Child and Adolescent Partial Hospital Programs
Structured day treatment to help children and teens manage their mental health. Contact us today to learn more about treatment options.
McLean’s Child and Adolescent Partial Hospital Programs provide intensive, short-term mental health care for children, teens, and young adults ages 7 to 19 with emotional and behavioral challenges.
These insurance-based programs focus on stabilization and teach coping skills, offering a structured treatment environment for those who can safely live at home.
For more information or to make a referral, call 617.855.2804 (teens) or 617.674.5360 (children).
The Adolescent Partial Hospital Program (ages 13-19) is located on McLean’s Belmont campus, and the Child Partial Hospital Program (ages 7-13) is in nearby Cambridge. Both programs include skills training, team building, and recreational therapy to enhance daily living skills and self-esteem.
The teen program helps with mental health concerns like depression, anxiety, and co-occurring substance use. It runs Monday to Friday, 9am-3pm.
The child program addresses mood disorders, anxiety, ADHD, and emotional dysregulation. It operates Monday to Friday, 8:20am-2:30pm.
For teens and young adults who would benefit from intensive dialectical behavior therapy, please consider the 3East DBT Partial Hospital Program. This self-pay program treats young people with an array of mental health challenges, including depression, self-harm, emotional dysregulation, anxiety, trauma, and more. Learn more about 3East.
Treatment Approach
The Child and Adolescent Partial Hospital Programs offer intensive supervision and treatment, going beyond traditional outpatient care. Our multidisciplinary teams provide assessment, group programming, individual therapy, skills training, rehabilitation therapy, medication evaluation, case management, and family therapy.
Each patient undergoes a thorough assessment to create an individualized treatment plan. The care team supports patients toward stabilization and tailored treatment goals.
Our group therapy programming fosters skill development to manage emotional and behavioral challenges, while promoting symptom education, healthy habits, and more.
Specialty consultations are available in neurology, eating disorders, personality disorders, autism spectrum disorder, and trauma, with recommendations integrated into the treatment plan.
We strive to create a welcoming, respectful treatment environment that embraces diversity and provides equitable, affirming care for all patients and families.
Learn more about McLean’s approach to child and adolescent mental health care.
About the Programs
Growing up is hard, especially when a young person is struggling with mental health challenges. Our partial hospital programs support young people ages 7 to 19, with an array of symptoms and difficulties.
Adolescent Partial Hospital Program
The Adolescent Partial Hospital Program aims to help teens develop adaptive coping strategies for managing life stressors and mental health symptoms, improving their ability to function at home, in school, and within their communities.
We treat a variety of mental health challenges, including mood and anxiety disorders, family and school issues, and substance misuse.
For those at risk of self-destructive behaviors, including self-harm or suicidal thoughts, treatment models like dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) and cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) help build coping skills for managing emotions, conflicts, and harmful urges.
Our program also includes case management, classroom-based skills training, individual and family meetings, expressive therapies (music and art), group therapy, recreational therapy, and medication evaluation.
Family involvement is key, with family meetings, parent support groups, and phone consultations with the treatment team. We also collaborate with community providers, such as therapists, agencies, and schools, for ongoing treatment and aftercare planning.
For families on the South Shore of Massachusetts, contact us today for services in your area.
Child Partial Hospital Program
The Child Partial Hospital Program supports children by addressing safety, stabilization, skill development, and emotional tolerance through exposure therapy. We also help caregivers build the tools and confidence to manage their child’s emotional and behavioral challenges.
Engagement and commitment to the program are key to achieving positive outcomes.
Programming includes group-based exposure therapy, skill-building groups, recreational activities, and outdoor time. Group topics include emotion navigation, distress tolerance, mindfulness, relationship skills, and internet safety. We use a mix of instructional methods, such as didactic, experiential, and sensory learning, play-based activities, and movement.
Exposure therapy helps children confront and overcome feared emotions or tasks, building confidence and fostering greater engagement in their daily lives. We also focus on managing intense emotions and unhelpful behaviors by teaching children coping skills using cognitive behavior therapy and select aspects of dialectical behavior therapy.
Safety is a priority, with staff working with children and families to address behaviors and improve communication about safety concerns. Safety plans, an evidence-based intervention, are often used to support patients.
Caregivers participate in daily check-ins, family therapy, and weekly educational and mindfulness groups. Case management and aftercare planning, including collaboration with outpatient providers and schools, are key aspects of support.
Admission
The Adolescent Partial Hospital Program focuses on treating teenagers ages 13 to 19 who are struggling with mental health diagnoses such as ADHD, anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder. With treatment participation of approximately 14 days, the program also offers expert consultation for teens whose condition is complicated by co-occurring drug or alcohol misuse.
The Child Partial Hospital Program treats children ages 7 to 13 who are struggling with emotional and behavioral challenges, including irritability and emotion dysregulation, anxiety and mood disorders, neurodevelopmental disorders such as ADHD, suicide ideation, and/or nonsuicidal self-injury. Children participate in the program for 2-3 weeks, promoting safety and stability for those who need comprehensive care but are able to live at home.
For more information or to make a referral to the program, please contact our admissions coordinators:
Adolescent Partial Hospital Program
Phone: 617.855.2804
Email: @email
Child Partial Hospital Program
Phone: 617.674.5360
Email: @email
Referral Form
The Child Partial Hospital Program does not require a referral form.
Prospective teen patients and their families should fill out the form below. Once the form is returned to the program, we can help determine if the Adolescent Partial Hospital Program is an appropriate option.
Cost
We understand that navigating the insurance system can be challenging, which is why we assist prospective patients to help determine eligibility. We welcome your questions and concerns and have a dedicated staff to help you.
The Child and Adolescent Partial Hospital Programs are covered by most insurance providers. McLean Hospital accepts Medicare, Massachusetts Medicaid, and many private insurance and managed care plans.
More information on insurance providers accepted by McLean Hospital may be found on the Mass General Brigham website. You may also find it beneficial to review McLean’s patient billing and financial assistance information.
Program Leadership
Frequently Asked Questions
Where are the programs located?
The Adolescent Partial Hospital Program is located in the Academic Center on McLean’s Belmont campus.
The Child Partial Hospital Program is located at the Sancta Maria Nursing Facility at 799 Concord Avenue, in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
For more information on directions, parking, and local accommodations, please visit our Maps & Directions page.
Who benefits most from the program?
The Adolescent Partial Hospital Program focuses on treating teens who have mental health challenges, including substance use issues, and are able to safely manage in a day program and at home when not in treatment. Patients must be willing to participate in treatment.
The Child Partial Hospital Program provides proven, intensive, short-term, care for children who are struggling with emotional and behavioral challenges, including irritability and suicidality. Caregivers play an integral role in treatment.
Is family involved in treatment?
Families are integral to treatment. We ask that they participate in one or two family meetings each week and also offer parent support groups. Clinical social workers and/or psychologists are available for phone feedback and consultation.
Is smoking permitted?
Smoking is not permitted. The adolescent program allows nicotine replacement therapy, such as gum or the patch, while in the program.
Are cell phones allowed?
Cell phones and other internet-connected devices are not allowed. Individuals may bring them to the program and will be asked to leave them with staff while the program is running.
Is aftercare planning a part of the program?
The treatment team works closely with the patient, their family, and outside providers to develop a personalized aftercare plan. Recommendations by staff are made based upon clinical needs, progress made during treatment, and long-term treatment goals.
Can former patients access their medical records?
All requests for medical records should be directed to McLean’s Health Information Management Department.
Are support groups offered?
To complement our programs’ services and encourage individuals’ initiatives in their own treatment course, many self-help groups are hosted by McLean.
Does McLean gather patient feedback?
McLean is dedicated to maintaining high-quality and effective patient care. To ensure that those standards remain at the highest level, we utilize a number of feedback instruments and quality indicators.
Among these tools are the Perceptions of Care survey which monitors patient satisfaction and BASIS-24™, a psychiatric outcomes measurement tool created at McLean and widely used in the U.S. and around the world, which delivers feedback on the patient care experience.
