Step Down Care

If you’ve received intensive outpatient or residential mental health care and are ready to step down into a less intense treatment, see the experts at Axis Integrated Mental Health in Boulder, Denver, and Westminster, Colorado. The exceptional mental health team provides step-down care to patients. Schedule an in-person or telehealth evaluation by calling the office or booking an appointment online today.

What is step-down care?

As the name implies, step-down care at Axis Integrated Mental Health involves a step down from intense, frequent, or inpatient treatment. For example, a patient might be ready to step down (receive a less intense form of care) after completing an intensive outpatient program (IOP) or a partial hospitalization program (PHP).  

Step-down care bridges the gap between high-intensity treatment with services like psychiatry, medication management, and TMS tailored to support your recovery.

What are the goals of step-down mental health care?

The goal of mental health treatment at Axis Integrated Mental Health is to minimize the risk of relaspe or the need for inpatient hospitalization by providing effective medication management, evidence-based treatments and therapy to support recovery.

Am I a candidate for step-down care?

The Axis Integrated Mental Health team discusses your medical history, medications, treatment plan, and previous mental health care. They also complete a psychiatric evaluation to determine if you have any of the following or another condition where step-down care is necessary:

• Anxiety disorders
• Depression
• Bipolar disorder
• Substance use disorder
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) 
• Eating disorders
• Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)

Your condition and progress during past treatments determine whether you’re a candidate for step-down care at Axis Integrated Mental Health.

What should I expect during step-down care?

A step-down treatment plan at Axis Integrated Mental Health varies from person to person based on their individualized needs. Your program might include:

• Integrative psychiatry
• Talk therapy (psychotherapy)
• Medication management
• Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)
• Nutritional psychiatry
• Social Prescribing

A step down would mean your treatment plan progresses from intense to more moderate. For example, you might receive a lower dosage of medication or less frequent psychotherapy sessions in an outpatient setting.

The Axis Integrated Mental Health team works closely with other providers or programs when necessary to ensure you achieve a successful outcome and the exceptional care you deserve. 

The practice is the only clinic in the state of Colorado to offer a TMS treatment scholarship to patients with a demonstrated financial need, and the team calls insurance companies on a patient’s behalf to minimize out-of-pocket costs.

Schedule an in-person or virtual step-down evaluation at Axis Integrated Mental Health by calling the office or booking an appointment online today.

Why Step-Down Care Matters in Your Mental Health Recovery

Recovery doesn’t end when intensive treatment does—and that’s where step-down care plays a crucial role. At Axis Integrated Mental Health, we understand that lasting mental health requires ongoing, personalized support. Step-down care helps you transition smoothly from a high level of care (like inpatient, PHP, or IOP) to a more sustainable outpatient routine without losing momentum in your healing process.

This level of care is designed for people who have made progress but still need structure, accountability, and expert guidance to stay on track. Whether you’re managing treatment-resistant depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, or co-occurring conditions, step-down care allows you to continue treatment with the right level of support, not too much, not too little.

Our integrative psychiatry approach combines evidence-based medication management, innovative treatments like TMS therapy, and whole-person strategies such as nutritional psychiatry and social prescribing. We coordinate closely with referring providers and previous programs to create a seamless handoff—because continuity of care is essential for real progress.

Unlike generic outpatient clinics, Axis offers a team-based model that ensures you’re never left guessing about your next step. You’ll have access to psychiatric evaluations, therapy, and advanced options that keep your care plan dynamic and responsive.

If you're searching for "step-down mental health care near me," "alternatives to inpatient psychiatric care," or "continuing care after IOP," you're in the right place. Axis is here to help you stabilize, grow, and thrive—at your own pace, with the right team behind you.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is step-down mental health care?

2. Who is step-down care for?

3. How is step-down care different from in-patient care?

4. Why is it important to have step-down care set-up before a patient is discharged from an IOP, PHP, or in-patient program? 

5. Does insurance cover step-down mental health care?