Acute Treatment Program for Adolescents
Adolescents (ages 13-18)
The Acute Treatment Program for adolescents includes psychiatric diagnosis for any of the following:
- Adjustment Disorders
- Affective Disorders
- Alcohol and Drug Dependency
- Anxiety Disorders
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADD/ADHD)
- Conduct Disorders
- Depressive Disorders
- Eating Disorders
- Oppositional Defiant Disorders
- Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Psychotic Disorders
- Thought Disorders
- Individuals experiencing emotional and behavioral problems interfering with daily life, relationships or physical health, or present any of the following:
- Imminent danger to self and others
- Requiring intensive psychiatric care in a secure setting
- Recurrent episodes
- Unresponsive to non-hospital treatment
Program Overview
This therapeutically intensive treatment program is focused on short-term psychiatric stabilization and improvement. A comprehensive set of clinical assessments is completed for each patient entering the acute treatment program. A nursing assessment is completed within 8 hours of admission and the attending psychiatrist conducts a diagnostic evaluation within 24 hours of admission. A licensed social worker completes a psychosocial history in conjunction with the patient, family, and referral source with emphasis on discharge planning and transition to the community.
The program incorporates a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy approach, providing reinforcement for appropriate self-management. Patients learn strategies to effectively solve problems, evaluate dysfunctional thinking patterns, and develop healthy coping strategies. The therapists are skilled at coordinating insight-oriented, Cognitive Behavioral Therapies to obtain desired results for each patient.
Treatment Program Components
A psychiatrist oversees the operation of the program and attending physicians develop, in concert with the inter-disciplinary team of skilled professionals, an individualized treatment plan for each patient which may include the following services:
- Comprehensive Diagnostic Assessment
- Individual, Group and Family Psychotherapy using the Cognitive Therapy Model
- Medication Intervention, Monitoring and Education
- Chemical Dependency Assessment and Counseling
- Nursing Supervision
- Psychoeducational Groups
- Substance Abuse Education
- Therapeutic Recreational Activities
- Occupational Therapy
- Art Therapy
- Aftercare and Transition Planning
