Residential treatment provides families with hope
When your teen is struggling with their mental health, it’s normal to worry. You might be considering residential treatment but you’re not sure if it’s the right fit for your child.
As a licensed clinical psychologist for three decades, I’ve watched teens and families arrive at residential treatment feeling scared and uncertain. A few weeks later, I’ve seen these same individuals leave with a set of healthy coping skills and the confidence to further their healing journey.
As the parent of one former teen patient shared:
“Because of my child’s stay in Pathlight’s residential program, she found herself and is thriving socially, emotionally and academically. I do not wish for any family to have to experience what we went through, but if you should find yourself in that space where your child needs residential help, I could not recommend Pathlight more based on our experience.”
What is teen residential mental health treatment?
Residential mental health treatment offers 24/7 care for adolescents who need intensive care in a highly structured environment. It’s designed for teens with serious mental health concerns, including anxiety, depression, OCD and trauma-related disorders. While residential treatment provides round-the-clock care, it takes place in a therapeutic, non-hospital setting.
What does a typical day in a teen residential treatment program look like?
On a typical day in our residential program, teens have access to:
- 24/7 nursing care with physicians on-site
- Comprehensive mental health support, including two weekly psychiatrist visits
- Individual, group and family therapy with licensed therapists
- Therapeutic groups, skill building groups and peer support groups
- Evidence-based care rooted in dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), emotion-focused family therapy (EFFT), cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)
- Innovative treatments such as ketamine and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)
- Experiential therapies such as art, psychodrama, mindfulness, movement and yoga
- Focused schoolwork with education specialists
- Family time both on- and off-site
- Time outdoors to walk, relax or connect with nature
The care team works with each family to create personalized treatment plans including talk therapy, group support and coping skills building. No two days are exactly alike. In residential treatment, teens will find a compassionate, welcoming space that accepts them for who they are. Your child will receive the consistency and structure they need to navigate the ups and downs of adolescence, along with a chance to build connections with others.
How is teen residential treatment different from partial hospitalization (PHP)?
Both residential treatment and partial hospitalization programs provide structured, supportive care but they’re designed for different levels of need.
Residential treatment offers full-time support in a safe, therapeutic environment. Teens live on-site and receive care around the clock, which can be especially helpful when they need more space to focus on healing.
Partial hospitalization programs are a step down in intensity. Teens attend treatment most days of the week but return home (or to nearby housing) in the evenings. This allows them to practice coping skills in their everyday environment while still receiving consistent support.
Residential treatment vs. partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient programs
Residential treatment | Partial hospitalization | Intensive outpatient |
|
|
|
5 common myths about teen residential treatment
Over the years, I’ve talked with many parents and teens who have misconceptions about residential treatment. Often, once they discover the facts, it puts their mind at ease and helps them make a more informed decision.
Common misconceptions include the following:
- “My child has to be in crisis to qualify for full-time care.”
Teens don’t have to be experiencing severe behavioral problems or be in an active crisis to enter residential treatment. Most often, parents seek residential care when their child or teen has not shown improvement with traditional outpatient treatments and needs more intensive structure and support - “Treatment will be a negative experience. It will feel like punishment.”
Residential care is not punitive. In fact, most residential programs focus on helping teens develop positive-change strategies. They also provide encouragement and support for parents and caregivers. - “My child will be fully recovered in just a few weeks.”
Most children and adolescents make significant progress during residential care. However, kids and their parents often need ongoing therapy and support after treatment ends. Stepping down into a partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient or virtual intensive outpatient program can help kids strengthen their skills outside of residential treatment. - “I won’t have a say in my child’s treatment.”
Family involvement is essential to positive residential treatment outcomes. The goal of residential treatment is to support positive caregiver-child relationships and help families come together, not grow further apart. - “My child will fall behind in school.”
Many teen residential treatment centers have education specialists on staff. These important team members help teens keep up with their schoolwork during treatment and make the back-to-school transition easier. At Pathlight Mood & Anxiety Center (Pathlight), children receive 90 minutes every weekday to focus on schoolwork using provided laptops.
See if Pathlight residential treatment is covered by your insurance.
Do teens get better in residential care? What the research says
Every teen or child will experience a different outcome from residential care. However, multiple studies show that residential care is both safe and effective.
- An analysis of various mental health treatment models showed that short-term residential treatment with family-based aftercare is more effective than long-term residential treatment.[1]
- A systematic review of research from 1993 to 2003 revealed that children and teens with severe mental health disorders can gain positive outcomes from programs that offer multiple types of evidence-based care—such as CBT, DBT and family therapy—and academic support.[2]
- Another review of 47 studies showed that the majority noted positive outcomes for youth.[3]
- A study of 70 adolescents (61% female) with a primary anxiety disorder showed that residential treatment including CBT and medication management improved symptoms of anxiety, depression and anxiety-related life interference.[4]
- A study in France found that 44-64% of young people in residential treatment showed improvement at discharge.[5]
At Pathlight, 85% of patients say they’ve found their experience helpful. Here’s what one parent shared after her 16-year-old daughter’s experience at Pathlight:
“She is thriving in life and school again, only in therapy two times a week and group once a week. She has been seizure-free for 14 weeks! That is amazing! We cannot thank the staff at Pathlight enough for giving our daughter her life back.”
Healing is possible, and our outcomes show it
At Pathlight, we see meaningful improvements in both anxiety and depression from admission to discharge. By discharge, far fewer children and teens were struggling with anxiety and depression at a clinical level. Anxiety decreased from 61% at admission to 27% at discharge and depression decreased from 72% to 36% in our care.
Residential treatment changes lives
Deciding whether to send your teen to a residential mental health treatment center can be uncomfortable and even scary. But it can also start your child on the path to hope and recovery.
If you’re struggling with the next step, you don’t have to navigate it alone. Fill out this brief form today or call us at 866-662-5914 to ask about residential treatment or schedule an assessment. We’ll listen, seek to understand what your child is going through and connect your family with the support you need to move forward.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does insurance cover residential treatment?
Most residential treatment programs accept commercial insurance plans, and some offer financial assistance or payment plans. Many times, families are pleasantly surprised to discover that their teen’s care will be partially or fully covered. Some residential treatment centers even accept certain Medicaid plans depending on the state.
How long does residential treatment last?
Treatment typically lasts four to six weeks, but the exact length and type of care will be tailored to your adolescent’s specific needs. The goal is to stabilize patients and provide the essential tools that teens will need to successfully return to their daily routine.
How does residential treatment help kids with multiple diagnoses?
Young people entering residential treatment are often diagnosed with more than one mental health condition. In these instances, patients may receive three therapy sessions a week, allowing them the opportunity to address multiple conditions at the same time. At Pathlight, we also offer specialized treatments for conditions like OCD and trauma-related disorders.
Emotion-Focused Family Therapy (EFFT)
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Educational Support for Students
Are families part of the residential treatment process?
Yes. In fact, family involvement is a powerful part of the residential treatment and recovery experience. Family support can include:
- Skill building and education based on EFFT that empower parents to support their child
- Practical tips on how parents can support their teen during and after treatment
- Free virtual caregiver support groups, connecting parents to people who understand what they’re going through
- Visiting hours during the week and on weekends
- Virtual check-ins for families who live out of town or need more flexibility
How do I know if my child needs residential treatment?
If you’re asking this question, you’re already paying close attention to your child, and that matters. You might consider residential treatment if:
- Your child’s mental health is affecting their safety
- They aren’t making the progress you hoped for in therapy
- Everyday stressors at home or school seem to be making things harder
- Symptoms of depression, anxiety or OCD are interfering with daily life
- Your child is experiencing feelings of hopelessness
- You have any concerns about your child’s safety or well-being
It’s not always easy to know when more support is needed, especially when you’ve already tried therapy or other options. For many families, it becomes the next step when outpatient care no longer feels like enough. If you’re unsure, you don’t have to figure it out alone. Reaching out to a care team can help you better understand what level of support your child may need.
What happens after my child leaves a teen residential treatment center?
After residential treatment ends, most teens will need ongoing support. The next step might mean choosing a partial hospitalization program or intensive outpatient program. It also might require working with an outpatient team you trust.