What It’s Really Like in Teen Residential Treatment (and Why It’s Not as Scary as You Think)
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Teens who struggle with mental health conditions already face social and emotional difficulties. At this age, people are acutely aware of their peer relationships and how they fit in with their social groups. Sometimes when teens find out they need Residential Treatment (RTC), they feel as if it’s a life sentence. 

They worry about what their friends and classmates will think, especially if they have to miss school. Some of the fear is due to stereotypes and rumors about what happens behind closed doors in treatment centers. Learning more about what they can expect and ways they can address their absence with friends at school can help teens ease their concerns.

In this article, we’ll talk about what Teen RTC actually is and what it isn’t. We’ll also walk you through a day in the life at a Lightfully Teen RTC and give you a clear idea of how the experience ultimately helps teens and their families.

Understanding Teen Residential Treatment

Teen Residential Treatment (RTC) is a structured, comprehensive mental health care program set in a private homelike environment. Clients stay overnight, but it’s different from inpatient hospitalization. An RTC is a more nurturing and peaceful environment. Teens are still supervised around the clock, and nursing care is available, but they aren’t given 24/7 stabilization measures. Residents are able to bring their own clothes and personal items, and they typically stay for longer periods of time. The Lightfully Teen RTC has only six beds, so it’s a more intimate experience.

At Lightfully’s Teen RTC, we take a unique approach to treatment called Precision Care Model (PCM), a compassionate and fully personalized treatment plan designed just for you. Our licensed clinicians use the most effective aspects of evidence-based treatments to target the drivers behind mental health disorders and symptoms. Each person will work with an individual therapist, a psychiatrist, a case manager, nurses and Client Care Technicians.

The main goals in RTC for most clients are to manage severe mental health symptoms and restore basic self-care functions. Clients may learn some things about how their brain works and learn about effective, healthy coping skills. Once they’re able to care for themselves at home, most teens will transition to an outpatient Day Program where they’ll continue learning and practicing their new skills.

A day in the life at Teen Residential Treatment

In RTC at Lightfully Teen, residents are provided three meals a day, which are prepared by an on-site chef. Eating, going to group treatments, and doing recreational activities as a group help them stick to a daily routine. Teens also go to individual therapy sessions and they get some downtime to themselves. Group sessions are focused on processing feelings and real-life experiences, learning healthy coping skills, and our Safe and Sound emotion regulation program. Clients also have family therapy sessions once a week to help their loved ones learn how to support them.

Teen Residential Treatment creates a sanctuary where healing can happen without the pressures of everyday life. In this supportive environment, Teens develop the skills they need to navigate challenges with confidence.

In the evenings, teens may play games together or do crafts, yoga and other group activities. They may also spend some of their time reflecting, journaling, or doing other activities on their own. Teens may bring their phones, but they’ll be kept in a secure location and they must be checked out for use. Find out what items are OK to bring to RTC, what needs to be checked, and what’s not allowed.

Common Teen concerns and the reality of RTC

Being away from home for an extended period and the unknowns of starting mental health treatment for the first time are understandably concerning for some teens. Homesickness is also a worry for some. Aside from weekly family therapy sessions, teens have limited access to their phones so they can stay in touch with friends and loved ones. 

We encourage clients in RTC to bring personal items that remind them of home. Residents stay occupied with therapies, mealtimes and recreational activities. They’ll form deep connections with other teens in treatment, and they’ll also have plenty of support from our staff.

Some teens may worry that they won’t have any privacy or independence. While teens are supervised most of the time, they’ll still have plenty of space when they need time to themselves. Teens may share a room with one other person, and our staff conducts random room searches. All of these precautions are for safety.

Teen Residential Treatment creates a sanctuary where healing can happen without the pressures of everyday life. In this supportive environment, Teens develop the skills they need to navigate challenges with confidence.

Lightfully Encinitas Teen RTC is a welcoming and peaceful environment, and each teen has a unique experience that’s crafted to meet their needs. Are you seeking treatment for a young person in your life? Reach out to our Admissions Concierge Team today.

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