Find hope with residential treatment
When your teen is struggling with depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) or another serious mental health condition, it may feel like nothing will ever change. You might be considering residential treatment, but you’re not sure if it will truly provide the support and care you and your child need.
As a licensed clinical psychologist for three decades, I’ve watched teens and families arrive at residential treatment feeling scared and uncertain. Then, a few weeks later, I’ve seen these same individuals leave treatment with a set of healthy coping skills and the confidence to further their healing journey.
In this article I’ll explain what you can expect from residential treatment and why it can be a turning point for your teen. As the parent of one former teen patient shared:
“Because of my child’s stay in Pathlight, 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 an intensive, 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. 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 care team will work with your family to create a personalized treatment plan that includes talk therapy, group support and coping skill building.
The goal is to stabilize patients and provide the essential tools that teens will need to successfully return to their daily routine.
What does a typical day in a teen residential treatment program look like?
No two days are exactly alike, but 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.
On a typical day in our residential program, teens can access:
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, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) 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
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. Some treatment centers, including Pathlight Mood & Anxiety Center (Pathlight), offer specialized treatments for conditions like OCD and trauma-related disorders.
How is teen residential treatment different from inpatient care?
Inpatient care is for those who are going through an immediate medical crisis. Residential care is for individuals who are medically stable but still need full-time support.
Teen residential treatment centers provide more access to high-quality mental health services than hospitals can provide. Studies show that the U.S. currently has less than half of the recommended inpatient psychiatric beds.[1] Residential centers provide a safe, effective treatment option.
Here’s how inpatient care differs from residential care:
Inpatient care | Residential care |
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5 common myths about adolescent residential treatment centers
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:
1. “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.
2. “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.
3. My child will be “fully recovered” in just a few weeks.
Most children and adolescents make significant progress during residential care. However, both kids and their parents will need ongoing therapy and school support after treatment ends. Partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient or virtual intensive outpatient programs can help kids strengthen their skills outside of residential treatment.
4. 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.
5. 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, children receive 90 minutes every weekday to focus on schoolwork using provided laptops.
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.
See if Pathlight residential treatment is covered by your insurance.
Will my teen get better in residential care? What the research says
Every teen or child will experience a different outcome from residential care based on their treatment plan. However, multiple studies show that residential care is both safe and effective.
Let’s look at the research:
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.[2]
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.[3]
Another review of 47 studies showed that the majority noted positive outcomes for youth.[4]
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.[5]
A study in France found that 44-64% of young people in residential treatment showed improvement at discharge.[6]
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.”
Are families part of the residential treatment process?
Yes. In fact, family involvement is a powerful part of the residential treatment and recovery experience. Many teen treatment centers provide tools to help parents support their teen in treatment, while also giving caregivers the guidance they need at every step of the journey. 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
What signs and symptoms indicate my teen might benefit from residential treatment?
Parents should consider residential treatment if a lower level of outpatient care is not providing enough support or leading to change. Other signs and symptoms to watch for include:
Increased symptoms of depression, anxiety or OCD that significantly impact daily life
Thoughts of hopelessness
Any safety concerns
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 (PHP) or intensive outpatient program (IOP). It also might require working with an outpatient team you trust.
View Pathlight teen programming.
These vital next steps allow teens to practice newly learned skills while receiving additional structure and support. They also help family members adjust to life after treatment and start developing new, healthier habits at home.
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 questions 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.