Adolescent Stabilization Program

Recover. Reflect. Resolve.

Throughout childhood and adolescence, it’s important to develop conflict resolution and stress management skills in order to cope with occurrences in everyday life. Unique to residential treatment centers as a whole, our adolescent stabilization environment provides extra support to newly admitted individuals that come from psychiatric hospital treatment settings or those already enrolled who may be experiencing increased personal crises.

What to Expect From Our Adolescent Stabilization Program

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Our approach at Innercept is always careful and compassionate. When you bring your teen to our facility you can expect an individualized care plan and age-specific treatment.

We lower stimulus in the setting of our stabilization program, which helps to prevent the need to seek higher levels of care and mitigate the severity of stressful events, such as an interruption of necessary medications or the extremes of a mood episode. Residents can recover and begin to reflect on the event under the supervision of our compassionate 24-hour always-awake professionals. By collaborating together, we can help build a lifelong foundation of defining and applying more effective ways of resolving conflict, as well as reorganizing and regulating extreme mood changes. Crisis recovery in stabilization occurs in the following three phases:

Initial Stabilization

The resident focuses on recovering from the emotional upheaval of the current crisis situation. In this phase, the individual is encouraged to self-soothe through quiet contemplation, relaxation techniques, reading and/or other healthy coping methods that may have been successful in the past.

Problem Identification

During this phase, the resident identifies what went wrong, as well as one’s own role in the crisis with an emphasis on self-accountability. While in this calm setting and temporarily removed from the situation, the resident is encouraged to examine their personal state of mind and feelings leading up to the crisis. 

Defining Solutions

Prior to returning to regular treatment in the adolescent program, individuals work closely with their therapists and doctors to create a personalized plan and set goals for maintaining safety and effective functioning. Committing to this plan usually signals readiness to return to their usual treatment.

Treatment Options in Adolescent Stabilization Program

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As a youth crisis center dedicated to providing comprehensive care, our stabilization program offers a range of treatment options. We tailor to meet the unique needs of adolescents. In our stabilization program, we use these therapies and treatments:

Individual Therapy

Adolescents will engage in one-on-one therapy sessions with licensed mental health professionals who specialize in working with young individuals. These sessions provide a confidential and supportive environment for adolescents to explore their thoughts, feelings, and experiences.

Common types of psychotherapy used include cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavioral therapy. While CBT focuses on replacing negative thoughts and behaviors with positive ones, DBT emphasizes mindfulness. Both of these therapies can help stabilize an individual. Often the adolescent continues therapy in our adolescent treatment program.

Group Therapy

Group therapy sessions offer a safe space for adolescents to connect with peers who are experiencing similar challenges. Led by experienced therapists, these sessions encourage sharing, empathy, and the development of healthy coping strategies through group discussions and activities.

At Innercept, we continue to use group therapy throughout an adolescent’s stay at our facility. In both our treatment and adolescent transition program, the adolescents meet and receive psychoeducation and therapy together.

Family Therapy

We recognize the importance of involving families in the treatment process. Family therapy sessions are designed to improve communication, strengthen relationships, and foster a supportive home environment. These sessions provide a platform for families to address conflicts, understand each other’s perspectives, and work together toward healing.

Throughout the entire time that your child receives treatment with us, we provide weekly updates on their progress. Parental involvement can significantly improve an adolescent’s recovery.

Psychoeducation

Adolescents receive education about mental health conditions, symptoms, coping strategies, and self-care practices. Psychoeducation helps individuals and their families better understand their experiences. We value this education because it can also reduce stigma and empowers adolescents with the knowledge to manage their mental health more effectively.

Medication Management

Our facility includes psychiatric professionals who can assess the need for medication and provide appropriate prescriptions, if necessary. Medication management is closely monitored to ensure safety and efficacy, and regular follow-up appointments are scheduled to evaluate progress and make any necessary adjustments.

Adolescents will be evaluated weekly to ensure medication is working. Our clinical team conducts assessments upon admittance to the program to potentially diagnose a condition and prescribe medication.

Holistic Therapies

We believe in a holistic approach to mental health care. Our stabilization program may incorporate complementary therapies such as art therapy, music therapy, mindfulness, yoga, or equine-assisted therapy. These therapies provide creative outlets, stress reduction techniques, and promote emotional expression and self-discovery.

What are the Benefits of Stabilization Programs?

adolescent stabilization program

Mental stabilization programs can be a valuable and supportive choice for adolescents who are experiencing mental health challenges. After a traumatic event or emotional upheaval, our program can help an individual find balance and become well enough for regular treatment. Benefits of mental stabilization programs include:

Provide Structure

Our program provides a structured and nurturing environment.  Adolescents will receive the necessary care and interventions to stabilize their mental well-being. One of the key benefits of these programs is that they offer a safe space for adolescents to express their emotions, fears, and struggles without judgment.

The structure of our adolescent stabilization program also places an emphasis on accountability. Learning to be accountable can help adolescents maintain stability throughout their life. Being in a structured environment like this also benefits adolescents because there’s an intense focus on their treatment and ensuring they’re well.

Mental Health Treatment

When in our program, every child has their own team of mental health professionals. Our therapists specialize in working with young individuals, ensuring that their unique needs are addressed. Stabilization programs often incorporate evidence-based therapies and interventions tailored to adolescents. These therapies help them develop healthy coping mechanisms and skills to manage their mental health.

Create a Community

It’s common to feel alone and misunderstood when struggling with your mental health. In our program, adolescents get to share their experiences with other young people. Being surrounded by peers who are going through similar experiences can create a sense of community and reduce feelings of isolation.

Having community while receiving treatment can also add accountability. Adolescents also get the opportunity to improve their social skills like communication. These skills can enhance their quality of life outside of treatment too.

Promote Overall Well-being

Mental stabilization programs focus on holistic care, addressing not only the immediate mental health concerns but also promoting overall well-being. Our program treats individuals holistically through education, self-care practices, and support networks. Ultimately, these programs can provide adolescents with the necessary tools, resources, and support to navigate their mental health challenges and empower them to lead happier and healthier lives.

How Can You Tell Your Teen Needs Help?

If your child or teen is struggling with their mental health you may notice changes in behavior or attitude. Mental illness affects individuals in a variety of ways, meaning that no two cases are exactly alike. This can make it challenging to recognize when your teen needs help stabilizing their mental. Here are signs and symptoms of mental instability that you can look for:

  • Persistent sadness and frequent crying
  • Withdrawal from family and friends
  • Withdrawal from activities and hobbies
  • Changes in weight; either drastic weight loss or gain
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • A decline in academic performance
  • Low energy
  • Changes in sleep patterns
  • Irritability
  • Unexplained physical symptoms such as headaches or stomach aches
  • Excessive worrying
  • Rapid mood swings

Speak with your child’s primary care provider if you notice these symptoms. A physician can provide recommendations for the next steps and may give a diagnosis or refer you to another professional. At Innercept we specialize in treating mental health conditions for adolescents and young adults. You can talk to our admissions team to determine if our youth crisis center is right for your family.

Learn More About Stabilization and Recovery at Innercept

If you believe your teenager is struggling mentally during adolescence, it’s crucial to seek help before the situation worsens. Innercept understands the unique challenges adolescents face and the impact of mental struggles. Our 90-day inpatient mental health stabilization program, designed for 13 to 18-year-olds, takes an integral-psychology approach, providing comprehensive care for complex psychiatric issues. Through therapy, education, medication management, and life skills development, we offer a nurturing environment for healing and growth. Take a proactive step towards your teenager’s well-being and call Innercept today.

FAQs

Q: Where is the stabilization environment located?

A: On-site at the adolescent program property.

Q: Are electronics available during stabilization?

A: Our stabilization program seeks to decrease distractions, so electronics are generally not allowed.

Q: What is support like during the stabilization process?

A: 24-hour staff is awake, present, and available to the resident.

Q: Are therapist and physician meetings more frequent during stabilization?

A: Yes, and progress is communicated to parents.

Q: What is the attendance policy for outside activities during stabilization?

A: School, work, or volunteering may be temporarily suspended during stabilization.

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