Many parents of teens start exploring mental health topics for the first time when their child shows signs of depression or anxiety. Mental health and physical health usually go hand in hand for overall well-being. It’s something you have to create proactively and work to maintain. However, our society has always taken a symptom-driven approach. Many of us never think about our mental health until there’s something wrong.

This and many other issues have converged to create the mental health crisis today’s teens are facing. Awareness is still a huge obstacle, preventing many young people from getting the treatment they need. In 2016, of the 7.7 million children with treatable mental health disorders, about half did not receive adequate treatment.

If your teen has a demanding schedule, as many do, a short-term treatment program may deliver the right amount of support while allowing them to maintain consistency in other areas of their life. This article lists seven examples of goals many teens work on in short-term mental health treatment programs.

What goals can teens work on in short-term mental health treatment?

In a short-term treatment program, teens receive a lot of treatment in just a couple of weeks. It’s a great opportunity to put day-to-day worries aside and focus on one or two main concerns with the potential to make a lasting impact. However, to make the best use of their time, each client should have a highly individualized treatment plan.

For those who are new to mental health treatment, short-term programs can be a great place to explore what’s possible. Teens can also use short-term programs to do some introspection and then solidify and prioritize goals for long-term recovery. If your teen is struggling with behaviors like self-harm or suicidal ideation, they can use the time to review alternative ways to cope and create a safety plan. Teens can work on communication skills and building a strong support system during short-term programs to create lasting change.

7 common goals of short-term mental health treatment for teens

At critical moments in young people’s lives, short-term interventions can make a lasting impact on their personal growth and development. The United States Surgeon General issued a special advisory on the teen mental health crisis in 2021. He emphasized that every child should have access to high-quality, affordable and culturally competent mental health care. Care should be tailored to each child’s condition and their goals, and it’s particularly important to intervene early.

The following are seven examples of mental health goals teens can work on:

• Plan your goals for future treatment — Not sure what goals to start with? No problem! Teens can focus short-term sessions on talking through challenges with licensed clinicians to develop goals to work on with an outpatient therapist. This can look like exploring what’s possible with mental health treatment or defining and prioritizing specific issues.
• Create a safety plan — Teens with any thoughts of self-harm or suicidal ideation should know exactly what to do when their feelings get too intense. A short-term program can provide a structured environment for teens to create a safety plan by identifying triggers, outlining steps to take when feeling overwhelmed, and listing emergency contacts. This can be crucial for those with moderate to severe depression as well. 
• Cope with specific feelings and urges — When symptoms and behaviors start to get in the way of a teen’s life, they need treatment to learn how to change negative patterns. A short-term program can give your child the space to slow down and understand feelings and urges that aren’t sustainable. With a new perspective, they can identify some better ways to cope and start making healthier choices.
• Find ways to communicate more clearly — Your teen may not know how to reach out and communicate when something is bothering them. They’ll spend a lot of time having good conversations in a short-term program and see what a positive, solution-focused talk can look and feel like.
• Build or strengthen a support system — Many teens struggle with mental health stigma and don’t know who they can trust. It’s important to have a broad support system made up of different relationships. Teens can get help identifying their supporters and maintaining those relationships.
• Prevent a mental health crisis or relapse — Short-term treatment can be the “time-out” your teen needs to refocus and prevent a mental health crisis. They’ll be in an environment where it’s safe to unpack their toughest feelings and receive a lot of one-on-one therapy.
• Determine the next steps in their mental health journey — Treatment decisions are complex, and they can affect your entire family. If your child is feeling overwhelmed, a short-term program can be a good place to get a clear idea of what’s going on and what next steps will be most helpful.

Is Lightfully Teen’s Short-Term Option a good fit for your family?

The decision to look for a higher level of mental health treatment is a big step for your teen and your family. You’ll need to learn about your options and find a program that will support your teen in achieving their mental health goals. Short-term treatment can help your teen get some relief while trying out a day program or a Residential Treatment Center (RTC).

At Lightfully Teen, we offer a Short-Term Option for each level of treatment. Our Precision Care Model includes creating a personalized treatment plan for each teen we serve. This helps us align expectations between teens, their families and our clinicians. It’s also how we ensure that each teen receives a treatment experience that makes them feel seen and supported.

Are you considering short-term treatment for your teen? We understand that this process can be stressful for families. The tough conversations you have now will help your teen take their next steps toward a brighter future.

Our process begins with setting up a clinical assessment. Reach out to our Admissions Concierge Team with any questions you may have. We’re here to help.