Why Choose A Residential Treatment Center?
Adolescence is a time of firsts. New experiences, new emotions, new responsibilities. Unfortunately, with maturity come new struggles, temptations, and potential pitfalls. The journey into adulthood is never smooth – and, in most cases, that is a natural part of life. During this tumultuous period, a child can discover who they truly are.
As difficult as it can be for a parent to watch their teen struggle and (inevitably) make mistakes, this difficult time helps form the adult a child will someday become. Although it may not seem like puberty will ever end, in most cases it leaves little more damage than a few short-lived rebellious outbursts.
In certain cases, however, a teen will stray off a healthy path. Whether a result of mental illness, substance experimentation, peer pressure, bullying – or a variety of other issues including a child simply needing time to find themselves after the extreme pressures of school – sometimes a helping hand can prove vital in ensuring that a child is well-prepared for a healthy future. A residential treatment center can provide the support necessary for youth and families in crisis.
What is a Residential Treatment Center?
A residential treatment center (RTC) is an inpatient facility for struggling adolescents. Unlike many other forms of therapy, a residential treatment center features a community that is closer to a family than a typical patient-therapist dynamic.
At residential treatment centers, licensed clinicians work with individuals and their families to create personalized therapy plans. The therapeutic approach in these centers is relational, built on the recognition that healthy relationships create a strong foundation for sustainable change.
Instead of simply labeling an issue with a specific name and utilizing a run-of-the-mill approach, a residential treatment center guarantees that the experience is different for everyone. Since every child is different, it only stands to reason that every issue is dealt with on a case-by-case basis.
A residential treatment center features small, tight-knit groups who work together to achieve their goals. This results in both fewer children to a therapist (and, consequently, provides every child with the attention they require) and a sense of team. At a residential treatment center, a struggling child does not have to face their problems alone.
A residential treatment center can address a wide range of behavioral and mental issues, from addiction and Oppositional-Defiant Disorder to depression and ADHD.
Commonly, a residential treatment center will feature a holistic approach – one that simultaneously targets the mind, body, and spirit of the child. Instead of simply suppressing the symptoms of issues, the residential treatment center process targets the roots underlying these issues. Going deeper than most other forms of therapy allows a residential treatment center to eradicate the cause of the problems, as opposed to simply brushing them under the rug.
Another factor to consider is respect. When youth are struggling, they often close themselves off from the world. Too often they are treated like a problem, rather than human beings. At a residential treatment center, every child is shown the respect they deserve. A warm, caring atmosphere allows your child to feel close to home during their entire healing adventure. At a residential treatment, positive reinforcement promotes a child’s strengths and expands their passions.
Finding a Residential Treatment Center
There are a number of residential treatment centers in various scenic locations across the United States. A picturesque location allows individuals to reconnect with nature and recognize the valuable things in life. In a world dominated by artificial screens, having a link to the real world can often, by itself, make a significant impact on a child’s well-being. A residential treatment center offers relaxation without the burden of constantly being surrounded by electronics.
Several residential treatment centers include Solstice RTC, Solstice East, Equinox RTC, Seven Stars, Elevations , New Focus Academy and Uinta Academy . While the core values of our residential treatment centers are similar – they all treat residents with kindness and professionalism – the individual details (such as location, treatment intensity, and student profiles) can vary. Choosing the residential treatment center that best fits your family’s needs gives your child the best chance to learn new skills, reach their goals, and live a fulfilling life.
Contemporary Articles
Today, there are many stories in the news about success stories of children who overcame their struggles with the help of residential treatment. Praising both the range of fun and educational activities and the overall atmosphere at residential treatment centers, these articles frequently show that even parents who find themselves unable to reach their children can reconnect and rebuild seemingly broken relationships. “[Teens] come for treatment, for help or safety, and to figure things out,” writes an article from the SF Gate. Many teens who enter residential treatment believe themselves to be lost. By the time the program is over, they are entirely different people: ones who are positive, happy, and healthy.
Research
Appropriate and Effective Use of Psychiatric Residential Treatment Services Ziegler, Dave Ph. D.
While residential treatment in still a relatively new phenomenon, there is now a wealth of data that can be analyzed to further the field. As with virtually all other forms of mental illness treatment, residential treatment has enjoyed numerous breakthroughs. As the article suggests, “psychiatric residential treatment is an important and essential component of the mental health system of care. The best treatment programs are ecological in orientation and combine all the needed components to best help the child and family.” Ultimately, the goal of residential treatment is to form the foundation of trust necessary to bring families together.
Multidimensional Implementation Evaluation of a Residential Treatment Program for Adolescent Substance Abuse Hogue, Aaron; Faw, Layla; and Howard A. Liddle
The authors’ findings showed that the “milieu of the [residential treatment] program was rated by the adolescents as highly therapeutic.” By utilizing a truly therapeutic environment, residential treatment can help struggling teens find their way back to themselves.