[*doodles*]

Does anyone have any experience with an outpatient or partial hospitalization program? Was it helpful? Would you recommend it?
I have been struggling a lot lately, and my T had me come in for an emergency session(after an email I sent her) to talk about treatment options. She said that she feels like I need more than she could give me and suggested one of these programs in my area. It would be short term 3 days a week, for about 3 hours a day. I DO think it would help me as I am at this point where it is a battle. T starts to help, and then I pull back, and it keeps going like that. Maybe it would push me over this point so that I am able to feel like I deserve therapy and therapy would be more beneficial. I would go back to T after is was over. However, it would interfere with my work schedule, which my boss would NOT be happy about, and money is tight as it is. I temporarily declined it, and said I wanted to give therapy and meds(which I just started maybe a month ago) some more time to try to work before I resorted to the program.
But I guess I just wanted some opinions on it. Like if it was really helpful for others, etc.

[otter315]

I just finished a partial hospital program because my therapist also thought that I needed more help than she could give me at that point. The one I went to was 5 days a week, 6 hours a day. I spent 5 weeks in the program and found it extremely helpful. The thing I was most scared about was all of it was group and I had not experienced group therapy before but it turned out that the group was what helped me the most. I would tell you to go and try it out you can always stop if it is not the right fit for you.

[PTSDlovemycats]

I was in an outpatient program about 10yrs ago. It was 5 days a week for 6hrs a day for 4 months. It was hell! Everyone's experiences are always different...

[Xeneon]

I think if your gut says you should and you think its the best decision you should go with what your gut says. I know money is tight but do you think you could survive until the program was over? Also do you think your emotional state of mind will get worse then it is now, if you don't go?

[SpiritRunner]

you can always give it a try.....I think it would be better than full hospitalization (having just experienced that!). would insurance, if you have it, cover that sort of thing? I am not expert on insurance so don't have any idea......

i've gone to 2 different programs in the past few years and got a lot out of them. One was run by an inpatient hospital - definitely the better of the 2 - good therapists, groups, etc.
The other one I went to was half day - only 2 groups but I have to say I got some great coping skills out of them.

If you're not ready to commit to a program, what about a support group that you could go to at night? That might be something for you to think about.

[*doodles*]

Yeah, my insurance would cover it fully, as long as medically necessary, which T would of course, sign off on. So that's not an issue, which is good.
This is mostly group, too, Otter and I feel the same way. I feel like I would never talk, but who knows, it might help...like PC in real life?!
PTSD, what was so horrible about it?? Anything in particular?
Xeneon, I'm not really sure if it will get worse. It really all depends on the meds, I think. For now, I don't see it getting any better with therapy...
Jaded, I asked my T about that, but she says the only night programs around are for teens. She didn't find any for adults.
Thanks for all your input!