Admissions

What to expect on day one

The first day is intentionally low-stakes. You will not be in deep clinical work — you will be meeting people, learning the schedule, and getting your bearings.

An elegant wooden boardwalk path leading through sand dunes to a calm beach, representing the path ahead

Before you arrive

What we send you the night before

  • Directions and parking instructions
  • Arrival time and check-in process
  • What to bring (see below)
  • Your primary therapist's name and a brief bio
  • The day-one schedule

What to bring

  • Insurance card and photo ID
  • A list of current medications (prescription and over-the-counter), supplements, and dosages
  • Names and contact info of any prior or current providers, if you want them coordinated with
  • A water bottle and a sweater (group rooms are often cool)
  • Optional: a notebook. Many people find note-taking helpful.

On arrival

  1. Check-in. Brief paperwork — consents, HIPAA acknowledgement, billing forms.
  2. Welcome session. A clinician walks you through the program structure, expectations, and policies. You'll meet other people starting at the same time.
  3. Clinical evaluation. 60–90 minutes with a psychiatrist or psychiatric nurse practitioner. This is a comprehensive medical and psychiatric history.
  4. Psychosocial assessment. 60–90 minutes with a licensed therapist (LMFT, LCSW, or LPCC). What's going on now, your relationships, your history, your goals.
  5. Treatment plan review. Before you leave, you and your clinical team agree on initial goals and the schedule for the coming week.

What you will not do on day one

You will not be in a group therapy session disclosing your story to strangers. Group integration is usually day two or three, after you've met one-on-one with your team and we know what's safe and helpful.

You will not leave with a fixed diagnosis carved in stone. Diagnostic formulation is iterative — your initial impressions get refined over the first 1–2 weeks as we see you in different contexts.

The rest of the first week

Days 2–5 fall into the regular program rhythm. For PHP this is roughly:

  • Morning — check-in, didactic group (skills, psychoeducation)
  • Mid-morning — process group
  • Lunch — built into the schedule; we provide a quiet space
  • Afternoon — specialty group (trauma, substance use, family, mood, depending on your plan)
  • Individual work — 1:1 therapy and medication appointments are scheduled throughout the week, not stacked on day one

IOP follows a similar shape but is condensed into 3 evenings per week.

Common day-one questions

Can I bring my phone?

Yes, but we ask that phones stay off during group rooms. There's space to step out and take an urgent call if needed.

Do I tell my employer?

That's your choice. We can provide documentation for FMLA, short-term disability, or accommodations through your HR or EAP if you decide to disclose. We never disclose to your employer without your written consent.

What if I want to leave?

This is voluntary, outpatient care. You can leave at any time. We'd much rather hear "this isn't working for me" than have you no-show.