Teen Residential Treatment Centers in Los Angeles

Psychiatric Care and Medication Management

At BNI, psychiatrists don’t just consult on treatment. They own and operate the program. Dr. Arastou Aminzadeh, triple board-certified in psychiatry, child and adolescent psychiatry, and addiction medicine, oversees our residential care, along with Dr. Oliver Ahmadpour, who trained in adult, child, and adolescent psychiatry at USC Keck School of Medicine.

Each teen receives a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation at admission, and their psychiatrist stays involved throughout their stay. Our on-site physician assistant and clinical pharmacist work alongside the psychiatric team to monitor medications, adjust dosages when needed, and watch for side effects. This close oversight is especially important for teens with co-occurring mental health and substance use conditions, where medication decisions can be complex.

Because psychiatric care is built into every part of the program, your teen’s medication plan and therapy work together instead of being handled by separate providers.

Starting Treatment: Medical Detox and Acute Stabilization

Some teens need extra support before they’re ready to begin residential care. Teens with physical dependence on drugs or alcohol start in our separate Medical Detox program, where our medical team manages withdrawal symptoms in a safe, supervised setting. Teens experiencing a mental health crisis may begin with Acute Stabilization, where our psychiatric team provides immediate care to help them feel safe and stable.

Once a teen is ready, they transition directly into residential treatment with the same psychiatrist-led team, so there’s no gap in care between programs.

Individual Therapy

Teens see a licensed therapist three times a week and develop an individualized treatment plan that meets their needs and goals. Evidence-based therapies are integrated, such as:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Addresses negative thought patterns to guide healthier behaviors. MBCT (mindfulness-based cognitive therapy) may also be included, which integrates mindfulness practices like meditation and breathing exercises.
• Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): An offshoot of CBT, DBT builds skills in mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness.
• Integrated Body Psychotherapy: A body-centered form of talk therapy, pairing conversations with body awareness techniques like breathwork, exploring muscle tension and posture.
• Solution-Focused Therapy: Helps teens identify their strengths and set practical goals, focusing on solutions and progress rather than dwelling on problems.

Other Therapy Types

• Group Therapy: Peer support can be influential during recovery, helping teens connect with and learn from others.
• Family Therapy: Family members join therapy sessions to learn more about their teen’s condition and help create a healing environment.
• Dual Diagnosis Treatment: Simultaneously treats substance use and mental health disorders when they co-occur.
• Holistic Therapies: Mindfulness practices complement traditional approaches in teen mental health treatment