Why Wisconsin Families Are Turning to Compass Brookfield for PHP and IOP Care

Compass Health Center’s new Brookfield location is expanding access to Partial Hospitalization (PHP) and Intensive Outpatient (IOP) programs in Wisconsin with rapid, evidence-based mental health treatment for children, adolescents, and adults. 

When someone is struggling with their mental health, figuring out the “right” level of care can be overwhelming. Weekly therapy often isn’t enough, and hospitalization may not be necessary. Compass Health Center’s Partial Hospitalization (PHP) and Intensive Outpatient (IOP) programs bridge that gap with rapid, mental health care close to home.  

Compass Health Center’s Brookfield location is expanding access to PHP and IOP mental health care in Wisconsin by providing rapid access to evidence-based treatment in-person and virtually. Designed for children, adolescents, young adults, and adults, Compass programs offer structured support that helps patients stabilize symptoms, build coping skills, and continue progressing in their daily lives. 

As Compass celebrates the opening of its Brookfield location, Executive Director Samantha Klinger, LCSW, CSAC, shares her path back to direct clinical work, why intermediary levels of care matter, and how Compass partners with patients, families, and the community to improve access to treatment.  

This interview has been lightly edited for grammar and flow. The speaker’s original meaning and intent have not been changed. 

Q&A 

Britt Teasdale (BT): Compass Brookfield officially opened in September 2025. What has the response been like from Wisconsin patients, families, and the local community so far?

Samantha Klinger (SK): 
It’s going really great. We’re already treating patients, and we’ve had patients tell us—direct quote—“you all really care.” It’s really nice to be here, treating patients and hearing such positivity to get us started. 

BT: I love hearing “you all really care.” That’s amazing. Thank you for sharing. Can you share more about your background in mental health care and what led you back to direct clinical work at Compass Brookfield?

SK: 
My background is in social work. I’m a licensed clinical social worker and clinical substance abuse counselor. I’ve been in behavioral health for about 18 years. I started post-master’s on an inpatient psychiatric unit where I treated patients who were in detox and there for general mental health. I also worked with a geriatric population, which was really unique. 

Post inpatient, I was a clinician in PHP and IOP levels of care. I treated patients who had what we called dual diagnosis—mental health diagnoses alongside substance use disorders. After that, I moved into what was then called a lead social work role, supervising clinicians, facilitating groups, meeting with patients, and working with families. That was my first step into leadership, and I found I really enjoyed it, helping clinicians grow in their skill sets and looking at how everything in the clinic fits together to make a really great treatment experience. From there, my passion grew. 

I focused on process, making sure what people experience when they come into a clinic is positive, makes sense, and isn’t hard for clinical teams to do. I moved into quality/process improvement in a large national system for about seven years. Then I got the itch to come back to clinical care. I really missed patients and working with clinicians. PHP and IOP were where I really found myself—as a clinician and a leader—so I wanted to come back full circle. When I heard Compass was opening in Brookfield, I was excited; it fit what I was looking for personally. 

BT: That’s amazing. I’m so happy you found your way back. How did your experience working in inpatient mental health care shape your perspective on PHP and IOP treatment programs? 

SK: 
Great question. With intermediary levels of care like PHP and IOP, it’s important to recognize that when someone goes inpatient, they’re truly stepping away from their life 100%, spending the night in a facility with people they don’t know. There’s a place for it; we need it. Some people need to be in a place where they can be safe and/or safely detox from substances. 

There are also times we can treat patients at intermediary levels where they don’t need to step away from life and go inpatient. That’s what I love most about PHP and IOP—keeping people integrated with day-to-day life while they seek treatment and work on what they need as individuals. 

BT: Many people aren’t familiar with PHP and IOP programs until they need them. What do you find most meaningful about working directly with patients in this level of mental health care?

SK: 
That’s a great question. When people are ready to make the call for help, it takes so much courage. It can be intimidating and scary. 

When they find that courage and come into treatment, the vast majority of the time they discover others are experiencing similar things, so they don’t feel as alone. They find skills that help them navigate challenges. Seeing that journey—from feeling hopeless or alone to realizing “I’m not alone,” and there are tangible things I can do daily to move toward wellness—is powerful. 

Being part of that impact for an individual, and, from a leadership standpoint, hundreds of patients, is incredible. It’s an honor to be part of it. 

BT: What do you say to patients or families who feel nervous or unsure about starting PHP or IOP mental health treatment?

SK: 
You’re asking great questions! It might sound simplistic, but: give it a try. Come in and tour the space. Just see it. We can have preconceived notions about behavioral health treatment that make it feel scarier than it is. When you feel the warmth of the clinicians and the person who greets you at the front desk, and you see the spaces, the intimidation decreases. 

Also, start asking questions. Anxiety is often driven by fear—what’s the underpinning fear? Let’s talk about it. At base: come in, tour, and give it a try for a day. See how you feel after that. 

BT: What are some of the biggest misconceptions people have about PHP and IOP programs before starting treatment at Compass?

SK: 
A big one is, “No one else is going to get it.” That’s where “give it a try” comes in, because on day one people typically realize they’re not alone—others are experiencing similar things. 

BT: From your perspective, what makes Compass Health Center’s PHP and IOP care model different from other mental health treatment options? 

SK: 
I love the model. It’s part of why I chose Compass. It’s dynamic and brings together an interdisciplinary team to wrap around the individual: a prescriber (psychiatrist or APNP), a primary therapist for one-on-one work, a family therapist with dedicated family expertise, an education specialist for teen patients, and group therapists (all master’s-level clinicians). 

Day to day, patients primarily engage in group-based therapy designed to build skills and offer specialized programming. I think of it like college: everyone gets certain core classes we all need for wellness, and then there’s a “major”—the primary focus, like trauma or OCD—where you get specialized groups for those symptoms. We have skills-based groups; art/experiential therapy; for teens, academic skills Integration, where a clinician partners with the school so we can address anxiety or distress that comes up while in classes; and mindfulness groups. 

These run in rotation across rooms during the day, tailored to individual needs. As groups run, primary therapists pull patients for individual sessions—very skills-based—tying together what they’re experiencing at home, school, work, and socially, and learning in group, creating goals, and checking in. Family therapists may pull from group or schedule just before/after. Our psychiatry team meets patients 2–3x/week in PHP and 1–2x/week in IOP to check on medications and whether adjustments might help. They are also available for support, as needed, and on call for emergencies 24/7. 

We’re also passionate about being strong community partners. If a patient has a community prescriber or therapist, our primary therapists and providers call to coordinate care so everyone is synced on what’s best for that individual. 

BT: We know this model works and have data to support it. What makes evidence-based PHP and IOP treatment effective for patients experiencing anxiety, depression, OCD, trauma, and other mental health conditions?

SK: 
Outcome measures. Patients complete measures at the beginning and end of treatment so we can see, with data, changes in symptoms. We know our program works, which is exciting. Many of us are data nerds and love being able to say, very tangibly, “You came in with a GAD [generalized anxiety disorder] score of X and you’re leaving with Y.” As changes occur, patients don’t always feel how big they are; data helps us show and celebrate that success. 

We also know because patients tell us—they feel more hopeful, less anxious; they can get out of bed and go places; they’re more engaged with family. It’s both data and lived experience. 

Why it works: we have a team of talented, caring individuals, and evidence-based treatments—CBT, DBT, ACT, and ERP—treatments we know are effective. 

BT: Why is expanding access to in-person and virtual PHP and IOP mental health care in Wisconsin so important right now?

SK: 
Looking at the data in Wisconsin and nationally, we’re in a mental health crisis that hasn’t eased. Incidents of suicide have risen 30% over the last 20 years, which is terrifying. People are experiencing unprecedented rates of depression and anxiety. Bringing treatment that targets these needs helps our families, friends, communities, and schools. Being another resource in an area of need is critically important. 

BT: As a long-time professional in the field, what signs may indicate that a child, teen, or adult could benefit from PHP or IOP mental health treatment instead of weekly therapy alone?

SK: 
Watch for stepping away from life or difficulty engaging: trouble getting out of bed, difficulty going to work or school; an adolescent who’s in school but asking to come home due to anxiety; marked isolation from friends or family. PHP and IOP is about recognizing when someone is stepping out of life and helping them step back into life because what they’re experiencing has gotten so big they’re avoiding it, or avoiding life in general. 

BT: Do people have to try weekly therapy or one-off psychiatry visits before starting a PHP or IOP program at Compass?

SK: 
No, not at all. If you’re seeing these signs in yourself or a loved one, call us. We’ll ask questions to understand your situation and make a recommendation. Sometimes that’s, “You could do this in weekly outpatient therapy.” However, if you’re calling at that point, it may be a good idea to get into PHP to help prevent things from getting worse. 

BT: What happens if Compass Health Center is not the right fit for someone’s mental health treatment needs?

SK: 
If that’s the case, we’ll give referrals and help them find the right place for the level of care they need. 

BT: As Compass Brookfield grows, what kind of culture and community impact do you hope to build?

SK: 
We’ve already started. Our team trained together for many weeks ahead of opening. Culture starts with values. Compass has an amazing set of core values, and primary is bringing compassionate, data-driven, evidence-based care every day. We huddle daily to talk about how our patients are doing and how they experience our care—keeping that at the forefront. 

Second: care for each other as we care for patients. This work is rewarding and hard. As we hear difficult stories and pour into patients, we have to pour into each other so we can keep pouring into patients. Sometimes that’s being an ear; sometimes, “Let me take this—go for a walk, take a little you-time.” Each day, we come together to make sure we’re taking care of each other. 

BT: What was opening day at Compass Brookfield like for you, your team, and the community?

SK: 
A lot of clapping, laughing, smiling. Everyone is incredibly excited to be here. Truly celebration mode. 

BT: Final question. Is there anything I missed that you want to speak to—about yourself, Compass, or seeking PHP or IOP mental health care? 

SK: 
I feel like we should have a tagline: When in doubt, just call. Healthcare is difficult to navigate. We can help you navigate it. Don’t feel alone—we’re a resource. That’s the biggest thing I’d want to leave people with. 

BT: Reaching out for help can feel overwhelming, but starting the conversation is often the first step toward meaningful support and recovery. Thank you so much for taking time to speak with me. It was great getting to know you more and hearing what you have in store for Brookfield. 

SK: 
Thank you, Britt. 

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Bios 

Samantha Klinger, LCSW, CSAC, is a licensed clinical social worker and certified substance abuse counselor with extensive experience in mental health, addiction recovery, and trauma-informed care. She has worked across outpatient, residential, and inpatient settings, providing individual, group, and family therapy while also leading programs and mentoring clinicians. Passionate about reducing stigma and expanding access to care, Samantha combines strong clinical skills with compassionate leadership to support lasting change for individuals and communities. 

Britt Teasdale is a writer, photographer, and creative strategist. As Associate Director of Brand Management & Content at Compass Health Center, she has spent nearly a decade shaping narratives that translate complex clinical ideas into stories that resonate, reduce stigma, and help families access care. She holds an MFA in Creative Nonfiction Writing and began her career in journalism. She is also co-host of Compass’s forthcoming podcast, You Only Know What You Know.