Adolescents who struggle with mental health conditions and substance abuse require compassionate, comprehensive care. Teens and their families need help–and hope–to make progress in recovery.
There are many levels of care in substance use disorder treatment. Adolescents who do not require the continuous support of residential care may thrive in an outpatient mental health rehab treatment program.
This article will provide an overview of outpatient adolescent rehab and mental health treatment programs in New Jersey. Reach out to the admissions team at The Living Room now to explore our holistic, high-quality treatment programs or find support at any stage of recovery.
What Types of Adolescent Outpatient Treatment Programs Are Available in New Jersey?
Every adolescent has a unique experience with mental health challenges, substance use, and recovery. Finding the right level of care and type of treatment is essential to meaningful recovery.
Adolescent outpatient programs typically begin with an assessment that can help the care team develop an effective treatment plan. A doctor or mental health professional will use the information from this assessment to recommend the appropriate level of care for each adolescent.
Here is a basic overview of the types of outpatient adolescent rehab and mental health treatment in New Jersey.
Outpatient rehab services
An adolescent outpatient rehab program is the lowest level of outpatient care. Treatment teams evaluate each teen’s needs and create an individualized treatment plan that can help them work toward recovery goals and manage the symptoms of their mental illness.
Outpatient adolescent rehab programs in New Jersey are tailored to meet teens where they are and can vary in length. Teens typically attend treatment sessions several days per week for a few hours. The treatment team regularly evaluates each person’s progress and may adjust the frequency of their treatment sessions as recovery progresses.
During the adolescent outpatient rehab program, the treatment team will work closely with the teen’s family to develop a discharge plan that supports ongoing recovery. Teens may continue to work with professionals from the program or be connected to support in the community.
Intensive outpatient programs (IOPs)
Intensive outpatient programs, or IOPs, offer intensive, comprehensive treatment in a schedule that allows teens to attend school normally. An adolescent IOP may meet in the afternoons or evenings and consists of individual and group therapy, education, and family therapy sessions.
An IOP may be an ideal solution for adolescents who do not require residential or partial care but who would benefit from continuous support. The treatment and community an IOP provides can help adolescents stay on track in recovery more effectively than behavioral therapy alone.
Partial hospitalization programs (PHPs)
A partial hospitalization program, or PHP, is the most intensive level of outpatient care. While participating in a PHP, adolescents typically attend treatment for most hours of the day, five days per week.
Partial hospitalization programs are sometimes called “day treatment” because they provide intensive daily treatment. In a PHP, teens receive comprehensive treatment that may include:
- Individual counseling
- Group therapy
- Family therapy
- Experiential therapy
The steady routine of a partial hospitalization program provides the structure that can help adolescents stay focused and engaged in their recovery. Teens may also participate in tutoring and other forms of academic support to ensure they don’t fall behind in their education while getting the help they need.
Signs Your Adolescent May Benefit From Outpatient Treatment
Behavioral therapy and counseling can be beneficial for teens struggling with mental health conditions or substance abuse. However, some people require more intensive forms of support to make progress in recovery or to manage the symptoms of mental illness.
Outpatient programs provide valuable structure and support for adolescents and their families navigating complex issues. Here are some signs that a teen in your life may benefit from adolescent outpatient rehab and mental health treatment:
- They have anxiety about their academic performance or relationships
- They are experiencing new academic struggles
- They are withdrawn, isolated, or seem to have lost interest in friends and hobbies
- They frequently express sadness or hopelessness
- They lack motivation or seem bored
- They abuse drugs or alcohol
- They engage in self-harm
If your teen is in weekly therapy, but it isn’t providing the amount of support they need, an outpatient treatment program may be beneficial.
Outpatient adolescent rehab and mental health treatment programs often require significant family involvement. The goal of outpatient treatment programs is to stop thinking of the teen as the “problem” and to begin looking at the family system as the solution.
Outpatient programs allow families to learn about mental health conditions and substance abuse, develop goals and strategies, and improve communication so that the family becomes a more supportive, healing system. Teens and their families gain independence, confidence, and healthy coping skills that help them thrive in every stage of the rest of their lives.
Find Outpatient Adolescent Rehab and Mental Health Treatment in New Jersey
If your teen may benefit from outpatient rehab and mental health treatment in New Jersey, you are not alone. Reach out to the caring specialists at The Living Room now to explore our supportive outpatient programs and schedule an intake assessment.