Adolescent Services

It’s important to remember that your child’s condition is not your fault and that neither of you has to go through this alone. In 2023, nearly 20% of 10th graders and more than 30% of 12th graders reported participating in illicit substance use. Whether your child has experienced SUD or another mental health condition like anxiety, depression, or a traumatic event, receiving treatment is fundamental to reclaiming the future they deserve. 

Whether your child has been facing increasing difficulties for a while now, or you are worried that you’re seeing the first signs of something that could become a much bigger concern, treatment may be the best option for your child. Researching adolescent services in your area is a great first step. 

Here at Oceans Healthcare, we know you would do anything to help your child lead the best life possible. That’s why we value having a highly collaborative environment. While receiving adolescent services at Oceans, your child will have a whole clinical team working to come up with unique ways to meet their individual needs and goals, and we’ll keep you involved every step of the way.  

Many teens and young adults experiment to learn their limits around substances and alcohol. However, SUD occurs when a child becomes psychologically and physiologically dependent on a substance to function. 

SUD is a complicated issue that cannot be narrowed down to one specific cause. Typical causes of SUD are: 

If you are concerned that your child has a SUD, it is important to handle the situation delicately. We recommend starting an open dialogue. Express your concern and let your child know that they aren’t in trouble and that you are here to help them. Allow them to explain the situation from their perspective, and let them know that you understand what they’re saying and are there to offer support. Discuss treatment options with them, and try to include them in the decision-making process.  

When your child has a mental health crisis or goes through a traumatic event, it can be a truly heartbreaking experience for everyone involved. If you have never lived with a mental health condition, it may feel difficult to relate. Even if you have, you may not know immediately the best way to help your child through this difficult period in their life.

Common causes of anxiety and depression in teens include:

Traumatic events can also have a major impact on a teen’s mental health. Trauma that is left untreated often goes on to cause post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and other conditions. Traumatic events may include something that is obviously severe, like sexual abuse or the death of a family member. Sometimes though, traumatic events are not as obvious as most people think. For teens who are experiencing big life events for the first time, things like changing schools or falling out with friend groups can be traumatic. 

If your child is living with a mental condition or has experienced a traumatic event, we recommend having an open conversation with them. Use active listening skills and try to gently ask clarifying questions to get a better understanding of the situation. 

At Oceans Healthcare, we base our adolescent programming on the strong belief that one-size-fits-all is not the best approach for mental health care. And, we understand that the needs and goals of many teens and pre-teens are very different from adults, which is why we feel it is extremely important to provide your child with an individualized program where they interact with peers in their own age group. 

Residential treatment will provide your child with the opportunity to leave the stress of their daily life and focus exclusively on their mental health. 

Sending your child to live away from home for any period of time, especially when they are going through something difficult, may sound scary. But, at Oceans we are committed to providing your teen with a safe, welcoming environment designed to put them at ease.  

While at our facility, your child will have the opportunity to get to the root of any underlying issues that have led to their SUD or mental health condition. They will work with board-certified psychiatrists and clinical staff to find strategies to identify and manage situations, behaviors, and feelings that they find triggering. 

Throughout their stay, your child will participate in individual and group therapies, diagnostic and symptom education, medical management meetings, regular appointments with a physician, and other holistic healing practices. 

We know that mental health conditions and SUD impact the entire family, which is why we are also proud to provide family therapy options for our clients, as well as therapy options for caregivers. 

We also have an Intensive outpatient program (IOP) for adolescents. This program is designed for teens who need more support than typical once-a-week therapy can provide, but may not benefit from an inpatient stay. 

IOP typically consists of two hours of therapy for two or three days a week in the evenings. This schedule allows your child to maintain their typical school schedule while still receiving the care they need to heal from a mental health condition or SUD. 

In addition to therapy, our IOP program for adolescents includes ongoing symptom education, monthly meetings with doctors, and additional tools to help with symptom management.

Our IOP can also be conducted via telehealth for some teens. 

As a parent, if your teen is experiencing SUD or a co-occurring mental health condition, we know that you want nothing more than to help them, but it can be difficult to know when to look for help. It is normal for teens to be moody or irritable at times. Unfortunately, a mental health condition or SUD will not go away on its own, but your child can recover with the right treatment. 

Some signs of mental health conditions in teens include:

Many of the above symptoms could also be signs of SUD, but some indicators could help you differentiate. 

Your child may be experiencing SUD if you notice: