What Parents Need to Know About Bipolar Disorder in Teens
Almost every teenager has mood swings. The occasional slammed door or burst of excitement is a normal part of adolescence. But when those mood shifts become extreme, prolonged, and disruptive to daily life, they may signal something more serious. Bipolar disorder, also known as manic depression, is a mental health condition marked by intense shifts […]
Exposure Therapy: How it Helps Struggling Teens
When teenagers face situations that feel frightening or overwhelming, avoidance often brings immediate relief. A teen who skips a feared social event or refuses to leave a parent’s side often feels a brief wave of calm. However, this behavior only teaches the brain that the situation was dangerous. Over time, these actions can create a […]
Building a Soft Transition From Teen Mental Health Treatment
For many families, the end of a structured treatment program feels like it should be a finish line. While completing a treatment program is a huge accomplishment worth celebrating, it is not the end of a teen’s mental health journey. A teen who has spent weeks in a full-day or half-day outpatient program is moving […]
Understanding Self-Harm in Teenagers and How to Respond
The idea that a teenager could ever hurt themselves deliberately is incredibly painful for parents and loved ones. When a teen self-harms, parents are often shocked and confused about what to do next. Parents and loved ones often wonder why it occurred in the first place. They may understand that professional help is warranted, but […]
How Personality Disorders Show Up in Adolescence
Mood swings, intense relationships, and a shifting sense of identity are all parts of typical teenage development. When a teen’s emotions or relationships seem more extreme than usual, parents often wonder where the line falls between normal adolescent turbulence and something that needs professional attention. While they can resemble ordinary adolescent growing pains, personality disorders […]
Why Intrusive Thoughts Happen & What They Mean for Teens
Intrusive thoughts are unwanted, disturbing thoughts that can arise seemingly out of nowhere. They can take the form of a violent image, a taboo idea, or a fear that feels completely out of character. While it’s natural to feel alarmed when these occur, many teens wonder whether experiencing them means there is something wrong with […]
Understanding the Signs of ODD in Teenagers
It’s common, and even expected, for teens to talk back to their parents or act out occasionally. Teens naturally seek independence and a unique sense of identity. When these desires meet the hormonal and emotional changes of adolescence, some difficult behavior is natural. However, this behavior can become persistent or extreme to the point of […]
5 Steps to Starting Mental Health Treatment for Your Teen
When a teen is struggling with their mental health, deciding to pursue treatment can feel frightening and overwhelming. Many parents dread the initial conversation with their teen about seeking help. Others feel unsure of where to begin the search process, or what to expect once their teen begins treatment. Learning the key steps in that […]
Why Teens With Co-Occurring Conditions Need Coordinated Care
Mental health conditions rarely show up alone. A teen struggling with depression may also be wrestling with crippling anxiety. Similarly, a teen with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may develop low self-esteem and mood symptoms after years of academic and social struggle. When two or more mental health conditions occur together, clinicians refer to these as […]
A Typical Week in a Teen Half-Day Treatment Program
When parents consider outpatient mental health treatment for their struggling teen, it’s natural to wonder how that care will fit into their daily life. Full-day programs can offer the focus that many teens need, but can be harder to schedule and cost-prohibitive. Half-day programs, often called intensive outpatient programs or IOPs, are designed to provide […]