Identifying and addressing childhood difficulties at an early age can make a marked difference in a child’s ability to succeed in life.

Ponessa Behavioral Health offers a partial hospital program geared to help children & adolescents who have severe emotional, behavioral or psychiatric disorders. Ponessa Behavioral Health also offers an outpatient program & IBH services for children & adolescents, as a step-down from the Partial Hospital Program.

Easy access to services

Contact our Central Referral Specialists at 1-877-228-9177.

The process begins with a call to the program. At that time, demographic and other information is gathered and a preliminary assessment is made. Afterward, an intake appointment is made for the child/adolescent to be thoroughly evaluated within 24 hours. If admission to the program is determined to be appropriate, an admission date will be coordinated by Ponessa Behavioral Health staff and the family. The average length of stay in the partial program is approximately four weeks and is based on individual need.

Who can benefit from PHP?

Ponessa Behavioral Health’s partial hospital program serves children & adolescents between the ages of 5 and 18 who do not require 24-hour inpatient care. Our mission is to provide high quality mental health services and treatment for children & adolescents having difficulty functioning successfully in the home, school, and/or community.

We are open year-round, Monday through Friday. In most cases, door-to-door transportation is provided, as well as breakfast, lunch and a snack. We offer a full day, partial hospital program where children/adolescents attend the program during typical school hours and receive an array of intensive therapeutic services.

Children/Adolescent's who are referred to the program come for a variety of reasons including, but not limited to:

  • Attention deficit disorder with or without hyperactivity
  • Anxiety disorders such as social or school phobia, obsessive compulsive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder
  • Mood disorders including clinical depression, bipolar disorder and dysthymia
  • Oppositional defiant and conduct disorders, aggressive or abusive behaviors
  • Emotional problems resulting from abuse, violence, divorce, separation, step-parenting, death, abandonment or other life stressors
  • Suicidal thoughts or self-abusive behavior

Comprehensive Services

Beginning on day one, our staff works with each child/adolescent and family to create clinically based treatment goals. Meeting these goals is an integral part of all the following treatment approaches:

  • Individual psychotherapy
  • Family therapy/education
  • Group therapy
  • Psychiatric evaluation
  • Medication management
  • Behavior modification system
  • Liaison with the community

Family Involvement

Family participation is critical to the treatment process. Family members are expected to be actively involved in the child/adolescent's treatment. Attendance of at least one family session per week is mandatory. Additionally, families are educated on various topics such as diagnosis, medications, and strategies to best help their children.

The Treatment Team

Members of the Ponessa Behavioral Health partial hospital team are committed to helping children and adolescents understand and cope with the challenges that brought them into treatment.

The treatment team consists of:

  • The child/adolescent
  • The family
  • A board certified psychiatrist
  • Nurse
  • Master-level therapists
  • Child Development Specialists
  • Graduate-level interns

Discharge Planning

All children/adolescents are provided with a comprehensive discharge plan. Plans range from helping clients integrate back into their home school, to arranging for outpatient care. Each plan includes services that best meet the needs of the child/adolescent and family.

Financial information

Partial Hospital Services are primarily paid for by Medical Assistance, Private Insurance, and other funding sources. Ponessa Behavioral Health offers financial counseling for those individuals without Medical Assistance.

Treatment Facility Location

354 N Prince Street
Suite 120
Lancaster, PA 17603
Phone (717) 553-5341
Fax (717) 869-6411

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