Adult Day Hospital Program

Overlake Medical Center’s Day Hospital Program of is based on the belief that patients seeking care for psychiatric illnesses should have an option to engage in intensive treatment while also minimizing disruption to family, work or school and community.

The program offers brief, intensive therapy designed to meet the specific needs of patients aged 18 and older who are seeking stabilization for mood-related disorders such as severe depression and anxiety. The Day Hospital Program is often used as an effective alternative to inpatient services.

Personalized treatment is provided in a group setting, Monday-Friday for six hours each day, for an average of five to eight days. Duration of treatment varies depending on each patient’s specific needs. The Day Hospital Program is located in an outpatient clinic and is independent of inpatient psychiatric care. Read our frequently asked questions. 

The daily program structure includes evidence-based treatment methods including medication management with the provider participation, group therapies, activity therapies, individualized treatment planning and family or friend support. The goal of the program is the development and improvement of specific coping skills, with the benefit of being able to practice these skills immediately at home. The program focuses on medication management and the core therapies described below. See the weekly schedule for more details.

To reach the Overlake Medical Center’s Day Hospital Program, please call 425.688.5681.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Cognitive behavioral therapy helps patients become aware of inaccurate or negative thinking so they can view challenging situations more clearly and respond to them in a more effective way.

Interpersonal Therapy

Interpersonal therapy focuses on building skills that develop and support healthy relationships with others. These sessions include activities designed to develop clear communication and assertiveness skills, maintain healthy boundaries, and cope with the impact of conflict, loss and guilt on relationships.

Life Balance Therapy

Life balance therapy provides exploration of the benefits of a good, healthy structure, as well as a balance within that structure. Patients will be encouraged to take small steps to re-engage in helpful activities including work or responsibilities, self-care, and healthy leisure as well as improving healthy coping by practicing self-soothing, mindfulness, self-compassion, and relaxation skills.

Medication Management

The medication management and check-in component of the program is led by the psychiatric provider. The provider will assume oversight of the each patient’s medication management and coordinate care with any existing outpatient providers. This offers patients the opportunity to have daily interaction with their provider and receive ongoing evaluation of medication changes. This aspect of the Day Hospital Program is also an opportunity to gain medication knowledge and psychological education.

Provider Referral

To be admitted to the Day Hospital Program, individuals will need a referral from their outpatient provider—download the referral form. 

Patients may initiate contact with the Day Hospital Program, be referred by outpatient providers, or access treatment after visiting an emergency department or being discharged from an inpatient psychiatric unit. An individual evaluation is scheduled in advance of starting the program, and treatment goals are then established to be the core focus of each patient’s individualized care.

A Day Hospital Program treatment plan will be developed for each individual with the treatment team to support continued recovery. The patient’s care will be coordinated with each outpatient provider for the purpose of a successful transition. Upon discharge from the program, the goal is for the patient to have completed all of the initially-established treatment goals and confirmed a follow-up plan for continued care.