Being a teenager is hard. Being the parent of a troubled teen is difficult, too. In reality, various situations could require professional care or even placement into a residential treatment program for your teenager. Group homes for high-risk teens can help kids with major depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety issues, behavior issues like impulse control disorder, and self-harm or substance abuse. If your child suffers from these, it might be time to seek help. Read on to learn about a few disorders or situations where a teen could use extra service and why it’s so important.
What is a residential placement for teens?
Children and teenagers are not immune to mental health issues. Statistics show that one in fourteen people will experience major clinical depression at least once. In the middle of a global pandemic, where teens feel isolated, the number of teenagers experiencing symptoms of depression continues to grow every day. Yet, some kids do okay after receiving extra support at home or from mental health professionals while living in their homes. Some teenagers either resist mental health help, refuse to admit anything is wrong, or struggle so deeply that they haven’t improved despite supportive environments.
For these kids, a teen residential treatment center could be the solution. These facilities offer residential treatment that includes group therapy, a treatment plan by a care team, ongoing access to psychiatrists, and daily work with licensed therapists trained to give teens the tools they need to feel better.
While no two residential programs are exactly alike, most residential treatment programs for teens combine academic support with mental health and life skills training. Kids with many mental health issues benefit from intensive treatment plans to help them start fresh.
health insurance companies would cover placement to treat this behavioral issue. Impulse control issues can include pathological gambling, excessive alcohol use, overspending or shopping, dangerous sexual behaviors, and drug use. Often mistaken for mania in people with bipolar disorder, impulse control issues are different. People who experience them regularly can’t control compulsions or temptations that provide instant gratification.
While impulse control issues often have a genetic factor tied to them, behavioral disorders can also be treated. Impulsive behaviors, while serious, are treatable with cognitive behavior therapy and medication. If you see any signs of an impulse control disorder in your child, consider reaching out for help. A residential placement for a teen experiencing impulse problems could solve the problem and change their future.
cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), which is more structured, and interpersonal (IPT). Therapy for major depression or symptoms of major depression can include a combination of talk therapy called psychotherapy and medications or just one or the other.
Skilled counselors can teach teens ways to manage symptoms of depression, skills for handling anxiety, and ways to take care of themselves to make things feel easier. In addition, teens with depression and anxiety issues can often benefit from professional help in a residential setting to work with peers to share common experiences with depression and sadness.
Reaching Out for Help
At the end of the day, unless it’s court-ordered, only you can decide if you think your teen needs professional residential level and 24-hour support or not. By getting them a therapist or talking to your family doctor, you’ll be better positioned to help your teen with everything from impulse control disorders to depression, anxiety, and more. Don’t make the mistake of waiting too long to ask for help. Your teen depends on you, whether they show it or not.
