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Treatment

The Benefits of Inpatient Drug Rehab for Teens

There are many benefits of inpatient drug rehab for teens. Inpatient drug rehab offers a structured, supportive environment, providing constant care and monitoring. It removes individuals from daily triggers and temptations, focusing solely on recovery. Patients receive comprehensive therapy, including individual and group sessions, fostering personal growth and relapse prevention skills. Additionally, inpatient rehab often includes family therapy, promoting healing and support within the family unit.

Many teens struggling with substance abuse find it challenging to break the cycle of addiction in their daily environment, filled with triggers and the same routines that contribute to their addiction.

This ongoing struggle not only affects their physical and mental health but also strains relationships with family and friends, leading to a feeling of isolation and hopelessness.

Inpatient drug rehab at a residential treatment center for teens provides a comprehensive and structured environment where individuals can focus entirely on their recovery.

Away from everyday stressors and triggers, patients receive round-the-clock care and support. Tailored individual and group therapy sessions help address underlying issues and build coping skills. Moreover, inpatient programs often include family therapy, fostering understanding, and rebuilding relationships, crucial for long-term recovery and support.

In this article, we explore the benefits of inpatient drug rehab for teens.

What is Inpatient Drug Rehab for Teens?

Drug rehab programs for teens differ in location, duration, and flexibility. Inpatient drug rehab is often more comprehensive but also more inflexible. Inpatient or residential treatment sets itself apart from other treatment forms through the fact that teens in inpatient care reside at their place of treatment during their entire treatment period, which can last over a month. 

During this time, the facility becomes their new home, and they spend every day in treatment, with limited and monitored free time. While privacy is a given, there are stringent rules and security methods to ensure that the facility stays drug-free. 

Outpatient treatment, in contrast, may still require daily or near-daily visits for treatment but allow teens to continue to go to school and stay at home. Other forms of treatment, such as partial hospitalization or day treatment plans, do not require overnight stays but follow a more intensive daily regimen than most outpatient programs. Partial hospitalization is often short-term in comparison to other drug treatment plans. There are benefits to inpatient treatment over other drug rehab forms. 

Related: 7 Signs of Drug Use in Teens (And Next Steps for Parents)

Benefits of Inpatient Drug Rehab for Teens

Inpatient drug rehab for teens is essential, as adolescence is a pivotal time for identity formation, and substance abuse can disrupt this growth.

The controlled environment of inpatient rehab removes teens from everyday pressures and triggers, focusing them solely on recovery. Tailored treatments address both substance abuse and underlying emotional or mental health issues, providing comprehensive care.

This setting allows teens to engage with peers in similar situations, fostering a supportive network essential for recovery. Overall, inpatient rehab equips teens with healthier coping strategies and decision-making skills essential for their long-term well-being.

Keep reading to discover some of the remarkable benefits of inpatient drug rehab for teens.

Related: How to Help A Teenager with Mental Health Issues

A Structured and Drug-Free Environment

One of the core challenges of drug addiction treatment is the nature of addiction itself. When you stop using a drug after a long time of using it, you begin to experience emotional and physical discomfort. Addiction trains you to respond to discomfort by seeking out your drug of choice. Drug use becomes a quick and powerful chemical escape from all unpleasant things, yet it’s ephemeral and self-destructive. 

Eliminating access to drugs is an important first step to recovery. Inpatient programs are one of the only safe and reliable ways to do so. Keeping teens under observation in a drug-free environment ensures that they aren’t taking anything other than prescribed medication, which is often an important part of an evidence-based recovery plan. 

Structure is crucial, too. Teens in recovery wake up at set times, have daily routines, and are allotted free time. Their days are structured, and they’re kept busy – whether with day school or therapy or skill building. Keeping your mind preoccupied during recovery and creating a rigid daily structure can help deal with the emotional turmoil of early recovery and provide an important framework for life after treatment. 

Constant Support and Supervision

Adolescents in treatment receive 24/7 supervision, ensuring safety and preventing access to drugs during the critical early stages of recovery. The staff trained to supervise teens in recovery are also available in mental or medical emergencies and offer daily therapeutic support in individual counseling, group therapy, medication-assisted therapies, and alternative treatments such as yoga classes, mindfulness and meditation, art therapy, and more. 

Peer support is another important element of inpatient treatment. Teens in inpatient drug rehab don’t go back home or to school in between therapy sessions but stay in the facility with other teens experiencing similar mental health issues and substance use problems. They can make new acquaintances with teens who share their experiences, learn more about other mental and behavioral health problems, and assist in treating their peers through group counseling. 

Related: How to Handle Peer Pressure to Use Drugs

Focused on Skill-Building and Psychoeducation

Inpatient treatment programs typically include educational components to help teens understand addiction, develop productive and healthy coping skills, and make informed decisions about their recovery. 

Aside from therapy and education, inpatient programs also include life skills training, helping teens build essential skills for successful reintegration into daily life, such as communication, time management, and effective short-term and long-term goal setting.

Related: The Benefits of Sobriety: How to Talk to Your Teen About Drugs

Thorough Aftercare and Relapse Prevention

Recovery begins in treatment, but it continues for years after. Aftercare plans or extended care plans are committed to helping teens navigate recovery after inpatient drug rehab ends through community resources, local support groups, online therapy resources telehealth websites, and more. 

Ensuring that teens continue to invest in their physical and mental well-being by keeping up with their routines, honing their social skills, and practicing their coping mechanisms is crucial to long-term recovery. 

Support networks are important here, as well. Getting friends and family involved in the recovery process can help teens stay on the wagon by ensuring that their peers and family members also commit themselves to healthier lifestyle choices and support their loved ones as they continue to go to therapy and apply themselves within the community or at school. 

Inpatient rehab also equips teens with relapse prevention strategies to navigate triggers and challenges post-treatment, such as keeping in touch with a counselor or therapist, practicing exercises to combat feelings of anxiety as an alternative to drug use, and pursuing hobbies and interests that serve as a healthier outlet for stress. 

Related: 5 Stress and Coping Skills for Teens

Rehab for Teens at Visions Treatment Centers

Are you seeking a compassionate, effective solution for a teen struggling with substance abuse? Visions Treatment Centers offer a beacon of hope.

At Visions, we understand that adolescence is a critical, complex period, and tackling substance abuse requires specialized care. Our residential treatment programs are designed with teens in mind, addressing not just addiction but also the underlying emotional and psychological challenges.

Imagine a place where your teen is safe and supported, surrounded by expert care and a community of peers. Our programs include individualized therapy, family involvement, educational support, and activities that foster personal growth and healthy coping skills. At Visions, we don’t just treat addiction; we nurture overall well-being and resilience in young individuals.

Take the first step toward a brighter future for your teen. Contact Visions Treatment Centers and explore our dedicated residential treatment programs. Let us help your family find the path to recovery and lasting wellness.

Conclusion

Inpatient drug rehab for teens is ultimately aimed at providing a comprehensive introduction to long-term recovery through a multimodal treatment approach that combines group therapy, individual therapy, medication-assisted treatment, experiential therapy, and various alternative treatment methods such as meditative workshops, yoga, and exercise programs. 

An effective inpatient drug rehab plan ends with a transition towards long-term recovery through the introduction to different local or community support groups, online resources, and long-term therapy. 

We at Visions focus on providing residential or inpatient drug rehab for teens, in addition to our mental health treatment programs, outpatient care, and aftercare services. Our treatments also address dual diagnoses, a common phenomenon among teens with substance use disorders where pre-existing or developing mental health issues complicate treatment. 

Learn more about our inpatient drug rehab for teens by getting in touch with us today.

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Treatment

How Long Does It Take to Detox from Drugs?

The detoxification process duration varies depending on the drug, genetic and environmental factors, and the severity of addiction. Generally, drug detoxification takes days – but withdrawal symptoms and behavioral issues can last much longer. In this article, we’re exploring one of the most common questions we hear from parents: how long does it take to detox from drugs? 

Your body is constantly in the process of breaking down and processing everything around it – from exhaust fumes to mineral water. The process of breaking down a poison or toxin in the body is called detoxification. 

Many drugs are, to a degree, harmful to the body. Alcohol, for example, can cause blackouts and even overdoses. The same goes for opioids like heroin or morphine, and stimulants like cocaine or amphetamine. At any given moment, your body works to metabolize and eliminate these substances from your bloodstream through the stomach, lungs, liver, kidneys, and skin, depending on how the drugs are taken. 

Every drug has an effective half-life, which is the average time it takes for the body to metabolize half of the dosage it was exposed to. This scales linearly, meaning if a drug has a half-life of an hour for 50mg, then there would be 25mg remaining in your body after an hour, 12.5mg after two hours, 6.75mg after three hours, and so on. Within a day or two, there would be an imperceptibly small amount of the drug left in your system – and trace amounts might still be found in your nails and hair for weeks afterwards – but it would no longer affect your brain. 

Different drugs have different half-lives, and most half-lives are defined by a range rather than a set number. The half-life of caffeine can range between 2 and 12 hours, for a dramatic example. This is why some people can have a cup of coffee in the evening and go to bed at a reasonable hour, while others might struggle to sleep if they’ve had an espresso earlier that morning. Similarly, some people sober up much faster than others. This is relevant for drug detoxification as well. 

Factors Influencing Detox Timelines

In addition to a drug’s estimated half-life range, there are other factors that influence how quickly the body can detoxify after taking a drug. These factors include: 

  • The frequency and severity of the drug use. Larger quantities of a drug take longer to process but may also affect the body’s ability to metabolize them. If a drug can negatively affect the liver and kidneys (many do), it can slow down the detoxification process. 
  • Health conditions. Liver cirrhosis, hepatitis, and other liver diseases impact the liver’s ability to filter and metabolize your blood. The same goes for the kidneys, lungs, and skin. 
  • Sex, weight, and age. Men metabolize some drugs faster than women. Body weight and size, as well as age and general health will also affect the rate at which you clear out any drug use. 
  • Genes. There are genes that aid or disrupt detoxification, as well as individual resistances to any given drug. Some people metabolize opioids incredibly quickly, to the point that they need much higher doses to avoid feeling pain, without building up any prior tolerance to painkillers. Other people can naturally metabolize alcohol much better, due to the abundance of an enzyme in the stomach that prevents alcohol from entering the bloodstream through the small intestine. These factors cannot be controlled but explain why some people have mild withdrawal symptoms and a faster detox period, while others go through a longer, tougher process. 
  • Water intake and exercise. Theoretically, getting your blood pressure up and increasing your fluid intake should speed up detoxification. But this stresses both the liver and the kidneys. If you’ve been taking drugs regularly, these organs are already stressed. Some drug detoxes are much tougher on the heart, liver, and kidneys than others. If you’re a severe alcoholic, for example, the last thing you want to do is give your heart a workout during withdrawal. Furthermore, chugging water and going for a run won’t do much to get a drug out of your system any faster than simply drinking a healthy amount of water, and trying to stay active as best you can. 

General Drug Detox and Withdrawal Timelines

Drug detoxes and withdrawal symptoms can vary in duration, so setting up a timeline for each drug or class of drug is usually pointless. It is important to remember that: 

  • The body generally metabolizes drugs in about 24-36 hours. Some people metabolize drugs faster, others take longer. The older you are, the weaker your liver and kidneys are, or the more drugs you’ve taken, the longer it takes. 
  • Acute physical withdrawal symptoms last anywhere from three days to over a week. These include the effects of the drug leaving the body, as well as the immediate neurological aftermath of a drug dependency. 
  • Post-acute withdrawal symptoms can last longer than a week, usually after the first week. These may include physical symptoms, such as headaches, nausea, and shivers. In other cases, the first week also denotes the period when cravings begin to grow in intensity. 
  • The first month is usually the point at which the body and mind begin to recover from intense drug use. This includes better concentration and general health improvements, from weight loss or weight gain to better skin, clear eyes, improved sleep hygiene, healthier hair, nails, and more. 

Do Drug Detox Kits Work?

There are many products that purport to speed up recovery with natural supplements or nutrients. In people with long-term health issues due to drug use, vitamin and mineral deficiencies can be a roadblock towards faster recovery. Some of these detox kits can help, but so does an improved diet, better sleep, more fluids, or a visit to the hospital for an IV drip or prescription of withdrawal medication. 

Some drug detox kits can be outright dangerous. These are unregulated products and may contain ingredients that affect liver function for the purposes of temporarily improving the results of a drug test, for example. This can lead to severe physical consequences, especially for heavy users. 

If you want to detoxify safely, your best bet is to call a drug addiction clinic or talk to a doctor about medically supervised detoxification. Remember – your body does all the work here. Keeping yourself healthy or improving your health through a medically-approved detoxification regimen can help your body clear out any remaining drugs. 

But detoxification is always just the first step. Long-term recovery is a step-by-step process that centers on tackling drug cravings, identifying and eliminating relapse triggers, and creating a healthy support system. 

Learn more about long-term addiction treatment and life after withdrawal through our residential and aftercare programs here at Visions

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Treatment

The Benefits of Substance Abuse Treatment for Teens

Substance abuse treatment for teens might entail an outpatient treatment plan, a residential treatment program, or simply long-term support for recovery and sobriety. Understanding how substance abuse treatment is structured can help teens and parents alike in making decisions for their recovery. 

About one in twelve teens have reported using drugs or an illicit substance in the last month. More than 80 percent of these teens reported using marijuana, while an estimated 60 percent of 12th graders drink alcohol. While teens don’t illicitly use drugs as often as previous generations, teen overdose deaths are a greater danger than ever, partially due to the lethality and ubiquity of dangerous additives like fentanyl. 

Using drugs and struggling with substance abuse are two separate things. However, substance use of any kind at an early age often increases the risk of addiction later in life, and research shows that the teen brain is more susceptible to the mechanisms of addiction than older age groups. But what is substance abuse, and how is it treated, to begin with? 

Types of Substance Abuse Treatment for Teens

Addiction is understood to be a complex and often chronic mental and physical health condition with a variety of risk factors. It has been called a brain disease by experts, because of the way long-term drug use can alter pathways in the brain and rewrite our sense of motivation, or intrinsic reward. This can make other sources of satisfaction feel irrelevant or inconsequential in comparison to the addictive drug, interfering greatly in all aspects of life. 

However, while addiction is a neurological problem, it does not rob someone of all their agency. Making the conscious choice to stop using is often an important first step to overcoming addiction. Substance abuse treatments are then about enabling that positive choice and eliminating the obstacles and risks that are currently feeding or will continue to feed the vicious cycle of addiction. 

Most substance abuse treatments for teens are categorized into different levels of clinical involvement. 

Outpatient Treatment

Outpatient programs are a popular choice because they allow clients to continue to lead independent lives and follow their own schedules while putting aside a significant amount of time for therapy and psychoeducation. Teens can often continue to go to school while enrolling in an outpatient program for their substance abuse.

Partial Hospitalization

Partial hospitalization is a more intensive form of treatment and is usually prescribed as a short-term treatment plan before transitioning into an outpatient program. Partial hospitalization involves up to five hours of therapy a day, for most days of the week. 

Inpatient Treatment

Inpatient or residential treatment plans involve staying at the treatment facility, often either a clinical setting (such as a psychiatric hospital) or a residential setting, such as a private home-like facility where clients live together under the supervision and care of a trained medical team. 

Finding the Right Substance Abuse Treatment

There is no one-size-fits-all treatment plan for addiction, even between each category. While therapy, stress reduction, and healthy coping skills are always central to the process, most addiction treatment specialists agree that finding the right approach for each client is what matters most. 

Substance abuse treatment for teens is not a short-term process. As a teen’s treatment progresses, we find that parents and teens alike often share the same questions. For one, many are concerned about relapses. 

Do substance abuse treatment plans address relapses, or relapse prevention? In short, yes. However, there are many reasons why someone might relapse and start using drugs again, and a single treatment plan cannot always account for, nor completely prepare someone for the circumstances that might lead them to relapse. Extreme pressures, extraordinary stress, repeated triggers, or being exposed to old environments can contribute to relapses. 

Are there family-based approaches for substance abuse treatment? Oftentimes, clinics or facilities that specialize in substance use disorders will also work to incorporate a client’s family in the ongoing recovery process. When the initial treatment program is absolved, it’s often the family that picks up the slack and continues the role of therapist, unless a teen opts to keep up with their treatment. Family-based treatment plans allow addiction clinics and centers to help teach families about protective and risk factors, and relapses, and create a strong support network. 

Some parents and teens are worried about the long-term outcomes of addiction. Is there such a thing as being “cured” from substance abuse? In this case, it’s usually a matter of perspective. Some people believe that struggling with addiction at one point or another means that you are always “in recovery”. Others set a date at which point they consider their addiction overcome. Others just adopt a new label – instead of formerly addicted, they’re sober.

Medically, substance use disorder is characterized by impaired control over substance use and continued use despite severe physical, mental, and social consequences, as well as unsuccessful attempts to quit. If these qualifiers no longer apply, a person may no longer be struggling with substance use disorder. However, they may be at a greater risk of having trouble with addictive substances in the future. 

The benefits of substance abuse treatment range from giving people a chance to lead a healthier, happier life, to equipping them with the tools to reduce stress and minimize the risk of relapses. Learn more about our teen substance abuse treatment programs at Visions or give us a call at 1-866-889-3665. 

Conclusion

A teen substance abuse treatment program can help individuals develop better coping skills for lifelong stressors, identify the red flags of a substance abuse problem, and learn more about how addiction intersects with other mental and physical health conditions. Our substance abuse treatment plans at Visions range from intensive outpatient care to residential treatment plans. 

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Mental Health Therapy Treatment

Therapy for Teens: What Parents Should Know

Are you curious about mental health therapy for teens but scared of the stigma?

Well, here’s a damning fact: we are well into the 21st century, with decades of progress in psychiatric medicine, and nearly half of the American workforce still believes that seeking therapy is a sign of weakness.

Research tells us that psychotherapy – a set of guided conversations and exercises between a trained professional and a client/patient – is one of the most effective forms of treatment for the majority of mental health issues that we face. Yet despite growing rates of depression, anxiety, and psychosis, most people either do not get the help they need or do not seek it out, to begin with.

We must do better, especially for our children. The attitudes we take on regarding health, both mental and physical, often reflect in our offspring. The fact is that despite the fear of peer pressure, teens are overwhelmingly influenced by their parents and rely on their parents to be positive role models. Furthermore, teens are struggling.

Rates for anxiety and depression are higher than ever as awareness around mental health issues continues to soar. Yet instead of seeking treatment, many teens with mental health issues become susceptible to other, more maladaptive forms of coping. They may develop self-esteem issues and eating disorders, struggle with substance use, or fall into an online rabbit hole of scams or even hate speech marketed as a form of “self-improvement.”

Many teenagers need help, and therapy for teens can be one of these forms of help. Here’s what parents should know.

Does Therapy for Teens Work?

Yes. There is ample research specifically on the topics of adolescent mental healthcare and the efficacy of talk therapy protocols as treatment modalities for teen patients. Therapies such as cognitive behavioral therapy and dialectical behavior therapy see as much success in teens as they do in adults, in addition to specialized forms of therapy applied to various diagnoses, such as EMDR, exposure therapy, and psychodynamic therapy.

One particular type of therapy that may be more effective for adolescent patients is family therapy. There are different forms of family therapy, but each focuses on addressing issues within a family unit or even a small subsection of a community, rather than focusing solely on an individual.

Family therapy programs center around the idea that treating a patient’s symptoms in isolation is not enough when the root cause or major contributing factors to their condition are still present at home. Family therapy can help parents and other relatives better understand their loved one’s condition, discover interpersonal issues that may be contributing to their mental malady, and improve communication skills between teens and parents alike.

Therapists understand that parents play a vital role in a teen’s therapeutic process. Individual therapy sessions can help teens immensely, but it’s the parent who has the most influence and plays the greatest role in a teen’s behavioral and mental development. Family therapy helps explore this dynamic and utilize it in the best interests of the teen and parents alike.

Does Your Teen Need a Diagnosis to Go to Therapy?

One of the most common misconceptions about therapy is that it is only needed when prescribed by a professional. Although a formal psychological evaluation can help and therapeutic services are more likely to be covered by certain insurance policies if you receive a referral from a professional first, it’s also important to note that you don’t need to wait for a problem to be diagnosed before you can decide to seek someone to talk to, whether you’re an adult or a teen.

Everyone who thinks they might benefit from therapy should ultimately go to therapy. A therapist can help you improve your focus and productivity, address emotional problems at their root, figure out why you struggle with intimacy or have other common relationship issues, and can help you identify and replace maladaptive coping skills with healthier methods of coping regardless of your lack of a specific diagnosis or mental health issue.

Should you feel the need to visit a therapist every time you feel upset or anxious? If it helps you feel better, yes.

On the other hand, there are also circumstances under which a therapist’s help is more than just optional but a necessary part of a long-term recovery and treatment process.

When Should a Teen Go to Therapy?

Teens may get a referral from a mental health professional (a psychiatrist or psychologist) or their primary care physician if they struggle with the following:

Behavioral Problems

These include a wide range of behaviors that may involve acting out aggressively towards others, or showing signs of unprompted rage, extreme narcissism or disregard for others (seeming lack of empathy and compassion), recurring relationship problems, and even recurring legal issues (frequently vandalizing, getting caught stealing, drunk driving or speeding, exhibitionism, substance use, and so on).

Recurring Sadness

Sadness and depression are two very different things, and it’s important for parents to be able to tell the difference. Sadness comes and goes, but depression lingers for weeks at a time, seeping into everything a teen does to the point that they struggle with things they used to excel at or have an easy time with and no longer feel any interest in old hobbies or activities they used to enjoy.

Depression can be brought on by anything or by nothing at all. Some teens begin to struggle with symptoms of depression after a triggering event, such as a breakup or the loss of a loved one. Others may develop depression over time without a clear origin or cause. Not talking about it makes it worse.

Insurmountable Anxiety

Some teens are naturally more anxious than others. But an anxiety disorder can be debilitating, affecting a teen’s personal life, academic life, and future career.

Anxiety disorder symptoms can be manageable at times, but without structure or positive coping mechanisms, teens can fall into maladaptive coping habits and develop other comorbid problems. If your teen is frequently struggling with doubt, fear, and low self-esteem, they may be facing daily anxious thoughts and have no way of dealing with them.

Get Therapy for Teens at Visions Treatment Centers

Therapy for teens can go a long way towards helping a teen understand why they might feel the way they sometimes do and can help them develop the tools they need to combat negative thoughts and emotions, improve their behavior, and lead a more fulfilling life. Support your teen in getting the help they might need.

For more information about therapy for teens and teen mental health services, contact Visions Treatment Centers.

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Mental Health Therapy Treatment

Get Help at a Teen Mental Health Program This Year

We may be in the midst of a teen mental health crisis. Teens are experiencing unprecedented rates of anxiety and depression, both of which continue on a steady climb, while information about available mental health resources – like finding a suitable outpatient or residential teen mental health program – appears to lag behind.

It’s important to know how to identify that your teen may need help – and recognize what kind of help might be best for them.

Does Your Teen Need Mental Health Treatment?

A teen mental health program can become relevant for teens when their emotional state and behaviors begin to negatively impact their lives, to the degree that they repeatedly struggle to stay out of trouble at home or at school.

Teen mental health programs are also important to consider when a teen is badly hurt or even hospitalized as a result of actions that they do not appear to be able to control, whether it’s a self-destructive tendency, an extreme attraction to risk, or other forms of volatile behavior.

A teen might see a therapist after the death of their loved one, especially if their grief has been as severe on the hundredth day as on the first. But they won’t necessarily be referred to a teen treatment program unless a thorough mental assessment first determines a likely diagnosis.

It is a mistake to try and diagnose your teen yourself or indulge in what they think they might have. Symptoms of major depression and anxiety can often mask a different mood disorder or something else entirely, like a personality disorder.

Psychiatrists and trained doctors utilize different behavioral tests and one-on-one assessments to help understand and determine a teen’s troubles, and formulate an individual treatment plan that takes their circumstances into account.

What Does a Teen Mental Health Program Look Like?

A teen mental health program is a dedicated therapeutic plan developed by mental health professionals with the aim of addressing a teen’s individual circumstances on a biopsychosocial level – meaning their home life, physical conditions and medical history, social experiences at school and/or work, and significant risk factors, in addition to their mood and mental health history, comorbid conditionscurrent medications, and past treatment plans.

Teen mental health programs usually entail different levels of care. For example, an intensive inpatient program will often include a holistic approach that combines traditional psychotherapy with other treatment modalities, such as animal-assisted therapy, experiential therapy, and treatment-resistant modalities such as EMDR or nerve stimulation, all while providing room and board for teens in treatment.

In other words: teen mental health treatment programs come in different levels, and treatment is prescribed as per a teen’s situation, whether a thorough assessment finds that they’re diagnosed with multiple different mental health issues or a single diagnosis with severe symptoms.

Attributes of a Good Teen Mental Health Program

There are several components to a good teen mental health program. These include:

  • Complete care. Mental health programs are not solely to address a teen’s textbook symptoms. Doctors work with each other to identify all of the factors that are negatively affecting a teen’s thoughts and behavior, including their diagnosis, to create better outcomes.
  • Age-specific programming. Teens and children require different contexts and different forms of care from adults. The symptoms of certain disorders, such as PTSD, are different in teens versus adults. Age-specific programming, including age-specific treatment groups, ensures that teen patients receive tailored treatment.
  • Family involvement. More often than not, teens continue to be shaped by the actions and influences of their parents, even more so than their peers. Ensuring that parents or other family members understand the role they play in and outside of treatment helps create a better environment for teens to return to after their program ends.
  • Evidence-based treatment. Some programs incorporate other elements of care, including spiritual or faith-based care, whether in their therapy sessions or as part of the overarching theme of their clinic. But all good mental health programs must rely on a core of evidence-based treatments, including proven psychotherapy methods, alternative treatment methods with a robust body of work, and appropriately approved medications.
  • Assessment and reassessment of outcomes. Good treatment programs and clinics emphasize rigorous testing and evaluation of their methods and outcomes, whether through testimonials or outside reviews. Look for treatment providers who are proud of their reputation and openly allow former clients to talk about their treatment methods and staff. Avoid clinics that promote secrecy or are hesitant to reveal details about how they treat patients.
  • Individualized care. In addition to complete care, a good teen mental health program champions individualized care – every patient receives the treatment they need, with a treatment plan that is formulated for them after their initial assessment and is adjusted as needed.  
  • And more. Mental health treatment can be complex, and treatment facilities can differ in the modalities and specializations that they offer. Some treatment centers focus on addiction or trauma-related illnesses. Some only cater to teens, creating an environment specifically to help adolescent patients. Some treatment centers focus on providing care to women.

While the core tenets of most teen mental health programs are the same, they offer different levels of care to address patients with different needs. Some patients only need a structured treatment plan that asks them to come to see a professional twice a week and complete certain exercises at home.

Other plans are more rigorous or even require teens to live out on a special compound, such as a residential setting or a psychiatric hospital. These levels of care can generally be differentiated as either outpatient care or inpatient care, with varying degrees of intensity.

What Happens After Treatment?

For most teens, going through a mental health program for the first time is just the beginning of a long road. Most clinics and facilities emphasize that they are a stepping stone for long-term mental health treatment – some people require a lifetime of support through medication and different forms of therapy to mediate severe symptoms and function independently. Some people can bring their mental health condition into “remission” and lead a long and fulfilling life with minimal flare-ups, as long as they continue to take care of their stress and mental well-being. Some people experience a resurgence of symptoms and need an intensive care program before they can control their symptoms and live on their own again.

Your teen’s level of care, and the care they might need going forward, will differ from their peers even with the same diagnosis. Some cases are more severe than others, and some teens require different forms of support than others. But it’s important never to give up and to embrace the fact that we all need help, one way or the other.

For more information about enrolling in a residential treatment center for teens, contact Visions Treatment Centers today.

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Depression Mental Health Mood Disorders Therapy Treatment

Is Depression Medication for Teens Better Than Therapy?

Teen depression is one of the most common adolescent mental health issues in the world, second only to teen anxiety disorders. Depression is a serious and often debilitating mental health issue among teens and remains the most common cause of disability in the US. And for parents looking for different treatment options for their child, it’s not uncommon to wonder if depression medication for teens would be a better alternative than therapy or if it would be best to seek both.

Let’s talk about it.

When It’s More Than Sadness

More than just sadness, depression is overwhelming fatigue, unexplained aches, total loss of joy, increased pain sensitivity, lack of ability to generate or feel motivation, and unknown flare-ups in symptoms.

Many teens who struggle with depression struggle academically, have a hard time developing to their full potential and go through a much tougher road in life. Thankfully, depression is treatable. Unfortunately, there is no one-size-fits-all treatment plan that works.

How Is Depression Treated?

The first line treatment for any teen or adult with major depressive disorder, the most common mood disorder and most common form of depression is a combination of psychotherapy and selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).

SSRIs are some of the most recent antidepressants in a long line of different drug families, and they are some of the most well-researched psychiatric drugs in the world. But they are not a miracle cure for depression, and they often don’t work too well just on their own.

Psychotherapy is one-on-one talk therapy between a trained mental health professional and a patient. In the case of depression, the most commonly used therapeutic method is cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), a type of talk therapy developed in the 1970s and 1980s by combining the individual successes of cognitive therapy (focused on patient thoughts and thinking patterns) and behavioral therapy (focused on habits, actions, and controlling one’s responses in life).

When combined, modern SSRIs and talk therapy represent the most successful treatment plan for depressed patients. But the success rate is never 100 percent. Furthermore, it can take time for both therapy and the medication to work.

What Are Antidepressants?

There are half a dozen different subtypes of SSRI and well over a dozen branded and generic SSRI drugs. Each of these compounds reacts in different patients differently, with varied potential side effects and side effect severity. Some people react the least to citalopram, while others are better off on sertraline.

When a patient takes a recommended SSRI, it can take multiple weeks for the drug to begin taking effect. If side effects show up and they inhibit a patient’s life, it can take several more weeks for the drug to be completely flushed out before a different compound is used.

SSRIs are not addictive nor particularly dangerous. The side effects can be frustrating – such as weight gain, loss of sex drive, and drowsiness – but SSRIs are very, very rarely associated with serious risks, such as rare cases of increased suicidality or heart arrhythmia. Nevertheless, it can take a few different tries until a patient finds a drug that works best for them.

If no SSRIs work well, a patient may consider different, older classes of antidepressants, such as SNRIstricyclic antidepressantsMAOIs, and atypical antidepressants. While these may work, they are usually associated with a higher risk of side effects.

Therapy for Depression

Talk therapy is not a drug and does not have conventional side effects. But as far as treatment methods go, there is no guarantee that a patient will respond well to individual therapy either. Some teens are very receptive, while others have a much harder time responding or opening up in therapy. Some teens do better in a group setting, while others prefer solely one-on-one therapy sessions. While CBT is the premier therapeutic treatment method, there are other valid forms of talk therapy for depression, including dialectic behavioral therapy, behavioral activation therapy, and interpersonal psychotherapy.

Even among first-line treatments – like antidepressants and therapy – it’s hard to say which is better. Furthermore, it’s hard to say which is best for your teen. SSRIs and CBT are the most studied treatment methods, but that does not mean you or your teen won’t respond better to older drugs and a completely different therapy plan.

Are Antidepressants Better Than Placebo?

The research on antidepressants can be confusing. There are studies supporting the continued use of antidepressants in the treatment of depression. There are also conflicting review papers that find that antidepressants match placebo at best and that serotonin availability may not be a factor in depressive symptoms.

One particularly polarizing review involved a thorough analysis of the evidence behind the serotonin theory of depression, one of the cornerstones of antidepressant use. It found that there is no consistent evidence nor support for the hypothesis that depression is caused by lowered serotonin activity based on current research.

Furthermore, the criteria for inclusion in a phase III trial for an antidepressant do not necessarily reflect the reality of the majority of people who are prescribed antidepressants. Many people who take antidepressants would not actually be included in a clinical trial for the drug they are taking.

The rabbit hole of research on the efficacy of depression treatments goes deep. Here are some interesting things research can tell us:

  • Mindset matters a lot. A patient’s receptiveness to both therapy and antidepressant drugs can be highly indicative of their success.
  • Antidepressants need more research. The link between depression and serotonin availability is not clear, and what we do know tells us that medication on its own is not often a useful therapeutic tool.
  • Patients differ wildly. Depression is a condition with many comorbid conditions, all of which can modify and exacerbate depressive symptoms. Teens with depression often also struggle with anxiety, with chronic health issues like asthma and irritable bowel syndrome, or may have a history of drug use. Treatment plans must be highly individualized to help patients.

Depression Medication for Teens or Therapy: Which is Best?

Based on what we currently know, the best available answer is both, although therapy may be more important than medication.

While the serotonin theory of depression may not hold up in the long term, antidepressants seem to work – even if their mechanism of action is not completely understood. What we can agree on is that medication use must occur alongside therapy for the best effect.

Furthermore, not all teens will respond effectively to medication and therapy. Some teens need a different treatment approach or need a treatment plan that takes other factors into consideration, including comorbid mental and physical health conditions.

What About Treatment-Resistant Depression Options?

There are other treatments for depression than just antidepressants and therapy. However, the jury is often still out on these treatments. They include ketamine (a controversial dissociative anesthetic drug), electroconvulsive therapy, and transcranial magnetic stimulation.

Despite being one of the most common mental health conditions on the planet, depression is not completely understood. In any given case, careful consideration of all factors is needed, and treatment must be individualized. More importantly, therapy nearly always plays an important role in depression treatment.

Get Depression Treatment for Teens

Are you or your teen struggling with depression? Reach out to Visions Treatment Center to explore depression treatment for teens today.

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Parenting Treatment

Entering Your Teenager in Residential Treatment

Is your teenager vehemently against the idea of getting professional help, despite the fact that they need it? Are you out of ideas on how to get them into a residential treatment program or convince them to go see a therapist?

Depending on how your teen is acting, what their misconceptions might be, what they’re afraid of, and what they’re diagnosed with, you may have a few different ways of dealing with the hand you’ve been dealt.

What Kind of Help Does Your Teen Need?

Always look out for your child, but if your teen is worried about being sent to an inpatient facility because they feel like residential treatment or rehab is overkill, consider compromising by asking them to talk to a therapist first or engage in an outpatient program.

Sometimes, getting a foot in the door is what matters most. Once your teen is in treatment, they may reconsider a residential program as they develop a better idea of what treatment is all about and what it might entail.

Is Your Teen Worried About Treatment?

A teenager who might need professional help are anxious about receiving it. There are a number of things a teen might be worried about, even if they’re outwardly aggressive or dismissive about getting help.

For example, your teen might not want to get treatment because it might mean taking an extended break from seeing their friends and peers. Maybe they’re worried they’ll have to break up with their partner. Maybe they don’t want to feel left behind or discriminated against for being “crazy.” Or maybe they’re angry about feeling like a burden and feel like getting help will only cement that feeling.

Mental health treatments aren’t a sham or a trick – your teen stands to gain everything and lose nothing. But they have to see that.

Convincing Your Teen

Talk to your teen, over and over again. Probe them, and be sincere. What are they worried about? Why don’t they want to consider treatment? If they believe it won’t help them, then talk to them about the evidence to the contrary. They aren’t alone with their condition, and chances are that it’s treatable – if addressed early, with individual therapy, medication, and specific mental health modalities.

If they’re worried about the consequences treatment might have for their life in school or in the community, talk to them about weighing the pros and the cons. Should they stay beholden to the opinion of a few other kids and let their mental and physical health suffer as a result? Are their friends really friends if they refuse to support them or want to judge them for their mental health? Can they really trust and rely on their boyfriend or girlfriend if getting help for a serious condition is a dealbreaker?

Avoid labels, dramatic arguments, or heavy-handed threats, like a life of crime or destitution. Your teen needs to understand that this isn’t a punishment or a burden – it’s a chance at a better life, an opportunity.

It’s Not Punishment

It can be difficult to get through to a teenager if they’ve made up their mind about something, especially as a parent. While teens do generally follow in their parent’s footsteps, they’re also at an age where confrontation and contradiction are normal.

However, they might be more likely to listen to someone else. Consider talking to a therapist or professional counselor about setting up a meeting or an intervention to educate your teen on their options and convince them.

Can You Force a Teenager?

When you’re sure you have done absolutely everything in your power to try and get through to your teen on the topic of therapy and treatment, it’s time to think the unthinkable – what about getting them the help they need without their immediate consent?

It’s important to point out that this doesn’t always work out, but sometimes, you aren’t left with much choice. Some mental health conditions make seeking help nearly impossible without a significant “push” – for example, certain conduct disorders and personality disorders are dependent on denying illness, denying treatment, denying culpability, and aggressively – and sometimes even violently – confronting authority.

Considering Other Options for Treatment

Dealing with a teenager who will vehemently fight back against the idea of treatment with no room for compromise may warrant considering other options. If your teen is underaged, then you technically can consent for them, depending on your state of residence. Be sure to ask a legal professional or find out through your state’s updated legislature if minors can consent to mental health treatment – or, respectively, consent to avoid treatment.

If you are legally in control, then you can arrange for your teen to be transported to a residential treatment facility against their will. Again, this isn’t ideal, and there are many case-by-case circumstances and factors that need to be discussed with both a professional therapist and your teen before resorting to any drastic measures.

Once your teen turns 18, they are an adult, and you can’t really make them do anything, especially go to therapy or seek out treatment on their own.

Limited Privileges

You do have other means of coercing your child, such as cutting them off from certain privileges. You can’t kick a minor out of your home, but you can cut off access to their phone, car, or allowance and limit their time with friends. Again, burning bridges with your teen can be hard to undo – but it’s also important to clarify that certain behavior will reap certain consequences and that those consequences are serious.

Teen Residential Treatment Centers Can Help

If your teen is not struggling with a conduct disorder or a personality disorder, then chances are that they will eventually see reason, especially if you work with a mental health professional to help them understand the difference between the reality of residential treatment and the stereotype of mental health boot camps or psychiatric facilities.

You’re not sending your child into a Hollywood horror asylum – most residential treatment facilities focus on providing high-quality amenities for rest and relaxation and are staffed with medical professionals who will cater to your teen’s well-being and education.

For more information about residential treatment for teen mental health, reach out to Visions Treatment Centers.

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Mental Health Therapy Treatment

What Can a Teen Mental Health Center Treat?

Mental healthcare can be an involved and intense process. Therapy can go a long way, but there are times when a teen needs more than a weekly session with their therapist to make significant progress. In such case, attending a teen mental health center for residential treatment is a great choice.

Some conditions are harder to treat than others, and controlling certain factors – such as a teen’s schedule or environment through a teen mental health center – can help a teen understand and overcome their symptoms and develop the coping skills needed for an effective long-term reprieve.

What Is a Teen Mental Health Center Like?

Mental health centers differ in size, shape, and intended purpose. Like an urgent care clinic or private practice, different clinics specialize in different types of treatments and mental health programs. Specialization is important – in cases of severe mental illness, a specialized environment and experienced mental health staff are necessary to make a difference.

Inpatient vs Outpatient Treatment

A mental health center will usually provide either inpatient or outpatient services, or both.

Inpatient services require a teen to stay at the facility while receiving treatment, including overnight stays and day-to-day activities. Some specialized inpatient mental health facilities include day schools and a plethora of activities and amenities to help teens feel at home, meet new peers, and keep up with their schoolmates.

Outpatient programs, on the other hand, allow a teen to stay at home and continue going to school while receiving continued care at a mental health facility on an appointment basis. Some outpatient programs, such as intensive outpatient care, may require a teen to visit the facility for multiple hours a day, five or six times a week. Other programs are more relaxed but will usually still require multiple appointments per week.

Other Treatment Services

Sometimes, mental health facilities are prepared to receive patients who need more intensive care. Psychiatric hospitals, for example, exist to cater to and tend to patients being hospitalized for a short period of time. Where outpatient or most inpatient treatment programs can last weeks and months, a stay at a psychiatric hospital is often no more than a few weeks.

Partial hospitalization is another form of outpatient treatment, considered a half-step between inpatient programs and an intensive outpatient facility. In many cases, partial hospitalization is used as a transitory step, helping patients move away from rehab and into long-term psychiatric support through an outpatient program and therapy in the outside world.

In a partial hospitalization program, a patient who would otherwise need to be hospitalized, who has just come from an inpatient program, or who might be at risk of relapse can seek intensive short-term care – no more than a few weeks – to focus on pivoting towards living alone or with family, and continuing support through group meetings or one-on-one therapy sessions.

Between partial hospitalization, outpatient program, psychiatric hospitals, and inpatient programs, mental health centers prepare for a wide variety of conditions and disorders.

When Is a Teen Mental Health Center Necessary?

Treatment at a mental health center may be necessary for your teen if first-line treatment through a therapist or psychiatrist is not enough. Depending on your teen’s condition, it may be difficult for them to make progress without more intense support.

While therapy can help, a lot of the leg work involved in overcoming feelings of depression or anxiety is ultimately related to consistent and daily changes in thinking and lifestyle, in addition to the effects of medication. Without the right support at home or in more severe cases, a teen will require inpatient or outpatient programming to benefit from their treatment plan.

Some Conditions Require Intensive Treatment

Some conditions are more likely to lead to intensive treatment than others. For example, severe schizophrenia can lead to long-lasting delusions, hallucinations, memory problems, and periods of confusion. A teen with schizophrenia may require a clinical setting and the help of multiple professionals working together to get the right treatment. Afterward, an outpatient program can help these teens continue to seek care while adjusting to life outside of therapy, sticking to their new schedules, their medication, and their new coping skills.

Substance use disorder is another example of a disorder that frequently calls for mental health treatment at a professional facility. Rehab at home or going cold turkey is often ill-advised for professionals, both due to the high risk of relapse and the physical dangers of an uncontrolled or improperly supervised withdrawal period.

If seeing a professional is not enough, in your teen’s opinion, consider talking to them about seeking out a treatment program at a mental health center. Here are a few examples of when you might want to talk to your teen about visiting a treatment center together.

Depression and Anxiety

Depression and anxiety are two of the most commonly diagnosed mental health issues in the world, but there are many different kinds of anxious and depressive disorders. Severe depressive disorders can include symptoms of self-harm and suicidal ideation, sometimes necessitating professional supervision while a teen receives treatment.

In cases of anxiety disorders, some conditions such as post-traumatic stress, obsessive-compulsive disorder, or severe phobias may require intensive outpatient treatment to overcome the strongest symptoms and help a teen reintegrate into everyday living.

Substance Use Disorder

Substance use disorder, or addiction, is one of the more common conditions that may require inpatient or outpatient treatment at a mental health center. Drug addiction can be a difficult habit to break, not least of which because it is often entrenched both physically and psychologically.

Furthermore, more than half of people with substance use disorders struggle with at least one other mental health disorder (dual diagnosis), which can compound and complicate treatment. An inpatient program can help teens detox safely and begin their rehab journey in a drug-free environment.

Personality Disorders

There are ten recognized personality disorders, each with its own unique set of symptoms and characteristics, across three major clusters.

Many personality disorders are chronic or even lifelong conditions. Under certain circumstances and severe symptoms, a teen might need treatment at a specialized facility to learn to control and mitigate the symptoms of their disorder and improve their overall quality of life.

Psychosis

Psychosis is characterized by experiencing, seeing, hearing, or even smelling things that aren’t there. When a person experiences a “psychotic break,” this usually means that their perception of the world around them has separated itself from reality. The most well-known psychotic disorder is schizophrenia, but there are several different conditions with hallucinatory or psychotic symptoms, including physical conditions such as brain tumors or head trauma.

Treating psychosis can be difficult, especially if a teen patient becomes paranoid or suspicious of their surroundings. Trust, in addition to patience, are important aspects of treatment.  

Do You Need Professional Help?

If you are unsure whether you or a loved one require an intensive treatment plan, please consider discussing it with your doctor or therapist. They may be able to refer you to a potential treatment facility or give you personalized advice.

If your loved one is struggling with a mental health condition that often requires inpatient or outpatient treatment through a clinic or a teen mental health center, then consider talking to them about it – and scheduling an appointment together. Struggling with mental illness is frustrating and often terrifying. Receiving help and support from others, especially those we love, goes a long way towards soothing those feelings.

For more information about Visions Treatment Centers, please contact us anytime.

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Adolescence Therapy Treatment

Breaking the Silence with Talk Therapy

Teens can benefit from talk therapy just as much as adults, whether it’s for mood swings and anxiety issues, or exam blues, relationship troubles, and school pressure. Talk therapy is not limited to people with mental health conditions and can be a powerful tool to enable introspection and a healthier outlook on life even when a person considers themselves mentally healthy.

The argument for talk therapy can be summed up as preventative care: making sure minor problems don’t brew into major issues down the line, while helping teens build life skills that will continue to serve them as bastions of resilience and strength against mental health issues in the future.

What is Talk Therapy?

Talk therapy is another term for psychotherapy or individual therapy. In talk therapy, a patient and a therapist discuss a patient’s thoughts, concerns, experiences, worries, ambitions, and more.

The point of each therapy session is to make progress on the patient’s mental wellbeing, which may involve thought exercises and “homework,” such as writing a daily journal entry or making observations about one’s responses and emotional states at work or at school.

Combining Talk Therapy with Therapeutic Methods

Different forms of talk therapy apply different questions and therapeutic methods to help a patient make progress. Nearly all therapy centers around introspection, wherein a therapist helps their patient reflect on their way of thinking and their coping methods in order to think healthier, more positive thoughts and develop better, more effective coping skills.

As an example, a therapist treating a teen with depression through cognitive behavioral therapy may teach their patient to identify and isolate self-deprecating and negative thoughts, to dissociate from them, and use positive affirmations to negate these thoughts. These positive affirmations will be rooted in truth, focusing on the teen’s strengths or positive attributes.

It might not feel convincing or effective at first, but reinforcing this type of mental work can, in turn, change the way a patient feels, creating a stronger self-image and healthier self-esteem. This can take as few as five or as many as 20 sessions.

Talk Therapy isn’t Always Used Alone

Talk therapy is not always used on its own. It may be reinforced through medication, helping the brain dull severe symptoms of depression, anxiety, or another mental health problem while training a teen to refute and replace unwanted thoughts when they arise.

How Does Talk Therapy Help with Depression?

Cognitive behavioral therapy is the most used talk therapy method for cases of depression. Depression in teens can range from a mild or temporary issue to a long-term chronic condition, or a severe and debilitating mental health problem. Regardless of severity, talk therapy is often a central part of treating a depressed patient.

It is true that you cannot “talk your way out” of a depression. It is also true that conditions like depression do not have a cure. Mood disorders are mental health conditions that may resolve themselves over time but are often chronic and long-lasting. For teens with depression, this might mean struggling with dark thoughts from time to time, for years or decades.

Talk Therapy Builds Reinforcements Against Depression

The point of talk therapy is to reinforce habits that help a teen build resilience against these thoughts, anticipate and isolate them, learn not to listen to them, and learn how to refute them with real-life examples of joy and happiness.

We also know that conditions like depression are exacerbated and disarmed by risk factors and protective factors alike. Excessive stress and poor physical health can make depressive symptoms worse and more frequent. Taking care of oneself, spending more wholesome time with friends, and insisting on a healthier work-life balance can help keep depression at bay.

In many cases, talk therapy involves helping patients lay the foundation for the habits and mindset that will keep them safe from depressing thoughts in the future.

Therapy and Addiction

Substance use is another condition where talk therapy, both individual therapy, and group therapy, plays an important role in treatment. Substance use disorder or addiction is a very complicated health problem with compounding social, physical, and psychological factors.

While talk therapy alone does not address all these factors, it can be key to helping patients re-establish themselves in the aftermath of addiction, reaffirm their interests, reclaim their hobbies, and emphasize their newfound lives in sobriety.

There are very few medications for addiction – some medications help cut down on alcohol cravings, for example, while others block the effects of addictive substances like opioids, eliminating the high.

Most of the work in overcoming and surviving addiction relies on guided introspection through one-on-one therapy and group therapy sessions, positive affirmations, healthy coping mechanisms to avoid or defeat cravings, and a long-term support plan.

How Can I Convince My Teen to Try Therapy?

More than half of those who are diagnosed with a mental health problem are not getting the help they need. In many cases, it’s a matter of misinformation, fear of judgment, financial worry, and other factors. In your teen’s case, they may be worried about what might happen if news got out about their therapy. Or, they might be worried that it won’t work and that you would be wasting your time and money.

Sometimes, just talking to your teen will be enough to get them to try it out. Letting them know that you’re in their corner and want them to get the best possible care is important. At other times, it may take more than a single heart-to-heart. Consulting with a therapist beforehand might get you some important pointers on how to bring your teen to therapy.

Being a teen represents being at a major crossroads in life physically, socially, and mentally. Teens are at the cusp of their transformation into adulthood, which brings with it a set of responsibilities and new authorities they need to learn to manage.

Meanwhile, becoming an adult means teens will be expected to do more, first at school, then in the workplace, introducing more sources of overwhelming stress. While all this is happening, teens are struggling with their own emotional and sexual identity and maturity, learning to develop as individuals and cementing their personality traits.

Talk therapy can help teens navigate these issues and accompanying life stressors, before they’re further complicated by anxious or depressed thinking, or other symptoms of illness. In teens who are already struggling with a condition like depression, talk therapy can help them navigate their thoughts and develop better habits.

For more information, contact us today. We are here to help you and your teen. At Visions Treatment Centers, we offer residential treatment programs for teens that address various mental health conditions and diagnoses.

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Experiential Therapy Mental Health Treatment

How Can Experiential Therapy Activities for Teens Help?

When people bring up therapy, they’re usually talking about talk therapy or psychotherapy – these are treatment methods that involve discussing certain actions, thoughts, and emotions with a trained professional, and relying on healthy argumentation and dialogue to develop a better understanding of one’s own thoughts and emotions, as well as the effects of a mental health issueBut, experiential therapy is something different altogether.

While still a therapeutic treatment for mental health problems, experiential therapy combines dialogue with action, using immersive experiences to help patients overcome unhealthy coping mechanisms, shed their anxieties and worries, and get to the emotional core of their condition or problem.

What is Experiential Therapy?

Experiential therapy is like talk therapy, but adds action to the treatment process, involving patients in immersive therapeutic environments to help them become more introspective, and achieve a greater therapeutic effect.

The thesis of experiential therapy relies on the idea that actions help reinforce our thoughts and emotions just as much, or even more than words. Rather than confronting negative thinking in dialogue, experiential therapy aims to bring out and expose unhealthy behaviors and thought patterns through roleplaying, psychodrama, music, and other forms of art and public or personal self-expression.

The Difference

The difference is more than semantic – there is a clinical and philosophical core to experiential therapy that sets it apart from other types of talk therapy, and allows it to become an important tool in the repertoire of different therapists and mental health clinics. That core is characterized by the idea that some people are better at introspection than others.

Talk therapy forms like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) are so successful because they help patients identify and argue against thoughts and feelings that originate with or are perpetuated by their mental health problems.

In doing so, they can embrace a healthier thought process that allows them to dull the blow of a depressive or anxious episode, or work against symptoms of their diagnosis. In tandem with medication, family support, and lifestyle changes, therapy helps patients take back control over the way they feel and improves their overall quality of life.

But patients who struggle to look inward and might not have the innate introspective abilities needed to apply lessons in therapy may struggle to progress with traditional forms of talk therapy, such as CBT and DBT.

Infusing Active Experiences with the Therapeutic Process

Experiential therapy takes this conclusion and incorporates active experiences into the therapeutic process to unlock a person’s introspective capabilities and help them translate lessons from therapy into their day-to-day thinking.

It’s not just about introspection. Experiential therapy also taps into the human mind’s innate abilities to translate, recontextualize, and re-experience trauma and joy through wordless actions.

While some of us are able to work through our thoughts and emotions purely through language, whether in our mind, in dialogue, or on paper through journaling, words alone aren’t always enough to explore our emotions, or we might lack the words needed to truly express ourselves. Experiential therapy helps tap into something more primordial, something more accessible than language.

Different Types of Experiential Therapy

Experiential therapy does not come with strict guidelines as to categorization and type. But most forms can generally be categorized into one of the following types:

Art-Based Therapy

Art therapy refers to an experiential setting where patients are encouraged to use different artistic processes to work through inner conflicts, such as painting, sketching, drawing, or sculpting.

Outdoor Therapy

Outdoor therapy utilizes wilderness excursions, hikes, and adventurous activities with therapy sessions, helping patients break through emotional barriers in the therapeutically conducive environments of nature.

Animal-Assisted Therapy

Animal-assisted therapy helps patients open up and engage in therapeutic conversation through the care of animals, often dogs and horses.

Play-Based Therapy

Play-based therapy is a form often used in the treatment of younger children, who might experience difficulties talking about negative thoughts or trauma, but often re-enact or re-experience it through play.

Music-Based Therapy

Music-based therapy is similar to other forms of art-based therapy, using composition and musical arrangements in place of physical mediums.

Psychodrama

Psychodrama or drama therapy involves immersive acting and roleplaying to re-experience and release suppressed or negative emotions associated with a past event or recurring anxious thought, thereby helping patients work through their issues in a safe and healthy environment.

When is Experiential Therapy Used for Teens?

Experiential therapy may be applied to teens who do not respond well to traditional talk therapy. Experiential therapy may help in the treatment of multiple different conditions, including:

Experiential therapy will be more helpful for teens who struggle to express themselves in other forms of therapy, but “open up” through their art, their creative endeavors, their acting, or other forms of self-expression.

Experiential Therapy as Part of a Larger Treatment Plan

As with any other form of therapy, experiential therapy will usually be offered as part of a larger treatment plan involving multiple modalities, including medication. It may take time, and multiple sessions, for the effects of the treatment process to become noticeable.

For relatives and friends alike, patience and understanding become important. Therapeutic treatments can help patients identify signs of illness and cope with them more effectively, but they aren’t a “cure”. There will be good days and bad days. Sometimes, returning to therapy – or continuing therapy even after the bad episodes have stopped – is an important key to keeping up against negative or unwanted thoughts and behaviors.

What Parents Should Know

Experiential therapy can be intense. Patients are encouraged to express themselves, which can result in painful or uncomfortable forms of self-expression and displays of emotionality.

Your teens might not want to talk openly about what they went through in early sessions, and it may take time for them to explore their emotions. You and your teen can prepare yourselves by looking at footage of sample experiential therapy sessions online, or through other online resources.

Contact Visions Treatment Centers today to learn more about experiential therapy for teens and how it can be used in a residential treatment program.

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