PHP vs IOP · Houston
A clear, side-by-side comparison of Partial Hospitalization (PHP) and Intensive Outpatient (IOP) at Altura Recovery in Houston — what they cost, who they fit, and how to decide.
PHP is full-day structure. IOP is structured therapy that fits around your life. Most people start in one and step down to the other.
PHP is usually better when you need full-day structure after detox, residential treatment, or an unstable home environment. IOP is usually better when you can live safely outside treatment and need structured therapy that fits around work, school, or family.
PHP (Partial Hospitalization) is 5 days a week, 5 to 6 hours per day. It's full-day outpatient care without staying overnight. PHP is for people stabilizing after detox or residential treatment, or whose home environment isn't safe for early recovery.
IOP (Intensive Outpatient) is 3 days a week, 3 hours per session, AM or PM. It's structured therapy designed to fit around full-time work or school. IOP is for people with a stable home, the ability to manage daily life, and the desire to keep working while in treatment.
| PHP | IOP | |
|---|---|---|
| Hours per week | 20–30 clinical hours | 9 clinical hours |
| Schedule | 5 days/week, 5–6 hrs/day | 3 days/week, 3 hrs/session |
| Time of day | Daytime only | AM or PM tracks |
| Can you keep your job? | Usually no (FMLA/PTO) | Yes |
| Typical length | 2–4 weeks | 8–12 weeks |
| Best for | Post-detox, post-residential, unsafe home | Working adults, parents, students |
| Cost (in-network) | $0–$2,500 out of pocket | $0–$1,500 out of pocket |
| Cost (self-pay) | $7,500–$15,000 | $3,500–$7,500 |
| Includes psychiatry? | Yes, multiple times per week | Yes, as needed |
| Includes individual therapy? | Yes, weekly minimum | Yes, weekly |
| Group therapy? | Daily | 3 times/week |
| Sober living option? | Yes — PHP with housing | Yes, with partner programs |
If the PHP or IOP plan includes partner sober living, Aspire Recovery Homes has Houston resources for women's sober living and men's sober living.
Choose PHP if any of these apply:
Choose IOP if any of these apply:
You don't have to choose between PHP and IOP — most clients flow through both. Our continuum runs PHP → IOP → SOP → alumni community. You can step up or step down based on how you're doing, not based on a calendar. If something gets harder, we step you back up. If you're solid, we step you down.
The fastest way to know which level is right for you is a free, 15-minute phone consultation with our clinical admissions team. We'll ask about your situation, current use, support at home, and life obligations, and recommend a level of care honestly — even if it's not us.
It depends on your stability, your support system at home, and your work or family obligations. PHP is the right fit when you need full-day structure to stabilize — typically right after detox, after residential treatment, or when home is unsafe. IOP is the right fit when you can manage the rest of your day independently but need consistent clinical support, want to keep working or going to school, and have a stable place to live. Our admissions team helps you figure out which level fits your situation in a free 15-minute consultation.
Yes — that's the most common Altura pathway. Many clients begin with 2 to 4 weeks of PHP for stabilization and intensive clinical work, then step down to IOP for 8 to 12 weeks while returning to work and family life, then to Structured Outpatient (SOP) for up to a year of continued support.
No. PHP runs 20 to 30 clinical hours per week, so it's more clinically intensive and more expensive than IOP. With in-network insurance most members pay $0 to $2,500 out of pocket for PHP and $0 to $1,500 for IOP after their deductible. Self-pay PHP runs $7,500 to $15,000 and self-pay IOP runs $3,500 to $7,500.
Not full-time. PHP is 5 days a week and 5 to 6 hours per day of clinical programming. Most clients use FMLA, short-term disability, or PTO during their PHP weeks. We help with FMLA paperwork and employer communication. IOP, by contrast, fits around work — most IOP clients keep their full-time jobs.
Call us. Our clinical team does free 15-minute consultations to recommend the right level of care based on your specific situation. There's no obligation to start treatment with us — we'll tell you honestly which level fits and refer you elsewhere if we're not the right fit.
Confidential. Free. No obligation.
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