Pediatric Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP)
MONDAY through FRIDAY
Therapeutic programming runs parallel to (most) school days
PHP is an outpatient treatment program that is in service Monday through Friday. Treatment programming includes group therapy interventions, medication assessment and management, recreational therapy, academic support, individual therapy, multifamily group, and individualized family support sessions. Parents and caregivers are required to participate in the program during the assessment process, family support session, and multifamily therapy group to improve understanding of child’s symptoms, behaviors, and diagnosis. The treatment team works collaboratively with parents and caregivers to identify approaches that help you support your child’s needs and provide strategies to help navigate your child’s feelings, symptoms, and behaviors.
Milieu Meeting
Your child will engage in a 30-minute meeting with all other program participants to check in, welcome new participants, create goals for their day, and acknowledge the progress of peers who are graduating from the program. This meeting also provides an opportunity for participants to adjust to the plan for the day.
Group Therapy
While in the PHP program, your child will participate in two one-hour sessions of group therapy per day with a licensed clinician. These therapeutic groups will allow your child to learn new coping skills and strategies for managing their emotions and responses to stress. New skills and strategies will be presented in an engaging and dynamic manner. Group therapy provides a supportive and therapeutic opportunity for participants to open up about their individual struggles and provide encouragement toward each participant’s progress towards goal attainment.
School
In order to sustain your child’s academic progress while receiving treatment, 90 minutes of each day in PHP is dedicated to schoolwork. A certified teacher will coordinate with you and your child’s school to attain assignments, provide individualized academic support, and assess any additional learning needs your child may have. If needed, the teacher will provide educational recommendations that may positively impact school performance after discharge from the program. In some cases, a representative from Plena can be made available to attend your child’s IEP or 504 plan school meetings to provide the school team with recommendations for educational accommodations based on our observations and treatment of your child in our program.
Recreational Therapy
Encouraging your child to engage in physical and emotional wellbeing through therapeutic recreation is an important component of PHP. Our recreational therapist will provide one hour of therapeutic recreation activities to your child using a variety of techniques including arts and crafts, sports, games, dance and movement, drama, and music. Recreational therapists treat and help maintain the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of your child by seeking to reduce stress and anxiety, build confidence, and encourage positive peer interactions.
Action Planning
Participants engage in a clinician-facilitated action planning group at the end of each program day. In this group, clinicians work with participants to set “action plans” or homework goals for them to work on each evening. Clinicians encourage participants to set action plan items that are consistent with their diagnoses, treatment goals, and the topics discussed throughout the program day. Action plan items are specific to each participant and typically change and evolve daily based on treatment progress. Additionally, during family support sessions, clinicians work with parents/guardians to collaborate on action plan items for the parents to work on throughout the week. Written action plans for each participant are provided to parents/guardians at pick-up each evening. These action plans facilitate communication between the program and parents, give parents specific behaviors to monitor after program hours, and help both participants and parents to practice new skills outside of the program.
Multifamily Group
Once per week, parents and guardians of program participants are encouraged to attend a 60-minute multifamily group facilitated by one of the program’s licensed clinicians. While your child participates in a separate recreational therapy activity, parents and guardians will have the opportunity to collaborate and share experiences with other parents/guardians. The group will focus on strategies that will enhance your ability to effectively set healthy boundaries, empathize, and provide emotional support to your child.
PHP – Additional Individualized Components
Medication Assessment and Management
Integrated medication assessment and management are crucial components of providing comprehensive care to your child. While not every child will require medication to assist in the management of their symptoms, in some cases medication may be a part of your child’s optimal treatment plan. In order to complete individualized assessments and make thoughtful recommendations, a board-certified child and adolescent psychiatrist will be on site daily. This allows real time assessment of your child’s response to medication and enables the psychiatrist to make accurate recommendations regarding modifications in coordination with you, your child, and the clinical team.
Individual Therapy
Your child’s feelings, experiences, and needs are unique. In order to ensure your child receives individualized and comprehensive treatment, a licensed clinician will meet with your child separately for at least one 30-40 minute therapy session daily. Additional individual sessions will be added as needed in response to your child’s treatment needs.
Family Support Session
When your child is struggling, the entire family is impacted. Often, in order to sustain meaningful progress with your child, each member of the family needs to be engaged and working together to create positive changes as a family. By participating in individual family therapy with a licensed program clinician, we can help enhance your family system so everyone is working in concert instead of conflict. Through family therapy, or goal is to help you to find ways to enhance the quality of life for every member in your family.
Pediatric Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)
MONDAY through THURSDAY
Therapeutic programming runs after school beginning at 3pm
IOP is held Monday through Thursday. The treatment structure is similar to PHP, however the Plena Participant attends his or her home school daily and attends therapeutic programming after school. Parents and caregivers are required to participate in the program during the assessment process and family support sessions to improve understanding of the child’s symptoms, behaviors, and diagnosis. The treatment team works collaboratively with parents and caregivers to identify approaches that help support the child’s needs and provide strategies to help navigate the child’s feelings, symptoms, and behaviors.
IOP Check-In
Your child will engage in a 30-minute meeting with all other program participants to check in, welcome new participants, create goals for their evening, and acknowledge the progress of peers who are graduating from the program. This meeting also provides an opportunity for participants to transition from their school day to the afternoon treatment programming.
Group Therapy
Your child will participate in one hour of group therapy per afternoon with a licensed clinician. This therapeutic group will allow your child to learn new coping skills and strategies for managing their emotions and responses to stress. New skills and strategies will be presented in an engaging and dynamic manner using evidence-based treatments. Group therapy provides a supportive and therapeutic opportunity for participants to open up about their individual struggles and allows members to provide encouragement toward each participant’s progress towards goal attainment.
Recreational Therapy
Encouraging your child to engage in physical and emotional wellbeing through therapeutic recreation is an important component of the IOP. Our recreational therapist will provide thirty minutes of therapeutic recreation activities to your child using a variety of techniques including arts and crafts, sports, games, dance and movement, drama, and music. Recreational therapists treat and help maintain the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of your child by seeking to reduce stress and anxiety, build confidence, and encourage positive peer interactions.
Action Panning
Participants engage in a clinician-facilitated action planning group at the end of each program day. In this group, clinicians work with participants to set “action plans” or homework goals for them to work on each evening. Clinicians encourage participants to set action plan items that are consistent with their diagnoses, treatment goals, and the topics discussed throughout the program day. Action plan items are specific to each participant and typically change and evolve daily based on treatment progress. Additionally, during family support sessions, clinicians work with parents/guardians to collaborate on action plan items for the parents to work on throughout the week. Written action plans for each participant are provided to parents/guardians at pick-up each evening. These action plans facilitate communication between the program and parents, give parents specific behaviors to monitor after program hours, and help both participants and parents to practice new skills outside of the program.
IOP – Additional Individualized Components
Medication Assessment and Management
Integrated medication assessment and management are crucial components of providing comprehensive care to your child. While not every child will require medication to assist in the management of their symptoms, in some cases medication may be a part of your child’s optimal treatment plan. In order to complete individualized assessments and make thoughtful recommendations, a board-certified child and adolescent psychiatrist will be on site for the IOP once weekly. This allows the psychiatrist to personally observe your child’s response to medication and enables the psychiatrist to make accurate recommendations regarding modifications in coordination with you, your child, and the clinical team.
Multifamily Group
Once per week, parents and guardians of program participants are encouraged to attend a 60-minute multifamily group facilitated by one of the program’s licensed clinicians. Parents and guardians will have the opportunity to collaborate and share experiences with other parents/guardians. The group will focus on strategies that will enhance your ability to effectively set healthy boundaries, empathize, and provide emotional support to your child.
About Plena
We are devoted to building a premier pediatric program from the ground up, combining evidence-based treatment approaches customized to each patient and family in a warm and welcoming environment. At Plena, you and your child will receive an unmatched patient experience.
