Partial Hospitalization for Mental Health

At Children’s Hospital Colorado, we have decades of experience treating youth mental health challenges through a compassionate, family-centered approach. Our Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) provides structured, intensive, short-term day treatment to help kids ages 6 to 17 and their families. Our focus is helping children and families learn the skills they need to regain stability in their family routines, schools and communities.

Some families come to us after trying other treatments, while others are still working to understand what their child is experiencing. During the initial appointment, our team works with your child to understand their needs and determine the most appropriate level of care.

To schedule an appointment, call 720-777-6200 — no referral needed.

Types of care we provide for children and families 

In the PHP, our team of mental health experts provides tailored and structured treatment designed to stabilize children and teens experiencing serious mental health challenges. Once enrolled, participants join a program that runs for 12 weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Parent and caregiver involvement is a key component of our PHP treatment and requires a commitment of at least three hours a week. Parents and caregivers join weekly groups focused on learning strategies to help their child successfully use the skills they’ve learned in our PHP while at home and in their community. Parents and caregivers also participate in daily check-ins and receive materials that help them learn the same things their child is learning in PHP.

Our team uses an adaptation of a therapy model called the Unified Protocol for Emotional Disorders in Children and Adolescents that was specifically developed and evaluated for use in our PHP. It is designed to address emotional and behavioral challenges for children with a variety of diagnoses. This evidence-based approach allows us to effectively treat the common challenges that children and teens with mental health concerns face, such as difficulties regulating their emotions and behaviors.

Children and families in our PHP spend a majority of the day in group settings and participate in individual and family therapy, group therapy, education sessions for parents and creative arts therapies for children. In our PHP, children and teens participate in experiential and exposure groups. In this setting, they can experience strong emotions in a safe environment with therapeutic support and practice applying the skills they are learning. The goal of these groups is to allow children and teens to more effectively use these skills. We group children and teens with consideration of age and developmental abilities.

What conditions respond well to partial hospitalization programs?

Families often come to us when their child is struggling with symptoms including:

• Suicidal thoughts, urges or behaviors
• Anxiety and depression that interferes with daily life or causes physical discomfort
• Intense emotional distress that inhibits school participation, family routines or favorite activities
• Self-harm or other high-risk behaviors
• Difficulty regulating strong emotions, including episodes of yelling or aggression
• Severe school-related anxiety or school refusal

If you think our PHP might be a fit for your child, call our mental health care team at 720-777-6200.

Our PHP is often a starting place for families who are unsure how to support their child’s well-being. During the initial appointment, our team works with your child and family to understand their needs and determine the most appropriate level of care. If your child needs more specialized care, they may qualify for our other PHP programs:

• Neuropsychiatric Special Care PHP: This program consists of intensive day treatment for children with autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disabilities and other neurodevelopmental conditions who are experiencing behavioral crises.
• Eating Disorder Program PHP: The Day Treatment Program offers full-day support seven days a week for children and families navigating eating disorder recovery.

Contact us 

To schedule an appointment, call 720-777-6200 – no referral needed. Our team will guide you through the assessment and admissions process and support you every step of the way.