Adolescent Male Extended Care Unit

Our extended care unit is designed for males ages 13 to 17 requiring intensive long-term psychiatric care. Patients receive individualized treatment specific to their needs and a comprehensive discharge plan to help them transition back into the community. The average program length is 9-12 months; however, length of stay can vary from three to nine months depending on the patient’s needs.

Over the course of their treatment, our program may provide your adolescent male with:

• Individual, group and family therapy
• Substance use education
• Accredited school program
• Recreational therapy
• Parent and family education
• Discharge planning
• Continued care planning

Therapeutic Program

The Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Program helps individuals build effective tools to manage emotions, behaviors and relationships. Grounded in DBT, created by psychologist Marsha Linehan, the program focuses on four core skill areas:

• Mindfulness: Increasing awareness and staying present
• Interpersonal Effectiveness: Improving communication and relationships
• Emotion Regulation: Understanding and managing strong emotions
• Distress Tolerance: Coping with crisis situations without making things worse

Participants learn and practice these skills through group therapy, creative activities, journaling and individualized sessions. Primary therapists also collaborate with families to support continued use of DBT skills after discharge.

The program includes a structured level system that recognizes progress, encourages positive behavior and motivates ongoing achievement. As expectations are met, participants may request level promotions and work toward reaching Senior Level by the time of discharge. 

Multidisciplinary Team

Treatment for each patient is administered by a multidisciplinary team of mental health professionals that typically includes:

• Internal medicine/family practice physician
• Psychiatrists
• Psychologists
• Nurses
• Social workers/therapists
• Recreational therapists
• Special education teachers
• Dietary Support Services

Warning Signs Your Adolescent May Need Treatment

Family or friends may be the first to notice changes in an adolescent’s behavior. The presence of these symptoms may be a temporary characteristic of youth. However, some may indicate a significant emotional problem.

The warning signs that may indicate a teen may need mental health services can include:

• Depression
• Rapid mood swings
• Agitation or irritability
• Withdrawal from family or friends
• Runaway behavior
• Sleeping too much or too little
• Physical violence
• Sudden declining grades at school
• Substance use
• Sexual promiscuity
• Thoughts of suicide or self-harm
• Giving away possessions
• Giving away possessions
• Loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities
• Unexplainable physical complaints

Admission Criteria

To be considered an appropriate candidate for our extended care unit, an adolescent male would need to have had multiple recent inpatient stays and previous outpatient treatment without success. For more details on admissions and referrals, please contact our assessments and referrals department at 800-264-5640.

Insurance Information

In an effort to make our treatment services available to as many people as possible, we are in-network with most commercial insurance providers and state managed Medicaid.

Ready to Learn More?

Call us today at 800-264-5640, contact any of our mobile assessors or Contact Us online.

Help Is One Call Away

We’re available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to provide a level of care mental health assessment for you or your loved one. Call us at 800-264-5640, visit our facility, or message us to get started.