Many of the usual concerns parents have about Residential Treatment (RTC) may feel less pressing in the summertime. Teens are already taking a break from school, and their schoolmates don’t have to know that they’re in treatment. 

Some parents understandably worry that their child will be missing out on social experiences and summertime activities with their siblings and friends. However, we work social activities and outings into our schedule at Lightfully, and teens can get passes to leave during certain hours. If your child has a summer school commitment, we have education support staff who can help them keep up with their studies.

In this article, we’ll share five things parents should know when considering Residential Treatment for their teen over the summer.

5 things parents should know about summertime residential treatment

The main benefit of RTC programming during the summer is that teens can maintain educational, behavioral and social progress they made during the school year. School provides plenty of structure and time to connect with peers.

Summer programming provides support during what might otherwise be a long stretch of unstructured time. This creates more continuity to prevent learning loss known as the “summer slide.” 

The following are five things you should know when considering Residential Treatment for your teen over the summer:

• Teens have more capacity to focus on treatment during the summer 

Without homework, grades, and school concerns to preoccupy them, teens can focus their attention on their mental health. The summertime treatment window allows for up to three months of uninterrupted treatment. This gives teens plenty of time to recover, learn new skills and start practicing them before going back to school in the fall.

• Summertime treatment means no missed school 

Attending treatment during the school year can take away from valuable class time. Homework support is a part of Lightfully Teen programming. However, going to school as usual is the best way to learn. 

With summertime treatment, your child can make the most of their school year. Many teens worry about the social stigma of mental health treatment. Receiving treatment over the summer also offers a bit more privacy. 

• Residential Treatment Centers maintain full programming year-round 

Residential Treatment doesn’t have enrollment deadlines or seasonal breaks. We keep our staff level consistent year-round so our doors are always open for teens who need a high level of care. 

Residents always have the same treatment schedule, including daily group sessions and individual therapy three times a week. We adapt recreation activities and outings a bit based on the season, but the core treatment offerings remain the same.

• Insurance coverage doesn’t change based on timing 

Summer is in the middle of the year as far as insurance is concerned. Paying for treatment at the end of the year can get tricky because deductibles usually reset on January 1. 

If your child starts treatment in June or July, all of your payments will count toward your deductible. Once it’s met, you’ll start to save on all of your child’s health care for the rest of the year.

• Academic support continues during summer treatment 

We have educational support personnel at Lightfully Teen RTCs all year round. During the summer, they’re available to help make sure your child retains what they’ve learned. After RTC in the summer, students are able to start the next school year feeling prepared for their next grade level.

• Family involvement opportunities may increase during summer 

Weekly family therapy sessions are included in RTC. During the summer, it’s usually easier to accommodate everyone’s schedules. Families may spend more time visiting during evening hours and have more opportunities to get involved in their child’s treatment.

Find out if Lightfully Teen RTC is right for your child

Summer can provide an ideal window for intensive treatment when teens have fewer academic pressures and more time to focus on healing. However, the timing of treatment is secondary — your child’s needs should always come first. 

Teens have some distance from the usual hustle and bustle of the school year during their summer break. They may be able to see things better from a different perspective and make lasting change.

What sets Lightfully Teen RTC apart from other treatment centers is that we use a framework called Precision Care Model (PCM) to provide whole-person-centered treatment. We focus on helping young people be more proactive about maintaining their mental health rather than taking a diagnosis-based approach. Each teen gets a personalized treatment plan that helps them manage four core processes: their thoughts, emotions, behaviors and relationships. 

Are you considering Residential Treatment for your child this summer? Contact us with any questions or reach out to our Admissions Concierge Team to schedule an assessment. We can help you understand your options so you can make the best care decisions for your family.