Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) for Teens

When weekly therapy isn't enough but hospitalization feels like too much, PHP creates that essential middle space. Our Partial Hospitalization Program works with teens ages 12-18 who need intensive daily support while still coming home each evening. At Bright Path, we believe you already have what you need to heal—we're here to help you discover and strengthen those capabilities.

Our PHP operates under North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services licensing (License 27G-1100) and holds CARF accreditation, ensuring the highest quality standards. We serve families throughout North Carolina from our Wake Forest and Hillsborough locations, plus offer virtual programming for those who need it.

We've designed two distinct tracks because a 12-year-old and an 18-year-old aren't facing the same challenges. Summit Track (ages 15-18) focuses on high school realities like identity, relationships, and future planning. Meadow Track (ages 12-15) addresses middle school developmental needs with family dynamics and peer pressures front and center.

Every teen in our PHP learns Dialectical Behavior Therapy skills through daily groups, meets weekly with a therapist for individual support, and connects with a psychiatric provider—whether they're on medication or not. Because mental health involves your whole self, not just your brain chemistry.

Depression touches 1 in 8 North Carolina teens, yet less than half receive the care they need. When 39% of teens report persistent sadness or hopelessness, it's clear we need more than traditional once-a-week approaches. PHP provides that intensive support, often preventing the need for psychiatric hospitalization.

Here's what makes our PHP different:

  • Six hours daily, five days a week of structured therapeutic programming
  • Two developmentally appropriate tracks (no mixing 12-year-olds with 18-year-olds)
  • Evidence-based DBT skills taught through engaging, interactive groups
  • Weekly sessions with both your therapist and psychiatric provider
  • Three admission days each week (you don't wait weeks to start)
  • Music and horticulture therapy integrated throughout programming
  • Daily academic support coordinated with your school
  • Weekly family therapy focused on communication and stability
  • Virtual option available statewide for accessibility

    How Bright Path Works With Teens in PHP

    Our values aren't just pretty words on a website—they shape how we show up with teens every single day:

    Be Open-Hearted & Open-Minded

    Unconditional Positive Regard

    We meet you exactly where you are, not where someone thinks you should be. No masks required. No performing "wellness" to earn our care. Whether you're having the worst day ever or feeling hopeful for the first time in months, you're already worthy, already welcome.

    Teens often arrive at PHP carrying shame about needing intensive help. "I should be able to handle this myself." "My parents must think I'm broken." We create space where those feelings are normal and where healing can begin from a place of acceptance, not judgment.

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    What Does Bright Path's PHP in North Carolina Include?

    Programs

    Summit Track PHP - Ages 15-18

    Description

    Summit Track is designed for high schoolers who need intensive support while navigating the complex realities of adolescence. Whether your teen is experiencing depression that's affecting school performance, anxiety that's limiting their social connections, self-harm behaviors, or thoughts of suicide, Summit provides the structure and skills needed.

    What makes Summit different isn't just the age range—it's that we address the developmental tasks high schoolers are actually facing: identity formation, romantic relationships, college planning, driving, and increasing independence.

    Programming runs Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM-3:00 PM. Most teens complete our 5-week curriculum, though clinical needs may extend treatment. We admit new participants three days each week (Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays) at both 9:00 AM and 10:30 AM.

    What to Expect

    Your teen will participate in six hours of programming daily, including multiple group therapy sessions teaching DBT skills across four key areas: distress tolerance (getting through crisis moments), emotion regulation (understanding and managing feelings), interpersonal effectiveness (healthy relationships), and mindfulness (staying present).

    Individual therapy happens weekly with your teen's primary therapist—the same person throughout treatment. Sessions can be structured as one 60-minute session, two 30-minute sessions, or daily 15-minute check-ins, depending on what works best for your teen.

    Every teen meets weekly with our psychiatric providers (Nurse Practitioners or Physician Assistants) regardless of whether they're on medication. These sessions address sleep, nutrition, exercise, and other biological factors affecting mental health.

    Music therapy with Hannah provides creative expression opportunities, while horticulture therapy with Marcia connects teens with nature-based healing. Family therapy occurs weekly, focusing on communication skills and safety planning—not deep trauma work, which belongs in ongoing outpatient therapy.

    Michelle, our Education Director, coordinates with your teen's school to establish homebound status and ensure academic continuity through daily classroom time within the program.

    Advantages of Working with Bright Path for PHP

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    Intensive Structure That Prevents Hospitalization

    Six hours daily, five days weekly provides the intensive support teens need without the disruption of inpatient care. This level of programming addresses acute symptoms that weekly therapy can't touch while allowing teens to sleep in their own beds and maintain family connections.

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    Truly Developmentally Appropriate Programming

    Summit and Meadow tracks ensure teens connect with peers facing similar challenges. A 13-year-old worried about friend groups has different needs than a 17-year-old planning for college. Developmental maturity, not just age, determines placement.

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    Multiple Weekly Admissions Mean Shorter Waits

    We admit new teens three days each week with two time slots daily—that's six opportunities weekly instead of waiting weeks for the next available Monday. When your teen is in crisis, every day matters.

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    School Partnership, Not Just Coordination

    Michelle works directly with school districts throughout North Carolina, establishing homebound status and maintaining daily communication. Daily academic time within PHP prevents teens from falling behind, and re-entry meetings ensure smooth transitions back to school.

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    Integrated Psychiatric Care for Everyone

    Every teen meets weekly with psychiatric providers whether they're on medication or not. These sessions address sleep hygiene, nutrition, exercise, and stress management—all the biological factors that affect mental health beyond medication alone.

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    Evidence-Based DBT Skills Through Engaging Groups

    Our five-week curriculum rotation covers all four DBT modules through interactive, teen-friendly activities. Daily skills groups provide intensive learning that's impossible with weekly outpatient therapy.

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    Family Therapy Focused on Stabilization

    Weekly family sessions address communication patterns and safety planning without diving into deep trauma work. The goal is stabilization and improved functioning during this intensive phase.

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    Flexible Individual Therapy Based on Teen Preference

    Some teens do best with traditional 60-minute sessions. Others prefer shorter, more frequent contact. We adapt the format while maintaining consistent weekly therapeutic time.

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    Creative Expression Beyond Talk Therapy

    Music therapy with Hannah and horticulture therapy with Marcia recognize that teens often process experiences through creativity and hands-on activities, not just verbal processing.

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    Streamlined Assessment Process

    Our integrated admission assessment includes teens, parents, therapists, and psychiatric providers in one 30-minute meeting. No repeating your story to multiple people on the same day.

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    From First Call to First Day

    1. 1

      Call & Connect

      Reach out by phone, form, or referral.

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    2. 2

      Clinical Review

      Expert eyes assess your teen's needs

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    3. 3

      Teen Assessment

      One-on-one conversation with your teen.

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    4. 4

      First Day of Care

      A carefully orchestrated beginning

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

    Bright Path is Led by Clinicians Who Are Both Skilled And Deeply Human

    Our team includes licensed therapists, psychiatrists, and educators — all passionate about adolescent mental health.

    Shantel Sullivan

    Shantel Sullivan - Chief Executive Officer

    Dr. Sullivan brings extensive experience to her role as Bright Path’s Chief Executive Officer. She has been a clinical leader in residential adolescent treatment, adult outpatient services, and academia. With more than a decade of experience as a licensed social worker in New York and North Carolina, Dr. Sullivan has collaborated broadly with individuals, families, and the community. Dr. Sullivan earned a Bachelor of Arts in sociology from the State University of New York at Potsdam in 2006, a Master’s Degree in Social Work (MSW), and a graduate certificate in addictions counseling in 2008 from the University of New England. She went on to complete a doctoral degree in Educational Leadership with a concentration in transformational leadership also from the University of New England in Portland, Maine in 2017. She served as a faculty member for the State of New York Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services Bureau of Workforce Development where she provided regional education on adolescent co-occurring disorders. She moved to North Carolina in 2016 to work in academia as an assistant professor of social work at Western Carolina University. In 2020, she moved to Raleigh to be closer to family and became an adjunct professor at North Carolina State University School of Social Work, where she still teaches part-time. She is a seasoned national speaker, social worker instructor, clinical field instructor, and member of the National Association of Social Workers. In addition to Dr Sullivans clinical work, she edits all of the content on the Bright Path Teen Mental Health Blog to ensure accuracy and accessibility to all of our readers. Dr. Sullivan is committed to increasing access to evidence-based, compassionate, mental health care for adolescents. She further understands the challenges ALL members of a family experience when their loved one is suffering.

    Adrianne Mowatt

    Adrianne Mowatt - Mental Health Technician

    Jennifer is a licensed and nationally board-certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner who provides psychiatric care including assessment, diagnoses, medication management, and therapeutic treatment for teens admitted to PHP programming. She is a graduate of Duke University with a Master of Science in Nursing, with 13 years experience in health care including but not limited to pediatric inpatient psychiatry and perinatal care. Jennifer believes in patient and family-centered health care, collaboration, and integrative care. She is passionate about spreading access to quality mental health care and responding to mental health crises with effective treatment, empathy, and support. In her free time, Jennifer enjoys crafting with her children, also she loves to create a comfortable and relaxing space in her office at Bright Path!


    Abigail Krieck

    Abigail Krieck - Director of Strategic Impact and Outreach

    Dedicated to the cause of mental health and well-being, Abigail is a compassionate Clinical Outreach Specialist at Bright Path Behavioral Health. She plays a pivotal role in bringing support, hope, and healing to individuals and communities in need.

    With 10 years of experience in mental health, Abigail is an advocate for those who may otherwise go unnoticed. Her work as a Clinical Outreach Specialist revolves around ensuring that no one is left behind, that everyone has access to the resources and care they deserve.

    At Bright Path Behavioral Health, Abigail plays a central role in connecting individuals to the vital services they require when stepping down from programming. She specializes in community engagement, and is known for resource coordination that bridges the gap between need and assistance.

    Abigail is committed to fostering partnerships and collaboration within the community. She actively engages in other mental health providers and programs, schools, youth groups, government agencies, and extracurricular programs, working tirelessly to expand access to mental health support.

    Abigail holds her role at Bright Path Behavioral Health with distinction, ensuring that the program’s mission of making quality mental health treatment accessible is realized every day. She is instrumental in breaking down the barriers and stigma associated with mental health, making it easier for individuals to seek help when they need it.

    Outside of her role at Bright Path, Abgail enjoys hiking with her dogs, cooking, baking, and raising carnivorous plants, which provide a well-deserved break and contribute to her own mental well-being.

    Abigail is driven by the belief that everyone should have the opportunity to lead a mentally healthy life. As a Clinical Outreach Specialist, she embodies this principle and works tirelessly to ensure that help is just a call or conversation away.

    Jalecia Beatty

    Jalecia Beatty - Music Therapist

    Jalecia is a licensed clinical mental health counselor associate (LCMHCA) and serves as the Clinical Director. She started at Bright Path as a graduate student intern and is an instrumental part of the program’s growth and development.

    Jalecia attended East Carolina University for undergraduate and graduate studies; and has a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition with a concentration in science, and a master’s in clinical counseling in mental health and substance abuse.

    She is passionate about expanding access to intensive and quality mental health care for adolescents. As someone who has navigated their own journey towards healing and self-acceptance, she personally knows how important it is to have a safe space during your healing journey and how limited the options are for teens. It’s her goal, as one of the psychotherapists and as the PHP program manager, to provide that for teens who are struggling as well as work towards increasing the resources that are available.

    In her free time, she loves traveling and spending time watching Supernatural with her dogs!

    Camille Tate

    Camille Tate - Admissions Coordinator

    Camille holds a Master of Social Work from North Carolina State University. She worked as a case manager and counselor to adults struggling with trauma and substance misuse for three years in Washington, D.C. before returning to North Carolina in 2021.

    Prior to joining the Bright Path team, Camille worked at a software company, supporting non-profits in improving their client data management systems.As Bright Path’s Admissions Coordinator, Camille brings a passion for strengths-based approaches to care and uses her clinical background to help guide families through the often-stressful process of finding quality mental health care for their teenaged children.

    Camille considers herself a fierce advocate for kids and aspires to live in a world where all young people and their families receive support and skills for managing their overall social-emotional wellbeing.Camille takes care of her own wellbeing by making art with lots of glitter, singing at the top of lungs with her ragtag musical group, The Low Down No Pressure Mediocre Music Band, attending a weekly support group, spending time outside, and cuddling up with her cats and partner.

    Ari D’Alessandro

    Ari D’Alessandro - Teen Care Advocate

    Ari graduated from NC State in 2024 with a B.A. in psychology and minors in philosophy, cognitive science, and dance. She spent two years working as a research assistant with a focus on ethics of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and serves as an editorial intern for the American Journal of Bioethics Neuroscience. She has also volunteered as a crisis counselor with Crisis Text line since 2021, which sparked her interest in crisis intervention and providing empathetic mental health care to those in need.

    Ari is enthusiastic about providing empowering mental health care to teens and young adults, particularly through teaching dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) skills, and is interested in the application of creative therapies, such as dance movement therapy (DMT). She hopes to pursue a Ph.D. in clinical psychology with an interdisciplinary research focus on personality disorders and the development of novel personality assessments at the intersection of psychology and philosophy. In her free time, Ari enjoys writing, dancing, and spending time with friends.

     Michele Jones

    Michele Jones - Education Liaison

    Michele is a native of Fayetteville N. C. Ms. She attended and graduated from Hampton University with a bachelor’s in social work (BSW). Working in various positions before settling in New York to work for a Non-Profit Foster Care Agency as a Social Worker, where she learned of her love for working with adolescents and their families. Ms. Jones then decided to further her education to learn how to effectively help individuals and families deal with the many struggles they faced and went on to earn a master’s degree in social work (MSW) from Hunter College School of Social Work.

    Upon moving back to North Carolina and continuing to work with young people as a North Carolina Board Certified Special Education Master Teacher. Ms. Jones taught in North Carolina Public Schools for 18 years as a Special Education Teacher for students with various Learning Disabilities at the Elementary and High School level.

    She believes students must be healthy to be educated and educated to be healthy. She uses a collaborative approach and various treatment modalities that have helped strengthen family units, also identifying and treating the core of any diagnosis or issue is essential when working with individuals.

    In her spare time, Ms. Jones enjoys spending time with her family and friends, traveling, and enjoying her happy place, the North Carolina Beaches.

    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 for managing life's challenges.

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    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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    10 months ago
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    Ben Pfotenhauer

    Bright Path Behavioral Health offers exceptional anxiety treatment for teens in Wake Forest. Their tailored treatment plans and compassionate staff helped my teen manage their anxiety effectively. Highly recommend their comprehensive approach to anxiety treatment!

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    11 months ago
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    John Doe

    Ride The Wave!
    - Tony

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    a year ago
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    CROAXER

    Changed my life forever. Put me on a Brightpath :)

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    a year ago
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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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    a year ago
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    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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    a year ago
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    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.

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    a year ago

    PHP Frequently Asked Questions

    Most teens complete our 5-week curriculum, though clinical needs may extend treatment up to 7 weeks total. The five-week structure ensures comprehensive skill building while recognizing that every teen's healing timeline is different.

    Programming runs Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM-3:00 PM. Days include multiple therapy groups, individual sessions, psychiatric consultations, creative therapies, and academic time. We build in breaks and lunch, balancing intensive learning with needed downtime.

    The six-hour daily schedule requires homebound status with your teen's school district. Our education team coordinates this process and maintains daily communication with teachers. One hour of academic time daily within our program keeps your teen current with assignments.

    Costs vary based on insurance coverage and length of stay. Our CARF accreditation supports comprehensive insurance billing, and our admissions team provides free verification explaining your benefits and out-of-pocket responsibility.

    Major carriers typically cover PHP when clinical necessity is documented. We work with Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, United Healthcare, Anthem, Cigna, and many others. Our team handles prior authorization before admission.

    Yes, our virtual PHP provides identical programming through secure telehealth platforms. This eliminates transportation barriers and serves families throughout North Carolina with reliable internet access.

    Summit (ages 15-18) addresses high school developmental challenges like identity formation, relationships, and future planning. Meadow (ages 12-15) focuses on middle school concerns like family dynamics and peer pressures. Developmental maturity determines placement for 15-year-olds.

    PHP provides six hours daily, five days weekly, while IOP operates 9 hours weekly across three days. PHP requires homebound status; IOP allows continued school attendance. PHP serves more acute presentations requiring intensive intervention.

    Families participate through weekly therapy sessions, integrated admission assessments, regular therapist updates, and safety planning. Parents sign safety plans and receive ongoing communication throughout treatment.

    Comprehensive discharge planning includes outpatient therapy referrals, psychiatric provider connections, and community activity recommendations. Many teens step down to our Horizon IOP for continued skill reinforcement. Our alumni program provides ongoing connection.

    PHP serves teens experiencing depression affecting daily functioning, anxiety preventing normal activities, self-harm behaviors, thoughts of suicide, recent psychiatric hospitalization, school refusal, or family relationship breakdown requiring intensive intervention.

    Developmental track separation, multiple weekly admissions, integrated assessments, weekly psychiatric care for all teens, and evidence-based programming in a truly teen-friendly environment set us apart from larger, institutional programs.

    Six-hour daily programming conflicts with regular school attendance. Homebound prevents absence penalties while our education team maintains academic progress through daily classroom time and school coordination.

    Families provide lunch for teens. Occasionally, our behavioral incentive system includes special lunches like Chick-fil-A as rewards for positive participation. The lunch period supports peer connection and community building.

    Insurance Providers We Work With

    We Serve Teens Throughout North Carolina

    Wake Forest PHP

    Located at 203 Capcom Ave, Suite 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 Orange County location 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

    Our facilities feel more like community centers than clinical spaces—because teens heal better in environments designed for them, not for impressing adults.

    Group therapy rooms are comfortable and welcoming, with separate spaces for Summit and Meadow tracks. Individual therapy offices provide privacy for weekly sessions with your teen's primary therapist.

    Educational spaces support daily academic programming with coordination across North Carolina school districts. Michelle and our education team ensure your teen stays current with coursework while focusing on mental health.

    Creative therapy areas accommodate music therapy with Hannah and horticulture therapy with Marcia, recognizing that healing happens through diverse modalities beyond traditional talk therapy.

    Common areas host our Behavior Bingo celebrations and provide space for peer connection during breaks. Our behavioral incentive system rewards positive participation with meaningful activities and treats.

    Safety remains paramount with clear backpack policies that respect teen autonomy while ensuring appropriate supervision throughout programming.

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    Mental Health Conditions We Treat

    Teen Depression, Anxiety Disorders, Trauma Responses, Self-Harm Behaviors, Suicidal Ideation

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    Adolescent Depression Treatment

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    Teen Anxiety Treatment

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    Trauma Therapy for Teens

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    Self-Harm Treatment for Adolescents

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    Suicidal Ideation Treatment

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    Licenses, Accreditations, and Awards