Outpatient mental health care
Outpatient mental health care refers to intensive behavioral health services that do not require an overnight hospital stay. Outpatient care offers the benefits of psychological treatment while also allowing you to return home each day.
Outpatient behavioral and mental health treatment
If you're experiencing mental health struggles, our team provides compassionate, personalized support.
At Parkridge Valley Hospital in Southeast Tennessee, we offer psychiatric care that bridges the gap between traditional outpatient models and a structured, therapeutic community.
Need a physician referral?
MedLine can help. We are available by phone Monday through Friday from 7:00am to 7:00pm CST.
MedLine can help. We are available by phone Monday through Friday from 7:00am to 7:00pm CST.
Related specialties
Learn more about our related specialties.
Outpatient mental health services
We offer multiple outpatient programs and avenues for adults and seniors with mental health needs. Our approach gives you the resources and connection you need.
Intensive outpatient program (IOP)
Our IOP is a non-medical therapeutic program designed for adults to address emotional, mental health or addiction issues. The IOP allows you to get the help you need, while continuing your daily life with minimal disruptions. For your convenience, we offer daytime and nighttime IOPs at our campuses in Chattanooga and Cleveland. Should additional or more intensive care be needed, the IOP staff can facilitate transfers with minimal disruption to you.
An initial assessment determines the appropriate level of care, and regular follow-up assessments ensure that you receive the right care at the right time. Treatment consists of a daily educational group and a daily process group. Also included are weekly family education classes, an introduction to support groups outside the facility and a follow-up aftercare group. The program is three hours per day, Monday through Friday, and patients are often involved with treatment for two to three weeks on average.
We also offer ongoing assessments and referrals as necessary, urine drug screening and discharge planning. We work closely with referral sources and other treatment providers to ensure continuity of care and comprehensive treatment and discharge planning. Crisis intervention, as well as individual and family counseling is provided as needed.
Educational groups
We offer educational groups that present you with information covering a variety of topics, including coping skills, stress management, education about your illness, healthy nutrition habits and living an addiction-free lifestyle. This helps you understand your illness and may improve your overall quality of life.
Support groups
The program's support group format reduces feelings of isolation and hopelessness as you discover that you are not alone in your struggle for emotional wellness or a sober lifestyle. The group process assists you in identifying and resolving psychological and social factors that contribute to mental illness and addiction issues as well as providing a setting for improving communication and conflict resolution skills.
Family groups
Family groups offer support to you and your family members by increasing their understanding of the effects the illness has had on the entire family system. We encourage family members to be committed to the treatment/recovery process.
Aftercare group
When you have successfully completed the program, you can be a part of an aftercare group. The group is focused on providing support from others who are still in the first year of the treatment or recovery process. This allows you to gain knowledge from those who have preceded you and have had success outside of the treatment environment.
IOP treatment team
This team consists of registered nurses, master's level social workers or counselors, registered dieticians, therapeutic recreational staff and mental health technicians qualified in the assessment and treatment of mental health.
Our registered nurses provide assessments and ongoing medical consultation with you as needed. The medical staff is available to consult with your family physician at any time during the course of treatment.
Partial hospitalization program (PHP)
Our PHP is a psychotherapeutic day treatment program that is less intense than inpatient psychiatric care, but provides more structure and intervention that traditional outpatient counseling and medication management.
This program is tailored to you achieve long-term recovery while maintaining your normal lifestyle. The program consists of daily group therapy, educational information about mental illness, medication management, stress management, process groups and classes on improving coping skills. Adults in this program are often involved with treatment for one to two weeks and are assisted with continuing treatment with physicians and therapists on an outpatient basis after discharge. If you are a part of this program, you have the option of participating in an aftercare group located at Parkridge Valley Adult & Senior Campus.
Benefits of our PHP
This program is designed for those who are experiencing mental health or addictive disorders and have enough support and stability to be at home in the evenings, but who require immediate intervention to promote recovery and prevent inpatient admission. Those who are treated in the Partial Hospitalization Program often suffer from depression and grief-related issues.
The multidisciplinary treatment team consists of licensed psychiatrists, masters-level social workers or counselors, registered nurses, mental health technicians, therapeutic recreational staff and registered dieticians qualified in the assessment and treatment of mental health and addiction issues.
Some benefits may include:
- A less stressful transition from the hospital to the home environment
- Minimal family and home-life disruption
- Opportunity to practice newly learned skills at home in the evening and thus be aware of strengths and abilities