Resources for Higher Levels of Care

Resources for Higher Levels of Care

Emily Feigenberg, LICSW
resources

Whether you’re navigating a mental health crisis, searching for structured day programs, or exploring longer-term recovery options, knowing where you can turn can feel overwhelming. This curated guide highlights trusted resources across Massachusetts and beyond, including 24/7 urgent care and crisis lines, intensive outpatient (IOP) and partial hospitalization programs (PHP), residential and inpatient psychiatric care, and specialized treatment for eating disorders, trauma, psychosis, and more. From youth focused DBT programs to LGBTQIA+ affirming services, this list is designed to help you or a loved one find the right level of support - when and where it is needed most.

General 24/7 Urgent Care

  • Massachusetts residents can access free, confidential support 24/7, year round, by calling or texting 833-773-2445, which connects them to the Behavioral Health Help Line (BHHL). The BHHL provides real-time assessment and direct referrals to Community Behavioral Health Centers and Behavioral Health Urgent Care locations for urgent– but non-emergency– mental health or substance use needs. These urgent care sites offer expanded hours, same-day or next-day evaluations, therapy, medication consultations, addiction support, and walk-in crisis stabilization – helping people get timely care without going to an emergency room.

Skills Groups

  • Boston University’s Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders (BUCARD) offers a structured DBT Skills Group focused on emotion regulation, mindfulness, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness. While small groups are offered on Tuesday evenings, participants also engage in individual therapy at least twice a month. The six-month program encourages twice-through completion for deeper learning and skill generalization. goes here

  • The Mindfulness and Change Group in Watertown offers a comprehensive, adherent DBT program combining weekly individual therapy, twice-weekly skills groups, and 24/7 phone coaching to support adults (18+) in mastering mindfulness, emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness. This is a structured 6-12 month program which emphasizes real-world skills application and crisis coaching to help participants manage self-harm, intense emotions, and relational challenges.

McLean Hospital

  • McLean’s 3East DBT program delivers a developmentally tailored DBT system for adolescents and young adults (ages 13-25) exhibiting self-harm, emotional dysregulation, impulsivity, and related challenges through intensive residential, partial hospital, and outpatient levels of care. The program combines individual therapy, DBT skills groups, family involvement, 24/7 skills coaching, psychiatric management, and specialized modules progressing from foundational to advanced emotion-regulation work – with a strong emphasis on real-world application, resilience-building, and seamless transition planning.

  • Mclean’s BPD Outpatient Program offers intensive, evidence-based treatment for individuals diagnosed with borderline personality disorder through modalities like DBT, MBT, and TFP. The program provides structured individual and group therapy in an IOP setting, with a focus on emotion regulation, relationship skills, and long-term recovery planning.

  • The Gunderson Residence at McLean Hospital is a specialized 60-day residential program in Cambridge, MA, offering treatment for adult women (21+) with BPD and co-occurring issues like depression, anxiety, or substance use. Guided by modalities like DBT, MBT, and GPM within a structured, home-like environment, participants practice skills in real-world settings while receiving individual, group, and family therapy - typically staying three to five months with comprehensive aftercare planning. While this program offers a vast depth of care, the cost is $1,800/day for a minimum of 60 days and it is entirely self-pay.

  • McLean’s Trauma PHP is a structured day-treatment program (Monday-Friday 9a to 2p) designed for adults experiencing PTSD, dissociative disorders, or related trauma symptoms, offering a 15-20 day immersive schedule that blends group therapy, skills training, psychoeducation, and medication consultation. Grounded in a staged trauma recovery framework, this in-person or virtual program helps participants build emotional stability, reduce intrusive memories, and reconnect with meaningful daily activities before transitioning to outpatient care.

Massachusetts General Hospital

  • MGH offers a wide range of specialized mental health services through its Department of Psychiatry, serving individuals across the lifespan.  With a focus on evidence-based approaches and research-driven innovation, MGH provides structured care through outpatient, IOP and PHP settings -emphasizing early detection, resilience-building, and long-term recovery support for individuals experiencing psychosis, mood disorders, and co-occurring conditions.tion text goes here

  • MGH’s First-Episode and Early Psychosis Program is a comprehensive clinic for individuals aged 13-35 within three years of their first non-affective psychotic episode, offering psychiatric evaluation, neuropsychological testing, CBT, family therapy, medication management, case coordination, employment and peer support, and collaborative care through addiction services and second-opinion consultations.

  • An outpatient prevention program for youth and young adults (12-30) at clinical high risk for psychosis, RE-SET combines individual therapy and resilience-focused group training to build emotion regulation, psychological flexibility, and social functioning, aiming to delay or prevent full psychotic disorders.

Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)

  • Back Bay Mental Health offers an Outpatient Program designed for busy students, professionals, and high-achievers. They provide flexible scheduling in the day and evening and use modalities like DBT, ACT, IFS, CBT, and trauma-informed care to help clients address conditions ranging from anxiety and depression to PTSD and BPD. This is a great option for those seeking a discreet, supportive environment that will help work around a demanding schedule.

  • Beth Israel Lahey Health’s IOP offers a trauma-informed, structured day program through its hospitals and clinics - including Beth Israel Deaconess - designed to help adults manage mood disorders, anxiety, PTSD, substance use, and co-occurring conditions. Participants attend multiple weekly group therapy sessions, individual counseling, and medication management with flexible in-person or telehealth options to support recovery and prevent hospitalization.

  • Charlie Health offers a fully virtual IOP featuring up to 9-12 hours/week of therapy (curated group sessions, individual therapy, family therapy, and psychiatry) tailored for high-acuity teens and young adults. This program addresses trauma, LGBTQIA+ concerns, BIPOC needs, neurodivergence, and more.

  • DBT Works is a fully adherent DBT Center offering both an intensive day program (9a-3p, five days/week) for teens and young adults (15-25) and a comprehensive outpatient track for individuals 14+. Programs include weekly individual therapy, skills groups, family sessions, and 24/7 phone coaching, all delivered with high fidelity to DBT standards.

Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP)

  • Brigham and Women’s PHP is an in-person (with virtual options) day treatment program designed for adults (18+) experiencing significant psychiatric issues - including mood, anxiety, PTSD, and co-occurring substance use disorders. Running weekdays from 9am to 2pm, participants engage in four daily group therapy sessions utilizing CBT, DBT, narrative therapy and medication consultation. Typical enrollments last about one week depending on need and are supplemented by brief daily individual meetings and family involvement. This structured stabilization service effectively bridges inpatient care or aims to prevent hospitalization by reaching coping, emotional regulation, and interpersonal skills in a clinically tailored environment.

  • Cedar Hill’s PHP in MA provides a structured day-treatment program (typically 5 days/week for 4-6 weeks) focused on group and individual therapy, DBT-informed skills training, family sessions, and psychiatric oversight to help adults manage mental health and co-occurring substance use conditions.

  • Located in South Attleboro, Fuller Hospital offers a gender-specific PHP for women (ages 12+) dealing with mood disorders, anxiety, trauma, eating issues, and co-occurring substance use. The weekday program runs roughly 9am-2pm and includes structured group therapy, individual sessions, case management, medication oversight, family involvement, and collaborative discharge planning to support transition back to everyday life. Accepting most insurances, Fuller Hospital aims to stabilize symptoms and prevent inpatient hospitalization while integrating community and family support.

  • The LGBTQIA+ PHP at Fuller Hospital is a short-term stabilization program which offers intensive day treatment tailored to adults in the queer community. The program addresses mood instability, trauma, anxiety, substance use, and gender dysphoria through group therapy, individual counseling, case management, and medication management in an affirming, inclusive environment.

  • Located in Needham, MA, Greater Boston Behavioral Health offers a structured day-treatment PHP (weekdays 9am-2pm) featuring evidence-based individual and group therapies - including CBT, DBT, EMDR, and ACT – to support adults addressing mental health and co-occurring substance use concerns.  The facility also provides a fully staffed inpatient-care “Day Program” for clients in acute crises and maintains a dedicated LGBTQ+ program delivering affirming, culturally competent treatment for queer and transgender individuals facing anxiety, depression, trauma, or identity-related stress.

  • Located in Pembroke, MA, Pembroke Hospital offers a comprehensive PHP for adults 13+ with structured day treatment typically running 5-6 hours/day Monday through Friday. This program combines group thearpy, individual sessions, skill-building workshops, psychoeducation, and medication management. Tailored for those transitioning from inpatient care or needing more support than traditional outpatient therapy, the program addresses PTSD, trauma-related disorders, co-occurring mental health, and substance use issues while emphasizing family involvement and aftercare planning.

IOP & PHP

  • Arbour Counseling offers a full continuum of care across several MA locations including Norwell, Brockton, Lowell, Jamaica Plain, Worcester, Woburn, and Medford. Their services include outpatient therapy, IOP, and PHP for children, adolescents, and adults. Programs include CBT, DBT, trauma-informed care, medication management, expressive therapies, and family support, with most locations accepting most commercial insurances and Medicaid/Medicare.

  • Located in Worcester, MA, Blue Hills Recovery offers day-treatment and evening programs including PHP and IOP tracks for adults facing co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders. Their structured care combines evidence-based therapies like CBT, DBT, and trauma-informed care, and medication management. They alternate wellness interventions like mindfulness, yoga, and adventure therapy. They help clients transition into outpatient or sober-living settings. 

  • The Brattleboro Retreat is a private psychiatric hospital on a 300-acre campus north of downtown Brattleboro, Vermont. As one of the oldest mental health institutions in the U.S., it offers a full continuum of care, including IOP, PHP, residential, and inpatient and outpatient services for children, adolescents, and adults. Their speciality programs include adult and adolescent inpatient units, LGBTQIA+ affirming inpatient care, virtual IOP/PHP, clinics for first responders and healthcare professionals, and advanced medication and Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) services.

  • Compass Health Center offers both PHP and IOP tailored for adults and young adults experiencing significant mood, anxiety, trauma, OCD, or co-occurring substance use issues. Their PHP is a structured, multidisciplinary day-treatment program (weekdays, 5-6 hours a day) featuring group and individual therapy, psychoeducation, experiential modalities (like art, mindfulness, or movement), family sessions, and medication management to help stabilize symptoms and support daily functioning. Their IOP provides a less intensive yet still robust treatment option - offering similar therapeutic elements in shorter, flexible sessions (daytime or evening, 3-4 hours/day across multiple days/week) - designed for individuals transitioning from PHP or managing mental health while maintaining work and life responsibilities. Both programs are available in-person across several regional centers and through Compass Virtual.

  • HRI Hospitalin Brookline offers several partial hospitalization programs: a women’s PHP, a distinct LGBTQ+ PHP called the Triangle Program, both of which include structured day treatment with group therapy, individual counseling, case management, medication management, and daily meals, plus available transportation support within a ten-mile radius. Additionally, their General Adult PHP and evening Adult IOP provide intensive mental health and dual-diagnosis care using CBT, DBT, and trauma-informed methods, and weekly toxicology screens for those with co-occurring substance use concerns. All programs are in-person, accept most insurances (including Medicaid/Medicare), and serve adults through coordinated, multidisciplinary clinical teams. 

EATING DISORDERS

  • With multiple locations across Massachusetts, Monte Nido offers a full spectrum of eating disorder care- from inpatient stabilization and 24/7 residential home-like settings to day treatment (PHP & IOP) and virtual programs for adolescents and adults. Their multidisciplinary approach combines evidence-based therapies (CBT, DBT, CPT) nutritional education, medical oversight, and family involvement. Specialized virtual services include LGBTQIA+, binge eating, and family-based care. Most major insurances are accepted and single-case agreements are available to expand access.

  • Operating under Monte Mido, Walden Behavioral Care provides a full continuum of specialized eating disorder treatment for individuals aged 10 and up across Massachusetts. Their services range from medical stabilization in inpatient units and home-like residential care to structured day programs (PHP/IOP), as well as virtual options, which include CBT, DBT, and family-based treatment. Walden emphasizes individualized gender-inclusive care in specialized tracks such as their adolescent, adult, athlete, ARFID, binge-eating, and LGBTQIA+ affirming programs. 

Navigating Food Access: A Guide to Community Resources

Navigating Food Access: A Guide to Community Resources
Prepared, Not Alone: Resources for Those Impacted by ICE

Prepared, Not Alone: Resources for Those Impacted by ICE