Sometimes a weekly therapy appointment isn’t enough, but moving into a residential facility doesn’t feel right either. You may need more support than you have now, while still sleeping in your own bed and staying close to the people and places that matter to you.

That’s the space a partial hospitalization program fills. At Amar Recovery, our drug and alcohol PHP in San Francisco offers full days of structured, personalized treatment for adults working through substance use and co-occurring mental health conditions. You’ll spend your days in therapy, skill-building and holistic practices, then return home each evening to practice what you’ve learned in real life. You don’t have to know whether a PHP is right for you before you reach out. Our team will help you figure that out together.

A drug and alcohol PHP is the most intensive form of outpatient addiction treatment. It provides many of the clinical services you’d receive in a residential program, including individual therapy, group therapy and ongoing clinical oversight, without requiring an overnight stay. Partial hospitalization programs typically meet most weekdays for several hours at a time.

Despite the name, a partial hospitalization program does not take place in a hospital. Our PHP is held at our facility on Bush Street in San Francisco, in a calm, welcoming setting designed to feel safe from the moment you arrive.

PHP is designed for people who need a high level of support but do not need 24-hour medical supervision. It may be a good fit if you:

• Have tried to cut back or stop drinking or using on your own and keep returning to old patterns
• Are stepping down from medical detox, a hospital stay or residential treatment and want structure as you transition home
• Are living with anxiety, depression, trauma or grief that makes it hard to stay sober
• Have a safe, stable place to live where you can return each evening
• Need a break from work or daily pressures to focus fully on your recovery
• Have been isolating, especially while working remotely, and need daily connection and accountability

If you need medical detox first, our team can help you find a trusted detox provider and plan your move into our PHP once you’re medically stable. If a PHP turns out to be more than you need, our Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) may be a better fit.

Every day in our partial hospitalization program follows a consistent structure, which helps you build healthy routines and know what to expect. While each client’s schedule reflects their treatment plan, a typical day may include:

• Morning check-in: A chance to settle in, share how you’re feeling and set an intention for the day
• Group therapy: Clinician-led sessions focused on topics like relapse prevention, coping skills, emotional regulation and healthy relationships
• Individual therapy: Scheduled one-on-one sessions with your therapist to work on your personal goals
• Holistic sessions: Practices such as yoga, art therapy, breathwork or qigong to help you reconnect with your body and process emotions
• Skills practice and reflection: Time to apply what you’re learning and plan for the evening ahead

Family therapy sessions are also part of PHP when appropriate, giving your loved ones a chance to learn, heal and support your recovery.

Our PHP treats substance use as a primary concern, with dual diagnosis treatment for any mental health conditions that so often accompany it.

We treat alcohol use disorder and addiction to a range of substances, including prescription medications and illicit drugs. Treatment focuses on understanding why you drink or use, identifying your triggers and building practical tools to stay sober outside of treatment hours. Because you return home each evening, you’ll have the chance to test those tools in real situations and bring what you learn back to your care team the next day.

Many people who struggle with substance use are also living with anxiety, depression, PTSD or unresolved grief. Treating only the addiction can leave the underlying pain untouched, which makes relapse more likely. Our PHP addresses both conditions at the same time through an integrated plan, with trauma-informed care woven through every part of the program.

Our partial hospitalization program combines proven clinical therapies with holistic practices, so you can heal on more than one level.

Evidence-based therapies often used in our PHP include:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) helps you recognize the thoughts and beliefs that lead to substance use and replace them with healthier patterns.
• Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) teaches skills for managing intense emotions, tolerating distress and improving relationships.
• Individual therapy gives you private time to explore your history and goals with your therapist.
• Group therapy connects you with peers who understand what you’re going through.
• Family therapy helps rebuild trust and strengthen your support system at home.
• Trauma-informed care and grief counseling address the experiences and losses that often sit underneath substance use.

Holistic care is a core part of PHP at Amar Recovery, not just an add-on. At Amar Recovery, clients take part in:

• Yoga guided by our on-staff instructor
• Breathwork
• Reiki
• Qigong
• Tapping (EFT)
• Art therapy with our on-staff art therapist

These practices help calm the nervous system, ease stress and cravings, and give you healthy ways to cope that you can carry into daily life.

A PHP and an IOP are both outpatient programs, and both let you live at home during treatment. The main difference is the amount of time and support each provides.

• Time commitment: A PHP involves full days of treatment most days of the week. An IOP involves fewer hours spread across a few days, which leaves more room for work and family.
• Level of support: A PHP offers more daily structure and clinical contact, which helps when symptoms or cravings are more intense. An IOP offers consistent support with more independence.
• Where you are in recovery: A PHP is often the starting point for people early in recovery or stepping down from a higher level of care. An IOP is often the next step after PHP treatment.

Many clients begin in PHP and transition into IOP as they gain stability. Our team will recommend the right starting point after your assessment and adjust your level of care as you progress.

Choosing a partial hospitalization program is an important decision, and the right fit can make a real difference in your recovery. Here’s what sets Amar Recovery’s PHP apart:

• A small, personal program. We keep our community small, so your care team knows your story and notices how you’re doing day to day.
• Treatment shaped around you. Your plan is built around your history, goals and needs. If you’ve ever felt like a standard program didn’t fit, you’ll find care here that does.
• Connection over isolation. Our PHP gives you daily contact with peers and staff who understand, which matters most for people who have been drinking or using alone.
• Trauma-informed and affirming. Our program is designed to feel safe for everyone, including LGBTQ+ clients. You can show up as yourself here.
• Grounded in empathy. “Amar” means “to love” in Spanish, and that idea guides how we care for every client.