The first week of PHP rehab at OC Revive, day by day

The first week of PHP rehab at OC Revive is a run of full clinical days at 23726 Birtcher Dr in Lake Forest, and you sleep at home each night. It's the most structured outpatient level the program offers, so expect to be on campus for most of the day in groups and with a clinician.

If someone is in crisis or having a medical emergency, call or text 988, or call 911 or go to the nearest ER. Once things are stable, admissions can help plan outpatient treatment.

What the first week of PHP rehab contains

Most of the work happens before the first morning. On the first call, admissions asks about your symptoms, safety, schedule and work hours, then recommends PHP, IOP, Evening IOP, OP or Virtual IOP. There's no pressure to decide on that call, and family members can phone too, even without knowing the whole story.

If PHP fits, admissions also verifies your insurance, and it helps to have your member ID and date of birth in hand. Benefits vary by plan and the insurer makes the final coverage decision, so it's better to know where you stand before you clear your calendar. The Joint Commission, which accredits the program, publishes its Behavioral Health Care standards at jointcommission.org if you want to see what that accreditation covers.

Once you're in, each day mixes group therapy with one-on-one time. Therapists build DBT and CBT skills into sessions, so you learn to spot triggers, handle strong emotions and get through cravings, then practice those skills at home that evening. Some weeks also include yoga, meditation, art or music therapy, and outings, though the schedule changes and admissions can tell you what's planned for your dates.

If you're living with both substance use and a mental health condition, the same team treats both in one plan. Your clinician tracks mood, substance use and behavior against a plan written for you. Medical Director Dr. Alejandro Alva directs the medical side of care, including whether medication belongs in that plan.

Before day one: detox, housing and scheduling

Withdrawal that needs medical care comes first, because OC Revive doesn't provide detox. Admissions can connect you with a trusted detox partner and plan your PHP start for afterward. The same goes for housing. OC Revive doesn't run its own, but admissions can connect you with a partner sober home and tell you what to ask before you agree to a bed.

Clock times for each day belong to your booked schedule, so admissions gives them to you when the week is set. You can ask them to walk you through a sample week before you start, and you can schedule a campus tour if you want to see the group rooms first.

After the first week

PHP isn't meant to stay at full intensity forever. Hours can step down to IOP and then OP in the same building, with the same team and without starting intake over. You can read how the day is structured on the partial hospitalization program in Orange County page.

OC Revive states that it has earned The Joint Commission's Gold Seal of Approval for Behavioral Health Care Accreditation, and every clinician who'll work with you is listed on the team page so you can read about them before you call.

Next step

You can verify your insurance online or call admissions at (800) 808-6757 to talk through your schedule and whether PHP is the right level before you commit to a start date. If it isn't the right fit, admissions will tell you so and can point you to a referral.