Our Mental Health Programs for Young Adults and Teens: How We Treat

Of all the psychotherapeutic methods that we employ, regular individual therapy 4 times per week is a cornerstone of our program. Daily sessions with a therapist in an intimate, one-on-one setting empower our clients to further process their traumas and personal issues.

This therapeutic schedule allows our residents to crystallize the work they are doing in other aspects of our program. Through our approach, our residents can gain vital insights not only into their issues, but also into how those are being metabolized and addressed within the boundaries of our program.

Teens and young adults at Paradigm Treatment also partake in regular group counseling sessions at least once per week, which can be a very impactful process for healing and growth.

All humans are social animals, but the need for relational connection, recognition, and interpersonal growth seems to be heightened during adolescence and young adulthood. The relief, strength, and courage that our clients discover in group therapy can happen in just a few moments, but the positive impact of those moments can last a lifetime.

At Paradigm Treatment, we understand the profound connection between our clients and their families. As such, weekly individual family counseling as well as multi-family group counseling sessions are carefully woven into the fabric of our therapeutic processes.

Inasmuch as we treat the whole individual in every aspect of our residential treatment program, the familial context for clients in our program is of fundamental importance. Just as we evaluate our clients from a holistic perspective, so do we assess the dynamics taking place in our families, as these dynamics can set the stage for healing long after our program has been completed.

We also work with families by providing therapeutic support, guidance, and resources designed to arm our clients with the skills and tools they need as they return home. Our aim is to empower not just the client, but their immediate circle of support for life after Paradigm.

We rely on a number of evidence-based therapies to assist our clients in gaining a better understanding of who they are and the challenges they face. Our therapeutic program is designed to not only enable teens and young adults to gain insight into their issues and challenges but also to arm them with viable coping strategies and skills that will stay with them for a lifetime.

As such, we rely on a carefully tailored blend of trauma-informed and mindfulness-based therapies. We offer psychoeducation and Family Systems therapy. These modalities have been proven in countless studies to create powerful, long-lasting changes in various age groups, and this is no different for teen and young adult populations.

Types of Therapeutic Approaches at Paradigm Treatment

Various types of therapy can promote mental health. We offer a number of counseling types here at Paradigm, including the following:

• Art therapy
• Recreational therapy
• Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
• Mindfulness-based CBT
• Drama therapy
• Music therapy

Mental illnesses can affect people in very different ways. This is why offering a range of therapeutic approaches is essential. Here at Paradigm, we determine the best type of counseling for our residents, treating each individual with respect and understanding of their needs.

The teens and young adults who come to our facility for mental health treatment receive a medical evaluation during their initial assessment upon enrollment. This evaluation process allows us to understand our client’s physical functioning and overall health status.

It is possible that youth who suffer from emotional health challenges may be at greater risk for developing physical health problems than young people who do not have emotional health issues. The stress young men and women encounter when struggling with mental health challenges can lead to various physical struggles.

Additionally, teens and young adults who have certain medical conditions may require specific care approaches. They may need to avoid medications that intensify their symptoms. Or, they may need to incorporate specific foods into their diets.

Our medical evaluation can help us make informed decisions about the treatment process for our residents. It gives us the opportunity to set teens and young adults on the path to a healthier emotional life.

Our psychiatric evaluation process for teens can last anywhere from several hours to several days. We perform this thorough evaluation to ensure we get a clear understanding of our residents’ mental health challenges and how they all connect.

The psychiatric evaluation stage allows us to recognize the presence of co-occurring disorders or any other symptoms and issues a young person may have. This evaluation lays a foundation for the rest of the mental health treatment process. It allows us to make the best treatment plans for our clients and provide them with the tools and skills they need for a more fulfilling life.

Our psychological testing process for teens and young adults provides us with the most precise diagnosis. Our thorough testing process eliminates the possibility of misdiagnosing our residents or completely overlooking issues that may be deeply rooted.

This teen psychological testing also allows us to recognize the needs of the young people in our care. We can understand their desires, interests, and strengths through this testing period. In turn, this helps us develop the best treatment approaches for the teens in our treatment program.

Treating mental health disorders such as depression, anxiety, and other issues should involve treatment for the whole person. Even the everyday life choices of those in treatment should change for the better.

There are multiple reasons why we conduct a nutritional evaluation as a part of our initial intake process. Firstly, we are able to use this evaluation to help stabilize any mood disorders, emotional dysregulation, or other issues that may be related to food. Additionally, our nutritional evaluation can be used to educate teens on the value of healthy eating habits in regard to their emotional, physical, and mental health.