Adolescent outpatient behavioral health

You don’t have to face it alone

Between notifications, school, friendships, family expectations, comparison, and the pressure to keep up, life can feel overwhelming. What happens online and in everyday life can affect how you feel, think, and act.

You may be dealing with anxiety, depression, trauma, anger, self-harm urges, suicidal thoughts, or simply feeling like you cannot keep up. Whatever you’re going through, you are more than your struggles—and you do not have to handle them alone.

Ascension Illinois Behavioral Health offers outpatient programs for teens who need more support than weekly therapy but do not need to stay overnight in a hospital. These programs are called Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHP) and Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP).

You come in during the day, get support, learn practical skills, connect with people who understand, and return home at the end of the day.

What are adolescent PHP and IOP programs?

PHP and IOP are short-term outpatient treatment programs for adolescents who need more support than regular therapy but do not need inpatient hospital care.

The goal is to help you feel better, understand what you’re experiencing, build coping skills, manage symptoms, and return to everyday life with more confidence.

• PHP: About six hours a day, Monday through Friday
• IOP: About three hours a day, four days a week

Most teens attend PHP for about two to three weeks and IOP for about two to four weeks. Your care team will work with you and your family to determine what fits your needs, progress, and symptoms.

What happens in the program?

You will not be told to simply “think positive.” You will work with a care team and other teens to learn practical tools for real situations—like when anxiety spikes, your mood crashes, school feels impossible, or you feel like hurting yourself.

Your care may include:

• Group therapy
• Individual therapy sessions
• Family sessions
• Mental health education
• Medication support, when needed
• Regular check-ins with a therapist
• Peer support
• Creative therapies, including art, music, movement, and drama
• Planning for your transition home and ongoing care

You will have opportunities to talk, listen, ask questions, practice new skills, and learn that you are not alone.

You do not have to explain everything

You may not know exactly what to say. That’s okay.

You can start with:

• “I’m not okay.”
• “I’m scared.”
• “I don’t know what I need.”
• “I need help.”

That is enough to begin.

How can treatment help?

Our programs support teens experiencing concerns such as:

• Depression
• Anxiety
• School avoidance or school refusal
• Self-injury
• Suicidal thoughts
• Substance use concerns
• Difficulty managing impulses
• Disordered eating concerns
• Trauma-related symptoms
• Social skills challenges
• Conflict, anger, or fighting

We also offer specialty groups focused on topics such as:

• LGBTQIA+ support
• Body image
• Neurodivergence
• Social skills
• Substance use
• Self-harm
• Diversity and identity

Treatment is individualized. That means your care team works with you and your family to create a plan based on your needs, strengths, and goals.

Focus on progress

Our care is evidence-based, strengths-based, and centered on you.

Together, we focus on what helps, build on your strengths, and work toward goals that matter to you. We use tools to track your progress and understand how things are changing over time.

Progress does not mean everything gets better overnight. It means having support, learning what works for you, and taking the next step.

Who can join the program?

Participation is voluntary.

Some teens begin PHP or IOP directly. Others enter the program after an inpatient hospital stay and “step down” to PHP or IOP for continued support.

Inpatient care may be recommended if someone is at risk of harming themselves or others, or is unable to care for themselves safely.

Types of groups

Skill-building groups

Skill building groups teach practical tools from different therapy approaches. You may learn ways to manage symptoms, handle stress, communicate more clearly, and cope with difficult emotions.

Process groups

Process groups provide a safe place to talk about what you are going through. You can share concerns, hear from people with similar experiences, and receive support from peers and clinicians.

Expressive therapy groups

Expressive therapy groups use art, music, movement, and drama to help you express feelings, reduce stress, and practice coping in creative ways.

Recovery is stronger when families heal together

You are the patient, but your family or caregivers are an important part of your support system. They may be involved in treatment planning, family sessions, the program itself, and planning for what happens after treatment.

Discharge planning begins on your first day. Before you leave the program, your care team will help create an aftercare plan so you can continue using the skills you learned and stay connected to supports such as weekly therapy or medication management, if needed.

Locations

Adolescent services are conveniently offered in Hoffman Estates and Crystal Lake.

Need someone to talk to? We’re here 24/7.

Taking the first step can feel difficult, but you do not have to take it alone. Talk with a parent or guardian and arrange a time to walk in or schedule a free mental health assessment at:

Ascension Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital
1650 Moon Lake Blvd.
Hoffman Estates, IL

Call 855-383-2224 anytime—day or night.

You can also fill out the contact form, and our team will contact you within 24 hours: Contact Ascension Illinois Behavioral Health