When you are experiencing the symptoms of a mental health concern, it is essential to get the level of care that meets you where you are in your healing journey.
The partial hospitalization program (PHP) at Tower Behavioral Health is an ideal level of care for adults ages 18-65 who need structured outpatient care without round-the-clock monitoring.
Benefits of Partial Hospitalization Programming
Our partial hospitalization program offers therapy six hours per day, Monday-Friday, providing a more structured therapeutic environment than an intensive outpatient program (IOP) or traditional outpatient program provides. At Tower Behavioral Health in Reading, Pennsylvania, you can step down to our PHP from a higher level of care or enter directly at the PHP level.
Taking part in the PHP at Tower Behavioral Health offers many benefits, including:
- Convenience: You can go home once the treatment day ends, allowing you to continue going to work or participating in other activities outside of therapy.
- Support network: During group therapy sessions, you’ll have the opportunity to build strong bonds with others who have shared similar experiences with a mental health concern.
- Real-life skills: The more flexible therapy schedule gives you the opportunity to apply the skills you’ve gained in therapy to real-life situations.
Our PHP is best suited for people who are at risk for inpatient hospitalization or recently completed inpatient treatment and still need a structured level of care. We make all admissions decisions for our PHP on an individual basis after completing a detailed intake assessment of each patient.
The Care Experience
When you seek support in the partial hospitalization program at our Reading, Pennsylvania, facility, you will follow a plan of care that we tailor to your specific needs. We will gather the information we need to customize your care through a detailed assessment of your medical history, the nature and severity of your symptoms, and your recovery goals.
Although we personalize everyone’s care, there are some common elements, including:
- Multiple types of group therapy each day
- Family therapy at least once during treatment
- Experiential therapy as needed
- Medication management
Group therapy will be a primary component of the care you receive in our PHP, with discussions covering topics such as distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and mindfulness. We also provide lunch so that you can have opportunities to build relationships with other participants in the program.
We monitor each person’s progress and use the treatment modalities we believe will lead to the best outcomes. These may include:
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
- Psychoeducation
- Activity therapy
Most people receive care in our partial hospitalization program for eight to 12 days, but your length of stay will depend on your individual progress.
Meet Your Team
Meet Maria P., our Director!
With an impressive 25-year tenure in social work, Maria Picciotti has cultivated a deep understanding of the field. Before stepping into her role at Tower Behavioral Health (TBH) as the ACT Director of Clinical Services in 2020, Maria’s career has been rich in its diversity, with experiences spanning from case management to individual, couples, and group therapy. Maria has demonstrated her expertise in crisis intervention, suicide prevention, and pivotal program development, with significant undertakings in staff supervision and budget management within community mental health settings.
Maria’s commitment is evident in her genuine appreciation for personal client interactions. She champions a person-centered, strength-based approach, ensuring that care is tailored to individual needs while anchored by a solid program foundation. This approach has proven effective at TBH, as Maria has seen its positive impact in both inpatient and outpatient contexts. Now, as the Director of Outpatient Services, Maria is poised to elevate TBH’s outpatient programs, aiming for a holistic and consistent approach to care.
Meet Maria D., our Program Supervisor!
Maria Valeri de Colina is a seasoned mental health professional with a robust background in clinical counseling, now stepping into the role of Manager for the Outpatient Partial Hospitalization Program. With over nine years of experience in the field, Maria’s career began in 2015 as a Bilingual Evaluator at COVE Behavioral Health in Tampa, Florida. Her roles at COVE, including as Counselor in Outpatient Services, Counselor in Men’s Residential Services, and Counselor in Family Intensive Treatment, highlight her expertise in treatment planning, crisis intervention, and program development. In February 2023, Maria joined Tower Behavioral Health, in Reading, as a full-time Community-Based Therapist. Maria’s expertise in delivering therapeutic services, managing diverse client caseloads, and leading multidisciplinary teams has been further enriched by her certifications and advanced training. Known for her dedication and exceptional problem-solving abilities, she is well-prepared to drive the success of the Outpatient Partial Hospitalization Program and enhance patient care outcomes.
Meet Leola, one of our therapists!
Hello, my name is Leola Bungie, and I am overjoyed to be a part of the PHP family. My desire is to meet the goals of the facility with an emphasis on patient-centered care! Respect for people and their individual goals as well as being present and mindful of their needs is important to me as I seek to assist patients to embrace new patterns of behavior and walk in wellness. I have a Master’s degree in Psychology with a concentration on Applied Behavior Analysis. I have worked as a family-based therapist in systemic therapy within Berks County, also in a residential treatment facility with adolescents from the age of 12 through 18 with severe emotional and behavioral challenges. I also worked with people on the Autism Spectrum and people with developmental disabilities where I was the therapist and employee/ patient trainer in five counties specializing in assisting people to gain skills to acclimate in society. In addition, I have worked with sexual offenders in detention as well. I am in the process of getting my license as a Behavioral Specialist.
Meet Elisa, one of our therapists!
Hello, my name is Elisa Santiago, it’s a blessing and honor to be a part of the PHP program. I earned my Master of Science in Forensic Psychology in 2022 followed by my Post grad Certificate in Applied Behavioral Analysis. With a caring and compassionate approach, I focus on fostering the well-being and equipping individuals with valuable coping skills. I enjoy working and advocating for clients who are struggling with their behavioral and mental health. I want to be able to ensure a safe, warm and empathic environment where my clients can explore their challenges and collaboratively work towards health and healing. I use an integrated therapeutic approach utilizing Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectic Behavioral Therapy and Mindfulness that fit my client’s needs.
My career started in 2015 in the behavioral/mental health field I started off as a Behavioral Medical Assistant at a partial hospitalization program in the berk’s county area working closing by the psychiatrists dealing with clients who were struggling with their mental health while helping them navigate their mental health challenges and find resilience through their healing process. I also worked in a residential facility working as a case manager supervisor then promoted to a clinician, I as well obtained my certificate as a Safe Crisis Management Trainer within this facility. I worked with adolescents from the ages 12 through 21 years of age with severe behavioral issues in addition I worked with sexual offenders in the treatment floor of the residential facility. Upon completing my post grad, I work as a Behavioral Consultant working in a school setting with adolescents on the Autism spectrum, intellectual disabilities and behavioral issues ranging from ages 5 and older in Kindergarten through 12 grades in high school.
I am in the process of obtaining my supervision hours to be able to obtain my license as a Licensed Professional Counselor as well as a Behavioral Analysis. I am always looking for learning new skills and opportunities to help me gain more experience in my career path.
Thank you for allowing me to introduce myself!
Meet Milly, one of our therapists!
Milly earned her Master of Social Work with a concentration in Advanced Clinical Practice from Walden University in Minneapolis, MN. She is currently working towards her LSW licensure. Milly enjoys working with teens, adults, families, and couples in a wide range of ages. She has worked with PTSD, anxiety, depression, self-harm/ suicidal ideation, substance/ alcohol use, hospice, grief and more. Milly also has training in Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), strengths-based, person-centered approaches, and Emotional Focused Individual Therapy (EFIT). A few areas of clinical interest include family systems, parenting, attachment, couples work, and mindfulness as well as supporting clients as they navigate grief, anxiety, communication, and adjustments/transitions. Milly sees the client as the true “expert” in their own life and she sees herself as a guide and mentor along the way. She likes to use humor and be authentic and genuine in the therapy process. Milly’s personal interests include spending time with her family, as well as going out for walks, traveling, and snuggling with her two cats while reading.
Meet Mary, our Administrative Assistant/Behavioral Health Associate!
Mary started working in behavioral and mental healthcare right out of high school in 2017 as a Psych tech in an area emergency department. She transitioned to multiple different roles within the healthcare and emergency services fields but knew that one day she wanted to work in mental healthcare again. In 2021 Mary started working for TBH in the Partial Program. What is unique about Mary’s position (and the thing she truly loves) is being dually trained as an Administrative Assistant and a Behavioral Health Associate, so she is able to run a group at Partial and also works in the main hospital as needed on different patient units. Mary is certified in Mental Health First Aid and is able to provide a safe, empathetic space for patients to process when needed. Mary takes pride in being able to validate and make sure patients’ needs are met. She is always looking for new learning opportunities to help her gain more experience in the field.
Continuing Care
You will do important work in our partial hospitalization program that helps you learn to manage the symptoms that have disrupted your life. When you’re ready to transition out of our care, we want to make sure that you continue with that success for years to come.
At Tower Behavioral Health, we will begin to create your continuing care plan as soon as you enter our PHP so that you leave with the most comprehensive plan possible. Before you leave our facility, we will make the appropriate referral, whether that is for a higher level of care or for outpatient therapy, case management services, or peer support services. Our goal is to equip you with the resources you need to stay on your healing journey long into the future.
This content was written on behalf of and reviewed by the clinical staff at Tower Behavioral Health.
