When school lets out for summer, schedules open up. For many families, it’s an ideal opportunity to focus on something even more important than academics: mental health! The Pine Rest Pediatric Center of Behavioral Health offers two highly specialized Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHPs) designed specifically for adolescents, providing intensive, structured support for behavioral health conditions and eating disorders, while allowing teens to return home each evening.
What is a Partial Hospitalization Program?
Often described as a “day program,” this level of care bridges the gap between outpatient therapy and inpatient hospitalization. Teens receive several hours of therapy each day, five days a week, but continue living at home and staying connected to their families.
This model combines the best of both worlds: comprehensive, hospital-level treatment with the comfort and familiarity of home life.
Pine Rest Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP)
Pine Rest’s Adolescent PHP is designed for teens experiencing significant mental or emotional challenges such as anxiety, depression, mood disorders, or behavioral concerns that interfere with daily life.
This short-term, intensive program focuses on crisis stabilization and skill-building through:
- Daily group therapy and psychoeducation
- Individual meetings with a multidisciplinary care team (psychiatrist, nurse, case manager, therapists)
- Coping skills training, emotional regulation and communication development
- Family involvement and aftercare planning
Teens attend programming during the day and return home each afternoon, enabling them to immediately apply new skills in real-life settings.
Pine Rest Pediatric Eating Disorder Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP)
The highly specialized Pediatric Eating Disorders PHP for ages 12 through high school supports kids struggling with conditions such as anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, and ARFID.
Key features include:
- Structured, 5-day-a-week treatment with supervised meals and nutrition counseling
- Evidence-based therapies like CBT-E, DBT and family-based approaches
- Psychiatric and medical monitoring for co-occurring conditions
- Fsamily therapy and caregiver education
- Exposure-based therapy to rebuild healthy relationships with food
Like the Adolescent PHP, this program provides intensive treatment during the day while allowing teens to return home each evening, supporting both recovery and family connection.
Why Summer is the Ideal Time for PHP Participation
While these programs operate year-round, summer offers unique advantages:
No School Disruptions
During the academic year, stepping into a daytime program can mean missed classes or falling behind. In the summer, teens can fully engage in treatment without sacrificing academic progress.
Built-In Structure During Unstructured Months
The lack of school routine can intensify mental health symptoms for some adolescents. PHPs provide a consistent daily schedule, helping teens maintain stability and focus during a time that might otherwise feel overwhelming.
Time to Focus Fully on Recovery
With fewer competing demands like homework, extracurriculars, and exams, teens can devote their energy to building coping skills, improving emotional regulation, and making meaningful progress in treatment.
A Stronger Transition Back to School
By starting treatment in the summer, teens can enter the new school year feeling more confident, supported, and prepared. Pine Rest programs even include coordination with schools and planning for successful reintegration when needed.
A Supportive, Family-Centered Approach
Both programs emphasize family involvement, recognizing that healing doesn’t happen in isolation. Parents and caregivers are included throughout treatment on a case by case basis – particularly in the Pediatric Eating Disorders PHP. This can include family therapy sessions, education and ongoing communication with the care team.
At the same time, teens benefit from peer connection in group therapy, where they can share experiences and build relationships with others facing similar challenges.
A Season for Growth and Healing
Summer is often seen as a time for rest and reset. For teens facing mental health challenges, it can also be a powerful opportunity for transformation.
With structured support, expert care, and the ability to stay connected to home and family, Pine Rest’s Adolescent and Eating Disorders Partial Hospitalization Programs provide a meaningful path forward—helping teens build resilience, regain balance, and start the next chapter stronger than before.
Is our Pediatric Eating Disorder Partial Hospitalization Program a good fit for your child?
Need help for your child or teen? Pine Rest provides compassionate, world-class treatment at all care levels for kids.
