When one member of the family struggles, everyone struggles. At Ascend, we target the entire family system including parents, siblings, and other primary supports to provide treatment for everyone. If you’re looking into a teen treatment program for a member of your family, integrated teen family therapy is a must. Learn more about our counseling options for troubled teens today.
What Is a Family Therapy Program?
When people think of a residential treatment program for teens, individual and group counseling typically come to mind first. While these are essential services, a teen family therapy program that includes everyone in your teen’s life is just as crucial for recovery.
Each family participates in at least one family therapy session weekly, either in person or via telehealth. These sessions are focused on rebuilding and repairing relationships, evaluating roles and restructuring the system, improving communication, and providing psychoeducation for parents and residents. Ascend places a tremendous value on teen family therapy sessions, as the changes that occur within the family unit can be the most productive part of long-term recovery from a mental health or substance abuse issue.
Ascend provides additional support through weekend Family Day intensives dedicated to the wellbeing of the family. Every other Sunday, families are invited to participate in the following:
- Parenting and co-parenting support and skills sessions
- Sibling break-outs
- Meditation groups
- Beautiful catered lunch
- Multi-family group session
What Are the Benefits of Teen Family Therapy?
Family therapy programs act as a period of healing. They can help family members repair the wounds that mental illness and/or substance abuse have caused — rebuilding relationships and improving communication between family members.
This type of therapy teaches family members about many kinds of mental health disorders and substance abuse issues. It’s not uncommon for families to misunderstand a particular disorder, so helping them fully comprehend these diseases allows them to better understand the struggle that their loved ones are dealing with.
Aftercare Planning & Family Therapy Go Hand-in-Hand
Aftercare planning is one way that Ascend Healthcare takes our services above and beyond the treatment many families expect. Once a teen has completed their residential program with us, we transition them to long-term care with a comprehensive aftercare plan that usually includes teen family therapy. These sessions often involve home visits to ensure that conflicts can be resolved in the home setting.
Planning for life after treatment allows us to address the challenges your teen may face after they complete our program. The issues we treat here are chronic challenges that our clients continue to deal with on a regular basis for the rest of their lives. Aftercare planning prepares them for this journey and provides them with the tools they need to effectively cope with those challenges.
We Know the Importance of Teen Family Therapy
At Ascend, we know the important role that an effective family therapy program plays during recovery from a mental health or substance abuse disorder. We integrate this therapy with every other element of our treatment modalities. Each of these treatment options merge together to form a personalized plan for your loved one.
Let us guide your child towards better mental health and educate you, as their support system, about the struggles they may be facing. If you’re ready to better understand your teen and help them through this difficult time, get in touch with our admissions team at 310.388.3713 for more information about teen family therapy in California.
Family Therapy FAQs
What can we expect during a teen family therapy session?
In family therapy at Ascend, you can expect a focus on rebuilding communication, healing relationships, and addressing each family member’s role in the recovery process. Sessions typically involve discussions about how mental health conditions or substance use has affected family dynamics and what we can do to ensure healthy communication and support. Our team will also provide psychoeducation to help family members understand the challenges their teen is facing. Family therapy is a collaborative process aimed at improving the overall family system.
How often do you hold teen family therapy in your California treatment facilities?
Families at Ascend participate in at least one therapy session per week. These sessions can be held in person or via telehealth, depending on what works best for your family. Ascend also offers Family Day intensives every other Sunday, where families can engage in specialized sessions and activities.
What are the benefits of family therapy for teens?
Family therapy helps repair relationships that may have been strained due to a client’s mental health or substance use struggles. It provides education and support to the entire family, improving communication and understanding. By addressing family dynamics and teaching coping strategies, family therapy enhances the long-term recovery process.
How is family therapy integrated into aftercare planning?
During aftercare planning, we’ll discuss how you can continue family therapy with your healthcare provider, which often takes place in the home setting. These sessions help address conflicts that may arise once a client returns home and ensure that families have the tools they need to support their teen’s continued recovery after leaving the residential program.