Adolescents experience a series of rapid changes in a very short period of time when it comes to various areas of their lives, like their bodies, their social lives, and their academic lives. While some teens are able to navigate these changes quite well naturally, others may develop mental health disorders like anxiety or depression or develop substance abuse issues and eating disorders as a means to get a sense of control in their daily lives. The good news? Help is out there for your child, and one great resource is a residential program at a nearby treatment center. If your child is experiencing mental health issues or behavior changes that need to be addressed, here are three things a residential treatment program can do for your teen.
1. It can give them the support they need to identify and address their mental health or behavioral problems.
Teens who are struggling may not know exactly why they feel the way they feel or what to do about it. This can leave both you and your child feeling helpless. Residential treatment for adolescents gives you access to a clinically trained team of specialists (therapists, psychiatrists, etc.) with years of experience in treating a range of issues (mood disorders, substance abuse, self-harm) so that your child can shine a light on what they’re dealing with and work through it. More importantly, residential treatment gives your child the safe haven they need to eliminate stressors as they work through their trauma and a customized treatment plan focused on long-term healing and success. No matter what your teen is dealing with or where they’re at in their lives, a residential treatment center is equipped with everything your teen needs to get started on their path to healing and happiness.
2. It helps them explore their feelings in a wide variety of therapeutic modalities.
There’s no one singular path to healing. In fact, your teen will be able to explore a wide range of therapeutic modalities designed to help them explore their feelings and work through their trauma. At the most basic level, the different types of therapies offered include group therapy, individual therapy, and family therapy. However, there are different types of therapies within each of these as well, including more traditional models like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or dialectal behavioral therapy (DBT), as well as more creative treatments like art therapy and music therapy. No matter what speaks to young adults, there’s a treatment program at a residential treatment center that incorporates these elements to successfully treat your teen.
3. It can connect them with resources they need to target specific issues.
There are certain issues that can be treated in therapy. However, other issues like substance abuse can require more intensive medical care in a specialized setting, as the consequences of adolescent substance abuse can be as impactful on their mental health as it is on their physical. If your child turns to substances as a means to deal with mood disorders, a residential treatment center can help your teen seek out help with a treatment center that specializes in helping young people with substance use disorders. Once they have received the medical care that they need, they can continue their care to treat the underlying issues causing their alcohol or drug use.
Teens need a place where they feel safe, stress-free, and cared for as they navigate mental health care. If you’re looking for a supportive environment that offers the level of care your teen needs to successfully take care of whatever they’re dealing with, consider the three benefits of a residential treatment program above and reach out to one in your area to learn more.