Considering hospital outpatient program for depressed 18 year old son

My son had a relapse, and he feels that seeing a therapist twice a week for 45 minute sessions is not enough. We are going to take a tour of a psychiatric hospital's outpatient facility, where he would go every day for 6 hours. Many of the people in the program would be far sicker than he is, and most will have been hospitalized prior to starting the outpatient program. My son does not need hospitalization, but he does need more help. Does anyone have experience with this type of program?

I have no personal experience but I'd say if he feels he needs more care, then he should go to something like this program. Check out the facilities, see if you like it, pick the best program you can. I'm wishing both you and him the best.

I'm really glad that HE realizes he needs more help - it may not seem this way but that's a huge step in the right direction

I am currently in a program exactly like what you described. Most of the people are not necessarily very sick. They are like me and need more specialized daily support than what they can get from their families. My husband is very supportive but I need daily support in dealing with a couple of specific issues at this time. My program is approximately six hours a day and the staff is excellent. I will step down to 3-4 days a week when I'm ready. It is an excellent mid-point between in-patient and being totally on your own. I also see a private thepist once a week. I was last inpatient in May. Before that, it was 1989.

hey VIckie, I'm curious if most of it is group sessions or some individual? And if you can pick how often you go, and if it's commonly covered by insurance.

*i'm a curious lil' bee...

I've been in an outpatient program before. I found it very helpful. Go & check it out. Talk with the staff. Ask what he will be doing on an hourly basis. Ususally they have group acitivties and group therapy meetings. And ask if there is the availability of one on one contact with the staff during free time.

I think it could be a great thing for your son.

I would exercise caution in making a choice such as this. An 18 year-old needs to be surrounded by fully engaged, highly motivated people, preferably young people. I would not want him to fall into a "culture of illness."

Does he have hobbies or interests that enthuse him? Money spent helping him to pursue these interests could be a better use of funds than an outpatient program.

I would like to see him focus on things that help him to feel excited about life rather than focus on being "sick."

We are coming to the same conclusion after I talked to the coordinator at a hospital. Thanks for your advice.

This particular program is one of the best in Arizona. It is four 40 minute sessions every day plus lunch. The topics vary according to the main areas of focus for each patient, including Grief and Loss, Living Skills (Coping Skills), Healthy Relationships, Relaxation, Symptom Evaluation, Process Group (each client processes issues for that day), Anger Management, Assertiveness, and other topics that relate to major issues that clients face. The topics promote skills that assist in dealing with MI.

The full time program is 5-6 days a week and is called Intensive Outpatient Support. The shorter week is 3-5 days a week and is called Intermittent Outpatient Support. It is covered by whatever insurance one has. There are patients anywhere from 18 years of age all the way up to 80 years old. They also take Medicare. Mine is paid 100% by Medicare since I am on disability.

They promote other activities like recreational things. This Friday, we are having a Coffee House. I am singing and playing the guitar. Some people are showing artwork and photography and needlework. Some days they have swimming. It is all group work and we see a managing psychiatrist once a week. There is one on one counseling available and also family counseling if needed.

That's quite a decision to be made after visiting one whole hospital. Hobbies are definitely good for teaching coping skills and assertive techniques used in dealing with pushy people.

I'd suggest maybe trying both...
hobbys and fun parts of life are VERY important. And it's easy to think that just by fostering these things can get better. They can.
But it sounds like where you're son's at right now he needs a bit more than that. Maybe not the hospital you saw, maybe not DAILY, but something regular and a bit more than one T session a week. Can his T increase to 2-3 sessions a week? Perhaps that could help?

The day hospital I went to had activities like art therapy, craft classes, physical games--like volley ball and cooking classes where you just did activities that were fun and hobby-like as well as group therapy and coping skills.
If you live in or near a large city there may be a day program more suited to your son that the one you looked at.

I've checked out three hospitals in my area, and the population is the same as the one I investigated. Most people have been hospitalized and these programs would be a step down until people are ready for outpatient therapy. We are still investigating. In the meantime, he will be seen three times this week. He seems to have stabilized for now.

Vicki, is this program in a psychiatric hospital, or a medical/surgical hospital? I've only checked out programs in the former.

I did contact three hospitals in my area, and it was the same population at all of them, and the same type of program daily. I wish there was something in between here.

The program I am participating in is in a medical/surgical hospital but it has quite a large psychiatric wing. It includes four adult inpatient units. That's one of the benefits of a large metropolitan area. The valley has over 7 million residents. The hospital that has the program I attend is the best one in the valley.

The Intensive Outpatient Program is housed separately from the inpatient hospital. They also provide transportation to the clients. That is to ensure they have no trouble getting there. They have four 15-passenger vans that travel all over the valley to pick up and return clients.

By the way, I quoted the wrong amount of time for the classes. They are actually 50 minutes each. They are excellent.