Levels of Care
Mental Health & Substance Use Treatment
Mental Health and Substance Use Levels of Care in Los Angeles
Not sure if you need PHP, IOP, or standard outpatient treatment?
Most do not know which levels of care fit them until they speak to someone. With Skyline Recovery, you can understand what kind of care meets your needs, your schedule, and your recovery goals.
- Partial hospitalization program (PHP) for full-day intensive programming
- Intensive outpatient program (IOP) for structured yet flexible programming
- Standard outpatient therapy (OP) for ongoing care and recovery maintenance
- Virtual IOP for easy accessibility and flexibility
- Dual diagnosis treatment for co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders
Why Level of Care Matters
Behavioral health treatment for mental health and substance use disorder conditions is not a one-size-fits-all. Someone managing severe symptoms needs a different level of structure than someone who is stable but wants ongoing care. Levels of care in mental health and substance use disorders treatment exist to match the intensity of care to the severity of what a person is dealing with, so nobody has to fit into one universal template of treatment.
You might be here because:
- Your symptoms are affecting studies, jobs, or relationships
- You are managing both a mental health condition and substance use
- Weekly therapy no longer feels like enough
- You are unsure whether you need something more structured
If any of that sounds familiar, a confidential conversation with a clinician is the right next step, not a decision you need to make on your own.
Understanding Levels of Care
At Skyline Recovery Center, outpatient behavioral health care in Los Angeles is organized into three main levels: partial hospitalization program (PHP), intensive outpatient program (IOP), and standard outpatient treatment (OP). Each one offers therapy, psychiatric consultations, and structured care, but the hours per week and level of supervision differ significantly.
| Program | Time Commitment | Best For | Clinical Oversight |
| PHP | 5 days per week, 6-8 hours per day | Moderate to severe symptoms | High |
| IOP | 3-5 days per week, 9-15 hours per week | Moderate symptoms, step-down care | Moderate |
| Outpatient | 1-2 sessions per week | Mild to moderate, stable symptoms | Low to moderate |
The Care You Need and Deserve Must Be Seamless
Contact Skyline Recovery Center to understand how structured outpatient care can be personalized to your needs, goals, and schedule for a personalized and seamless recovery experience.
Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP)
PHP is the most structured outpatient program available without an overnight hospital stay. It functions as a day treatment program. You attend 6 to 8 hours of intensive programming, 5 days a week, then return home or to sober living each evening.
Who PHP Is For?
PHP may be recommended if:
- Symptoms are severe but do not require inpatient hospitalization
- You are transitioning out of inpatient or residential treatment
- You are struggling to function at school, work, or home
- You need daily therapy and psychiatric monitoring
- You need dual diagnosis care for co-occurring conditions
A typical PHP schedule includes individual therapy, group therapy, psychiatric care, medication management, coping skills training, relapse prevention planning, and aftercare planning.
Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)
IOP delivers structured clinical care several days a week while leaving room for studies, jobs, or family responsibilities. It is one of the most common structured outpatient treatment program options, as it balances real clinical oversight with a schedule you can maintain.
Who IOP Is For?
IOP may be recommended if:
- Symptoms interfere with daily life but are manageable outside of a clinical setting
- You need more than weekly therapy or doctor appointments
- You are stepping down from PHP or residential care
- You want treatment without putting your studies or jobs on hold
- You need dual diagnosis care
A typical IOP runs 9 to 15 hours a week over 3 to 5 days, with individual therapy, group therapy, medication management, skills training, and relapse prevention.
Virtual IOP offers the same in-person experience through secure online and virtual platforms. If clinically approved, it can be the best fit for those who want the added flexibility or live outside of Los Angeles.
Standard Outpatient Treatment
Standard outpatient treatment is the lowest level of outpatient care, built for those who are stable but still want consistent oversight. It is often used after completing PHP or IOP, or as a good beginning point for those with mild to moderate symptoms.
Who Outpatient Treatment Is For?
Outpatient care may be appropriate if:
- You are stable but want ongoing therapy
- You need medication management
- You want a flexible schedule
- You are maintaining your healing and growth after a higher level of care
- You need long-term mental health or dual diagnosis care
A standard outpatient mental health program or substance use program typically means weekly therapy sessions, psychiatric appointments as needed, and family therapy when it is useful.
PHP vs IOP: Understanding the Difference
The PHP vs IOP question comes up early for most exploring treatments, and it is worth answering clearly.
Both are different levels of outpatient care. Neither requires an overnight stay. But the difference between PHP and IOP comes down to intensity and time. PHP is closer to a full-time commitment: 5 days a week, 6-8 hours per day, with the highest level of clinical and psychiatric oversight available outside a hospital. IOP is less intensive, roughly 9 to 15 hours per week, and is designed to run alongside your classes, job, or family obligations.
Thinking about it as outpatient vs intensive outpatient helps as well. Standard outpatient treatment might mean one or two sessions a week. IOP sits above that, with several sessions and a consistent weekly time commitment, but well below PHP’s near-daily structure.
A simple way to decide between them: if symptoms feel unmanageable without daily support, PHP is typically the safer starting point. If someone is stable enough to maintain a routine but still needs consistent clinical oversight, IOP tends to be a better fit.
However, you can only decide this after a clinical assessment with a licensed and qualified clinician who will cover your symptoms, history, needs, and goals to recommend the right level of care and a personalized treatment program for you.
Inpatient vs Outpatient: What Is the Difference?
What is the difference between inpatient and outpatient care? Before you even get to PHP or IOP, this is the question you may ask. It is a fair one, too.
Inpatient care means staying at a facility around the clock. It is used when someone needs constant supervision, often for safety or instability reasons. Outpatient care, which includes PHP, IOP, and standard therapy, means living at home or in sober living while attending scheduled treatment.
The same distinction applies specifically to substance use care. Inpatient vs outpatient rehab comes down to the same difference: inpatient rehab is fully residential with 24/7 monitoring, while outpatient rehab lets someone keep their daily life and routine while still getting daily or weekly structured treatment.
Broadly speaking, inpatient vs outpatient mental health treatment is a question of how much supervision is medically required right now, not which option is objectively “stronger.” Many move from inpatient to PHP to IOP to standard outpatient as they stabilize. That is the point of a full continuum of care. They do not have to function as distinct options, but as parts of the whole.
How Levels of Care Work Together?
Treatment often follows a step-down model: PHP to IOP to outpatient. This lets someone get intensive support early without staying at a higher level of care longer than necessary. Not everyone begins with PHP. Some begin with IOP or outpatient care depending on their symptoms, and some begin with inpatient or residential treatment first.
Only a clinical evaluation by a licensed provider can determine where to start.
Dual Diagnosis Care
Many entering treatment are managing a mental health condition and substance use at the same time. When both are not treated together, it often leads to repeated relapses and ongoing instability.
Dual diagnosis care typically includes:
- Behavioral therapy for both conditions
- Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) and medication management
- Relapse prevention and skills training
- Peer community
- Aftercare planning
Dual diagnosis treatment is recommended at the PHP or IOP level first, then moves down to standard outpatient treatment as stability improves.
How to Choose the Right Level of Care?
You may need a higher level of care if:
- Symptoms begin to impact daily life
- You are missing school, work, or isolating from others
- Therapy or medication alone isn’t helping
- You recently left inpatient treatment
- Safety and stability are real concerns
You may do well in outpatient care if:
- You can manage stability outside of a clinical setting
- Symptoms are stable
- You need structure, but not round-the-clock supervision
- You have a supportive home environment or access to sober living
A comprehensive clinical assessment or a psychiatric evaluation is the only reliable way to determine which outpatient mental health program or substance use disorder program best fits your needs.
We See You, We Hear You, And We Are Invested In Your Recovery
Reach out to Skyline Recovery Center for a personalized treatment plan that meets you where you are in your healing journey.
How to Get Started?
Getting started at Skyline Recovery is extremely simple and easy. Here are the 4 steps:
Initial Consultation
You can directly call us at (424) 353-5206. Our team is always here for you. A qualified member of our staff will understand your concerns and answer your queries.
Clinical Assessment
If you wish to proceed further, a licensed and trained clinician will conduct a clinical assessment to understand your needs and goals in safe and confidential settings to recommend the right level of care and personalized treatment plan for you. During this time, you can also verify your insurance confidentially.
Verify Your Insurance
Our in-house insurance team will confidentially verify your insurance with your provider and explain your coverage and benefits to you.
Begin Your Recovery
Once you are okay with your personalized treatment plan and have verified your insurance, you can meet with your clinical team and begin your recovery.
Why Choose Skyline?
Skyline Recovery is a trusted, accredited outpatient treatment center in Los Angeles, offering personalized treatment plans for your behavioral health needs. We provide a full continuum of care under one roof, from PHP, IOP, and outpatient, to virtual options.
We believe that you do not have to step away from your daily life to receive the care you need and deserve. This is why our treatment pathways are structured yet flexible, so you can keep living your life while you heal.
Take a Step Forward In Your Healing Journey Today
You do not need to have everything figured out before reaching out. At Skyline Recovery, our licensed and experienced clinicians offer confidential clinical assessments that can enable you to understand what level of care fits, what your next step needs to be, and how to begin your recovery quickly.
Reaching out to us does not mean you have to commit to anything right away. It is an information-gathering step that gives you the knowledge you need so you can make informed decisions in your healing.
Get Clarity On Your Options
Reaching out does not mean you have to commit to anything right away. It is only an information-gathering step that enables you to understand where you are in your healing journey and what the best next step forward is for you.
Frequently Asked Questions About Behavioral Health Levels of Care
How do I know if I need PHP or IOP?
PHP is generally recommended for severe symptoms or when a daily structure is needed. IOP fits well if you are stable but still need regular clinical oversight several times a week. A clinical assessment determines which is safest.
How long do PHP and IOP last?
Treatment timelines vary from person to person, but PHP typically runs 6 to 8 weeks, while IOP typically runs around 12 weeks.
Can I go to school or work during outpatient treatment?
IOP and standard outpatient care are built around school and work schedules, often with evening and virtual options. PHP typically requires taking time off due to its daily, full-day structure.
Does insurance cover outpatient treatment?
Most insurance plans cover PHP, IOP, and standard outpatient care; however, coverage varies by policy. You can call Skyline Recovery at (424) 353-5206 to verify your benefits.
How quickly can I start treatment?
Treatment can often begin within a few days of your assessment.