If your teen is dealing with serious mental health issues or a substance abuse problem, you may need to seek a residential treatment option. 

Residential treatment is a type of mental health care where kids live at a facility around the clock. It is often needed for teens who are dangerous to themselves or others and have abysmal success rates at home.

It Gives Your Teen a Fresh Start

Parents may find it challenging to recognize their adolescent’s addiction and the potential need for assistance. However, there are several advantages to adolescent inpatient therapy.

As they won’t be able to quickly access harmful influences like drugs and alcohol, removing them from their usual environment might help them make significant adjustments. They can also develop healthy relationships with people in a new environment, gain valuable life-promoting experiences, and find motivation to continue to change after treatment.

Depending on the type of residential treatment program you choose, your teen will likely receive tutoring and teaching to help them catch up on any classes they have fallen behind in and get back on track. While the separation can be stressful for both of you at first, it will give your teen a chance to focus on their recovery and learn to build new habits they can bring home.

It Gives Your Teen a New Set of Peers

Residential treatment San Diego allows your teen to live away from home while they complete an individualized clinical and experiential therapy plan. The best residential programs offer art, music, yoga, and equine therapy options for an immersive experience. When choosing a residential program, look online and speak with families to hear about their experiences with the program.

Stepping out of their current environment can help them break old habits and let go of relationships that aren’t healthy. It also removes them from toxic people and places that may trigger anxiety or addictions.

In residential treatment, teens can focus on their studies without distractions, allowing them to get back on track academically. If they have yet to catch up, many programs will provide tutoring and education to help them catch up. This will help them when they return to school and have a solid foundation to build upon for their future.

It Gives Your Teen a Safe Environment

Whether they are struggling with mental health issues, substance abuse, or other behavioral problems like self-harm or eating disorders, teens in residential treatment away from home have an opportunity to build trusting relationships in a safe environment. This allows them to develop their authentic selves without fearing rejection or judgment.

The length of time in residential treatment also allows therapists to address the root causes of their struggles and provide long-term positive changes. Short-term residential treatment programs don’t offer this in-depth level of care and tend to be less impactful.

While some parents are hesitant to let their child go into residential treatment, it may be the best choice for their child’s well-being. When choosing a program, ask for references from families and graduates who have gone through the experience. Embark, for instance, provides incoming families with contact information of recent program graduates willing to share their experiences. Ask them about their challenges and how their lives have changed due to residential treatment.

It Gives Your Teen a New Support Network

Although separating your teen from their home environment may be challenging, it can also help them overcome their problems and develop healthy coping skills they’ll use after the treatment program. Additionally, residential treatment centers have therapists and support staff available 24/7 to assist with any issues your teenager may face.

As a result, residential treatment is much more in-depth than outpatient treatment and can better identify the root cause of your teen’s mental health struggles. This is typically the secret to a long-lasting recovery.

It’s also important to note that most teen residential treatment programs provide family counseling, allowing you to improve your relationship with your child and resolve potential problems. In rare circumstances, insurance may even be able to pay all or part of the expense of a residential treatment program. This makes it a fantastic choice for many families.