Recovery can mean a lot of things to a lot of people, but what it means when you are talking about recovery from addiction and mental illness is complete abstinence. You can’t dabble here and there. An alcoholic can’t smoke weed, and a pothead can’t drink; a heroin addict can’t have a drink now and again and an anorexic or bulimic can’t go on juice cleanses every so often. They just can’t. It’s not wise action or safe behavior. It’s also not indicative of abstinence.
Being sober and in recovery means:
You don’t drink or use drugs. Period.
You eat mindfully and healthfully if you are recovering from an eating disorder.
You have a recovery program that you are a part of and that you continue to participate in: 12-step, Refuge Recovery, Al-Anon, et cetera.
You are of service to others.
You are seeking mental health care if you need it.
You are getting help from someone who has been doing this longer than you have and are on a recovery path that you admire.
You learn to ask for help and accept help when it is offered.
Your relationships are stable or are becoming more and more stable as your recovery time increases.
If you are required to take medication, you do so under the care of a physician who is aware of your addiction history. You can’t go rogue here.
Recovery is one of those things where there really is no grey area. You’re either in…or you’re out. When we come across someone on the slippery slope of relapse or in the full swing of addiction, what we may find is a chorus of denial and accusations of judgment. An addict certainly doesn’t want to hear that they are slipping down the rabbit hole.
The delusion of addiction tells them that they are just fine.
What can we as family members and loved ones do?
We have to maintain strong boundaries. If we are in recovery ourselves, it’s a good time to reaffirm our own programs, and ensure we are staying grounded and that our needs our met. Remember that in order to help others, it’s important that we help ourselves first.
We may need to reach out to therapists and arrange an intervention for our loved one, or we may need to make that phone call to a treatment facility to get our son or daughter into treatment.
No matter what the next step is, we must make sure we do it with firm boundaries, compassion, and love in our hearts.
The suffering involved in untreated addiction and mental illness is great. Dysregulation is common, along with anger, resentment, and a feeling of isolation. Family systems often start to show signs of wear, if they weren’t already. Addiction doesn’t magically appear! It’s important that the family is ready and willing to begin the work of recovery as well and come to accept that it’s not just the addict in the “hot seat” of recovery.
Addiction has increased among adolescents due to various factors such as social networking. When addiction takes over, treatment should be sought. Visions Adolescent Treatment Centers have successfully provided mental health, substance abuse and family treatment since 2002. Most adolescents come from southern California, others from big cities like New York City, Chicago and International. Visions’ treatment programs accept adolescents 13 to 18 years old.
Addiction symptoms vary in each person but there are a few common ones that can be observed requiring adolescent addiction treatment.
No longer caring about a neat personal appearance in public.
A child once social suddenly turns to isolation avoiding large gatherings.
Old friends are dropped for new ones who are bad influences.
Dramatic drop in work or school performance and frequent absences.
Mood Swings often change between exhilarating highs and depressing lows.
A child showing the signs listed or exhibiting similar suspicious behavior may require adolescent addiction treatment.
The cost of adolescent addiction treatment varies by geographical area, insurance, type and duration of treatment needed to name a few. Treatment is not cheap but it will come out cheaper than other unfortunate outcomes such as hospitalization or incarceration. Visions offers inpatient treatment and several outpatient treatment programs which differ in cost.
Visions Adolescent Residential Treatment
Visions Residential for adolescent addiction treatment is a 25-acre gated community that lies on the hills of Malibu, California. The facility offers a home-like setting surrounded by nature. Male and female quarters are separate and observed by a Day and Night Staff. Crisis Intervention is available on a 24-hour basis. Residents stay between 45 to 90 days depending on the severity of symptoms.
A Medical Doctor conducts a history and physical to determine admission for adolescent addiction treatment. The Psychiatric Director then performs a psychiatric evaluation. All counseling services are performed by trained personnel under the supervision of a Program Director. All residents are assigned a Licensed Therapist and Counselor. Other specialists are called upon as needed.
Psychologist
Supervising Nurse
Registered Dietitian
Equine Therapist
Art Therapist
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Visions’ cost includes an on-site school. Each patient attends three hours of individual schooling with a personalized curriculum. Conditioning is offered five times a week for 1 hour with a “tailor-made” physical fitness plan. All Visions adolescent addiction treatment includes family counseling. It is proven that therapy is more effective with the support of family members. Family Passes are a unique incentive for adolescents who do well. Sundays and Mondays are reserved for outings such as museums, movies and parks.
Visions Residential cost the most since it is a boarding facility that provides 24-hour counseling and care. Visions Residential is a private pay program and full payment is required from the family. Our team will assist with insurance benefit verification & utilization review.
Visions Adolescent Outpatient Counseling
Visions has two Los Angeles locations for outpatient adolescent addiction treatment. Sessions are held 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm allowing the teen to continue normal daily activities before sessions and afterwards retire to a home with a supportive family.
1st Step Program is the introduction to the beginning of the treatment process.
8 Weeks of Clinical Support
2 to 3 Nights Per Week Including:
1 Individual Session
Intensive Outpatient Program is the next step in the adolescent addiction treatment.
1 Year of Clinical Support
Individual Sessions
Family Sessions
The 12-Step Program is implemented for adolescents with addictive behaviors. Drug testing is performed each week for the safety of the patients.
Visions Outpatient adolescent addiction treatment costs less than the inpatient program since it is only in the evenings. Visions Outpatient works out of network with insurance. We will provide the following services to our Outpatient families: Benefit Verification, Pre-Authorization, Utilization Review, Billing & Collections.
Visions Alumni Program
The Fourth Dimension is free of charge to graduates of the inpatient and outpatient adolescent addiction treatment programs. Aftercare groups and self-help groups are offered on an on-going basis. Individual sessions are available on a fee for service basis. The Visions Alumni Coordinator makes support calls for relapse prevention or crisis intervention.
Visions holds Alumni Events each year.
Alumni vs. Staff Softball Game
Alumni Family Weekend
Winter Ski/Snowboard Trip
Knott’s Scary Farm Night
Magic Mountain
Visions Residential and Visions Outpatient share similar objectives for adolescent addiction treatment.
Encourage and motivate the adolescent to achieve and sustain abstinence.
Assist the adolescent in identifying situations where drugs and alcohol were used to cope with life’s problems, and in understanding that using drugs and alcohol to cope with or solve problems does not work.
Help the adolescent to develop new, more effective problem-solving strategies.
Adolescent addiction treatment is different due to their unique developmental issues, contradictions in value, and environmental considerations such as peer pressure. Visions centers consists of highly skilled professionals who use current techniques and modalities. Visions founding clinicians have stayed on while several dynamic team members have been added for success of the program.
Visions Adolescent Treatment Centers accept most private insurance. Coverage varies with each insurance company. Coverage for adolescent addiction treatment can be looked into by calling the insurance company and inquiring about the cost difference for inpatient and outpatient treatment. Self-Payment is accepted and can be made on a sliding scale. Sliding scale adjusts payment as agreed by the patient and Visions’ centers. MasterCard and Visa credit cards are acceptable forms of payment.
Please click below to schedule your consultation or call us at 866-889-3665.
Children constantly face difficulties due to their unique developmental issues, contradictions in values and peer pressure. Adolescent therapy must be approached different from adults. Since 2002, Visions Adolescent Treatment Centers have been providing clinically- based treatment options for adolescents and their families. Most patients come from southern California while others come from big cities like NYC, Chicago as well as internationally. Visions offers adolescent mental health treatment for ages 13 to 18 years old.
Children exhibiting the following symptoms may require adolescent mental health treatment:
Depression
Bipolar Disorder
Self-Harm
Personality Disorders
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Trauma
All Visions Adolescent Treatment Centers utilize highly skilled professionals who use effective techniques and current modalities. The original founding clinicians have stayed on while adding diverse team members for a successful treatment outcome.
Visions Adolescent Residential Treatment
Visions Residential is a 25 acre gated community in the hills of Malibu. A Mediterranean Style home provides a home-like setting conveying a sense of warmth and security. Sleeping quarters are separate for male and female residents with two to a room under supervision of a day and night staff. Crisis intervention is available on a 24-hour basis. Meals are served in a dining room. Children unable to join the others are served meal trays in their room.
A Medical Doctor conducts a history and physical to be medically cleared. The Psychiatric Director ensures that the initial psychiatric evaluation is properly performed. A Licensed Therapist and a Counselor work directly with the teen throughout the adolescent mental health treatment.
Other specialties called upon as needed:
Psychologists
Registered Dietitian
Equine Therapist
Supervising Nurse
Art Therapists
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Visions adolescent mental health treatment includes academic studies. Each student has a personalized education plan that is created to maintain the student’s current study curriculum. A physical fitness program “tailor-made’ for each individual is held 5 times a week for 1 hour under the supervision of the Activities Consultant.
Family members are strongly encouraged to participate in Visions adolescent mental health treatment. A minimum of 5 weekly hours are for family-focused therapy facilitated by the Family Therapist. Family Passes is a unique reward for well-behaved children. Outings every Sunday and Monday include movies, museums, the beach, go-cart racing, community service, ropes courses and rock climbing.
Goals of Visions residential adolescent mental health treatment:
Encourage and motivate the adolescent to achieve and sustain a healthy lifestyle;
Help the adolescent to develop new, more effective problem-solving strategies;
Assist the adolescent with recognizing and acknowledging the existence of destructive behaviors and mental health issues in their lives, and the impact they have on their family, friends and future.
Visions Residential is a private pay program and full payment is required from the family. Our team will assist with insurance benefit verification & utilization review.
Adolescent Outpatient Counseling
The outpatient center counsels after school hours allowing the child to engage in normal daily activities. Two locations in the Los Angeles area makes it convenient to receive adolescent mental health treatment.
1st Step Program is introduction to the beginning of the treatment process. Families and teens are helped with reintegrating into everyday life after long term treatment. Vision’s staff walk parents through the reality of their child’s new lifestyle.
8 Weeks of Clinical Support
2 to 3 Nights Per Week Including:
1 Individual Session
Each teen is assigned a personal counselor to work directly with throughout the adolescent mental health treatment. Family members are encouraged to attend weekly group sessions and individual family sessions.
Objectives of Visions Outpatient Counseling:
Help the adolescent recognize and change problematic attitudes which stimulate a relapse, behavioral or otherwise;
Assess and meet the psychological and psychiatric needs of the adolescent;
Assist the adolescent in identifying unhealthy and/or negative coping mechanisms.
Visions Outpatient works out of network with insurance. We will provide the following services to our Outpatient families: Benefit Verification, Pre-Authorization, Utilization Review, Billing & Collections.
The Fourth Dimension
Completion of the active adolescent mental health treatment program allows enrollment into Vision’s alumni program. Individual sessions are available on a charge for service basis. The Visions Alumni Coordinator makes support calls for crisis intervention or relapse prevention.
Annual Alumni Events:
Winter Ski/Snowboard Trip
Alumni Family Weekend
Alumni vs. Staff Softball Game
Knott’s Scary Farm Night
Magic Mountain
Visions Day School
Students unable to function in a mainstream environment are able to attend Visions Day School which provides a safe learning environment. Open enrollment allows a child to enter into the program anytime for continued schooling while receiving adolescent mental health treatment. Individualized educational plan is offered in remedial to honor level. Private tutoring is available beyond regular school days. Random weekly drug-tests are executed to provide a safe classroom environment.
Program highlights:
3 to 1 Student to Staff Ratio
Individualized 1-on-1 Instruction
Individualized Counseling
The curriculum is adjusted according to student goal. Visions graduates have continued on to esteemed colleges and universities.
Goals of Visions Day School:
Give adolescents a positive and clinically supported education;
Make-up courses missed due to extenuating circumstances;
Complete general education to reintegrate into a mainstream high school or complete academic curriculum to graduate.
Visions Centers offer cutting edge adolescent mental health treatment. Visions focuses not on the child alone but the family as a whole making them a premier choice for treatment. Early intervention can help the child better cope with obstacles down the road.
Please click below to schedule your consultation or call us at 866-889-3665.
Twelve years ago, Chris Shumow set out to create a treatment culture that cared deeply for both staff and clients. The Visions Family is lead with Chris as Dad. Day to day, he is dedicated to making sure Visions is providing treatment at its fullest potential.
Chris constantly pushes for what’s best for the kids and their families. He is still on the frontlines after all these years taking intake calls and welcoming families on campus in their deepest times of struggle. Chris is dedicated to working hand in hand with his clinical team, always pushing his team to think outside the box.
Shumow maintains a strong focus to keep Visions as a strong company, but he never forgets to care for each staff member as an individual. It is clear to all who surround him that Chris’ top priority in life is to be the best father to his herd of 4 children. Chris often reminds all of us, “In order to provide the best treatment for teens and families, we must first take great care of our staff.” This is evidenced in Chris’ every action.
The staff echoes this sentiment. Please read on!
Chris may be one of the most passionate and committed individuals for helping teens and families. Chris skillfully handles challenging situations with a gentle approach and determination to provide the best service to each family. I cannot think of a better person to have in my corner. – John Lieberman
He scared me in my interview 8 years ago. I’m pretty sure he only took a chance on me because I mentioned something about surfing to which he replied, “Surfers are good people.” Chris is truly that…a good person. I am forever in gratitude for the opportunities he has trusted me with. I still have a lot to learn from him. – Christina Howard
I can’t imagine a cooler boss. He’s just ridiculously kind, humble, down to earth, and hilarious. Understanding, generous, smart, the list goes on and on. – Jesse Engdahl
I met Chris Shumow some 12 years ago and took a chance with him on a company called Visions. He took a chance on me and I am still here. So, after 12 years I am still thrilled to come to work and I owe an infinite debt of gratitude to Chris (and of course his wife Amanda). Now we are both a bit older and much grayer, but all the more wiser and prosperous. – Daniel Dewey
He has always been a caring, interested and thoughtful boss. I feel fortunate. – Noelle Rodriguez
You can always count on Chris to tell it like it is, he’s such a great, loyal, humble man. — Roxie Fuller
I have learned so much from Chris about the work we do, but nothing resonates more than his insistence on always staying focused on the solution. The culture we have at Visions starts with him, this whole thing was his idea after all. – Patrick Schettler
It has been clear to me from day one that Chris cares about his “kids” more than anything else. I remember sitting in an office with him and tearing up about one of the clients who had gone off to college. “This is why we do this,” he said. His commitment to the health and well-being of the clients is why I’m still here after 9 years. – Joseph Rogers
I have worked with Chris for twelve years and he always operates with the best interests of our kids and parents in mind. – Bill Hoban
Fair, trustworthy, hardworking, loyal, and consistent are just a few words to describe Chris in the workplace. Who knew when we started 12 years ago with 6 beds and about as many staff that our “vision” would come to life the way it has? Chris has been on call for 12 of those years answering thousands of calls from desperate families 24 hours a day. He has become such an amazing leader and really has grown from the “operations guy” to the true CEO he is. (Although we hate titles!) He is well respected in the field of addictions and mental health. He is my partner in every way and I am so proud of his hard work. – Amanda Shumow
Refuge Recovery was birthed in direct response to the clear need for a viable, non-theistic approach to recovery. Noah, feeling disconnected from the 12 steps’ theistic philosophy, found deeper relief within the 4 Noble Truths and the 8-Fold Path of Buddhism. Many members of Against the Stream who were talking about similar difficulties pursued similar conversations. There was a need to shift the paradigm of 12-step recovery and open the door to an alternative path. Refuge Recovery doesn’t ask anyone to shift a belief system, nor does it require anyone to believe in something. It simply asks that you “trust the process and do the hard work of recovery.” You also don’t have to be Buddhist to participate.
The Four Truths of Recovery are:
1: We suffer due to our addictions and the general difficulties of being human in this world of constant change and loss.
2: Craving is a natural phenomenon; it is not our fault, but we are fully responsible for our healing and recovery.
3: We can fully recover and enjoy a life of sanity and well-being.
4: This is the path to recovery: the Eight-fold Path.
Refuge Recovery begins with the First Truth: addiction creates suffering. Understanding that addiction always creates suffering is crucial. Suffering is craving the next drink or drug. Suffering is the idea that you can’t get enough; Suffering is the loneliness and shame and isolation. Suffering is the desire for more pleasure and less pain, which we persistently seek in our addiction. Suffering shows its face in a multitude of maladaptive behaviors. Understanding this first truth and then accepting it as reality also means accepting that drink and drug aren’t an option any longer. Recognizing the multiple layers of suffering is encouraged through inventory work: “Without full acceptance and disclosure, recovery is not possible. We cannot skip this step; we must be thorough in our inventory process.” (page 6, RR)
The Second Truth asks you to do another inventory, this time seeking clarity and acceptance around the causative factors behind your craving. “The addict is not at fault for the root causes and conditions that lead to addiction, only for the habitual reactive patterns that perpetuate it.” (page 11, RR) More often than not, someone suffering from addiction is suffering from deep pain and dissatisfaction in their lives. Perhaps there is abuse, and drugs and alcohol help numb the pain; perhaps there is neglect, and drugs and alcohol make you forget. The reasons and root causes are many and they are varied, but they all lead to the same place: suffering.
The 8-Fold Path of Recovery directs us toward maintaining safety and creating a refuge from addiction. The Eight-Fold Path of Refuge Recovery is:
1: Understanding: We come to know that everything is ruled by cause and effect.
2: Intention: We renounce greed, hatred, and delusion. We train our minds to meet all pain with compassion and all pleasure with non-attached appreciation.
3: Communication/Commmunity: We take refuge in the community as a place to practice wise communication and to support others on their paths. We practice being careful, honest, and wise in our communications.
4: Action/Engagement: We let go of the behaviors that cause harm. We ask that one renounces violence, dishonesty, sexual misconduct, and intoxication. Compassion, honesty, integrity, and service are guiding principles.
5: Livelihood/Service: We are of service whenever and wherever possible. And we try and ensure that our means of livelihood are such that they don’t cause harm.
6: Effort/Energy: We commit to daily contemplative practices like meditation and yoga, exercise, and the practices of wise actions, kindness, forgiveness, compassion which lead to self-regulatory behaviors in difficult circumstances.
7: Mindfulness/Meditations: We develop wisdom by means of practicing formal mindfulness meditation. We practice present-time awareness in our lives.
8: Concentration/Meditations: We develop the capacity to focus the mind on one thing, such as the breath, or a phrase, training the mind through the practices of lovingkindness, compassion, and forgiveness to cultivate that which we want to uncover. (pages 24-26 RR)
What Refuge Recovery does is encourage practitioners to lean into their discomfort, investigate it, notice its impermanence, and begin to let it go. It encourages a deep shift in one’s relationship to suffering, creating an element of space around it, and it provides a unique ability to begin to care for your own suffering with compassion. Ultimately, we learn that we are not our suffering.
Refuge Recovery asks practitioners to know and understand that everything has a cause and effect and to take action to shift toward making better, wiser choice. Our actions are never without a reaction, good, bad or indifferent.
Refuge Recovery has been a deep, grounding cornerstone of my own recovery for the last 6 years. It has profoundly shifted how I view my own difficulties and allowed me to come to a deep understanding of how to hold my pain with compassion and approach my difficulties with kindness. It’s exciting to see this work come to fruition and to have been involved in the Refuge Recovery movement since its inception. I have been fortunate to witness the efficacy of Refuge Recovery for those who are just getting sober and for those with long-term sobriety, proving to me that this method works. It’s also been a wonderful alternative for clients struggling with the 12-step model; these same clients have embraced the Refuge Recovery process, finding relief from their suffering and formed a solid foundation of recovery and service.
There are regular Refuge Recovery meetings in Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Oklahoma City, Santa Cruz, San Francisco, and Nashville. See HERE for a complete list with times and locations. If one isn’t in your area, you are encouraged to start your own. You can download meeting formats and Refuge Recovery inventories and meditations at RefugeRecovery.org. In addition, BLVD Treatment Centers is offering the first Refuge Recovery track for adults in treatment. There is also a Refuge Recovery sober living that has recently launched, that is has created a sober living environment in coordination with the Refuge Recovery Model.
The Adolescent years has always been trying times for most. It has become harder with today’s society. Visions Adolescent Treatment Centers opened their doors in 2002 to provide cutting edge mental health, substance abuse and family treatment for ages 13 to 18 year old. Most patients come from southern California while others from big cities like NYC, Chicago and international.
Visions offers several types of treatment programs. Teen Outpatient Treatment and Teen Inpatient Treatment both offer comprehensive clinically- based treatment options for adolescents and their families.
Visions Adolescent Outpatient Counseling
Visions teen outpatient treatment is conveniently offered at two Los Angeles locations. Afternoon sessions allow the child to attend school or work before therapy and go home to love and support afterwards. Sessions are 4:00 pm – 9:00 pm with Wednesday for rest.
The 1st Step Program is an introduction to the beginning of the teen outpatient treatment. The program helps families reintegrate into everyday life after long term treatment. Visions’ staff walk parents through the reality of their teen’s new lifestyle and helps them understand the next step.
The Intensive Outpatient Program is the next step in the care process. The family is helped to communicate, address existing psychiatric and/or therapeutic needs and develop a solid foundation of support within the community.
The 2-Step Program is implemented for Teens with Addictive Behavior.
Visions Teen Outpatient treatment works out of network with insurance. We will provide the following services to our Outpatient families: Benefit Verification, Pre-Authorization, Utilization Review, Billing & Collections.
Visions Adolescent Residential Treatment
Teen inpatient treatment is an intensive program filled with activities that help the child come to terms with their problems and begin to make positive choices leading to a healthy and productive life.
Visions Residential is located in the hills of Malibu, California surrounded by nature. A Mediterranean Style home creates a comfortable home-like setting in a 25 acre gated community. Quarters are separate for male and female patients with day and night staff supervision. Crisis intervention is available on a 24-hour basis. The average length of stay is 45 to 90 days.
The treatment team consists of highly skilled professionals who use effective techniques and current modalities. The founding clinicians have stayed on while adding dynamic team members for a successful program.
Medical Doctor – A doctor with mental health and substance abuse treatment experience ensures the initial medical evaluation is properly executed on each resident. A history and a physical is conducted by the Doctor. Once medically cleared, the child will be admitted into the residential program.
Psychiatric Director – An experienced Psychiatrist ensures that the initial psychiatric evaluation is properly performed and psychiatric services are provided as needed. Adolescents diagnosed with a Mental Health or Co-Occurring Diagnosis (mental health and substance abuse disorders) will be admitted.
Program Director – All counseling services are performed by trained personnel under the supervision of the Program Director.
Psychologist – Psychological testings are conducted by a licenses psychologist upon referral.
Registered Dietitian – Nutritional Services are provided under supervision of a Registered Dietitian. All patients are given a nutritional assessment. Dietary consultations are available when required.
Equine Therapist – Horses have been known to help in showing significant improvement. Teens learn to identify and recognize feelings and thoughts that may be difficult through traditional therapy.
Art Therapist – Focus is on art-making as a therapeutic process. Children unable to talk about their feelings usually do best when putting thoughts down by ink or paint.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Informed Programming – DBT is designed to help change bad behavioral patterns such as self-harm, suicidal thoughts, substance abuse, anger and interpersonal difficulties.
A Licensed Therapist and Counselor work directly with the patient throughout the treatment.
Visions offers three hours of individualized schooling on weekdays. Each patient receives a personalized education plan. Conditioning is a ‘tailor-made’ fitness program led by an Activities consultant. Multi-Family Group and Individual Family Sessions are led by a Family Therapist. Family Passes are a unique incentive for well behaved children. Sunday and Monday outings include movies, museums, the beach, go-cart racing, community service, ropes courses and rock climbing.
Visions Residential is a private pay program and full payment is required from the family. Our team will assist with insurance benefit verification & utilization review.
Visions Teen Outpatient Treatment and Teen Inpatient Treatment share similar goals.
Encourage and motivate the adolescent to achieve and sustain a healthy lifestyle;
Help the adolescent to develop new, more effective problem-solving strategies;
Assist the adolescent with recognizing and acknowledging the existence of destructive behaviors and mental health issues in their lives, and the impact they have on their family, friends and future;
Help the adolescent recognize and change problematic attitudes and behaviors which stimulate relapse.
Visions Alumni Program
The Fourth Dimension is a program offered to graduates of Visions teen outpatient treatment and teen inpatient treatment. Continued participation in aftercare groups and self-help groups are recommended. Individual sessions are available on a charge per service basis. The Visions Alumni Coordinator makes support calls for crisis intervention or relapse prevention.
Annual Alumni Events:
Winter Ski/Snowboard Trip
Alumni Family Weekend
Alumni vs. Staff Softball Game
Knott’s Scary Farm Night
Magic Mountain
Visions provides therapy during the teen outpatient treatment and teen inpatient treatment depending on what best fits the child. Visions’ offers aftercare which continues beyond the center walls to provide guidance to an adolescent when feeling lost.
Please click below to schedule your consultation or call us at 866-889-3665.
It’s Father’s Day weekend and we want to honor some of the fathers we have here at Visions. Stepping onto the path of recovery includes working with dysfunctional root systems, which includes parents that aren’t emotionally and in some cases, physically there for us. However, the recovery process also presents another opportunity: The chance to view others in a positive light, and to be able to look at some of the men in our lives who are good and present fathers with what the Buddha calls sympathetic joy.
Our founder, Chris Shumow is a great example of this. I often look toward Chris with great admiration and hope, excited to see a man who has not only turned his life around in terms of recovery, but who has taken the helm of parenting and gone to great lengths to be an amazing father. It’s a relationship he treats with deep respect, humor, love, and joy, and it’s an incredible thing to watch.
Our Director of Operations, John Lieberman, is another dad that has transcended that which we assume parenting should be. John is a wonderful example of what it means to be an engaged, supportive father. He’s also a grandfather, and I have to tell you, seeing him talk about and rave about his granddaughter is remarkable. He’s also playful in a way that makes anyone around him know that he is a kid at heart.
Daniel Dewey, our Residential Director of Education, is not only a seasoned father, having a burgeoning adult under his wing; he is also a new dad. There is something really beautiful and gentle about Daniel’s disposition. He’s accepting and kind.
There’s also Mason Rose, one of our Recovery Mentors and father of a young daughter. We were able to watch Mason’s metamorphosis from young man to father, and it’s been really inspiring. Vito Romani is another one of our amazing young dad’s! He and Mason both grace Visions with regular visits from their little ones. There really is nothing like seeing these young, proud papas with their daughters. And John Johnstone, one of our Recovery Mentors is one of the most dedicated dads I know. He is willing to talk about the tough stuff, show up, love unconditionally, and maintain a sense of humor. That’s inspiring!
Last, lets not forget the role of the step-father: Joseph Rogers, Education Coordinator stepped into the role of fatherhood over 6 years ago and has been able to navigate the treacherous waters of forming a partnership and taking on part of someone else’s role with great kindness and compassion. I can say from watching this one up close and personal that the role of step-parent is often the role of the real parent, and taking that on is a challenge. It’s been really inspiring to watch Joseph do this in the way that he has.
The role of a father is not always easy, but we are fortunate at Visions to have a group of men in our midst that consistently show up for their kids. These men show up in the same way to our clients, showing them that the father role has the potential of shifting toward love and acceptance. Father’s day can elicit a varied set of emotions for our kids and for us as parents. They can range from untended loss, or expectations, abandonment, and deep grief rising internally around parents that were never available for us, be it physically or emotionally. The recovery piece is finding our voice amidst that loss. Sometimes it wobbles. Sometimes it screams. But it’s there, waiting to come out. Knowing and working with good men in our recovery can help heal that wound and allow us to experience sympathetic joy instead of anger and resentment.
Happy Father’s Day, gentlemen. You are truly an inspiration.
Visions Adolescent Treatment Centers was founded in 2002 to provide cutting edge mental health, substance abuse and family treatment. Society today makes the teenage years more difficult due to social network, peer pressure and easy access to drugs. Youths ages 13 to 18 years old from southern California, big cities like New York City, Chicago and international countries have turned to Visions Centers for extensive clinically-based treatment in teen drug rehab.
Children under the age of 18 years old are in a crucial stage of physical and mental development. To be accepted in the eye of the public, some turn to drugs to face a difficult reality. What usually starts as an experiment turns into a so called necessity. Visions Adolescent Treatment Centers teen drug rehab helps in dealing with the compound of problems brought on by drug use.
Not all symptoms are the same in addicts but there a few signs to look out for in a drug abuser.
Relationships
A sudden change in relationships is a common sign of trouble. The teen changes friends, drops old friends or befriends the wrong people. Being secretive about friends can be an indication of problems. Children tend to be secretive but always keeping the bedroom door locked and slipping into seclusion could mean a hidden agenda. Suspicious behavior in an adolescent should not be taken lightly.
Mood Swings
Unexplained changes in personality, attitude or mood swings is a normal teenage behavior. Drastic changes in behavior such as exhilarating highs and depressive lows require medical attention. It could be a result of other problems. Irritability and angry outbursts should be observed.
Loss of Interest
Sudden change in hobbies and favorite hangouts. Monitor the child’s interests and notice any change in activities.
Violence
Frequent trouble with school, work, the law or fights with friends is a warning sign. A child easily agitated, picks a fight or suddenly begins to disobey the authority should not be dismissed.
Paraphernalia
Regular inspection of the child’s possessions may appear as an invasion of privacy. It is nothing more than good parenting making sure the child does not possess any harmful devices. Check the child’s room and bags for suspicious items such as syringes, rolling papers, butane lighters, unexplained pipes or other makeshift smoking apparatus. Do not forget to check pockets of clothes in the closet and elsewhere.
Physical Health
A lack of energy or motivation may be an indication of drug use. Some health issues may include nosebleeds, runny nose, excessive coughs and bronchitis, dental problems, red eyes and loss in weight among other things.
Eating Pattern
Change in eating pattern. Eating more or eating less than usual. Foraging the refrigerator in the middle of the night. Look out for weight gain or a huge weight loss. Sit down for a family dinner and watch the child’s eating behavior.
Neglected Appearance
Unexpected changes in clothing and grooming habits. An adolescent that once took interest in being well dressed in public now has no interest in looking good may be a sign of drug abuse. Teens are usually concerned with appearance. Notice if the child leaves home unkempt.
Sleeping Pattern
Change in sleeping habits. Sleeping more than usual or less than before. Napping during the day when the child does not usually engage in such activity. A youth that appears tired or sleepy most of the day may require intervention.
Problems in school
Skipping class frequently or skipping school in general. Suddenly showing no interest in school or school activities. An adolescent with declining grades and frequent fights or regularly getting into trouble may need teen drug rehab.
Visions Adolescent Treatment Centers offers Residential Treatment, Outpatient Counseling and Adolescent Day School which provide teen drug rehab. A Medical Doctor specializing in teen substance abuse performs the initial diagnosis.
Visions Residential is located in the hills of Malibu, California on a 25 acre gated community. A Mediterranean style dwelling with a home-like setting is surrounded by the beauty of nature.
Patients stay between 45 to 90 days and are housed in separate sleeping quarters for male and female patients with two in a room. Supervision is broken down to day and evening staff with crisis intervention available on a 24 hour basis.
A Program Director supervises all counseling services at the teen drug rehab. Psychologists conduct psychological testings upon admission. A Licensed Therapist and Counselor work with the adolescent throughout the treatment process. A Registered Dietician plans meals with appropriate caloric intake. An Equine Therapist uses horses to help the child in identifying and recognizing feelings. Art Therapists aid in creating interpretive art for use in the treatment plan.
Other treatment members involved in the teen drug rehab as required;
Facilitate the adolescent in identifying situations that lead to drug use and understanding that drugs are not effective in coping.
Assist with the psychological and psychiatric needs of the child.
Introduce the 12-step philosophy.
Encourage and motivate the youth to achieve and sustain a healthy lifestyle.
Visions residential provides schooling on weekdays and an Activities Director leads the patients in a customized physical fitness program 5 times a week for 1 hour. Family-focused therapy is held for a minimum of five hours a week.
Visions Residential is a private pay program and full payment is required from the family. Our team will assist with insurance benefit verification & utilization review.
Visions Outpatient Counseling has two Los Angeles locations that administer solution-based programs in teen drug rehab. Sessions are held 4 PM to 9 PM with Wednesday for rest.
1st Step program
Introduction to the beginning of a recovery process.
Guides parents through the child’s new lifestyle.
Helps reintegrate youths and families into everyday life after long term treatment.
Visions’ intensive Outpatient
2nd step of the recovery process.
Address existing psychiatric and/or therapeutic needs of the patient.
Develop a firm foundation of support within society.
A Discharge Plan provides continued care developed by the Counselor prior to leaving the teen drug rehab.
Visions Outpatient works out of network with insurance. We will provide the following services to our Outpatient families: Benefit Verification, Pre-Authorization, Utilization Review, Billing & Collections.
Visions Alumni Program, The Fourth Dimension, is a voluntary enrollment benefit after completion of the Residential and Outpatient programs for teen drug rehab. Adolescents are encouraged to attend aftercare and self-help groups twice a week.
Visions Day School administers treatment for teen drug rehab while providing a safe environment for students. Open enrollment offers remedial to honor level education. School hours are 9 AM to 3 PM.
Other program highlights include:
WASC Accredited Curriculum (Western Association of Schools and Colleges)
Individualized Educational Planning
Direct Access to Teachers
3 to 1 Students to Staff Ratio
Individualized 1 on 1 Instructions
Visions Adolescent teen drug rehab graduates who sought out higher education were able to continue on to esteemed colleges and universities.
Do not be afraid to ask the youth probing questions. Engage in a heart-to-heart conversation with the child. If the listed warning signs do appear, seek help immediately for the adolescent.
Please click below to schedule your consultation regarding teen drug rehab or call us at 866-889-3655
Disordered eating includes many of the behaviors we see in eating disorders, and they are often the gateway to a full-blown eating disorder. Disordered eating behaviors include dieting, which is often used as an excuse to stop eating certain foods or limiting caloric intake to dangerously low numbers — no, it is never healthy to eat a mere 500 calories a day, no matter what the trend says.
Some indications of disordered eating may include:
Fasting or chronic, restrained eating
Restricting major food groups (eg., no carbs)
Misuse of diuretics and/or laxatives
Some new trends can also be potentially harmful to someone struggling with disordered eating or an eating disorder and may include:
A sudden claim to vegetarianism or veganism (It’s easy to restrict when everywhere you go has food you “can’t” eat.)
Juicing (It’s one thing to juice as a way to encourage an increase in veggies and fruits in your diet, it’s another to limit all of your food intake to juice for extended periods of time.)
Please know that choosing to juice your veggies or eat a vegetarian or vegan diet is not a bad thing. All of these things are healthy for you in moderation or as part of a healthy lifestyle. However, for someone struggling with unhealthy body image and issues around eating, a sudden change in eating habits, even when they seem healthy, may also represent the idea that limiting or restricting certain foods will ultimately make someone a better person or thinner than they are.
Disordered eating often occurs when one is under stress or fatigued. There are many who feed (or starve) their feelings. That, in and of itself, is disordered eating behavior. I would say one of the primary differences between disordered eating and an eating disorder is the fact that disordered eating is often periodic.
The fact is, eating disorders and disordered eating are complex, mental health issues that are often life-threatening. They are disruptive and devastating to those effected by them. They should never be considered a fad, or way of life or something to achieve. I find that disordered eating is often an eating disorder in training. I don’t take this lightly, and neither should you. If you notice your loved one struggling with food, be gentle but firm in your approach. The struggle is real, and it is something fiercely defended when one is locked in the negative cycle disordered eating behavior.
Anorexia Nervosa has four primary symptoms:
Resistance to maintaining body weight at or above a minimally normal weight for age and height.
Intense fear of weight gain or being fat, even though underweight.
Disturbance in the experience of body weight or shape, undue influence of weight or shape on self-evaluation, or denial of the seriousness of low body weight.
Loss of menstrual periods in girls and women post-puberty.
Bulimia Nervosa has three primary symptoms:
Regular intake of large amounts of food accompanied by a sense of loss of control over eating behavior.
Regular use of inappropriate compensatory behaviors such as self-induced vomiting, laxative or diuretic abuse, fasting, and/or obsessive or compulsive exercise.
Extreme concern with body weight and shape.
Binge Eating Disorder is characterized by:
Frequent episodes of eating large quantities of food in short periods of time.
Feeling out of control over eating behavior during the episode.
Feeling depressed, guilty, or disgusted by the behavior.
There are also several behavioral indicators of BED including eating when not hungry, eating alone because of embarrassment over quantities consumed, eating until uncomfortably full.
Examples of ED-NOS
Menstruation is still occurring despite meeting all other criteria for anorexia nervosa.
All conditions are present to qualify for anorexia nervosa except the individual’s current weight is in the normal range or above.
Purging or other compensatory behaviors are occurring at a frequency less than the strict criteria for bulimia nervosa
Purging without Binging—sometimes known as purging disorder
Chewing and spitting out large amounts of food but not swallowing
Today’s society has made growing up a challenge. Some find it extremely difficult to handle, thus resorting to unhealthy coping skills. Choosing rehabs specializing in teen treatment can lead to frustration with the many choices available. Visions Adolescent Treatment Centers opened in 2002 to provide cutting edge mental health, substance abuse, and family treatment. 50% of patients come from southern California. The other 50% come from big cities like NYC and Chicago as well as internationally.
Visions Residential Treatment, Visions Outpatient Counseling, and Visions Day School are all conveniently located in the Los Angeles area. Visions’ teen treatment centers accept troubled youths ages 13 to 18 years old.
Visions Residential Treatment
The residential facility is a hidden 25 acre gated community in the hills of Malibu, California. A Mediterranean style home generates a sense of safety in a comfortable home-like setting. Quarters are separate for male and female with two to a room. Crisis intervention is available on a 24-hour basis with a day and evening staff. The average stay is 45 to 90 days.
A Medical Doctor administers the initial medical evaluation and medical services. The Psychiatric Director performs an evaluation to determine program admission. Each patient is assigned a Licensed Therapist and Counselor throughout treatment.
Other trained personnel in the teen treatment programs include:
Supervising Nurse
Psychologists
Registered Dietitian
Art Therapist
Equine Therapist
Dialectical Behavior Therapist
Patients attend three hours of individualized schooling on weekdays using a personalized education plan. A “tailor-made” physical fitness program is provided 5 times a week for 1 hour by a trained staff under the supervision of an Activities Consultant.
Visions’ teen treatment programs counsel the child and family as a whole. Multi-Family Group, Individual Family Group, and Family Education are conducted by a Family Therapist. The unique Family Passes are given to well-behaved patients. Sunday and Monday are outings to movies, museums, the beach, go-cart racing, community service, ropes courses, and rock climbing.
The goals for residential treatment are:
Encourage and motivate the adolescent to achieve and sustain a healthy lifestyle
Help the adolescent to develop new, more effective problem-solving strategies
Assess and meet the psychological and psychiatric needs of the adolescent
Visions Residential is a private pay program and full payment is required from the family. Our team will assist with insurance benefit verification & utilization review.
Visions Outpatient Counseling has two teen treatment centers in Los Angeles. Outpatient teen treatment centers provide solution-based therapy for the patient on an individual, group, and family basis.
The 1st Step Program is the introduction to the beginning of the treatment process. The program also helps families and teens reintegrate into everyday life after long term treatment. Vision’s staff walk parents through the reality of their teen’s new lifestyle and explains the next step.
8 Weeks of Clinical Support
2 to 3 Nights per Week Including 1 Individual Session
The next step is Vision’s intensive outpatient treatment.
1 Year of Clinical Support
Individual Sessions
Family Sessions
Sessions are from 4:00-9:00 PM Monday to Friday with Wednesday for rest. Sessions involve Group Therapy, Family Group, Peer Support Group, and Study Hall.
The objectives for outpatient counseling include:
Assist the adolescent with recognizing and acknowledging the existence of destructive behaviors and mental health issues and the impact they have on their family, friends, and future.
Help the adolescent recognize and change problematic attitudes which stimulate a relapse, behavioral or otherwise.
Assist the adolescent in identifying unhealthy and/or negative coping mechanisms.
Discharge & Aftercare is given to children who leave the outpatient teen treatment. The Counselor begins development of the Discharge Plan upon admission with input from the child and the treatment team. It addresses:
Continuing Care Needs
Accessibility to Community Resources
Anticipate Problems Following Discharge and Suggest Means for Dealing with Them
Visions Outpatient works out of network with insurance. We will provide the following services to our Outpatient families: Benefit Verification, Pre-Authorization, Utilization Review, Billing & Collections.
The Fourth Dimension is Visions Alumni Program for adolescents discharged from active teen treatment programs. Individual Sessions are available to alumni on a Fee for Service Basis. A Visions Alumni Coordinator makes support calls for crisis intervention or relapse prevention.
Annual Alumni Events:
Winter Ski/Snowboard Trip
Alumni Family Weekend
Alumni vs. Staff Softball Game
Knott’s Scary Farm Night
Magic Mountain
Visions Day School
The day school offers teen treatment while providing a safe learning environment for students unable to function in a traditional classroom. Classes are held 9:00 AM until 3:00 PM Monday to Friday. Student to Staff ratio is 3 to 1 with individualized 1-on-1 instructions. Tutoring is available as needed beyond regular school days.
Program Highlights:
Open Enrollment
Transferable Accredited Curriculum
Random Weekly Drug Testing
Visions Day School goals:
To Give Adolescents a Positive and Clinically Supported Education
Complete General Education to Reintegrate into a Mainstream High School Environment
Or
Successfully Complete Academic Curriculum and Graduate from Visions Day School
Visions’ teachers have successfully helped graduates move on to esteemed colleges and universities. Aside from studies, students receive weekly individualized counseling sessions. Students are provided the opportunity to discuss their progress, challenges, and struggles.
Offering comprehensive, clinically-based treatment option for adolescents and their families makes Visions’ Centers top choice for concerned parents around the world. Involvement is required from a family member or legal guardian for the success of teen treatment unless it causes more harm.
Please click below to schedule your consultation, or call us at 866-889-3665.
