By the time an adolescent or young adult reaches the point that residential treatment becomes an option, their life has spun out of control. The process of looking for the right treatment program can feel chaotic to both the person and their family. In turn, everyone involved may decide that going into a residential facility is not an option worth exploring. Yet deep down, everyone likely knows that what they are currently doing is not working. This makes it that much more important to trust that the right residential program can prove beneficial to the entire family. Finding the plan that best suits the child’s needs may take some time but ultimately will be worth it. Make sure to ask any professionals the young person is already seeing, such as a therapist, group leader, or doctor, for recommendations.
A Change of Scenery Helps a Young Person
An adolescent or young adult who faces mental health challenges and any co-occurring issues like alcohol or drug abuse is often worn out with trying to cope. Their day-to-day lives can feel like the Bill Murray film Groundhog’s Day, in that it’s the same thing every day with no hope of change. Going to a residential program may seem intimidating because the person does not know what to expect and who else will be there. As much as they tire of their repetitious lives, predictability can feel comforting when the alternative is unknown.
What often surprises a young person who enters a long-term residential program is that it allows them to feel as if they have a clean slate. They have hit a reset button and are able to benefit from being away from the environment that left them feeling stuck and devoid of hope. Many clients in residential treatment report feeling they get a chance to develop a clear overview of their issues and what work they can do when returning home. While they may initially resist opening up to a new support system, they soon find a certain comfort level. Having someone neutral listen to them and offer their input and guidelines for moving forward can be just the lift they need.
A New Peer Group Helps With Feeling Less Alone
Being prone to surrounding themselves with like-minded individuals, many teenagers spend time with friends who are also engaging in addictive behaviors and may have fatalistic attitudes. When the teenager moves to a residential center, their peer group changes. They become acquainted with and build bonds with others their age who can relate to their struggles, which helps them feel less isolated and misunderstood. It also ensures that their peers are not using alcohol or drugs, and everyone is being taught how to want and achieve sobriety.
How the Family Can Benefit From Time Apart
The young family member who goes to residential treatment is not the only one who can benefit from the time spent apart. Often, a household trying to cope with someone who struggles with their mental health and any co-occurring alcohol or drug abuse has become burned out. The family deals with many of the same old arguments, frustrations, and fears on a daily basis. A break can be just what everyone needs. As much as family members may want to help the affected family member, they can also take a deep breath, get a better view of the family landscape, and be better prepared to support their loved one when they return home.
Residential School Classes Keep Kids From Getting Behind
Many residential treatment programs for young people offer the ability to continue their schooling. This makes for an easier transition back home when their education has continued while they were gone. Treatment programs typically evaluate the student for their current academic status and offer them classes that meet them at their level. The continuity of still going to school while away from home helps establish a routine. This provides a reminder that treatment is not a vacation but rather a way to take advantage of a well-rounded treatment plan that addresses multiple areas of a young person’s life.
The Benefits of Residential Treatment Last After It Ends
Residential centers often prepare both their clients and their families for when they reunite at home. This allows everyone to view the reunification of the family as a fresh start that they all need. They can put to use any guidelines they were given to move forward, which increases the odds of a happier, healthy future for everyone.
Residential treatment for adolescents and young adults provides many benefits for the client. A change of scenery and a new peer group focused on recovery furnish a young person with a new platform on which to build a new life. When they can continue their schooling, it keeps them from being left behind scholastically. Families also benefit from having a break from an often tumultuous time at home. Sustain Recovery offers long-term residential programs that provide all of these benefits to our clients and their families. Our skilled team members help our clients learn to rebuild their lives, develop healthy coping skills, and understand their power in achieving their goals. They leave feeling empowered and with a fresh take on recovery. By the time they are ready to return home, everyone in the family will be better equipped to start anew. Call us today to find out how we can help put your family back together! (949) 407-9052.
