For teens exploring their gender identity, gender-affirming care is about more than just physical changes — it’s a journey toward feeling like yourself. But what exactly does it involve? From therapy and outward expression to medical options like hormones, this guide breaks down what to expect in gender-affirming care. At Ascend, we’re here to provide…
Hello, and welcome back to another episode of A Day in the Life — where we explore what different staff members do at Ascend. This month, we’re focusing on something we haven’t ever discussed before: what happens when clients leave Ascend. To help us explore this new world, we’re following Jenna, our Alumni Program Manager.…
How to Support Your Child’s Mental Health If your teen is struggling with their mental health, it’s natural to question what may have caused their struggles. As a parent, you may worry that your actions, your own struggles with mental health, or something else you did may have contributed to your child’s challenges. While it’s…
Ask any parent, and they’ll tell you that raising teenagers comes with challenges you never expected but also rewards you never imagined. When your teen faces mental health struggles, you may feel helpless, like you’re losing your connection to the person you’ve loved and nurtured since they were a baby. But being prepared with ways…
People face discrimination for many reasons, but at Ascend, we know that mental health is one of the biggest hurdles teens confront when interacting with those that don’t understand mental illness. Even worse, people with mental illness often suffer from other disorders, or belong to communities that struggle with additional prejudice against them. Today, we’d…
Residential treatment programs for boys are a unique type of mental health support that can provide teens with more targeted solutions for mental health. All-boy facilities can provide a broad array of services that include behavioral therapy and treatment for substance abuse and mental health issues. At Ascend, we have a boy-only residential facility, Trails…
Depression can be fairly common among teenagers, but the signs are often overlooked. Moodiness is viewed as a normal teen phase, and many parents just count the years until their child’s hormones level out. However, it’s important to note the differences between the usual teen rebellion and depressive disorders, as more serious mental health conditions…
Some individuals feel that gendered pronouns like “he” or “she” don’t reflect who they are. Because they want to choose pronouns that more accurately reflect their experience, many people choose to use alternative gender pronouns. Making gender more inclusive is an important step to supporting the mental health of transgender and non-binary people. If you’re…
For parents of teens, conversations about sexuality and sexual orientation can be challenging. You want to use the appropriate language when helping your teen navigate these topics while encouraging them to be smart and safe about the activities they engage in. Understanding the different types of sexual orientations and their definitions can be helpful for…
Disruptive behavior involving aggression, violence, illegal activity, or substance use, can be challenging for parents. You might even find that the more you try to redirect their behavior, the more your child rebels against you. You want to support your teen if they’re struggling with their mental health, but you don’t want to encourage harmful…