Is the Women's PHP residential or outpatient?

The Women's PHP is an intensive outpatient program. Participants attend 5-6 days per week for 6+ hours per day but return home each evening. This is not a residential program, and there is no overnight stay or 24-hour supervision.

Can I attend if I have children or a job?

Many women in the program are parents or have work responsibilities. The PHP schedule requires full-day commitment, so you may need to arrange childcare or take medical leave. Our team can discuss practical considerations during your consultation.

What if I need a higher or lower level of care?

If you need more intensive support (residential, inpatient, detox), we can provide referrals. If you're ready for less intensive treatment, we offer Half Day Treatment (IOP) and Outpatient (OP) as step-down options. We'll work with you to find the right fit.

Does the Women's PHP treat trauma?

Yes. The Women's PHP includes trauma-focused therapies such as trauma-focused CBT. The women-only environment is designed to provide safety and peer support for those working through trauma history.

Is the Women's PHP only for substance use, or can I attend for mental health conditions alone?

The Women's PHP treats both substance use disorders and mental health conditions, including co-occurring disorders. You do not need to have a substance use issue to participate - many women attend for depression, anxiety, PTSD, or other mental health concerns.

Where is the Women's PHP located?

The program is held at our Amesbury, Massachusetts facility at 77 Elm St in the historic Mill 77 building. We serve adult women from across Massachusetts.

How long does the program last?

Length of stay varies based on individual needs and progress. Many participants attend for several weeks to a few months. Your treatment team will work with you to determine the appropriate duration and step-down plan.

Women's PHP Program in Amesbury, MA

The Women's PHP Program at Merrimack Valley Behavioral Health in Amesbury, Massachusetts is a specialized women-only track within our Full Day Treatment program. Designed for adult women (18+) facing mental health and substance use challenges, this track provides 5-6 days per week of structured, intensive care in a safe, gender-responsive environment. Women participate in evidence-based therapies including CBT, DBT, and trauma-focused treatment, alongside peer support groups that address issues specific to women's experiences. The program is outpatient - clients return home each evening - and serves women throughout Massachusetts. Licensed by DPH, MVBH's Women's PHP helps participants build coping skills, process trauma, and work toward sustainable recovery in a community of women who understand their journey.

A Women-Only Track Within Full Day Treatment

The Women's PHP Program at Merrimack Valley Behavioral Health is a specialized track within our Full Day Treatment (PHP) program, designed exclusively for adult women. This intensive outpatient program provides 5-6 days per week of structured care in a gender-responsive environment where women can address mental health conditions, substance use disorders, or both.

Located at our Amesbury, Massachusetts facility in the historic Mill 77 building, the Women's PHP offers the same evidence-based treatment as our standard PHP - CBT, DBT, trauma therapy, medication management - but delivered in women-only groups and tailored to the unique experiences women face. Participants return home each evening, maintaining connection to family and community while receiving the intensive support needed for meaningful change.

This program is licensed by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) and serves adult women (18+) from across the state.

5-6 days

per week

6+ hours

daily programming

18+

adult women only

Women-only

groups & environment

Women gathered in a supportive therapy circle at MVBH's Amesbury outpatient facility

What Makes the Women's Track Different

While the Women's PHP follows the same clinical structure as our standard Full Day Treatment, it creates a gender-responsive treatment environment where women can explore issues that may be difficult to address in mixed-gender settings. Research shows that women-only programming can improve engagement, reduce shame, and support deeper processing of trauma, relationships, and identity.

The curriculum acknowledges the distinct ways mental health and substance use can manifest in women's lives - including trauma history, reproductive health concerns, caregiving roles, and societal pressures. Groups are facilitated by clinicians trained in gender-responsive care and trauma-informed practice.

Women-Only GroupsAll group therapy sessions are exclusively for women, creating safety and shared understanding.
Trauma-Informed EnvironmentProgramming addresses trauma with sensitivity to experiences more common among women, including interpersonal violence and complex PTSD.
Gender-Responsive CurriculumContent reflects women's unique challenges - relationships, parenting stress, self-worth, body image, and systemic barriers.

Who the Women's PHP Helps

This program is designed for adult women who need intensive outpatient support for mental health, substance use, or both. It may be a good fit if you're experiencing:

Co-Occurring Conditions

Depression, anxiety, PTSD, or other mental health conditions alongside substance use. Our <a href='/programs/dual-diagnosis/'>Dual Diagnosis Treatment</a> approach addresses both simultaneously.

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Trauma History

Past or recent trauma that impacts daily functioning, relationships, or sobriety. Women-only groups provide a safe space to process these experiences.

Need for Structure

Women who benefit from daily accountability and routine but are medically stable and able to return home each evening.

Step-Down or Step-Up

Transitioning from higher levels of care (residential, inpatient) or stepping up from <a href='/programs/iop/'>Half Day Treatment (IOP)</a> when more support is needed.

What Treatment Includes

The Women's PHP integrates evidence-based therapies, peer support, and holistic wellness practices, all delivered in a women-only setting:

Individual Therapy

One-on-one sessions with a a member of the clinical team to address personal treatment goals, trauma, and underlying patterns.

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Women-Only Group Therapy

Process groups, skills-building sessions, and psychoeducation facilitated by clinicians trained in gender-responsive care.

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Medication Management

Psychiatric evaluation and ongoing medication support as needed, integrated with therapy.

Trauma-Focused Therapy

trauma-focused CBT, and other modalities to help process and heal from past trauma.

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Family Therapy

Optional sessions to repair relationships, improve communication, and involve loved ones in the healing process.

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Holistic Wellness

Mindfulness, body awareness, and self-care practices to support emotional regulation and resilience.

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A Typical Day in Women's PHP

1
Morning Arrival & Check-In
Participants arrive at our Amesbury facility each morning. The day begins with a check-in circle where women share how they're feeling and set intentions for the day.
2
Structured Therapy Sessions
The day includes a mix of process groups, skills-building workshops (CBT, DBT), and psychoeducation sessions - all facilitated in women-only groups.
3
Individual or Family Sessions
Throughout the week, participants meet one-on-one with their therapist and may attend family therapy sessions or medication management appointments.
4
Lunch & Peer Support
A break for lunch provides informal peer connection and rest. Participants bring their own meals or use nearby options.
5
Afternoon Programming & Closing
Additional therapy, wellness activities, or discharge planning. The day closes with a wrap-up group and preparation for the evening at home.
6
Evening at Home
Participants return home to practice skills, reconnect with family, and integrate treatment into daily life. Support continues through the week.

Woman journaling in a peaceful therapy space at MVBH in Amesbury

Skills and Personal Milestones

Treatment outcomes in the Women's PHP are framed as skills gained and personal milestones reached - never as absolute outcomes. Progress varies by individual, and recovery is an ongoing process that extends beyond treatment. Women work toward building the tools they need for sustained wellbeing.

Participants often report increased ability to manage emotions, process trauma, set boundaries, and navigate relationships with greater clarity. Many develop healthier coping strategies, reduce substance use, and rebuild self-worth and hope.

Coping & Emotion RegulationLearn DBT skills, mindfulness practices, and strategies to manage distress without substances or self-harm.
Trauma ProcessingWork through trauma memories and triggers with evidence-based therapies like trauma-focused CBT.
Renewed Self-WorthRebuild a sense of identity, purpose, and confidence through peer support and therapeutic work.

How to Start: Admissions Process

1
Call for a Confidential Screening
Contact MVBH at 978-233-9597 to discuss your needs. Our admissions team will conduct a confidential phone screening to determine if the Women's PHP is the right level of care.
2
Insurance Verification
We'll verify your insurance benefits and explain coverage. (Coverage varies by plan - contact us to confirm your benefits.)
3
Clinical Assessment
You'll meet with our clinical team for a comprehensive assessment to develop your personalized treatment plan.
4
Begin Treatment
Once admitted, you'll start programming within days, joining the community of women in the PHP track.

Your path to personalized mental wellness starts here.

Call now or verify your insurance - a confidential conversation, not a commitment.

978-233-9597

Review Benefits Contact Us

Treatment terminology notice: At Merrimack Valley Behavioral Health, our day-based programs are referred to as Full Day Treatment and Half Day Treatment. In Massachusetts, insurance providers commonly refer to these levels of care as PHP (Partial Hospitalization Program) and IOP (Intensive Outpatient Program). Any reference to PHP or IOP on this site refers to our Full Day Treatment or Half Day Treatment programs.
Detox scope: MVBH does not provide detox onsite. If detox may be needed before outpatient treatment, call our team. We can help identify an appropriate outside detox provider, but cannot guarantee placement, acceptance, transportation, medical clearance, or suitability.

Women's PHP Program in Amesbury, MA

A Women-Only Track Within Full Day Treatment

What Makes the Women's Track Different

Who the Women's PHP Helps

Co-Occurring Conditions

Trauma History

Need for Structure

Step-Down or Step-Up

What Treatment Includes

Individual Therapy

Women-Only Group Therapy

Medication Management

Trauma-Focused Therapy

Family Therapy

Holistic Wellness

A Typical Day in Women's PHP

Morning Arrival & Check-In

Structured Therapy Sessions

Individual or Family Sessions

Lunch & Peer Support

Afternoon Programming & Closing

Evening at Home

Skills and Personal Milestones

How to Start: Admissions Process

Call for a Confidential Screening

Insurance Verification

Clinical Assessment

Begin Treatment

Your path to personalized mental wellness starts here.