Services
At Steel Wellness, we are here to provide the specific care our community needs. We offer programs designed to fill a crucial gap in local healthcare, giving you more support than weekly therapy but more freedom than inpatient care. Our goal is to offer a clear, effective path to healing that fits your life.
Our Unique Approach to Care
We understand that dealing with mental health and addiction can feel incredibly heavy, especially here in our community. We exist because we see the real struggles our community faces, and our services are a direct, evidence-based answer to these specific problems. For example, almost one out of every three adults in Pennsylvania has symptoms of anxiety or depression. This shows that many people are going through similar struggles, and if you or someone you care about is facing these challenges, you are not alone, and you’ve come to the right place.
We speak with confidence about the truth of mental health and addiction issues in Allegheny County and Pennsylvania. Our approach is professional and precise, but always caring and easy to understand. This section will help you learn about the different conditions we treat and how our caring, all-in-one approach can help you find healing and strength. Our complete care includes:
- Personalized Treatment Plans: We create a plan just for you, based on your unique needs and situation.
- Proven Therapies: We use methods that are known to work, helping you achieve lasting recovery. Explore our range of therapies.
- Integrated Dual Diagnosis Care: We treat mental health issues and substance use disorders together, because they often go hand-in-hand.
- Community-Focused Approach: We understand the specific challenges of our region and tailor our support to fit.
Filling the 'Missing Middle' of Care
The mental health and addiction crises in Pennsylvania and Allegheny County are made worse by problems in the healthcare system that make it hard to get help, even for those actively looking.
The Challenge: A Gap in Treatment Options
Often, someone finds that weekly therapy isn’t enough to manage their serious mental illness or prevent a relapse. Yet, they might not qualify for, can’t afford, or don’t need the strict rules of a 24/7 hospital stay. They are too sick for basic outpatient care but not ‘sick enough’ for the highest level of care. They are stuck in this gap with no good options.
Our Solution: PHP and IOP Programs
This ‘missing middle’ is exactly what our Partial Hospitalization (PHP) and Intensive Outpatient (IOP) programs are designed to fill. These levels of care provide the structure, intensity, and combined services needed to treat complex conditions that often occur together. They also allow the person to stay connected to their home and community. Steel Wellness is more than just another facility; we are a vital and important addition to the local healthcare system, offering the specific level of care our community has truly needed.
Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP): A Bridge to Healing
Our Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) offers a structured and intensive level of care for individuals who need significant support but don’t require 24/7 inpatient hospitalization. It’s often described as a ‘bridge’ between less intensive outpatient therapy and more restrictive inpatient settings. This program is ideal for those facing severe symptoms or complex mental health and substance use disorders that make daily functioning challenging.
In PHP, you’ll participate in therapy for a significant portion of the day, typically five days a week. This allows for deep therapeutic work and skill-building in a supportive environment. With over 626,000 Pennsylvanians living with a Serious Mental Illness (SMI), access to this level of care is essential for many who need more than weekly appointments. Our PHP program provides a full day of evidence-based individual and group therapy, psychiatric support, and practical skills-building, all while allowing you to return home in the evenings. This balance helps you stabilize and heal without completely disrupting your home life.
Who Benefits from PHP?
Our PHP program is designed for individuals who need a higher level of care but can still live at home. This might include those with serious mental health conditions that make daily life difficult, or individuals with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders needing integrated care. It’s also ideal for people stepping down from inpatient hospitalization who need continued intensive support, or anyone for whom traditional weekly therapy isn’t enough to manage symptoms or prevent relapse.
What to Expect in PHP:
Your PHP experience will be comprehensive and structured. You’ll engage in a consistent daily schedule focused on therapy and skill development. This includes regular one-on-one sessions with a dedicated therapist to address personal challenges, and participation in dynamic group therapy sessions where you can connect with peers and learn from shared experiences. You’ll also have access to psychiatric evaluations and medication management from our medical team, and participate in practical skill-building workshops focused on coping strategies, emotional regulation, and improving relationships.
Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP): Flexible Support for Lasting Recovery
Our Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) provides a robust therapeutic structure with the flexibility to fit your life. It’s a vital tool for preventing relapse in the face of daily stressors and is designed for those transitioning from a higher level of care (like inpatient or PHP) to ensure a smooth return to daily life. It’s also suitable for individuals who need more support than weekly therapy but must maintain work, school, or family commitments.
IOP offers a comprehensive treatment experience over several days a week, but for fewer hours than PHP. This allows you to continue living at home, attending work or school, and practicing new coping skills in real-time. In a community facing significant environmental stressors, IOP provides the skills and support network to build lasting resilience. We focus on helping you apply what you learn in therapy to your everyday challenges, building confidence and independence.
Who Benefits from IOP?
IOP is an excellent option for individuals transitioning from PHP or inpatient care who need continued structured support. It’s also for those who need more intensive treatment than traditional outpatient therapy but can manage their symptoms at home. People seeking to prevent relapse and build strong coping mechanisms for daily life, or anyone needing flexible treatment that accommodates work, school, or family responsibilities, will find IOP beneficial.
What to Expect in IOP:
Your IOP experience will feature a flexible schedule that allows for other life commitments. A core component is group therapy, offering peer support and shared learning. You’ll also have regular one-on-one sessions in individual therapy to address specific needs and progress. The program focuses heavily on skill development for managing emotions, stress, and relationships, and includes comprehensive relapse prevention strategies to help you maintain long-term recovery.
Our Integrated Approach: Treating the Whole Person
At Steel Wellness, we believe in treating the whole person, not just a diagnosis. This means we specialize in what’s known as ‘dual diagnosis’ or ‘co-occurring disorders’ – situations where someone is dealing with both a mental health condition and a substance use disorder at the same time. Less than one-third of mental health facilities in Allegheny County offered services for co-occurring substance use disorders in a 2022 assessment, creating a critical ‘integration gap.’ We aim to fill this gap.
We know these issues are deeply connected and often fuel each other. Our integrated approach means your treatment plan will address both your mental health and your substance use challenges together, under one roof, with a coordinated team of experts. This comprehensive care is essential for lasting recovery and helps break the cycle of incomplete treatment.
Why Integrated Treatment Matters:
Treating both conditions simultaneously leads to more effective and lasting recovery, providing better outcomes than addressing them separately. Our approach ensures holistic healing, addressing all aspects of your well-being – mind, body, and spirit. With coordinated care, our team works together to ensure all your needs are met, avoiding fragmented care. By addressing underlying mental health issues, we also help reduce the likelihood of returning to substance use, leading to reduced relapse risk.
Find Your Path to Recovery with Steel Wellness
No matter what challenges you are facing, Steel Wellness offers hope and a clear way forward. Our approach is based on real data, filled with empathy, and focused on being your ally. This ensures you receive the most effective and caring support possible. We are committed to partnering with you to navigate a complex system and empower you to build strength and resilience.
You can also explore our full range of services to find the level of care that best suits your journey.
Frequently Asked Questions About Our Services
What is the 'missing middle' of care?
The ‘missing middle’ refers to the gap in treatment options between traditional weekly therapy and 24/7 inpatient hospitalization. Many individuals need more intensive support than weekly sessions but don’t require or qualify for full inpatient care. Our PHP and IOP programs are designed to fill this crucial gap, offering structured, comprehensive care that allows individuals to remain connected to their home and community.
How do I know if PHP or IOP is right for me?
The best way to determine the most appropriate level of care is through a comprehensive assessment with our admissions team. They will discuss your symptoms, history, and current life situation to recommend whether PHP, IOP, or another level of care would best suit your needs. Both programs offer intensive therapy, but PHP is more structured and time-consuming, while IOP provides more flexibility.
Do you treat co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders?
Yes, absolutely. We specialize in treating co-occurring disorders, also known as dual diagnosis. We understand that mental health conditions and substance use disorders often go hand-in-hand. Our integrated approach ensures that both conditions are addressed simultaneously within your personalized treatment plan, which is crucial for achieving stable and lasting recovery.
What types of therapies are used in your programs?
Our programs utilize a range of evidence-based therapies tailored to individual needs. These include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills, individual therapy, group therapy, family therapy, and holistic approaches. The specific therapies you engage in will depend on your personalized treatment plan and clinical needs.
How long do your PHP and IOP programs last?
The duration of our PHP and IOP programs varies depending on individual progress and clinical needs. Treatment plans are highly personalized and are regularly reviewed by your clinical team. Some individuals may complete a program in several weeks, while others may benefit from a longer duration to ensure a strong foundation for lasting recovery.