The First Day
Be proud of yourself for having the strength and courage to be here right now: supporting your loved one in treatment. You are making an enormous and critical difference by supporting your loved one on their journey to recovery.
Arriving at the Treatment Center: What to Know
When patients arrive for care at our center, our staff are trained to provide the support and care each patient needs as they enter treatment.
On the first day of treatment, your loved one will receive support to help familiarize them with the treatment center, feel safe and supported and settle in.
If you are the parent of a child or adolescent, you will be involved in the intake process and be able to meet with members of the treatment team, attend an orientation and attend groups.
Determining the Length of Treatment
You may wonder how long your loved one might be in our care. While the journey to recovery is different for each person, key markers of recovery include the following:
Mental/Emotional Stability
All distressing, harmful behaviors and any serious or acute mood disturbances will need to be understood and treated. Harmful coping mechanisms or behaviors may have included substance use, self-harm or other process addictions. Recovery involves being in a controlled, supportive environment, where patients know they are neither judged nor critiqued. In treatment, your loved one can gain space from the stresses of daily living to gain awareness, perspective and clarity. They will use this time to learn and master skills to help them regulate their mood and nervous system.
At times, insurance companies have different criteria and standards for how long your loved one can remain in treatment. While our Business Office works closely with third party payers, payers ultimately have the final say regarding the length of stay. More often than not, we are in full agreement with insurance providers regarding treatment plans and length of stay. If a situation occurs and we are not in alignment, our dedicated Business Office staff will answer your questions and help to advocate with your insurance providers.
The length of stay is very personalized and individualized. However, our median length of stay is six to eight weeks.
Where to Stay
Families choose to travel from near and far so that their loved ones can get the best care possible at our Pathlight centers.
In order to mitigate some of the stressors surrounding location and travel, we provide Travel Concierge Services to assist our out-of-town patients and families. A Concierge Services Representative is available to assist you with a wide variety of needs before and during treatment.
While your loved one is in care, we often suggest that friends and family members return home to care for themselves, rest and restore. We also understand that every individual is different and personal circumstances vary. Please communicate with the treatment team if you feel that you should stay near your loved one’s treatment center. We will work with you to help make the decision that is best for you and your family.
Finding Support for Yourself
Not everyone understands what it is like to have a mental health condition, or a loved one who is sick. But by sharing your feelings and forming a community of connections with others in similar circumstances, you can feel more empowered and less alone.
It can be helpful to attend our caregiver support groups and other educational opportunities so that you can share your experience with other parents and families that understand exactly what you are going through. Our Virtual Friends & Family Education Series is a session designed specifically for families, friends and loved ones of both adult and child and adolescent patients: offering hands-on, practical information about mood and anxiety disorders, supportive practices and best methods for communication.