Chemical Dependency PHP

The staff at Virginia Beach Psychiatric Center has decades of experience helping people learn how to live without chemical dependency. We understand the challenges of addiction and recovery and care about your health and well-being.

Our chemical dependency PHP is a day treatment program for adults age 18 and older. Program hours are 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Monday to Friday. Most people are in the program for about three weeks, though the length of your PHP experience can depend on your needs.

Chemical dependency programs often refer to a “dual diagnosis,” which is when you have an addiction and a mental health disorder. We care for both issues during your treatment. You have a personalized experience here, customized to your needs and mental health diagnosis.

Participants meet in small groups to process and recover from chemical dependency. Whether you are getting ready to graduate from PHP or new to the program, you gain strength from sharing your experiences with others.

You also receive individual therapy and medication management, which may include psychiatric drugs (such as antidepressants) and other medications to help reduce your cravings.

A board-certified addictionologist (provider who specializes in treating addiction) leads our chemical dependency PHP along with registered nurses, social workers and therapists. Some people join PHP after stepping down from inpatient care or as part of a residential treatment program.

You undergo drug and alcohol testing during PHP. You also have a mid-program assessment, about halfway through your recovery process. We help you understand where you’ve made progress and how you can continue improving.

You check in each morning and join the group for a full day of treatment. Programming includes:

• Process group: You talk, share and receive feedback in a therapeutic setting. If someone relapsed the previous night, we take a supportive, nonpunitive approach to help them recover.
• Activity group: You may participate in art therapy or outdoor recreation or listen to guest speakers from Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), Narcotics Anonymous (NA) and other community organizations.
• Psychoeducation group: You discuss topics based on the group’s needs, which may include emotional management, mindfulness, relationships and relapse prevention. We also offer cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which can help you reframe your thoughts and change your behavior.
• Check-out group: Participants meet to discuss the day’s activities and prepare to leave.

 When you graduate from PHP, you have a set of actionable and sustainable tools for your new substance-aware lifestyle. You can get ongoing help through support groups and community resources, too. We host 12-step programs as well as AA, NA and similar groups.

Call our crisis line at 757-627-5433 or walk into our lobby. We are here for you 24/7. You can also contact us for more information.