBS, United Healthcare, and Blue Cross/Blue Shield. Private pay options are also available for certain programs. Medicaid, Medi-Cal, and Medicare are not accepted according to the provided program information. Coverage should be confirmed during consultation.