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Smiling group of young people and a black service dog in front of a colorful mural, Bright Path Behavioral Health teen programs
4.5 Average of 22 Google reviews

Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) for Teens in North Carolina

Reviewed by Shantel Sullivan, EdD, LCSW, Chief Executive Officer | Last reviewed

Bright Path's teen partial hospitalization program (PHP) is an adolescent day treatment program for ages 12–18 in North Carolina. In North Carolina, 18.1% of teens aged 12–17 had a major depressive episode in 2021–2023, according to SAMHSA. When weekly therapy isn't enough but hospitalization feels like too much, PHP creates that essential middle space. Teens attend in Wake Forest or Hillsborough, and go home each evening. Our PHP for teens runs Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Teens learn DBT skills daily on age-based Summit and Meadow tracks.

    Licenses, Accreditations, and Awards

    NC DHHS licenses our teen PHP at both locations, MHL-092-975 and MHL-068-168, and CARF accredits the program.

    CARF accredited

    NC DHHS licensed

    Wake Forest Area Chamber member

    Bright Path’s PHP Consists of Four Clinical Components and Three Support Services

    Bright Path's PHP for teens combines four clinical components with three support services in one daily program. The clinical components are group therapy, individual therapy, medication management and family therapy. The support services are academic support, care navigation and advocacy, and aftercare coordination.

    Group Therapy

    Group therapy is the core of Bright Path's PHP, where teens learn practical tools to manage their mental health. Each day includes about three groups, tailored to each track's developmental needs. Our groups come in four types:

    • Psychoeducational groups that explain how mental health works
    • Skill-building groups that teach DBT skills such as STOP, TIPP and checking the facts
    • Processing groups for talking through what's coming up
    • Experiential groups, such as music and horticulture therapy, because not everything worth learning can be talked through in a chair

    And this isn't what you've seen on TV. Group sits at the center because adolescent brains are wired to learn from peers. Peer feedback lands differently than advice from an adult.

    Two smiling women with name tags sitting together beside the Bright Path logo

    What Is a Teen Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP)?

    A partial hospitalization program for teens, or teen PHP, is intensive daytime mental health treatment without an overnight stay. Bright Path's PHP mental health program serves ages 12–18, Monday to Friday from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Families can read what to expect in a teen partial hospitalization program before the first day. PHP focuses on stabilizing depression, anxiety, self-harm urges and suicidal thoughts. In 2025, 11.4% of North Carolina high school students reported seriously considering suicide, according to the state's Youth Risk Behavior Survey. Each day combines DBT skills groups, academic time and creative therapies, with weekly individual, family and psychiatric sessions. We believe teens already have what they need to heal, and PHP helps them discover and strengthen it.

    PHP at a glance

    Ages 12–18

    Summit Path (15–18) and Meadow Path (12–15)

    Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 3 PM

    Teens go home every evening

    5-week curriculum

    DBT skills built week by week

    2 North Carolina locations

    Wake Forest and Hillsborough

    Is Teen PHP Inpatient or Outpatient?

    Teen PHP is outpatient mental health care: teens spend the treatment day at Bright Path and sleep at home every night. Medicare defines partial hospitalization as outpatient psychiatric services that serve as an alternative to inpatient care.

    A partial hospitalization program does not have to run inside a hospital, according to the North Carolina DHHS service definition. Bright Path's PHP runs at its outpatient centers in Wake Forest and Hillsborough, Monday to Friday from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM.

    Inpatient psychiatric hospitalizationBright Path teen PHP
    Where teens sleepIn the hospitalAt home, every night
    Hours of care24 hours a dayMonday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM
    SettingHospital psychiatric unitOutpatient centers in Wake Forest and Hillsborough
    Best fitTeens who need 24-hour supervision to stay safeTeens with safety concerns that do not need 24-hour supervision

    Is PHP the Right Level of Care for Your Teen?

    An adolescent partial hospitalization program fits teens who need more than weekly therapy but not 24-hour supervision. Our clinical team confirms the right level of care with your family during a free assessment.

    PHP is designed for teens who:

    • Need more support than weekly outpatient therapy gives
    • Struggle at school, including school refusal
    • Come from a recent hospital or residential stay
    • Have families who need intensive support at home
    • Stay safely at home overnight with family support

    Another level of care comes first when a teen:

    • Needs 24-hour supervision to stay safe
    • Needs medical stabilization or detox
    • Needs specialized eating disorder or psychosis treatment

    Teens in crisis or thinking about suicide reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline 24/7: call or text 988, or chat at chat.988lifeline.org.

    We'll tell you right away if we're not the right fit, and help you find the right care.

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    Bright Path’s PHP Paths

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    Summit Path PHP - Ages 15-18

    Summit Path PHP serves teens ages 15–18 navigating identity, relationships, academic stress and figuring out who they are and what comes next. DBT skills, groups and therapy are built for older teens ready for more autonomy in their own care. Summit also builds driving and independence skills, Monday to Friday from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Creative therapies stay in the mix, because processing beyond words doesn't stop being useful just because you're older. A typical Summit day:

    • 9:00 AM: Morning huddle
    • 9:30 AM: Skill building
    • 10:20 AM: Snack and social time
    • 10:40 AM: Core therapy group
    • 11:30 AM: Lunch
    • 12:00 PM: Interactive or creative therapy
    • 1:30 PM: Academic time
    • 2:30 PM: Afternoon huddle
    Bright Path “Walk Beside People” graphic showing two people at a shelf of ceramic plant pots

    Why is Bright Path’s PHP different from others?

    Bright Path's teen PHP differs from other PHP programs in North Carolina because all seven services come included. Teens in Wake Forest and Hillsborough get group, individual and family therapy, psychiatric care, school coordination, advocacy and aftercare. Teens are also grouped by age and follow a 5-week curriculum.

    Everything Under One Roof

    Every PHP service at Bright Path is included for every teen, every time. That covers individual, group and family therapy, psychiatric care, education and aftercare coordination, and care advocacy. No add-ons. No fine print. No "that's only available if your insurance covers it." We bill all-inclusively because every teen deserves the full program. Everything happens within program hours, so families aren't coordinating a circus of outside appointments.

    Woman in a plaid blazer writing on a whiteboard with a pink marker at Bright Path

    Rolling Admissions — Because Waiting Isn't an Option

    We admit new teens throughout the week. When your teen needs help, the last thing you should hear is "the next session starts in three weeks." We've built our admissions process to move as fast as your family needs it to.

    Guests talking in a doorway beside the Bright Path rainbow wall mural

    Developmentally Separate, On Purpose

    Meadow Path (12–15) and Summit Path (15–18) are distinct programs built around where teens are developmentally. A 13-year-old navigating friend drama and a 17-year-old stressing about college applications have different needs. Placement is based on maturity, not just a birthday.

    Young woman with a name tag listening as a woman talks with her at Bright Path

    School Partnership, Not Just a Note

    We don't hand your teen an absence note and call it handled. The fear of falling further behind can feel like a reason not to get help at all. Our Education Liaisons establish homebound status, protect your teen's rights as a student with a medical need and coordinate assignments. When it's time to return, we bring school staff, your teen and your family to the table.

    Two women laughing over a terrarium project with long tweezers at Bright Path

    Intensive Without Being Institutional

    Our teen day treatment program runs six hours a day, five days a week, without the disruption of inpatient care. Teens go home at the end of the day, sleep in their own beds and stay connected to their families. The intensity is clinical. The experience doesn't have to feel like it.

    Presenter speaking to a group seated on orange floor cushions in a Bright Path group room

    A 5-Week Curriculum That Builds Week by Week

    Bright Path's PHP follows a 5-week curriculum that moves teens from foundations to integration, with a planned skill topic for every weekday. Week 1 starts with communication styles and the STOP and TIPP skills, and Week 5 ends with radical acceptance and support systems.

    Two people talking on an orange couch in a Bright Path group room

    A First Day That Ends With a Plan

    Your teen's first PHP day ends at 3:00 PM with a written safety plan and a first treatment plan. The day includes these steps:

    • Touring the space and meeting peers in their track
    • Joining a low-pressure first group activity
    • Eating lunch with peers and joining the afternoon groups
    • Writing a safety plan with their therapist, signed by the family
    • Setting 2–3 first treatment goals that include both the teen's and the parents' goals
    Bright Path room with armchairs, a sofa and a whiteboard

    What Does the 5-Week PHP Curriculum Cover?

    Bright Path's 5-week PHP curriculum moves teens through 5 weekly themes: Foundations, Building Skills, Deepening Understanding, Advanced Application and Integration. Every weekday carries its own planned topic, drawn from DBT skills, mindfulness and mental health education. Friday sessions include leadership presentations, music therapy and a HeartMath workshop.

    WeekMondayTuesdayWednesdayThursdayFriday
    Week 1FoundationsCommunication styles, understanding medicationThree states of mind, myths about emotionsValues explorationSTOP and TIPP skills, self-compassionLeadership presentations
    Week 2Building SkillsDEARMAN, GIVE and FAST, sleep hygieneChecking the facts, mindfulness practiceCycle of avoidanceIMPROVE skill, mindful hand drawingMusic therapy
    Week 3Deepening UnderstandingTypes of relationships, fight-flight-freezeOpposite action, mindfulness scavenger huntPurpose of diagnosisWillingness vs. willfulness, self-kindnessDevelopmental tasks of adolescence
    Week 4Advanced ApplicationBoundaries, biological needsABC skills, drum circleCognitive distortions and defusionACCEPTS skill, common humanityLeadership presentations
    Week 5IntegrationWalking the middle path, sexual healthRiding the wave, trauma educationEcomaps and support systemsRadical acceptance, gratitudeHeartMath workshop

    How Is Teen PHP Different From IOP and Residential Treatment?

    Adolescent PHP gives more support than IOP and less than residential treatment, and teens go home every evening. Bright Path offers PHP and IOP; residential treatment is offered by other providers.

    Residential treatmentPHPIOP
    Where teens sleepAt the treatment centerAt homeAt home
    Schedule24-hour careMonday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM3 afternoons a week after school
    SchoolVaries by programHomebound status with daily academic timeTeens keep attending classes
    Fits teens whoNeed 24-hour supervision to stay safeStruggle to function at school or need daily supportManage school but need more than weekly therapy

    Most teens step down from PHP to our intensive outpatient program on the Horizon Path.

    How Does Bright Path Keep Teens Safe in PHP?

    Bright Path keeps teens safe in PHP with de-escalation, coping skills and relationship-based support, never restraints or seclusion. Every teen leaves the first day with a written safety plan, and the care team reviews that plan throughout treatment.

    No restraints or seclusion

    Staff use de-escalation, coping skills and relationship-based interventions instead of physical holds.

    A safety plan on day one

    Each teen writes a safety plan with their therapist on the first day, and the family signs it.

    Weekly safety plan updates

    Individual therapy updates the safety plan each week, and family therapy practices it for life at home.

    A higher level of care when needed

    The team helps the family arrange a more intensive level of care when a teen cannot stay safe in PHP.

    From First Call to First Day

    1. 1

      Contact Us

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    2. 2

      Trailhead Check-In

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    3. 3

      Clinical Review

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    4. 4

      First Day of Care

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    Learn More About Group Therapy at Bright Path

    with Jalecia Beatty LCMHC-QS, Regional Clinical Director

    Bright Path collaborates with leading North Carolina health systems, school districts, and universities, including

    Bright Path is Led by a Team Who is Both Skilled And Deeply Human

    Bright Path’s team includes licensed therapists, psychiatry providers, educators, and other professionals who are both skilled and passionate about adolescent mental health

    Shantel Sullivan, Ed.D., LCSW, Chief Executive Officer

    Shantel Sullivan - Chief Executive Officer

    A licensed clinical social worker with over a decade of clinical leadership.

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    Jennifer Hoffman, MSN, APRN, PMHNP-BC, Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner

    Jennifer Hoffman - Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner

    Provides psychiatric care and medication management.

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    Abigail Krieck, Director of Strategic Impact and Outreach

    Abigail Krieck - Director of Strategic Impact and Outreach

    Connects families to their next level of care after discharge.

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    Jalecia Beatty, LCMHC-QS, Regional Clinical Director

    Jalecia Beatty - Regional Clinical Director

    Leads clinical programming and began here as an intern.

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    Michele Jones, MSW, LCSWA, Director of Education

    Michele Jones - Education Liaison

    Coordinates schoolwork and each teen’s return to class.

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    Reviews from Teens and Families

    Choosing a PHP isn't just about credentials and curriculum. It's about finding a place where your teen can be authentic, make real connections and build lasting skills.

    Scout O’Brien

    Scout O’Brien

    This place is awesome!!!! From my experience as a patient here, all the staff are really kind and patient and have helped me through my crisis and my therapy journey. They also have snacks!!! I highly recommend this place for anyone who needs it. :D

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    Sandy

    Brightpath provided a safe place for our son who received a professional and caring team to help him navigate the personal struggles that he had been experiencing. They not only provided him with such wonderful therapy but also the necessary tools for him to continue treatment outside of their facility. They provided him with such care that we as a family will always be grateful for. We can't say enough good things about Brightpath. Thank you, to all the Brightpath team but a special Thanks to Zkhia, Michele, and Jordan. We could not have asked for a better group of people to come into our lives at a time that was needed the most! Brightpath team will forever be in our hearts and prayers:)

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    Joanna Rojas

    We’re so grateful for the help all the staff (therapists, medication providers, patient liaisons, education coordinators, etc.) at bright path provided to our daughter and family during her time there. Kendall and Lia were outstanding, the staff truly cares for the patients and worked closely with us on her treatment. This is a great place!

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    Caroline Brucks

    This place is top notch. The team leaves no parent or child behind. They keep you informed and are focused on your child’s wellbeing. I have been amazed by these people and how they keep surpassing my expectations. Mental health is their focus and they listen with compassion and have answers and guidance. I deeply want to thank them. This review is one way I hope to repay their love for our children and community.

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    Lesley Ireland

    I don’t typically leave reviews but I do not want any other child or family to struggle when there is an amazing resource like Bright Path in our community. My daughter is still a patient in the PHP and has also been in the IOP. I can’t say enough wonderful things about the program, the staff and most importantly, the significant improvement in my daughter’s symptoms. It is not an exaggeration when I say she is a different person and for the better. She was suffering with symptoms she didn’t understand and the team at Bright Path has given her the tools to continue her mental health self care throughout her life. I wish every teen had this opportunity. I can’t thank BP enough and I wish I could give a million stars rather than 5!

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    K Farnsworth

    K Farnsworth

    My child went through the PHP program and it was a major turning point in their recovery. It was Bright Path or residential, and having that option for PHP at a place that felt safe with practitioners who truly care was a godsend. I can’t say enough good things about how my child did. The bonus was that my child also liked going! They made some true friends there.

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    Tiffany Munro

    Tiffany Munro

    I can't say enough good things about Bright Path. They are so different than other PHPs in the Raleigh area. The staff genuinely cares about the clients and their families. From intake to graduation from the program we felt care and professionalism every step of the way. Positive attitudes, willingness to look deeper into issues, communication is excellent, and always willing to listen to find solutions or just be the support we needed. I wish they could train other PHPs in the state, because they are doing it the right way.

    Posted on

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    PHP Frequently Asked Questions

    Most teens in Bright Path's PHP complete the 5-week curriculum, and treatment extends when clinical needs call for it. Every teen's healing timeline is different.

    No, teens pause school while in PHP so they can focus on their mental health. Our Education Liaisons set up homebound status, so absences during treatment don't count against your teen, and they coordinate schoolwork from admission to discharge.

    The cost of teen PHP depends on your insurance plan, and families pay only their deductible, co-insurance and out-of-pocket costs, with no separate facility fees. We'd rather tell you that upfront than quote a number that doesn't reflect your reality. Families receive a written estimate before admission, and payment plans at 0% interest are available.

    PHP is often covered at 70 to 100%, depending on your plan. Bright Path accepts UnitedHealthcare, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Aetna, Cigna, Beacon Health Options, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina, MedCost, Optum, TRICARE and GEHA. Our team verifies benefits, handles pre-authorization and pursues single case agreements. We dig into the details so you don't have to.

    Most teens step down to our Horizon Path IOP after PHP, because IOP is typically the recommended next step. Two weeks before discharge, the team holds a family meeting, schedules outpatient appointments and plans school re-entry. Teens leave with a written aftercare plan and an invitation to monthly alumni groups.

    Bring an insurance card, a parent's photo ID, a medication list, school information and emergency contacts on the first day of PHP. Families pack lunch each day, and a clear water bottle, nut-free snacks, a sweater and a journal are recommended. Weapons, drugs, alcohol, vaping devices and valuables stay at home.

    Insurance Providers We Work With

    We Serve Teens Throughout North Carolina

    Families looking for a partial hospitalization program near Raleigh, Durham or Chapel Hill have two locations: Wake Forest and Hillsborough. Both offer the same PHP schedule, Monday to Friday from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM.

    Wake Forest PHP

    Adolescent mental health care in Wake Forest is located at 203 Capcom Ave #104, Wake Forest, NC 27587, serving families throughout the Research Triangle. Convenient to Raleigh, Durham, Cary, Chapel Hill, Apex, Holly Springs, and surrounding Wake County communities.

    Hillsborough PHP

    Our Hillsborough youth mental health center at 980 Corporate Dr, Hillsborough, NC 27278 serves families in Chapel Hill, Durham, Carrboro, Mebane, Burlington, and surrounding areas. Centrally located for northern Triangle and Piedmont region access.

    Tour Our North Carolina Facilities

    Bright Path's facilities in Wake Forest and Hillsborough are designed to feel welcoming, comfortable and age-appropriate, not clinical. Each location includes these spaces:

    • Group rooms: Separate rooms for the Summit and Meadow tracks
    • Therapy offices: Private offices for weekly sessions with each teen's primary therapist
    • Classrooms: Spaces where Michele and our education team keep students current with coursework
    • Common areas: Room to connect during breaks and join activities such as Behavior Bingo celebrations

    Our behavioral incentive system rewards positive participation through meaningful activities. Clear backpack policies and consistent supervision keep the space safe while respecting each teen's independence.

    Brick entrance of Bright Path's Hillsborough center at 980 Corporate Dr with a Bright Path balloon

    Which Mental Health Conditions Do We Treat in Teens?

    Bright Path's PHP treats teens with depression, anxiety, trauma responses, self-harm, suicidal ideation and co-occurring conditions.

    Bright Path color sample featuring primary brand colors

    Depression

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    Bright Path color palette sample with gradient swatches

    Anxiety

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    Bright Path Group logo with modern design elements

    Self-Harm

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    Bright Path group component featuring organized UI elements

    Suicidal Ideation

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    Co-occurring Conditions

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    Start PHP Treatment for Your Teen Today

    Your teen's story isn't over—this is just a chapter where we help them write a better next page. Intensive mental health support through PHP begins with one call and honest conversation about what your family needs. Our clinical team conducts comprehensive screening to determine whether PHP matches your teen's current needs, or if another level of care might be more appropriate. You don't have to navigate this alone.

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