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ADMISSIONS / REFERRALS
La Cheim Behavioral Health Services PHP/IOP
PHP/IOP Overview
PHP/IOP Schedule
PHP/IOP Groups
La Cheim Behavioral Health Services
Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) & Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)
Serving Adults in Oakland, San Francisco, and the Greater SF Bay Area
CLINIC EXTERIOR NEAR DOWNTOWN OAKLAND
TILED COURTYARD WITH SOOTHING FOUNTAIN
La Cheim's adult PHP/IOP is in person, via Zoom, and as a mix of both. Curious about attending, or about referring a loved one or client in your practice? See a day in the the program life and the daily program schedule.
Referrals and admissions? For the fastest response, please contact admissions using our secure referral form. Please see the form for our current waitlist estimate. We will do our best to respond within 3 business days.
Inclusive, Empowering Day Treatment for Adults
Overview
Based in Oakland, La Cheim Behavioral Health Services is a nonprofit organization providing a Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) and an Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) to the Bay Area community since 1993.
Our unique PHP and IOP offer compassionate, non-institutional, and trauma-informed care for adults coping with serious mental health challenges. We believe in the strength, resilience, and creativity of our clients. With an emphasis on improved coping and problem solving, we help clients begin to stabilize and rebuild their lives with a restored sense of meaning.
The PHP and IOP programs run weekdays from 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM in Oakland, California, with phone support offered on evenings and weekends. Learn more about a day in the life of the programs.
Treatment Approaches
Using an array of empirically validated approaches -- including principles of CBT, DBT, ACT, and more -- we work with mood, anxiety, and thought disorders; trauma/PTSD; personality issues; grief, loss, and other adjustment difficulties; substance dependence recovery; and more. Clients often describe our treatment environment as especially welcoming, supportive, and non-pathologizing.
Insurance Coverage
We work with most major commercial insurance carriers. The following insurance carriers currently provide coverage for PHP/IOP services at La Cheim: (1) Aetna; (2) Anthem/Blue Cross; (3) Blue Shield of California; (4) Blue Shield/Magellan; Carelon Behavioral Health (formerly Beacon/Value Options); (5) Center for Elder Independence (CEI); (6) Cigna; (7) Contra Costa Health Plan; (8) Health Net/MHN; (9) Kaiser & Kaiser Advantage (by direct referral only -- please contact your KP providers); (10) Medicare; and (11) UBH/Optum. If your insurer is not on this list, feel free to contact us to double-check. We are always happy to verify your eligibility and benefits.
Unfortunately, MediCal does not provide coverage for La Cheim's PHP/IOP at this time.
Getting to La Cheim
Our clinic is located at 3031 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland, CA 94609. It's easy to get to us via public transit.
What Our PHP/IOP Program DOES Offer:
Intensive, weekday, group-based, short-term treatment for adults in mental health crisis.
Participants also receive individual therapy and psychiatry, but only within the context of the group program.
What Our PHP/IOP Program DOES NOT Offer:
Day treatment services for children or adolescents.
Individual, one-on-one, longer-term outpatient therapy or psychiatry. (See our outpatient program instead.)
Coverage for Medi-Cal members.
Contacting Us:
For admissions inquiries regarding new cases, complete our online referral form.
For billing and payment inquiries regarding existing or previous cases, complete our billing inquiry form.
Fax records and referrals to our secure fax at 510-225-2745.
If you are interested in outpatient services, please check out our growing outpatient program.
Interested in an AMFT/APCC associateship?
Post-graduate clinicians seeking supervised clinical experience with adults are encouraged to email
[email protected].
La Cheim Behavioral Health Services PHP/IOP: 510-596-8125 (phone) | 510-225-2745 (secure fax)
La Cheim Schools Inc is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit | La Cheim Behavioral Health Services is a Community Mental Health Center (CMHC) | Copyright 1974-2026 La Cheim
◈ Interior Pages — 4 pages crawled--> Typical Treatment Day | PHP & IOP for Adults | Oakland | La Cheim Behavioral Health Services top of page ADMISSIONS / REFERRALS La Cheim Behavioral Health Services PHP/IOP PHP/IOP Overview PHP/IOP Schedule PHP/IOP Groups La Cheim Behavioral Health Services What Is a Typical Day Like in La Cheim's PHP/IOP Programs? La Cheim's Front Entrance 3031 Telegraph in Oakland, CA La Cheim's Interior Courtyard Tiled patio with fountain. Downstairs Group Room A place to gather for groups. La Cheim's Front Entrance 3031 Telegraph in Oakland, CA 1/3 La Cheim's approach is warm, relaxed, respectful, and collaborative. We see ourselves as guides or consultants to clients as they work to access their own innate healing strength, wisdom, and resilience. Clients often describe o ur treatment environment as especially welcoming, supportive, and non-pathologizing. We offer in-person, virtual (Zoom), and hybrid (mix of both) service in the greater Oakland San Francisco Bay Area. A day at La Cheim begins with a coffee, tea, and snacks -- and also includes a balanced lunch. Breaks throughout the day give opportunities for clients to connect with each other and share support. Peaceful indoor and outdoor areas (including a tiled patio with a soothing fountain) offer safe spaces for personal reflection and shared support. Individual therapy sessions are held weekly. Clients also meet regularly with our psychiatric staff, who work with their outpatient providers to manage medications and/or help find outpatient psychiatric services. Group therapy includes daily "check in" and "check out" groups to set and review daily treatment goals; "process" groups to create space for sharing personal experiences with others; and psychoeducation groups that cover topics like Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Seeking Safety, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), mindfulness, anger management, and creative expression. While we are not a chemical dependency program, we do offer groups to support clients in maintaining sobriety or achieving meaningful harm reduction. Discharge planning begins upon intake and is supported by the client's individual providers as well as a dedicated "transition planning" group. We hope to help clients use their time at La Cheim to make a solid plan for self-care and life structure so that they are best poised to thrive upon graduation. La Cheim Behavioral Health Services PHP/IOP: 510-596-8125 (phone) | 510-225-2745 (secure fax) La Cheim Schools Inc is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit | La Cheim Behavioral Health Services is a Community Mental Health Center (CMHC) | Copyright 1974-2026 La Cheim bottom of page --> Daily Schedule | PHP & IOP for Adults | Oakland | La Cheim Behavioral Health Services top of page ADMISSIONS / REFERRALS La Cheim Behavioral Health Services PHP/IOP PHP/IOP Overview PHP/IOP Schedule PHP/IOP Groups La Che im Behavioral Health Services PHP/IOP Daily Group Schedule Group Topics | WARM Line : (855) 845-7415| Alameda Crisis : (800) 309-2131| Contra Costa Crisis : (800) 833-2900 Friday 5/15 Actively enrolled clients: If you need to check in during the program day, please call (510) 596-8125 or email us via the form below. La Cheim's after hours phone remains available after 5 pm and on weekends per usual. Check your email for the daily PIN! 9:30 am - 10:15 am: Che ck-In & Goal-Setting Group Check in, con n ect, and set your personal recovery goals for the day. Zoom Room One : "check in" 10:30 am - 11:4 5 am: Thera peut ic S haring & Process Groups Choose whichever t herapeutic process group w ill be most helpful to your treatment go als. Zoom Room One : "open topic" Zoom Room Two : "compassion in recovery " **HYBRID GROUP - Simultaneous OS+VR** ONSITE ONLY : "finding humor" 11:45 am - 12:45 pm: Lunch Break & Self-Care Have lunch with other community members. Or, take a Zoom/screen break! Zoom Room One : "music / hang out" (optiona l ) 12:45 pm - 2:00 pm: Skill-Building, Copi ng, & Self-Expression Learn skills and strategies while building connection. Choose whichever group will be most helpful to your treatment goals. Zoom Room One : "music" Zoom Room Two : "navigating systems" **HYBRID GROUP - Simultaneous OS+VR** 2:00 pm - 2:45 pm: Aft ernoon Review & Check-Out Group Check out, reflect, and review evening sa fety and plans. Stay safe tonight! Zoom Room One : "check out" Contact Us For anyone in acute crisis, please call 911 or a local support line: WARM Line : (855) 845-7415 Alameda Crisis : (800) 309-2131 Contra Costa Crisis : (800) 833-2900 For admissions inquiries, please use the form here. If you are ACTIVELY ENROLLED in La Cheim's PHP/IOP, please com plete this form to leave non-urgent suggestions or questions . La Cheim Behavioral Health Services PHP/IOP: 510-596-8125 (phone) | 510-225-2745 (secure fax) La Cheim Schools Inc is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit | La Cheim Behavioral Health Services is a Community Mental Health Center (CMHC) | Copyright 1974-2026 La Cheim bottom of page --> Outpatient Mental Health Services | Oakland | La Cheim Behavioral Health Services top of page ADMISSIONS / REFERRALS La Cheim Behavioral Health Services PHP/IOP PHP/IOP Overview PHP/IOP Schedule PHP/IOP Groups La Cheim Behavioral Health Services Outpatient Mental Health Services for the Oakland / San Francisco Bay Area La Cheim is currently designing and launching expanded outpatient services. Our current offering of groups is limited to alumni graduates of our PHP/IOP: General aftercare therapeutic support group (therapist-led; weekly; free to all graduates in good standing) Neuroinclusivity group (every other week; sliding scale private pay) Working world group (every other week; sliding scale private pay) We are also exploring the launch of outpatient services (groups and/or individual therapy) for the community at large. Want to help us design our outpatient program? Take our survey! La Cheim Behavioral Health Services PHP/IOP: 510-596-8125 (phone) | 510-225-2745 (secure fax) La Cheim Schools Inc is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit | La Cheim Behavioral Health Services is a Community Mental Health Center (CMHC) | Copyright 1974-2026 La Cheim bottom of page --> Group Therapy Topics | PHP & IOP for Adults | Oakland | La Cheim Behavioral Health Services top of page ADMISSIONS / REFERRALS La Cheim Behavioral Health Services PHP/IOP PHP/IOP Overview PHP/IOP Schedule PHP/IOP Groups La Cheim Behavioral Health Services Group Therapy Topics & Materials Following is a current listing of our group therapy topics, along with a description of each group and supportive materials where applicable. Some group topics rotate and may not occur every week. At La Cheim, we offer a mix of process groups -- which focus more on personal sharing and supportive feedback -- with skills groups -- which focus more on learning about mental health recovery, coping skills, and more. The days also begin and end with check-in and check out groups . DAILY CHECK-IN AND CHECK-OUT GROUPS (9:30 AM & 2:00 PM) Morning Check-In Group (9:30 am, Room 1, Daily) This group invites you to: introduce yourself by your first name; share your personal pronouns (she/he/they/etc.); describe a highlight of the previous day; set an intention for the day ahead and participate in a get-to-know-you question. The group is meant to help you gear up to make the most of your program day. Check-In & Check-Out / Coping & Grounding Skills Handouts Coping & Grounding Skills [PDF] Daily Closure / Check-Out Group (2:00 pm, Room 1, Daily) Our final group of the day starts with sharing names and personal pronouns (she/he/they/etc.). Each client is then asked to reflect on present feelings as well as a highlight from the day. Next, clients are asked to confirm their physical and emotional safety for the night or weekend. The group closes with a practice of a coping/grounding skill or a fun group activity. Check-In & Check-Out / Coping & Grounding Skills Handouts Coping & Grounding Skills [PDF] THERAPEUTIC SHARING & PROCESSING GROUPS (10:30 AM - 11:4 5 AM) Black, Indigenous and/or People of Color (BIPOC) Group NOTE: This group is intended only for clients who identify as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) This process group is for members who identify as Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC). Participants are invited to speak about personal experiences and receive support from each another, including but not limited to topics on race, identity and belonging, or self- and community empowerment. Exploring Identity Process Group This process group holds a space to explore the different roles and intersectional identities each of us may hold. We will support one another as we uncover and share our experiences of our identities such as gender, sexuality, ability, race, ethnicity, age, social class, religion, and more. We will also create space to notice roles we embody, such as partner, friend, child, parent, etc. As we make and maintain connection with folks with overlapping roles and identities and those diverging from us, this group will serve as a place for us to get to know ourselves and our fellow travelers as well. Finding Humor In this group, we acknowledge that mental health struggles can be absurd, ironic, and downright ridiculous, so let's laugh about it. Participants have space to explore the humor of common symptoms, and the general chaos of being human. Whether it’s sharing dark jokes, finding levity in tough moments, or just rolling our eyes at the absurdity of it all, we’ll use humor as a way to find the joke at the end of the downward spiral. Grief Group Group members are invited to share about their process with all types of loss ranging from the death of a loved one, the end of a relationship, a loss of identity, changes in health or level of functioning, and more. This is an opportunity to lessen the sense of loneliness we often experience with grief and support one another in finding meaning and healing. Intrusive Thoughts Group In this process group, we discuss intrusive thoughts, paranoid ideation, hearing voices, and/or hallucinations. Also, we share information on how to understand these phenomena as well as how to cope with them as adaptively as we can. Intrusive Thoughts Handouts Paranoid Ideation [PDF] LGBTQIA+ Group NOTE: This group is intended only for clients who identify as LGBTQIA+. Clients share, reflect, and get feedback on their struggles and goals, as seen and experienced through the lens of LGBTQIA+ identity. Issues often include: coming out; self-discernment; coping with rejection; negotiating polyamorous relationships; sexual health and expression; intersections of gender, sexual, and other identity dimensions; and recovering from familial, cultural, and institutional trauma. 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ Movement Group This group utilizes movement to promote well-being. The group activity varies each week and is able to be adapted to all bodies participating. Neurodiverse Support Group This process group offers a safe, compassionate space for individuals who identify as neurodiverse (e.g. on the Autism spectrum, or live with other neurodevelopmental issues) to discuss their unique experiences and the ways in which it can be challenging to function in a society that values “neurotypical” traits. In this group, we validate that there is no one right way of thinking, learning, and behaving, and take a strengths-based approach to managing differences. Recovery and Coping with Shame Group This group addresses the impact of deeply held shame on mental health challenges in general, and how shame has an impact on addiction and compulsive behavior. We frequently address shame as an emotional state that interferes with intimacy, friendship, goals, and sobriety. We offer support and how to move forward with life's ambitions and to decrease the influence of shame so that we are more willing to act in the service of our values and needs. Relationships Group This is a process group that creates a safe container to address relationship issues, identify patterns in relationships, and work on personal boundaries and self-care. Suicidality Talk Group NOTE: This group requires prior approval to join. Please consult with your counselor before joining this group for the first time. This group offers a safe space to discuss suicide ideation and how to deal with it for those who are dealing with acute or chronic suicidality. Group attendance requires a discussion with and clearance from your La Cheim therapist in order to join the group. Survivor Support Group NOTE: This group requires prior approval to join. Please consult with your counselor before joining this group for the first time. This group offers a supportive space to discuss the multi-faceted impacts of sexual violence. Group attendance requires a discussion and clearance from your La Cheim therapist to join the group. Clients approved by their counselor are welcome regardless of gender or identity. Survivor Support Group Handouts Survivor Support Group Norms [PDF] The Working World In this process group, members share and discuss issues related to work, school, retirement, and volunteering. Topics vary each week. Past topics have included issues of occupation-related identity and self-esteem, issues and rights related to return to work, exploring jobs, school, and career interests, matching work styles and preferences to daily work, navigating changes in ability and occupation, building work-life balance, and understanding/improving professional relationships. In addition to sharing concerns and providing feedback, facilitator may provide practical guidance and help, and on occasion, may present materials of general interest to the group. The Working World Handouts Work Issues: Returning After a Medical/Disability Leave [PDF] SKILL-BUILDING, COPING, & SELF-EXPRESSION GROUPS (12:45 PM - 1:45 PM) Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (A