Top 5 Signs Of Vaping In Teens
Many parents worry about vaping but are unsure what to look for or how to bring it up. Teen vaping does not always look obvious, and many adolescents go to great lengths to hide it. Understanding the most common signs…
Category Substance Use & Addiction
How Alcohol Traps Your Brain Into Substance Abuse
Takeaways: Alcohol, like many drugs, affects the brain to make you feel better by blunting negative emotions. Teens seeking to escape strong emotions, like anxiety or depression, may come back to alcohol again and again as an avoidance mechanism. While…
Understanding Teen Prescription Drug Abuse
Prescription drugs come from doctors, so they must be safe, right? Not exactly. Just because a medication is prescribed doesn’t mean it can’t be dangerous. Maybe you’ve heard that ADHD meds help you focus or that painkillers make stress disappear.…
Rethinking Emergency Response to Mental Health Crises
When it comes to mental health, it’s easy to think of crises in terms of emergency responders swooping in to save the day. However, the standard ways of responding to mental health crises in teens are often insufficient and can…
A Day in the Life | Mentoring with Destiny
When it comes to life at Ascend, we love sharing what happens behind the scenes. As you get to know our staff and how they interact with our clients, you get a better sense of how we help teens and…
Animal Assisted Therapy: Benefits for Teens
For decades, scientists have been researching animal-assisted therapy in relation to behavioral problems, autism-spectrum symptoms, emotional well-being, and medical difficulties for people of all ages. These studies conclusively show that this therapeutic modality has massive benefits when used as an…
Missing Teens From Treatment: A Guide for Parents
When a teen goes missing from treatment, it can be a terrifying situation. While undeniably difficult, our team at Ascend believes in ensuring that we help your family handle the problem in the healthiest way possible. We never take missing…
The Role of Passion Projects in Teen Therapy
While Ascend places a focus on clinical therapy, we also believe in alternative solutions that may help us reach your teens. Creative therapy options, like experiential or recreational therapy, engage teens and empower them to rediscover interests, hobbies, and passions that…
Benefits of An All-Girls Treatment Program
Finding a treatment center that’s right for your teen’s unique needs should come first and foremost when searching for a residential treatment program. At Ascend, we offer a safe, compassionate space that ensures our treatment programs in a girls-only facility…
Recreational Therapy: Fun & Effective Mental Health Treatment
As teens work through their mental health struggles, there are several therapeutic modalities that can help them heal. Talk therapy, or traditional therapy, allows them to discuss their feelings and confront concerns with a therapist. We also offer family therapy…