Levels of Care for Our Substance Use Disorder & Mental Health Treatments
in Charlotte, NC & the Surrounding Areas

Each individual has a different history, interpretation, ingrained habits. This leads individuals to abuse different substances and intake them in various amounts. The level of treatment is dependent on all of these factors including co-occurring mental health disorders, withdrawal symptoms, and other possible behavioral issues.

Each level of care is specifically designed to cater to certain behaviors, symptoms, and levels of addiction, with an emphasis on the individual. Whether it is a help for you or a loved one, knowing which treatment options are available can help you make the right decision.

To learn more about the levels of care we offer with our substance use disorder and mental health treatments in Charlotte, NC, contact us today.

The Partial Hospitalization Program – or PHP – refers to an intense and highly structured treatment for those in very early recovery. This program is designed to address early withdrawal issues, stabilization, support, and structure. PHP focuses on a broad range of services, including:

• BioSound, 
• Therapeutic Creative Art
• Recovery Yoga 
• Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
• Life Skills training 
• Daily process groups 
• Case management (with or without family)

Many of the people that have gone through the Partial Hospitalization Program first went through a higher level of medical care, such as a medical detox center or inpatient hospitalization facility.

The PHP level is ideal for candidates that are still adjusting to a sober life while dealing with a co-occurring mental health disorder. This level does not cover 24-hour medical care and provides an intensely structured week. It is best suited for people who are at a high risk for relapse and are in need of treatment for co-occurring conditions.

Often referred to as day treatment, clients in this level of care often have 1-3 months of sobriety. The Blanchard Institute Day Treatment program – or PHP – is created to provide full clinical support for clients 5 days per week, Monday through Friday, from 8:45 to 4pm. 

The Intensive Outpatient Program – or IOP – is the level of care directly underneath PHP. At this level of care, adolescents and adults typically engage in 9 or more hours of treatment per week.

Following a thorough assessment by a licensed clinical professional, client attend 8-10 weeks for an average of 30-40 sessions of treatment on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 8:45am–12pm or 5:45pm–9pm. Family members are encouraged to attend on Thursday evening from 7pm–8:15pm in a family member-only therapeutic setting. Clients and families are required to attend at least 4 family groups on Saturdays from 9am–12pm to further an understanding of family dynamics in early recovery. 

Individuals in IOP are given more freedom and are asked to collaborate with facilitators to create their own unique recovery plan. This is the stage where individuals are more stable and able to begin the plans that were laid out in PHP and IOP meetings. This level of treatment helps ease the individual back into life in an easy and gentle manner. New habits and tools help these people sustain long-term sobriety while working on their professional, educational, and mental health goals. 

The average length of an Intensive Outpatient Program is around two months, with individuals that have varying lengths of sobriety (2-6 months). Clients may receive individual sessions, family sessions, and may also be covered by insurance for holistic sessions including EMDR, BioSound, acupuncture, or yoga as needed, similar to PHP. Following a thorough assessment by a licensed clinical professional, an individual will attend 8-10 weeks for an average of 30-40 sessions of treatment on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 8:45am–12pm or 5:45pm–9pm. 

The Outpatient Program – or OP – consists of 3 hours of treatment per week and usually follows IOP. The OP is a milder version of treatment when compared to PHP and IOP, and serves as a great tool for individuals that are at a low risk of relapse. Individuals in Outpatient Treatment will generally have a longer period of sobriety than those in the IOP and PHP programs, as many of the immediate symptoms of substance use disorder and co-occurring mental health issues will have lessened. 

Each IOP is specifically tailored to each individual and provides continued accountability, structure, and support towards early recovery efforts. Case management can be provided on an as-needed basis. Clients will attend process groups on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10:30am–12pm or 7:30pm–9pm, with individual therapy or case management services provided on an as-needed basis.

Each person afflicted with substance use disorder or mental illness is different. As such, periods of time in each program may vary. The Recovery Management program was designed to help clients step gradually into the norms of daily life while still being held accountable for their sobriety. This is often the last level of care and is ideal for transitioning out of an IOP or OP program.

At this stage of recovery, clients will have a solid foundation to which they can build their recovery upon. Coupled with a Relapse Prevention Plan created in primary treatment, this is the very last stage of treatment. Recovery management is held on Thursday from 8:45am-10:15am.