Parents struggle with the idea of sending their teen to a long-term residential treatment program. The stigma attached to addiction and mental health issues prevent many from seeking help. Teen treatment programs are designed to treat more than addiction. They also treat related needs including mental health struggles and trauma. Treatment Programs want teens to learn the coping skills needed to address problems and trauma without turning to drugs and alcohol. Many teen treatment programs exist across the country who employ different methods of therapy to help teens overcome addiction and heal. There are three very important ways that teen treatment programs could help with your struggling teen.
One: Teen Treatment Programs help psychological and spiritual healing through long-term, residential treatment.
Teen treatment programs across the country are certified to assist teens in a variety of healing methods such as traditional therapy, wilderness exposure, holistic techniques, and comprehensive treatment. Many teens may experience more than one psychological disorder in addition to their addiction so a program that treats the whole teen is ideal. The addiction may make the disorder worse, or they may find that self-medicating is their only option. Long-term residential treatment programs teach more viable alternatives to self-medication.
Teen treatment programs employ licensed therapists and doctors to help teens find balance between their lives and their disorders. Therapists use non-judgmental techniques to motivate and help an addiction heal mentally, physically, and spiritually. Each teen experiences an individualized, comprehensive program that addresses their entire well-being, not just the addiction.
Many experts consider wilderness therapy residential programs an effective form of therapy. Wilderness therapy offers teens the chance to heal spiritually by connecting to nature. This approach encourages teens to discover their confidence and educate them on life skills and coping skills. With the variety of therapies available for teens with addiction, there is an opportunity for everyone from to find hope and healing.
Two: Teen Treatment Programs provide an extensive education program.
Drug and alcohol addiction can cause a fall in grades and even the motivation to continue any form of education. When teens become addicted to drugs or alcohol, they lose the drive to be successful in school. Their sole purpose is get drugs and alcohol and their responsibilities to family, friends, and education suffer.
Aside from traditional therapy, teen treatment programs add the opportunity for teens to fill educational gaps they missed during the height drug addiction. During the admission process, they discuss goals and steps to fulfill education needs. Many treatment facilities offer high school diploma programs, GED programs, and even online college classes to help teens discover their future path when they leave treatment.
Formal academic opportunities are not the only education that teen treatment programs offer. They also teach life skills to help teens learn to cope after leaving treatment. Many teens do not know how to take care of themselves; by learning life skills, teens gain the ability to build confidence and develop self-sufficient behaviors.
Three: Teen Treatment Program heal relationships.
The number one priority for teen treatment programs is to bridge the gap between teens and their relationships with others. Although trauma typically jumpstarts addiction, studies show teens dive deeper into addiction because they feel like they are misunderstood. Relationships with family members, especially between parents and teens, become broken and neither side knows how to heal the gap.
Family therapy strengthens the family unit. Once teens and parents address their personal struggles, treatment centers invite families to visit their facilities and spend time learning how to interact with each other in a healthy way. Parents are also taught how to help their teen return to the world when they leave treatment. Teen treatment programs use therapy to heal these relationships. Without a healthy home life to return to, teens will turn to old habits when returning home from a long-term treatment facility.
You’re not alone.
Parents who want to help their teens overcome addiction and lead productive lives search for the best options in teen treatment programs. There are many sources available to help determine what type of treatment is available and best fit for your teen. A great website to use is The Treatment Center.com. They have many articles and a list of great treatment centers available for teens.
The American Psychological Association is a great source for articles written by clinical psychologists to help parents determine their teen’s symptoms and determine if visiting a doctor is necessary. Psychology Today has a comprehensive list of teen treatment programs for every state. They also offer articles that talk about different types of addiction and how teen treatment programs help. No matter what your teen is experiencing, a teen treatment program is a great option for treatment to heal both the teen and their families.
