Most teens start with weekly therapy. When symptoms are heavier, more hours of support help: the Blackburn Clinical Services concierge outpatient program in Los Angeles offers about 3 to 5 hours a week of one-on-one therapy with no groups. Intensive outpatient, partial hospitalization and residential care add more hours and structure. Safety decides how fast to step up.
Call (888) 870-7405
Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM. Parents usually make the first call.
Key facts
- Outpatient therapy usually means scheduled visits of under an hour, as often as the teen needs (AACAP, Facts for Families No. 42, updated 2023).
- An intensive outpatient program (IOP) typically runs 9 to 19 hours a week over two to four days, and a partial hospitalization program (PHP) at least 20 hours a week, five days a week (AACAP, Facts for Families No. 146, updated 2026).
- IOP and PHP usually include group therapy. The Blackburn concierge outpatient program is one-on-one only.
- Residential treatment means living at a treatment program with 24 hour care.
- Any immediate risk of harm calls for emergency care first: 988 or 911.
How do the levels of care compare?
| Level | Typical hours | Groups? | School | Often fits a teen who |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weekly therapy | About one session a week | No | No change | Is struggling but still functioning at home and school |
| Concierge outpatient (Blackburn) | About 3 to 5 hours a week, flexing with need | No, one-on-one only | Typically stays in school, with sessions in weekday hours; some Saturday therapy appointments are available | Needs more than weekly therapy, or would not do well in groups |
| Intensive outpatient (IOP) | 9 to 19 hours a week, two to four days | Yes, usually | Often after school or part of the day | Needs a structured program but can manage daily life |
| Partial hospitalization (PHP) | At least 20 hours a week, five days | Yes, usually | Replaces much of the school day, often with school support | Is getting worse, or is stepping down from a hospital stay |
| Residential treatment | Lives at the program, 24 hour care | Yes | School is provided on site or arranged | Is not safe or not improving at home despite outpatient care |
Hours for IOP and PHP follow the AACAP fact sheet on PHPs and IOPs. Individual programs vary, so ask each one for its schedule.
What is concierge outpatient care?
The Blackburn Concierge Outpatient Program is an individualized alternative to a traditional IOP. It begins with a biopsychosocial assessment. Your teen then meets one-on-one with a therapist for focused work, typically 3 to 5 hours a week, with no hour requirements and no groups. Hours can go up or down as needs change. Your teen typically stays in school, with sessions scheduled within weekday hours, and some Saturday therapy appointments are available. Psychiatric support, medication management, coaching or case management can be added when needed. It treats anxiety, depression, trauma, substance use and family stress, for teens and adults. Approaches include CBT, DBT, ACT, EMDR and Brainspotting.
What are the signs it is time to step up care?
- Weekly therapy has continued for a while and things are not getting better, or are getting worse.
- Your teen is missing a lot of school or cannot get through the school day.
- Sleep, eating or basic self-care has fallen apart.
- Substance use is increasing or happening alongside low mood or anxiety.
- Self-harm has started or returned.
- The family cannot keep your teen safe at home, even with support.
Stepping up is not a failure. It is a way of matching the amount of help to the size of the problem. Our page on teen dual diagnosis treatment covers what to do when substance use and mood problems show up together.
When is residential treatment necessary?
Residential care is usually considered when a teen remains at serious risk, or keeps declining, despite good outpatient or intensive care. It can also make sense when the home setting itself makes recovery very hard. A psychiatric hospital stay is a separate, short term option for acute safety crises. A clinician who knows your teen can help you weigh these choices.
What about stepping down after residential or wilderness?
Coming home is a big transition. Many families move from residential care to an IOP or a concierge outpatient plan, then to weekly therapy. Our guide to returning home from residential treatment or wilderness explains how to plan that step.
When should we skip the levels and get help now?
If your teen is in danger, do not wait for a program opening. Call or text 988, the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, or call 911. You can also go to the nearest emergency room.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between IOP and concierge outpatient?
An IOP is a structured program with set hours, usually 9 to 19 hours a week, and most of that time is spent in groups. The Blackburn concierge outpatient program is one-on-one, typically 3 to 5 hours a week, with no groups and no fixed hour requirement. It flexes with your teen’s needs.
Can my teen stay in school during treatment?
Usually, yes, with weekly therapy, concierge outpatient care and most IOPs. PHP and residential care replace much or all of the regular school day, though they often include school support. When clinically appropriate, Blackburn Clinical Services can provide documentation for your teen’s school.
When is residential treatment necessary?
Residential treatment is usually considered when a teen stays at serious risk or keeps getting worse despite solid outpatient or intensive care. It may also help when the home environment makes progress very hard. An evaluation by a clinician who knows your teen is the best way to decide.
Does concierge outpatient include groups?
No. The Blackburn Concierge Outpatient Program is entirely one-on-one. Family sessions and parent-only sessions can be part of the plan, but there are no group therapy sessions.
Not sure which level fits?
Reach Blackburn Clinical Services on weekdays from 9 AM to 5 PM at (888) 870-7405. We can talk through what is happening, explain whether weekly therapy or concierge outpatient care fits, and tell you honestly when a higher level of care is the safer choice.