Which program is right for you? How Kolmac helps you choose
Choosing where to start can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re already managing everything else in your life.
You don’t have to figure it out alone.
Start with a conversation
Finding the right treatment program is easier when you’re not doing it by yourself. Our dedicated team of Patient Engagement specialists can help guide you toward the right care for substance use, mental health or both. They know Kolmac’s programs inside out and are familiar with programs offered by other local providers as well, so if we don’t have a program that’s appropriate, we can guide you to the help you need.
If you’d like a clearer sense of who we work with and what we treat, that’s a good place to start.
How clinicians determine your level of care
There are three primary criteria for determining the best level of care for each person. The evaluation also accounts for co-occurring conditions, so if you’re managing both a mental health condition and substance use, both are considered together.
This whole-person approach follows the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) criteria, the framework most widely used to match people to the right level of care.
What works best for your life and schedule
We built flexibility into our programs. If you have commitments during the day, you can attend an evening program from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. If your evenings are committed, you can attend during the day from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The severity of your condition
This applies to both substance use and mental health conditions. If symptoms are mild, weekly outpatient therapy or individual counseling may be the right fit. If they’re moderate, an intensive outpatient program (IOP) often provides the right level of structure. If they’re severe, a partial hospitalization program (PHP) provides the most support while you return home each day.
The level of disruption to your life
If your condition doesn’t cause significant disruption, an IOP may be appropriate. If it causes significant disruption to your work, relationships or daily functioning, a PHP may be the better starting point.
Levels of care at Kolmac
Kolmac’s continuum lets you match the level of structure to what you’re facing:
- Outpatient treatment and individual counseling for milder or stabilizing symptoms, and for stepping down from a higher level of care.
- Intensive outpatient program (IOP), 3 to 4 sessions per week, typically totaling 9 to 12 hours of structured treatment, for moderate symptoms that need more structure than weekly therapy.
- Partial hospitalization program (PHP), the highest level of outpatient care, with several hours of programming per day for more severe symptoms.
IOP vs PHP
The difference between IOP and PHP comes down to intensity. IOP provides structured support across several sessions a week and fits around work, school and family commitments. PHP offers the most support of any outpatient level, with several hours of programming per day, while you still return home each day.
A clinician makes the final call
The final decision on the level of care is based on our intake evaluation, which is how we help you determine which program is right for you. Only a licensed clinician can diagnose a substance use disorder or a mental health condition, identify it as mild or severe, and provide a clinical recommendation for the right program.
The guidance above is a starting point, not a diagnosis, and knowing what to expect from that first appointment can make it easier to take.
Frequently Asked Questions
Both are outpatient programs, and the difference is in intensity. The intensive outpatient program runs 3 to 4 sessions per week, typically totaling 9 to 12 hours of structured treatment, which fits around a full work, school and family schedule.
The partial hospitalization program is the highest level of outpatient care, with several hours of programming per day for more severe symptoms, and in both you go home at the end of the day.
Not always. Some patients begin with medically supervised withdrawal management first, while others move straight into IOP or PHP. Your intake evaluation determines what you need, and Kolmac’s home-based virtual detox can bridge you into ongoing treatment when it’s clinically appropriate.
A licensed clinician assesses three factors during an intake evaluation to make a recommendation: compatibility with your lifestyle and schedule, the seriousness of your condition, and its impact on your daily life. We consider co-occurring conditions by looking at your mental health and substance use together.
Kolmac designs its integrated model for that exact purpose. Coordinated care, rather than sequential, allows progress in one area to benefit the other when managing both.
Yes. Most patients move between levels of care as they progress, stepping up or stepping down as needed. The same clinical team coordinates each transition, keeping your care connected throughout.
Kolmac offers both in-person and virtual options across all levels of care, including home-based virtual detox. Your evaluation helps determine which format best fits your clinical needs and your schedule.
For many patients, yes. Our programs are built around real-life integration, with day sessions from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and evening sessions from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., so you can keep working or studying while you take part. IOP, in particular, is designed to fit around a full schedule.
Your care, your schedule, your life
What sets Kolmac apart is flexibility. Patients can choose day or evening hours, in person or virtually, so you can keep living your life while receiving high-quality, evidence-based care for substance use and mental health.
When you’re ready, our admissions team will help you take the first step. Same-day admissions are available, and most major insurance plans are accepted.
