When a teen’s mental health symptoms start causing them significant distress, many parents find themselves searching for treatment options for the very first time. If you’re not entirely sure what you’re looking for or how to tell if a provider is a good fit, you’re not alone. It may seem like you have an overwhelming number of options or have a hard time finding a provider that checks all of your boxes. Understanding the different types of services available can help you narrow down your options for a more efficient search.

There’s a wide range of different types of mental health services for teens in San Diego, California, alone. It’s good to start by researching different types of treatment. Next, you should reach out to representatives at your insurance provider and local care providers. Prepare some questions to ask and see what recommendations they have.

In this blog post, we’ll break down seven types of mental health services available to teens in the San Diego area.

7 types of mental health services available to teens in the San Diego area

The right treatment for your teen at this time will mainly depend on the severity of their symptoms and your budget or your insurance coverage. It’s also important to find care providers with the appropriate credentials and make sure your teen feels comfortable talking with them. You should do some research on potential care providers and talk with them about their treatment approach to establish trust before you agree to a treatment plan.

The following are seven types of mental health services available to teens in the San Diego area:

• Free resources — The State of California has made free digital resources available to teens and their families. These include warmlines, hotlines and apps. Free resources are helpful for general mental health education, virtual coaching, and immediate support during a mental health crisis. 
• Outpatient treatment — Outpatient therapy and psychiatry are standby treatments for long-term symptom management. They’re a good way to introduce your teen to mental health treatment if their symptoms aren’t affecting their daily routine. Teens with mental health conditions should maintain a relationship with an outpatient therapist and a psychiatrist who can help them manage their medication. Same-day psychiatry appointments are also available for teens with severe symptoms. 
• Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) — IOPs are more comprehensive than weekly outpatient therapy sessions. They combine several types of treatment, including group and family therapy. Sessions last three to six hours, and clients attend up to five days per week. IOPs are best for teens experiencing significant distress that only slightly affects their ability to function.
• Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) — PHPs include the same types of treatment as IOPs. At Lightfully, we also include Safe & Sound Emotion Regulation sessions. Sessions last all day, and teens attend PHP five days a week. PHPs are a good place to start when symptoms affect a teen’s ability to function but they can still commute to treatment during the day.
• Residential Treatment Center (RTC) — Teens may need to stay at an RTC when they need intensive treatment and overnight nursing support. These centers include the same treatments as PHPs, and at Lightfully, we also provide yoga and movement opportunities. Our RTCs are peaceful home settings where teens can focus on their mental health.
• Psychiatric hospitalization — Inpatient hospitalization is the highest level of mental health treatment available to teens in San Diego. These facilities are safe environments for teens having a mental health crisis or dealing with a serious mental health disorder. Some examples include suicidal ideation, thoughts of self-harm and psychosis. Clients stay overnight, and stays are usually limited to about seven days.
• Emergency services — San Diego County provides emergency behavioral health services, including an access and crisis line and live chat. Teens and families in San Diego can also call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988. Teens are experiencing a mental health emergency when they’re a danger to themselves or others.

Find comprehensive mental health treatment for your teen at Lightfully

When your child is struggling with their mental health, comparing your treatment options and making decisions can be stressful. You should know that there are effective treatments and trustworthy providers out there who can help. There are also advocates and advisers who can help you find the right solution for your family. You can reach out to our Admissions Concierge Team with any questions about seeking care for your teen.

At Lightfully, we provide comprehensive mental health treatment for teens who are having trouble functioning. Instead of taking a diagnosis-and-symptom-driven approach, we treat our clients as people first. We use our Precision Care Model (PCM) to create a personalized treatment plan for each teen we serve. We have two Lightfully Teen facilities in San Diego County: our Carlsbad PHP/IOP facility and Encinitas RTC.

Are you seeking mental health treatment for your teen that goes beyond outpatient therapy? Contact us today. Let’s talk about your options and take the next steps together.