Surviving Self-Harm
After years of vicious bullying, Aabrielle Spear's defenses finally broke down. The SHIELD program gave her the tools to stop self-harm — and the confidence to speak out.
Read StoryOur programs are for adolescents ages 14-17 whose behavior and emotions interfere with their ability to be safe, happy and content. We aim to resolve emotional issues and support adolescents toward healthy coping skills, problem-solving and positive relationships.
Intensive Outpatient Program
Mental Health Track
For adolescents struggling with depression, suicidal thoughts, mood swings, ADHD, ADD, anger, anxiety and impulse control. Patients and their families learn healthy coping skills and communication.
Dual Diagnosis Track
For adolescents whose drug or alcohol abuse is interfering with their personal safety, achievements and healthy family communication, our Dual Diagnosis Track addresses the underlying issues associated with substance use through therapy and education using a 12-step approach. This track is also appropriate for adolescents also experiencing depression, anxiety, mood disorders, ADHD, ADD, bipolar disorder or other conditions. Education for mental illness and substance use is addressed along with relapse prevention skills.
Adolescent therapy group
In an atmosphere of trust and support, adolescents are encouraged to be open about how their behavior or substance abuse has caused serious difficulties in their lives. Adolescents learn to stabilize their lives through anger management, personal responsibility, communication skills, coping skills and conflict resolution. Substance Use and Dual Diagnosis tracks are introduced to our 12-step process and relapse prevention techniques.
Multi-family therapy group
Working together, families identify roles, expectations and negative patterns while exploring the overwhelming effects of behavioral problems or substance use on the family system.
Parent support group
Within a supportive environment, parents learn better ways to handle frustration, guilt, apathy and overwhelming feelings. Parents are taught communication skills, setting limits and ways to identify negative family patterns of substance abuse.
Partial Hospitalization Programs
Treatment Approach
Our goal is to improve how the family functions by working with families on a variety of teenage behavioral health issues. These issues are explored by identifying the events leading to the family crises, determining how to appropriately manage future incidents and handling a crisis within the family.
Adolescent Peer Groups
Gives adolescents a chance to address concerns about their behaviors, learn new skills to manage their actions and deal with the fears and challenges in changing their behavior.
Individual Therapy
Adolescents talk about the emotional issues they may not feel comfortable discussing in a group setting.
Family Therapy
Families learn how to have a healthy relationship, communicate their concerns about the past and share hopes for the future. Classroom time is included to ensure adolescents stay current with their academic needs.
Specialized Adolescent Programs
Shield Program for Adolescent Self-Injury
Families will learn that self-injurious behavior is deliberate injury inflicted to one’s own body without the intent to die. An important distinction is that it is deliberate and causes bodily damage, but is without conscious suicidal thoughts. Self-injury is also called self-mutilation, self-harm, cutting or self-inflicted violence.
Adolescent Eating Disorder Program
A nurturing program to begin the healing process for adolescents suffering from an eating disorder, including anorexia and bulimia.
Youth MEND Program
Supports the patient and family in maintaining or regaining emotional health and balance during significant medical illness or treatment such as transplants, diabetes treatment or chemotherapy.
Adolescent Inpatient Program
Adolescence is a critical time of rapid physical, social, and emotional change during which an adolescent may be especially susceptible to self harm, depression, drug and alcohol abuse, impulsive or dangerous behaviors. When a teen’s behavior reaches a crisis point and becomes harmful to themselves, their environment, and/or others, our inpatient unit provides around the clock safety and treatment to stabilize the crisis. Inpatient stays are typically 3-7 days, depending on individual needs.