What's the difference between Inpatient and Outpatient Mental Health Care?

Finding the Right Fit for Your Mental Health Journey

When you're struggling with your mental health, the path forward can feel overwhelming.

You know you need help, but where do you start? What kind of care is right for you?

If you've been researching mental health treatment, you've probably come across terms like "inpatient" and "outpatient" care. But what do these really mean? And more importantly, how do you know which one might be the best fit for your situation?

Think of It Like This

Imagine your mental health care like getting help for a physical injury. Sometimes you need a quick trip to urgent care for stitches. That's like outpatient therapy. Other times, you might need to stay in the hospital for surgery and recovery. That's more like inpatient care.

The severity of what you're dealing with, your support system at home (crucial), and your current safety all play into which level of care makes the most sense.

Outpatient Care - Healing While Still Living Your Life

Outpatient mental health care means you receive treatment while continuing to live at home and maintain your daily routine. You might come to our office once a week for therapy, or perhaps twice a week during more challenging times.

What outpatient care looks like at Alliance:

• Individual therapy sessions

• Group therapy programs

• Medication management appointments

• Family counseling

• Enhanced outpatient programs (EOP) for more structured support

The beauty of outpatient care? You get professional support while staying connected to your life, your job, your family, & your community.

You'll be learning new coping skills and applying them in real-time.

Outpatient care might be right for you if:

• You're dealing with depression, anxiety, or other mental health challenges but feel safe

• You have a stable living situation

• You can function day-to-day, even if it's difficult

• You have some support from family or friends

• You want to work on long-term healing and growth

  
  

Let's use an example of Allie. She's a working mom dealing with anxiety. She comes to therapy every Thursday evening while her kids are at soccer practice. She's learning breathing techniques and thought patterns that help her manage stress, while keeping her family routine intact.

Inpatient Care - When You Need Round-the-Clock Support

Sometimes, mental health challenges become so overwhelming that you need 24/7 professional care in a safe, structured environment. This is inpatient care. And there's no shame in needing this level of support. It's common.

What inpatient care looks like at Alliance:

• 24-hour medical and psychiatric supervision

• Intensive therapy and counseling

• Medication management and monitoring

• Crisis stabilization

• A safe, structured environment

• Peer support from others on similar journeys

Inpatient care might be necessary if:

• You're having thoughts of hurting yourself or others

• You're experiencing severe depression, psychosis, or mania

• Your mental health symptoms are making it impossible to function safely

• You need medical detox from substances

• Outpatient care hasn't provided enough support

  
  

Here's what's important to understand. Choosing inpatient care isn't giving up. It's recognizing that sometimes we need intensive support to get back on solid ground.

Just like you wouldn't try to treat a heart attack at home, some mental health crises require hospital-level care.

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Take the first step. Call (901) 369-1410 today.

Call Today

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Making the Decision: It's Not Always Clear-Cut

Sometimes the line between needing inpatient and outpatient care isn't crystal clear. That's where we as mental health professionals come in. We're trained to help assess your specific situation and recommend the level of care that will give you the best chance at healing.

Some questions that help guide this decision:

• Are you safe right now?

• Do you have thoughts of harming yourself or others?

• Can you function in your daily life?

• Do you have a support system at home?

• Have you tried outpatient care before?

  
  

Your Life, Your Pace

Whether you start with outpatient care or need inpatient support, remember this: your mental health journey is uniquely yours. Some people thrive with weekly therapy sessions.

Others need the intensive support of inpatient care to stabilize before moving to outpatient services.

There's no "right" path, and there's definitely no shame in needing more intensive care. What matters is getting the help that works for you, when you need it.

We're Here for Every Step

At Alliance Healthcare Services, we understand that mental health care isn't one-size-fits-all. That's why we offer a full continuum of services, from crisis intervention to ongoing outpatient support.

We've been serving our Memphis community for over 40 years because we believe everyone deserves access to quality mental health care, regardless of where they are in their journey.

If you're not sure what level of care might be right for you, we're here to help you figure it out. Sometimes the hardest part is just picking up the phone and asking for help.

Ready to take that first step? Call us.

Call 901-369-1410

We're available 24/7 for crisis support, and our team can help you understand your options and find the care that's right for your situation.

You don't have to figure this out alone. We're here to help.