Key Takeaways:
- Barn Life Recovery offers a Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) in Costa Mesa, CA, providing 5 hours of structured mental health and dual diagnosis treatment, 5 days per week.
- PHP is ideal for clients with co-occurring disorders, those stepping down from residential treatment, or individuals who need more support than weekly therapy provides.
- What is a PHP? It’s the highest level of outpatient care, combining individual therapy, group therapy, family therapy, and holistic modalities like acupuncture, Qigong, and mindfulness.
- Programs typically last 30–120 days, helping clients stabilize, build coping strategies, and prepare for step-down care such as an Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP).
- Barn Life Recovery specializes in relapse prevention, trauma-focused therapy, and life skills training, serving clients across Orange County, Los Angeles, San Diego, and the Inland Empire.
Traditional mental health programs fail when they do not account for an individual’s life circumstances, unique gifts, needs and desires. At Barn Life Recovery, we’ve cultivated an evidence-based partial hospitalization program to nurture and inspire. During our full-day program, you’ll use the cement of our safe and supportive community to rebuild your foundation. By inspiring wanderers from all walks of life and facilitating a nurtured soul, we provide mental health services to Love Life Again.
What is a PHP?
Our PHP (partial hospitalization program) is an 5-hour, full-day program that allows clients to sleep in their own beds while simultaneously receiving intensive mental health treatment.
This step-down model of care is extremely common in the recovery world, and insurance companies often recognize and cover it because it helps people stabilize before moving into less intensive treatment like IOP or standard outpatient therapy. Knowing that PHP is part of a broader continuum of care can ease the uncertainty — it’s not an unusual path, it’s a trusted and effective way to get the right amount of support at the right time.
Recognized by the Joint Commission, we provide you with the time and space needed to restore your self-mastery. Focus on your emotional, physical, spiritual and mental well-being without being confined by inpatient services.
What to Expect in Barn Life’s PHP
Located in Costa Mesa, CA, our PHP combines ancient Chinese medicine and evidence-based psychotherapy in a structured, daytime program that allows clients to return home each evening. It’s an immersive, compassionate path for those who need more than weekly therapy but do not require 24-hour inpatient care.
Our Costa Mesa PHP provides 5 hours of care per day, 5 days a week. Programs typically last 30 to 120 days, depending on each client’s needs and progress, ensuring enough time to build stability and lasting coping skills.
This time is structured to include:
- Evidence-based therapy (CBT, DBT, ACT, EMDR) in group and individual formats.
- Chinese medicine practices such as acupuncture, Qigong, and herbal therapy to regulate energy and ease symptoms.
- Creative therapies like art, music, and writing for self-expression and emotional processing.
- Mindfulness, yoga, and breathwork to calm the nervous system and restore presence.
- Case management and family support to ensure continuity of care beyond the program.
Clients receive personalized treatment plans that adapt to their mental health needs, recovery goals, and life circumstances.
The Barn Life Difference: East Meets West, Rooted in Community
At Barn Life Recovery, healing happens together. Our PHP blends Eastern and Western practices within a supportive community led by compassionate, highly skilled staff. Clients consistently describe their experience here as life-changing.
What makes our community unique:
- Expert, compassionate staff – Therapists and facilitators are described by clients as the best they’ve ever worked with, offering extraordinary guidance and genuine care.
- A balanced approach – Our integration of Chinese medicine and evidence-based therapy creates a unique healing environment you won’t find anywhere else.
- Powerful groups – Daily group sessions are more than classes; they are spaces of connection, self-discovery, and shared growth.
- Leadership with heart – Our founders Matt and Alyssa built this program with deep empathy, wisdom, and down-to-earth guidance, shaping a culture of kindness and respect.
- Life-changing impact – Clients report steady progress, improved self-esteem, and—for many—the first real sense of joy and thriving in their lives.
At Barn Life, you don’t just enter a program. You join a community where growth is witnessed, celebrated, and shared every step of the way.
Insurance, Admissions, and Aftercare
Starting treatment can feel overwhelming, but at Barn Life Recovery, we make the process clear and supportive from the very first call. Our admissions team is here to walk with you through each step, check out our admissions page for more information:
Initial Contact & Referrals – Whether you reach out directly, or are referred by a hospital, therapist, or loved one, our team listens first. We’ll learn about your current challenges, history, and goals to determine if PHP is the right fit. If another level of care is better suited, we’ll help connect you to trusted partners.
Insurance Verification – We quickly verify benefits with your insurance provider. Barn Life is in-network with many PPO plans and select HMOs, including Aetna, Cigna, and Magellan. We explain coverage clearly so you understand costs before you begin.
Admissions & Orientation – Once coverage is confirmed, we schedule an intake assessment and program start date. During orientation, you’ll meet your care team, review your personalized plan, and begin connecting with the community.
Treatment & Case Management – Throughout PHP, our case managers coordinate care, track progress, and communicate with outside providers when needed. This ensures you have continuity of support across every part of your healing journey.
Aftercare Planning – As you prepare to transition out of PHP, we build a customized aftercare plan. This may include stepping down into IOP, outpatient therapy, sober living placement, or connecting with community resources. Our goal is to make sure you leave with the structure and tools to maintain long-term stability.
At Barn Life Recovery, admissions isn’t just about paperwork — it’s the beginning of a relationship. From the first phone call through aftercare, we’re here to ensure your path feels clear, supportive, and sustainable.
When Do I Need a PHP?
Many people hesitate to enter a Partial Hospitalization Program because they think their struggles aren’t “serious enough.” The truth is, PHP isn’t only for crisis — it’s for anyone who feels stuck, overwhelmed, or unable to find lasting peace through therapy alone.
You may benefit from PHP if you:
- Have completed an addiction treatment program but still find yourself unable to maintain happiness or peace — and are seeking a different approach for your mental health.
- Are battling co-occurring disorders like anxiety, depression, PTSD, or Bipolar alongside substance use, and need deeper support than outpatient therapy provides.
- Keep relying on unhealthy coping strategies, even though you know they’re not working.
- Feel like you’re “just getting by” instead of truly living — struggling to manage work, relationships, or daily responsibilities.
- Notice that symptoms return quickly after periods of progress, leaving you frustrated and exhausted.
Choosing PHP doesn’t mean you’ve failed — it means you’re ready for something more. At Barn Life Recovery, our PHP in Costa Mesa gives you the structure, tools, and community to stop surviving and start healing.
We have proven success among clients who previously received mental health services with little success. From teachers that need a well-deserved break to LGBTQ+ young adults struggling with identity – the thriving Barn Life community welcomes you.
Our Approach
The word “holistic” is rooted in a philosophy that states that parts of a whole are interdependent. This means the whole is only as valuable as its individual parts. No single therapy, therapist, or treatment can heal one’s mental well-being. However, when we approach mental health by looking at the whole of the person’s body mind and soul, we are able to more effectively help.
Rooted in Southern California, Serving Your Recovery Journey
At Barn Life Recovery, we specialize in treating clients across Southern California because this is the community we know best. From Los Angeles to the Inland Empire, from San Diego to right here in Costa Mesa and Orange County, our programs are designed to meet the unique needs of those navigating mental health and substance use disorders.
Our PHP and IOP programs support individuals stepping down from residential treatment, offering structure, relapse prevention, and holistic coping strategies. With access to trusted sober living environments and a strong support network, clients are never left to walk their recovery journey alone.
Take the Next Step Toward Healing
Your recovery doesn’t have to wait. At Barn Life Recovery, we’re here to help you build balance, resilience, and connection — one day at a time.
📞 Call our Costa Mesa admissions team today or verify your insurance online to begin your personalized plan. Whether you’re seeking support for mental health, co-occurring disorders, or life after substance use treatment, we’re ready to walk this path with you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Choosing a Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) can feel overwhelming, especially if you’re not sure what to expect. To help, we’ve answered some of the most common questions people ask about PHPs in Costa Mesa, Orange County, and beyond. These will give you a clear picture of how our program works and whether it might be the right step for you.
What does a PHP look like day to day?
In Barn Life’s Partial Hospitalization Program, clients spend 5 hours a day, 5 days a week in structured care. A typical day includes group therapy, individual therapy, and holistic practices like Qigong, acupuncture, and mindfulness. This rhythm creates stability while allowing clients to return home each evening.
How do I know if PHP is right for me?
Consider PHP if weekly therapy isn’t enough, but you don’t need 24-hour inpatient care. It’s ideal for people managing co-occurring disorders, stepping down from residential treatment, or struggling after completing an addiction treatment program. If daily life feels unmanageable, PHP can provide the balance, tools, and support you need.
How long does a PHP last?
Program length depends on individual needs, but most clients attend PHP for 30 to 120 days. This flexibility allows enough time to stabilize symptoms, build coping strategies, and strengthen a long-term support network before stepping down to an Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) or traditional outpatient care.
What therapies are included in Barn Life’s PHP?
Clients participate in a range of modalities, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), trauma-focused therapies for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and family therapy to strengthen the home environment. These are combined with holistic practices like acupuncture, Medical Qigong, and art therapy to support both mind and body.
How does PHP help prevent relapse?
Relapse often happens when underlying mental health conditions aren’t addressed. Barn Life’s PHP emphasizes life skills training, coping strategies, and support networks so clients can manage stress without returning to old patterns. Our integration of Eastern and Western practices creates resilience that supports recovery long after the program ends.
