Both are structured, therapy-based programs. The difference is intensity: how many hours, and whether you live at home while you do the work.
At Ebb Tide, PHP comes with housing. You live in one of our West Palm Beach residences and spend your days in individual and group therapy. It’s for the early weeks, when stepping away from the people, places, and routines tied to using is part of what makes the work possible.
In IOP you live at home or in sober living, keep working or going to school, and come to Ebb Tide several days a week. It’s where the work moves from “stay away from the world” to “learn to live in it again.” Many clients start here after PHP.
| PHP | IOP | |
|---|---|---|
| Where you live | In Ebb Tide housing in West Palm Beach (gender-specific). | At home or in a sober living residence. |
| Schedule | Full days of individual and group therapy, structured from morning to evening. | Several days a week, built around work, school, and family. |
| Who it’s for | The first 30–90 days of recovery, or anyone who needs distance from home to focus. | People with a stable place to live, often stepping down from PHP. |
| Work or school | Usually on pause while you’re in PHP. | Yes, most IOP clients keep working or studying. |
| Usual next step | IOP. | Outpatient (1–3 days a week), then alumni support. |
If home isn’t a safe place to stay sober right now, or you’ve tried outpatient before and it didn’t hold, PHP is usually the better start. If you have a stable place to live and responsibilities you can’t step away from, IOP may fit.
Either way, a short call with our admissions team gets you an honest recommendation. Most people move between levels as they progress, so the starting point isn’t permanent.
A short, confidential call. An honest recommendation. No commitment.