Marissa Empey was in crisis and needed help. Her regular counseling sessions with her therapist weren't often or long enough to talk through what she needed, and a "horrible" experience she had at an inpatient facility soured her on the idea of returning to one.
She needed something in between, and that's where Gundersen's Partial Hospitalization Program came in. Marissa's therapist suggested she give the program a try, and it ended up being the perfect fit in her continuum of mental health care.
What is Partial Hospitalization Program?
Gundersen's Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) was created in 2008 and is an intensive outpatient program for patients who can remain safe at night -- meaning they return home every evening. The sessions in the program are group based, and the aim is to help people who are struggling with psychiatric issues that impact their daily functioning.
People are also reading... Car-pedestrian collision in Onalaska triggers homicide charge Fentanyl possession arrest warrant issued for La Crosse woman Wisconsin high school football state semifinal playoff scores Holmen man convicted of 17 charges of abusing woman, children La Crosse woman charged after illegal U-turn triggers crash McLoone announces La Crosse mayor bid as 'common sense' candidate Fire damages Craig's Towing & Repair in La Crosse La Crosse woman accused of spitting on health care worker La Crosse woman charged with driving away in work vehicle La Crosse issues three building permits for Macy's site - Steve Cahalan Gundersen Health fined $160K for pollution control violations 2 horses killed, 5 people displaced in Minnesota Equestrian Center fire La Crosse Logan football 'went past and beyond' expectations in reaching state semifinals Man arrested for possessing $300K worth of drugs in Monroe County Michael Gableman violated rules during 2020 election probe, regulatory agency finds
When patients enter the program, they go through an intake process with a psychiatrist who reviews medications. Once admitted, the patient begins group sessions that same day. They run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. each weekday, with a lunch break from 12 to 1, and each cohort follows a curriculum that takes two weeks to complete.
Health care providers involved in the program include master's-level therapists, nurses, psychiatrists, psychologists, occupational therapists, recreational therapists and social workers -- all there to support patients and their needs.
Patients can come to the PHP from anywhere; they don't need to be Gundersen patients, which is unique for behavioral health, said Mollie McRae, the program manager for the PHP. In fact, patients don't even need a primary care provider; they can self-refer into the program.
Once completed, Gundersen will then help patients establish ongoing care, either within the system or through other community resources.
Needing more
Marissa was referred to the PHP due to an increase in symptoms of chronic PTSD and stressors, including repeated job loss, conflict with her ex-husband and her lack of social support. The root of her hardship is the chronic pain she suffers from, which leaves her unable to work and struggling financially.
"I've had this disability of 10 years, so I've been to a lot of facilities," she said, referring to the inpatient care she's tried. "It seems like since the pandemic, inpatient psychiatric care has really suffered."
Marissa grew up in Idaho and practiced Mormonism. She has two children living there with their father -- a forced decision because of her physical disability.
"The interpersonal conflict really escalated," she said.
She moved to La Crosse for a fresh start and eventually connected with a therapist at Gundersen who, after hearing Marissa's request for more intensive treatment, referred her to the PHP. So, after leaving her job because of a decline in her mental health, Marissa committed to the program. She wasn't sure what to expect, but she says she was pleasantly surprised.
"It was so incredible to be able to get that intensive therapy and not have to give up so much of your autonomy," she said.
A treatment program for everyone
McRae says common mental health conditions that are addressed in the PHP are mood disorders, anxiety, depression and trauma-related disorders. The PHP is also intended for people who are overwhelmed with life and need help navigating their days. For others, it a sudden loss of a loved one, leaving the surviving partner unable to find a way forward.
Patients who benefit from the program typically need a level of care above what is normally provided on an outpatient basis, such as weekly psychotherapy and/or monthly visits with a psychiatrist. The program may be used for patients not at the threshold for inpatient hospitalization or a "step-down" after a recent inpatient admission. The PHP can help gradually transition patients back to everyday life with more present psychotherapeutic support.
"Crisis is so ill defined; it can be different for everybody," McRae said. "We see the gamut of what services are needed and who comes through our doors," adding, however, that substance abuse treatment is not part of the program.
Over the past three years, the PHP has begun following a curriculum that coordinates a smaller group of providers who work in tandem with one another, thereby building off the others' work and eliminating duplicative information.
"It's very cohesive, and we have a much smaller team, so it's a better team approach," McRae says. "We have two main therapists and a main psychologist. They do the bulk of the programming, so they're very in tune with each other, and I think they provide a patient a really comprehensive assessment and complement each other very well."
'Ten out of 10'
Marissa, 35, was a psychology major in college, so she appreciated the program's work in that realm. And she says learning in a group setting was beneficial, as many of the people were higher functioning, which allowed for deeper intellectual conversations.
Marissa is passionate about behavioral health because she's fought against such stigma in her life. She says the program is for anyone who could use more than a weekly or monthly counseling session but isn't to the point that an inpatient program is necessary.
"It was great. Ten out of 10," she said.
Can we help you?
The program serves up to 10 patients in a cohort, and currently, access is immediate. Gundersen's is the only Partial Hospitalization Program in the area, and McRae wants people to know that this help is available close to home.
"There's help out there," she said. "There is help out there for crisis stabilization, and we can get (patients) in quickly. ... They don't have to do this alone. We're here to help support them."
If you want to know more about the program or schedule an intake appointment, call Gundersen transitional services at (608) 775-7987.
Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0
Build your health & fitness knowledge
Sign up here to get the latest health & fitness updates in your inbox every week!
Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy.