Outpatient treatment at Gulfport Behavioral Health System is designed to help individuals overcome emotional or mental health issues using part-time outpatient programs, full-time outpatient programs, medication management or transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). It is for individuals who need continued mental and behavioral treatment but do not require the intensive 24-hour care provided by inpatient treatment programs.

Gulfport Behavioral’s Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) is a full-time outpatient (20+ hours per week) that is great way for patients to ease their way back into life following a mental or behavioral health crisis that led to an inpatient stay or to help avoid inpatient stay.

Gulfport Behavioral’s Partial Hospitalization Program include therapies such as:

• Focused treatment for depression, anxiety and other mood disorders
• Mental and Behavioral health evaluations and monitoring of medication by a physician
• Five Intensive Group Therapy Sessions Daily – Monday through Friday
• Individualized treatment by our dedicated treatment team staff
• A balanced lunch provided daily.
• A supportive environment, teaching life enrichment skills.
• Strengthening positive coping skills that will assist individuals in overcoming the challenges of life
• A less restrictive environment than inpatient programs which allows individuals to maintain a home and/or work life.

Assistance with FMLA and Short Term Disability paperwork is available if you are unable to work currently due to your condition.

Gulfport Behavioral’s Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) is a parttime (9 to 10 hours per week) program that provides patients with supportive treatment as they work to re-engage their life. Many patients step down from an inpatient setting or a Partial program (full-time outpatient) to an IOP as a way to slowly test coping techniques learned.

Gulfport Behavioral’s IOP include therapies such as:

• Focused treatment for depression, anxiety, and other mood disorders
• Mental and Behavioral evaluations and monitoring of medication by a physician
• Individualized treatment by our dedicated treatment team
• Teaching life enrichment skills and coping skills in a supportive environment

Groups are structured in half days so that participants have the option of balancing their work schedules and day to day activities, which provides the ability to return to group each day with new challenges to process.

Assistance with FMLA and Short Term Disability paperwork is available if you are unable to work currently due to your condition.

Board-certified adult psychiatrists at Gulfport Behavioral offer outpatient medication management services to address mental and behavioral health problems and diagnoses. The goal is to optimize medication therapy and improve outcomes for people taking those medications, especially those who have several chronic conditions and take several medications to manage them. Medication therapy management can help patients meet their goals, increase their optimal functioning and enrich their lives.

The medications that affect mood or thought process are called psychotropics. Psychiatrists specialize in prescribing these types of medications that can address depression, mood imbalances and other types of mental health issues.

Your provider will share information regarding the types of medications prescribed to you and potential side effects. For many, a trial of the medication is required to determine if the benefits outweigh any potential side effects. If you experience unwanted side effects, make sure to consult your provider. Some medications require a gradual discontinuation because abrupt cessation can worsen symptoms.

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a non-invasive procedure commonly used to treat depression. It uses magnetic pulse to stimulate brain cells that control mood. This treatment option is for moderately treatment-resistant patients and people not able to tolerate antidepressant medications.

During the non-invasive procedure, patients are seated in a reclining chair and a padded electromagnetic coil is placed against the scalp near the forehead. The coil is focused on the limbic system structures of the brain, which control emotional and behavioral patterns. Treatments usually take place over a period of four to six weeks. With successful TMS treatment, depression symptoms may improve or go away completely.

NeuroStar TMS Advanced Therapy

Outpatient programs can serve as transitions from or alternatives to inpatient treatment. The level of care recommend to an individual is determined by the results of a no-cost, confidential assessment. Gulfport Behavioral’s outpatient programs are geared toward adults and in some instances adolescents.

We proudly offer all our programs to active military members and their families through TRICARE®.

To schedule an appointment, please call 228-236-2000 or 800-831-1700.