The right care can facilitate deep and long-lasting recovery from trauma. However, there are different levels of care to consider. When choosing what’s best for you, consider the trauma you’re addressing, its severity, your schedule, and existing responsibilities, among other factors.
More than 70% of the world’s population have experienced some form of trauma [1]. In the US, 6% of people have had posttraumatic stress at some point in their lives [2]. Trauma is common, but it is also extremely nuanced in how it manifests.
Trauma-informed care recognizes and responds to the effects of trauma on your health, behaviors, thinking patterns, and relationships. It encompasses mental and physical health. These are the levels of proven trauma-informed care that are available, along with guidance on how to select the one that meets your needs.
What Levels Of Trauma Care Are There?
Trauma care is available in different formats. The most common are residential care, Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOPs), and Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHPs). Each requires a different amount of time and is suited to different stages of trauma recovery.
Residential Care
Residential care is when you receive treatment and stay overnight at a mental health facility. Programs can last for weeks or months, based on the extent of your trauma and progression in care. Residential programs are best for people who require 24/7 care and who aren’t sufficiently stable to live independently.
Residential care offers evidence-based therapies such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) to address trauma, identify negative thinking patterns, and develop coping mechanisms. It can also include psychiatric evaluations and medication management.
Residential care prioritizes helping you find stability and is generally considered one of the earlier stages in the continuum of care.
Partial Hospitalization Program
A Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) is a structured, outpatient program that runs for 5 or more days per week, for several hours per day. PHPs are a step-down from residential programs on the continuum of care because you don’t stay overnight while receiving treatment.
PHPs deliver the same therapeutic intensity of residential treatment — evidence-based therapies and holistic activities — but allow you to sleep at home and rebuild your daily life.
Intensive Outpatient Program
An Intensive Outpatient Program is structured trauma care where you return home in the evening, but with fewer hours than PHP.
At Colorado Mental Health Services, our IOP runs for 3 days a week, 3 hours a day. The average duration is 12 weeks but can be extended to 20 weeks. Our program includes:
- 3 group sessions
- 2 individual therapy sessions
- Medication management
- Weekly psychiatric services
Treatment combines CBT and DBT, alongside holistic activities such as yoga and mindfulness to nurture your physical and mental well-being. Because IOP is more flexible, you may choose to continue working while undergoing treatment.
People tend to select IOP if their trauma disrupts their daily functioning but doesn’t require round-the-clock supervision. You can also consider an IOP after finishing a residential or PHP program, and if you’re seeking more independent living.
Level of Trauma Care Comparison Table
The table below provides an overview of the definitions and differences in the levels of trauma care.
| Residential Care | Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) | Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) | |
| Summary | Treatment that requires staying at a health facility | Treatment with the same therapeutic intensity as residential care but doesn’t require staying overnight | Flexible, structured treatment that doesn’t require staying overnight |
| Average Duration | Weeks to months | 5 or more days per week, for several hours a day for up to 6 weeks | 3 days a week, 3 hours per day, for 12 weeks |
| Treatment Includes | Individual therapy, group therapy, medication management, and holistic activities | Individual therapy, group therapy, medication management, and holistic activities | Individual therapy, group therapy, medication management, and holistic activities |
| Position on Continuum of Care | Early | After residential care | After PHP or for people who are stable enough to live at home |
| Best Suited For | People experiencing severe symptoms who need 24/7 supervision | People who are stable enough to live at home but still require intense treatment | People whose trauma impacts daily functioning but they are capable of independent living and working |
What Should I Consider When Choosing Trauma Care?
Selecting the appropriate level of trauma care should be a decision you make with medical professionals or your treatment team. Together, you can consider your history, current needs, and future goals.
Clinicians can also advise you about the proven outcomes of each level and recommend ways to continue on the full continuum of care. Research shows that continued care as part of a connected continuum produces better long-term outcomes than abrupt transitions to low-intensity services [3].
Some important considerations are:
- What level of care have you already finished?
- Do you need round-the-clock medical supervision?
- Do you have any co-occurring disorders?
- Are you sufficiently stable to live at home while receiving treatment?
- Are you taking prescription medications?
- Do you plan to continue working while undergoing treatment?
- Are there triggers that affect you in daily life?
- Do you have a personal support network?
- What level of care is covered by your insurance plan?
Trauma-Informed Care at Colorado Mental Health Services
At Colorado Mental Health Services, we believe that everyone deserves to heal. Our Intensive Outpatient Program is run by a team of licensed professionals who provide treatment as part of the broader continuum of care. We operate with empathy and professionalism and personalize all care to each person’s needs.
We use evidence-backed therapies such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) alongside wellness activities to help people find stability and improved health.
Our treatment center is located in Lakewood, CO, surrounded by the beautiful Front Range mountains. We integrate nature into our program, encouraging people to connect with both their inner and outer worlds.
We have comprehensive aftercare services, including recommendations to continue care and continue feeling better.
You’re not your trauma. You deserve to be at peace. Contact us to discuss IOP as your next level of trauma treatment.
FAQs
How many levels of trauma care are there?
There are typically 3 levels of trauma care: residential care, Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHP), and Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOPs). Residential care requires staying at a facility while receiving treatment. PHP provides the same therapeutic intensity as residential care but you return home in the evening. IOPs offer structured, flexible therapy sessions that also don’t require staying overnight.
What is the continuum of care?
The continuum of care is consistent, coordinated care that happens over a period of time. This continuum is designed to maximize patient outcomes and facilitate long-term recovery. In terms of the levels of trauma care, residential care features early on the continuum, PHP follows residential, and outpatient programs such as IOPs follow afterwards. Further aftercare may be necessary to maintain the continuum.
What level of trauma care does Colorado Mental Health Services offer?
We offer an Intensive Outpatient Program to help individuals struggling with mental health. Our program is designed for people who need structured care that is flexible and doesn’t require staying overnight at our center in Lakewood, CO. Treatment includes CBT, DBT, individual therapy, group therapy, medication management, and holistic activities. People can attend the program following PHP or as their preferred, standalone level of trauma care.
What level of trauma care is best for me?
Many factors influence choosing the right level of trauma care. These include previous treatment, degree of stability, medication requirements, availability of support networks, plans to work, and insurance coverage. Speak with our admissions team to determine the level of care together.
Sources
[1] Benjet, C. et al. (October 2015). The epidemiology of traumatic event exposure worldwide: results from the World Mental Health Survey Consortium. Psychological Medicine.
[2] U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs. (March 2025). PTSD: National Center for PTSD. ptsd.va.gov.
[3] Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2006). Intensive outpatient treatment and the continuum of care. In Substance Abuse: Clinical Issues in Intensive Outpatient Treatment. NCBI Bookshelf.