“There is something about practicing creativity—making mistakes, goofing around, getting curious, building something with somebody, taking risks in a regular way—that is really helpful.…
Redefining whole-person care
Ellenhorn, the most robust “treatment without walls” program in the United States, is an innovative alternative to intensive outpatient, residential and hospital-based care. At Ellenhorn we believe that true healing can only be achieved when social connections, community and relationships are prioritized. We integrate the often-overlooked social elements of recovery and combine exceptional psychiatric treatment and curated forms of therapy to help our clients live purposeful and productive lives.
In other words: We provide whole-person care that is truly whole. Our goal is to empower our clients and help them rediscover their sense of value, belonging and hope.
WHAT MAKES US DIFFERENT
01
LEADERS IN COMMUNITY INTEGRATION
Community integration is a powerful way to organize care for individuals experiencing psychiatric events. Unlike outpatient therapy that requires travel to clinics or residential programs that sequester clients, this approach allows clients to live independently while receiving intensive outreach-based support—a multidisciplinary approach that fosters independence, connection and long-term recovery.
02
A HOSPITAL WITHOUT WALLS
Ellenhorn's "hospital without walls" approach is rooted in the PACT model, offering up to 30 hours of personalized care each week. What truly sets us apart is the seamless communication and coordination within our multidisciplinary team — ensuring every provider works in concert, sharing insights and adapting care in real-time. By bringing this level of collaboration directly into our clients’ environments, we offer intensive, flexible support for those experiencing complex psychiatric events without disrupting their sense of belonging in their community.
03
INNOVATIVE PSYCHIATRY
Our psychiatrists maintain small caseloads and are fully integrated members of our teams. Our multidisciplinary approach ensures individualized person-centered treatment. By combining approaches like metabolic psychiatry and Open Dialogue, we offer cutting-edge therapies that go beyond medication and empower clients to achieve lasting social and psychological wellness.
04
SUPPORTIVE LIVING
Ellenhorn’s alternative to residential and intensive outpatient services empowers clients to recover independently in their own residences across Boston, New York and Los Angeles. For those seeking group living, we offer Brackett House outside of Boston as well as trusted partner programs in Los Angeles and New York City.
05
INTEGRATED CO-OCCURRING CARE
Ellenhorn is a leader in Integrated Dual Disorder Treatment (IDDT), an evidence-based model for treating co-occurring psychiatric and substance-use challenges that treats intertwined issues simultaneously. Multidisciplinary teams provide intensive, personalized care that helps clients recover and foster real connection, purpose and hope. It’s care that truly heals the whole person.
Our model is based on one important premise: Social experiences and psychiatric recovery are intertwined.
PACT
A Single-Source Multidisciplinary Team Approach
Ellenhorn uses the most researched and evidence-based best-practice model for people who experience psychiatric events, called the Program of Assertive Community Treatment (PACT). Unlike traditional models, PACT brings together a multidisciplinary team of experts to provide highly personalized treatment where our clients live, work and play, while addressing psychiatric symptoms. With 24/7 support and flexibility, we empower individuals to recover in the real world without the need for residential or hospital settings.




“When I First Came To Ellenhorn, I Was Completely Lost. For Over 10 Years I Had Tried To Find A Place To Help Me. Being Dual Diagnosed, And Going From One Failed Treatment After Another, I Gave Myself One More Chance Before Giving Up.”
Previous Ellenhorn Client
“The holistic nature of the program is exactly what we needed—therapy for family, for our son, and a safe environment in which he can learn and grow and learn to grow independent.”
Client Parent
“I don’t think my son would be where he is today without the help and support from his team. The approach used by Ellenhorn is exactly what he needed.”
Client Parent
“The team is very organized and truly cared about me. They literally kept me alive during the really bad times. Everyone is excellent.”
Previous Ellenhorn Client
“Thank you, Ellenhorn, for radically helping our daughter in her healing and giving her hope and the tools she needs to move forward. Not only did you teach her the skills and tools, but you worked alongside her until she could use them without prompting.”
Client Parent
“We felt so comfortable when it was time for our daughter to be discharged from care. We could see that she could cope with the challenges life will bring while also being comfortable with the knowledge that recovery is not a constant upward slope.”
Client Parent
“I was skeptical of Ellenhorn's program when we began. My child had been in so many programs so I wasn't very hopeful that Ellenhorn would help. I was shielding myself from disappointment. I am SO impressed with the team at Ellenhorn.”
Client Parent
“We are so grateful for the full team approach and how we were encouraged to and able to step out of the caregiving role in every aspect of their care.”
Client Parent
“Every city could use an Ellenhorn program. The model they have come up with and the team approach is unprecedented in other areas of the country.”
Previous Ellenhorn Client
Events
Mar 19
, 2025
12:00pm EDT
Virtual
This program series will emphasize the importance of a therapist’s unique personality and self, with a question of how to embrace this and bring these characteristics to the healing environment.
Education Virtual
Mar 26
, 2025
3:00pm EDT
Virtual
BPD: The Origin of MBT | Robin Kissell, MD (Mentalizing Initiative)
Virtual
Apr 9
, 2025
3:00pm EDT
Virtual
IRL (In Real Life): Mentalizing with Teens in Mind | Natalie Brooks, MA, LMFT (Mentalizing Initiative)
Virtual
January 14, 2025
In this webinar, we cover the theoretical background of mentalization, explore the why, how, and who of mentalizing, and provide practical and clinical examples.…