Adolescence is a difficult time for many children. Teenagers must deal with peer pressure and pressure to do well in school while trying to make a healthy transition to adulthood. This puts a lot of stress on their shoulders, and it could lead to mental health issues like anxiety, depression, eating disorders, and more.
SunCloud Health is here to help, offering a unique approach for adolescents in school needing more support than conventional therapies. We provide adolescent Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP) three to five times weekly at our Naperville, Chicago, and Northbrook centers. Adolescent IOP is available Monday through Friday, 4:00 – 7:00pm. Starting June 17th, programming will also be offered from 9am – 12pm or 12pm – 3pm. Please contact us for an assessment to see if our program aligns with the needs of your child, patient, or student.
Are Teen Outpatient Treatment Services right for your child?
Adolescent outpatient treatment involves receiving group and individual therapy in a convenient outpatient environment. So rather than being checked into a residential treatment facility or Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP), they can receive teen outpatient treatment while going about their every day lives, enjoying their adolescence while getting the care they need and developing important tools to overcome their mental health challenges.
While in Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP), teens work through a customized plan that gets to the root of their problems and teaches them healthy coping skills that replace negative thought processes.
What Questions Should Parents Ask a Treatment Provider?
Deciding on teen outpatient treatment or other mental health treatment and counseling options can be difficult to navigate for parents and loved one. The experts at SunCloud Health can guide you through the complicated emotions to determine the best approach for your child.
To start, to make sure the provider really treats the condition, rather than having it be a small portion of what they do. It’s important to ensure your teen’s clinicians speak the language and are truly informed in order to ensure the best possible care. Some important questions to consider when searching for a provider include:
- What is the average group therapy size?
- What is the staff-to-patient ratio?
- How often are you treating the disorders my teenager is dealing with, and is that treatment a regular part of the program?
- Do you offer individual therapy sessions?
- What percentage of patients are also being treated for this condition?
- Can my teen still attend school and, if so, how will they be supported?
- How often will my adolescent see a doctor, therapist, dietitian, and other individual services needed throughout their care and as part of their tailored treatment plan?
We also recommend scheduling a tour of the facility to get a feel for the location, talk to the staff, and make sure the provider’s day-to-day programming meets your child’s needs.
VIDEO: DOES IT MAKE SENSE TO PULL MY KID OUT OF SCHOOL FOR TREATMENT?
Hear from Dr. Chevalier on the balance school and extracurricular activities with inpatient treatment programs and other outpatient care options. In most cases, coursework is unaffected and can be improved while a student is out of school receiving treatment.
Does My Teen Need therapy? Teen Outpatient Programs vs. Other Treatment Options.
Adolescent IOP isn’t the only way you can go when it comes to getting your teen the treatment they need. There are other options, including inpatient treatment programs, taking your child to a school counselor, or simply talking to them yourself. However, adolescent intensive outpatient treatment may be the best solution.
An inpatient program will take your child away from their friends and schoolwork. It will interfere with their curriculum, and it could make them depressed and resistant to treatment. A school counselor may be effective, but with a whole school of children to care for, they won’t be able to give your child the customized care they need. And if you try to talk to them yourself, you run the risk of saying the wrong things and causing a rift in your relationship that will do more harm than good.
