A Typical Day in PHP and IOP at Compass Health Center

Taking the First Step for Your Mental Health 

Starting mental health treatment is a brave and important step—but it’s normal to feel a bit nervous, too. Whether you’re seeking support for yourself or your child, the first day in a structured program like a Partial Hospitalization (PHP) or Intensive Outpatient (IOP) program can bring a mix of emotions. Beginning care at Compass Health Center in Brookfield, Wisconsin, Silver Spring, Maryland, or one of our Illinois locations in Chicago, Northbrook, or Oak Brook (with Golden Valley, Minnesota coming soon!) looks the same in terms of our structure, support, and compassionate approach.  

Compass Health Center’s areas of expertise include mood and anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, trauma and PTSD, and co-occurring disorders, such as substance use. Your interdisciplinary team works together to provide evidence-based, holistic care. Your treatment is a journey, and we are with you throughout your time in our programs, providing ongoing support from the time of admission until discharge. Each day is structured in a similar manner, with the group content changing and building on itself.  

Morning at Compass Health Center: A Supportive Start 

Arrival 

From the moment you arrive at Compass, the focus is on comfort and connection. Patients are welcomed by name, creating a warm and familiar environment right away. Our check-in process is smooth and supportive. Once you sign in for the day, you will be welcomed by your Compass Advisor, a clinician in your program, who will show you around the program space and orient you to your day. They will help you understand your schedule, what to expect, and who is on your treatment team. They will also discuss our treatment outcomes and answer any questions you may have.    

Daily Goal Setting 

Each morning begins with a check-in on your mood, setting daily goals, and reviewing your progress and accomplishments. With your group leaders and peers, you’ll set new personal goals that will shape your day—whether it’s practicing a new coping skill, preparing for a family therapy session, or working toward emotional regulation. This structure helps patients see their progress in real-time.   

Therapy Modalities of the Day 

Group Therapy Sessions 

Throughout the day, patients participate in age-specific, evidence-based group therapy sessions. All children, teens, young adults, and adults will attend groups that are designed to meet developmental and emotional needs. Common topics include: 

• Managing anxiety 
• Building resilience 
• Coping with depression 
• Navigating school or work-related stress 
• Common humanity-process therapy Groups 

Individualized Support 

In addition to group therapy, patients will meet with other members of their treatment team.  This includes 1:1 time with psychiatrists, therapists, and nurses. In our child and adolescent programs, patients will also meet with an education specialist.  These sessions offer space to discuss personal goals, practice the skills learned in the group spaces, process thoughts and feelings, discuss medication needs, and emotional challenges in a confidential, supportive environment. Our nursing team will meet with the patient during your first or second day in the program to review your health history and complete baseline vital signs and assessments as needed. Nursing will also be here to support you with any FMLA or leave of absence paperwork, so that each individual can focus entirely on their treatment and wellness. 

Integrated Care for Complex or Co-occurring Diagnoses  

Compass Health Center’s integrated model of care supports individuals with complex or co-occurring diagnoses through close collaboration among multidisciplinary teams. Psychiatrists, therapists, and specialists work together to address both primary and co-occurring conditions—such as mood, anxiety, trauma, OCD, and substance use disorders—within a single, cohesive treatment plan. This approach ensures that care is not fragmented or siloed; instead, each component of treatment reinforces the others, leading to more effective outcomes and sustainable improvement in daily functioning and quality of life. 

Beyond Talk Therapy: Whole-Person Care 

Academic Support (For Children & Teens in PHP) 

We understand that school does not pause for treatment. Our on-site education specialists work closely with schools to help students stay on track academically, ensuring continuity during care.  We communicate with the schools’ teams to ensure that they understand the progress made, the skills that will be used in the classroom, and provide them with tools to support the transition back to the academic environment.  

Creative & Experiential Therapies 

Healing involves more than just talk therapy and skills.  At Compass Health Center, our programs also incorporate: 

• Art therapy 
• Dance/Movement therapy 
• Mindfulness and meditation 
• Yoga 
• Pet Therapy 

These experiential modalities promote emotional expression, stress relief, and overall well-being. 

Family Involvement 

We believe healing happens in connection. Family therapy sessions and ongoing communication with loved ones help ensure a supportive home environment and long-term progress. Family Therapy with caregivers is expected for all our child and adolescent patients.  In our adult programs, we strongly encourage connection and support from loved ones, friends, partners, and family members.  Family education groups are also available for families of children, adolescents, and young adults.   

Midday Connection & Balance 

Lunch & Peer Connection 

If staying for a day of PHP, patients enjoy time to eat, recharge, and connect with peers. These informal moments foster community, reduce isolation, and create safe spaces for social interaction. This may include playing a card game, working on a puzzle, or just sitting outside on the front lawn. This is an opportunity to connect with others who are in treatment and experiencing some of the same feelings as you.  One patient in our trauma program shared, “Compass is a gentle, kind environment that prioritizes you to feel safe. It truly changed my life. It’s so validating to connect with others who understood me. I felt less alone in my healing”. 

Afternoon: Building Strength for What’s Next 

Skills Groups & Reflection 

As the day continues, patients dive deeper into evidence-based interventions such as: 

• Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) 
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) 
• Cognitive Processing therapy (CPT) 
• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) 
• Exposure Response Prevention Therapy (ERP) 

These groups focus on managing intense emotions, improving relationships, and increasing self-awareness, as well as specialized inventions for trauma and OCD diagnoses.  

Wrap-Up Sessions 

Before the day ends, patients reflect on what they learned, identify take-home tools, set a goal or pm plan, and prepare for a safe transition back home. These moments promote confidence and continuity. 

Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP): Flexibility That Fits Into Daily Life 

Not everyone requires the full-day structure of PHP. For many, IOP offers a balanced level of care, ideal for those transitioning from PHP or managing responsibilities like work or school. 

What to Expect in IOP: 

• Three hours each day, several days a week 
• Daytime and after-school/evening sessions available 
• Targeted group therapy, skill-building, and psychiatric support 
• Medication management as needed 

In-person IOP is available across all Compass locations: Brookfield, Wisconsin; Silver Spring, Maryland; Chicago, Northbrook, and Oak Brook, Illinois, and coming soon to Golden Valley, Minnesota—making high-quality care accessible to more families and individuals. 

How Virtual Care Works—And What’s Different 

For those who prefer or need treatment from home, Compass Health Center offers Virtual Partial Hospitalization (PHP) and Intensive Outpatient (IOP) programs across Illinois, Virginia, Washington, D.C., Wisconsin, and Maryland, with Minnesota virtual care coming soon.

Compass Virtual extends Compass Health Center’s trusted model of PHP and IOP care into an accessible online setting, delivering the same quality, structure, and outcomes patients experience in person. Compass Virtual provides comprehensive treatment that includes group, individual, and family therapy, as well as psychiatric evaluation and medication management. Participants also benefit from specialized support such as resource and aftercare planning, and for adolescents, academic coordination with educational specialists throughout the school year. 

Virtual Structure: 

• Live group therapy, 1:1 sessions and skill-building—just like in-person programs 
• Secure daily logins and real-time interaction with licensed providers 

What Makes It Unique: 

• Tailored, age-based programs for individuals ages 13 and up (adolescent, young adult, and adult) 
• Specialized treatment from the comfort of home for mood, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), trauma, co-occurring substance use, and more 
• Flexible weekday and evening sessions—including after-school IOP options for adolescents and evening PHP and IOP for adults 
• No commute or transportation barriers 

Whether you’re connecting virtually from the Milwaukee suburbs, Washington, D.C. area, or anywhere in Illinois and beyond, you’ll receive the same psychiatrist-led, outcomes-driven care model that defines Compass. 

Why Our Care Model Works 

The Compass care model is designed around individualized, psychiatrist-led care that delivers real results. 

Evidence-Based Outcomes: 

• Significant reductions in symptoms of anxiety, depression, and mood instability indicated by evidence-based assessments  
• Improved functioning at home, school, and work 
• Decreased need for a higher level of care at another time or to return to this level of care  

Real Patient Success: 

One teen in our Northbrook PHP described their experience as “the first time I felt heard and understood,” after years of struggling with anxiety and panic attacks. After just a few weeks in care, they were back in school, sleeping better, and using the tools they had learned. 

Comprehensive Mental Health Care That Walks With You Every Step

Starting treatment can be overwhelming—but you are not alone. From same-day assessments to customized care, Compass Health Center is here to help patients and families navigate every step of the journey. 

If you’re seeking mental health treatment in Brookfield, WI; Silver Spring, MD; the Chicago, IL area (Northbrook, Oak Brook, or downtown Chicago); our upcoming Golden Valley, MN location; or virtually statewide in any of these regions, Compass Health Center is here to help.