It could be that your teenager was always unique and challenging, a handful so to speak. On the contrary, your teen may have only recently begun exhibiting outward signs of internal turmoil. Regardless of how long a history your adolescent has with behavioral or psychological issues, when the disorder reaches a crescendo, threatening to cause havoc across all facets of their and your family’s life, it is time to consider a residential teen treatment center California.
Today’s teens face a more enhanced and nuanced menu of mental health challenges than decades past. These stem from a significant increase in ADHD diagnoses, attachment disorders, eating disorders, substance use disorders, mood disorders such as depression and anxiety, personality disorders, social dysfunction, and trauma disorder, to name a few. When a mental health disorder threatens to subvert their promising future, and their psychological state is deteriorating, a teen treatment center California can help them when other interventions have failed.
Not all residential teen treatment programs are alike. Some programs are highly disciplinary, using military-type approaches or a boot camp philosophy. Some programs are warm and fuzzy, with an emphasis on serenity and stability. Other programs find a balance between the two and offer structure, safety, and intensive therapy customized to the uniqueness of each teen client. Whichever approach best suits your teen’s needs is the right one for them. There is no singular right way to treat teen mental and behavioral health issues.
What Conditions Does a Teen Treatment Center California Treat?
Parents, either on their own or through the services of an outpatient mental health provider, may have exhausted all available treatment interventions and still see no significant improvement in their teen’s psychological health. When there is no tangible improvement, or when the situation deteriorates, an inpatient, or residential, mental health treatment program designed specifically for teens may be the appropriate next level of care.
There is a wide range of mental health challenges that can be treated effectively at a residential teen program. Some of these include:
- Depression, including suicide ideation
- Anxiety spectrum disorders: social anxiety, phobias, obsessive-compulsive disorder, PTSD, generalized anxiety disorder, and panic disorder
- Self-harming behaviors
- Substance use disorders
- Personality disorders: Oppositional defiant disorder, borderline personality disorder
- Bipolar disorder
- Anti-social behaviors, such as aggression or violent behaviors
- Psychotic or delusional behaviors
All of these are challenging disorders that require specialized psychiatric training, which is at the core of an effective residential program for teens.
What Types of Treatment Are Effective for Teens in Distress?
Each teen will receive an initial diagnosis upon admission to the treatment program, which will determine the best combination of treatment elements to bring about an improvement in symptoms. While each type of mental or behavioral health condition will need targeted treatment, some of the most effective evidence-based psychotherapies include:
- Behavioral therapies, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), cognitive mindfulness therapy, exposure and desensitization therapy
- Psychodynamic therapy
- Interpersonal therapy, attachment therapy
- Family therapy
- Contingency management
- Solution-focused therapy
There are also adjunctive therapies that compliment and augment the progress made with the traditional psychotherapies. For teens, these are largely experiential in nature and cultivate self-expression and a deeper sense of awareness. These therapies may include:
- Art therapy
- Music therapy
- Drama therapy
- Surf therapy
- Equine therapy
- Yoga and meditation
Why Choose a Residential Teen Treatment Program?
There are several benefits to arranging for your teen to receive the intensive treatment provided at a residential program. A residential program is typically a small, intimate setting that provides a respite from the sources of psychological distress where the teen can focus entirely on healing and learning new coping skills.
Acute stabilization: If the teen is in crisis, such as experiencing a psychiatric event or a suicide attempt, an inpatient setting provides the 24 hour monitoring and support to stabilize them.
More targeted treatment: Offering more focused therapy than is usually provided through outpatient mental health services.
Medical detoxification: For teens with addiction or substance abuse issues, the residential setting can provide a safe, medical detox that is monitored throughout.
BNI Treatment Centers is a Teen Treatment Center California
BNI Treatment Centers provides a multi-disciplinary and customized approach to treating teens in the Los Angeles region. At BNI, careful attention is paid in the initial evaluation and assessment phase of admission, providing the foundational data for a completely tailored treatment plan to be developed for each individual teen client. This emphasis is based upon the belief that a teen will comply with treatment if they can relate to it, becoming a partner in their own journey to wellness. BNI Treatment Centers was founded by, and is operated by, two psychiatrists with decades of experience treating adolescents aged 12-17, who have a deep understanding of the unique intricacies involved in helping this age group. For more information about our program, please contact BNI Treatment Centers today at (888) 522-1504.
