FAQs
Learn what to expect during the admissions process, how to prepare for treatment, and what teens will experience during their time with us. Our FAQs also cover insurance questions and information for referring providers.
Admissions
Where are your treatment programs located?
We have residential and outpatient locations nationwide, including California, Connecticut, Georgia, Maryland, Minnesota, Utah, Virginia, Washington State, and Wisconsin, and we’re continually expanding to reach areas where treatment options are limited.
Can I visit Newport before choosing you for treatment?
We are able to give families a virtual experience of our treatment program and how it works on a daily basis, through imagery, video, and conversations with clinical leadership and alumni families.
How do I determine what type of treatment is best for my teenager?
Our expert Admissions counselors are always standing by to help you determine what level of care will be most effective for your teen and your family.
Who should I call if I don’t hear back after 24 hours?
Our goal is to return all calls within 24 hours; if you do not hear back from us, feel free to call the Admissions line again and we will have the record of your previous call on file so we can quickly and easily support you in taking the next step.
Who are you calling when you seek treatment and how does the admission process work? How does the follow-up process work?
Once you call our Admissions experts, they will guide you through the next steps, which include clinical and medical screenings, insurance verification, and a virtual assessment with one of our clinicians. If your family decides Newport is the right fit, the next step is daily communication with an Admissions Coordinator to begin the logistical planning for on-site admission.
Who should I call if I don’t hear back after 24 hours?
Our goal is to return all calls within 24 hours; if you do not hear back from us, feel free to call the Admissions line again and we will have the record of your previous call on file so we can quickly and easily support you in taking the next step.
Our Treatment Approach
What kinds of disorders do you treat?
At Newport Academy, we treat adolescents who are seeking positive growth and recovery from teen mental health disorders and co-occurring issues, including:
- Teen depression
- Teen anxiety
- Trauma and PTSD
- Parent-child attachment wounds
- Teenage substance use disorder
- Obsessive compulsive disorder
- Disordered eating
- Suicidal thoughts and self-harm
- Social anxiety
- Phobias
- Device management issues, such as social media addiction and gaming disorder
What is the average length of stay at Newport Academy?
Length of stay depends on each client’s individual needs and progress throughout their treatment journey. Research shows the longer a teen is engaged in the treatment process, the better the outcomes. Your teen’s treatment team will work with the family to determine the length of stay that will be most effective in helping your child and family achieve sustainable healing.
What does the treatment team at Newport look like?
Each client’s treatment team may include a psychiatrist, family therapist, individual therapist, academic teachers and tutors, counselors, medical experts such as doctors, nurses, and dietitians, and a continuing care planner dedicated to developing an after-care plan for your teen following treatment. In addition, clients in residential treatment are supported by Care Coordinators, Program Managers, and Residential Supervisors.
What is the client-to-staff ratio?
At Newport, we pride ourselves on maintaining an industry-leading client-to-staff ratio. The ratio may differ slightly depending on location and activity.
What is the academic program like at Newport Academy? Do teens stay up to date with schoolwork and credits? What do they do in the summer for school?
Our academic program is an essential aspect of our teens’ healing process, and our teachers and tutors work in collaboration with the clinical team to provide a tailored educational experience for each client. We take a strengths-based approach to nurture students’ innate talents and interests, while building executive functioning, organizational skills, and motivation.
Our accredited curriculum ensures that clients continue to progress in their education while they are with us. For teens who need additional support in specific areas, our academic program focuses on helping close proficiency gaps, so students can return to school with the tools they need to succeed.
When it comes to nutrition, do you have a dietitian?
Yes, we have registered dietitians on staff, as well as a National Executive Chef who oversees the dietary program for all sites. We take an integrated approach to mental health treatment that recognizes the connection between mental health and physical health, and specifically the role that proper nutrition plays in supporting brain function, mood regulation, and overall well-being. We believe in the meal as medicine, not only for its nutritional aspects but also for the community and connection that it can provide.
How does exercise work in care? Are they being monitored?
All activities at Newport Academy are monitored by trained and experienced staff. Our fitness program is integrated into clients’ daily schedules, and typically includes a therapeutic component. Activities may include hikes, ziplining, kayaking, paddleboarding, mixed martial arts, yoga, dance, cross-country skiing, and more (depending on season and location).
What if my child has an eating disorder or exercise issue?
Each client’s treatment team considers their medical and mental health history, diagnoses, and risk factors when designing their tailored treatment plan. Because our programming encompasses such a wide variety of modalities, we’re able to provide each client with the therapeutic experiences that are most effective in helping them progress in treatment. Depending on their diagnosis, we may suggest a specific location that is best suited to your child’s needs in these areas.
The Treatment Environment
Do clients share a treatment space with both genders? How do you handle clients that identify as the opposite sex?
Our residential treatment is gender-responsive: Clients are in separate houses and treatment programs according to their gender identity.
How many kids room together?
Depending on location, clients may have their own room or have room with one or two other clients. The number of clients in a residential house also varies.
Can teens smoke or vape in treatment?
No, nicotine is not permitted on our campuses. We have a smoking cessation program available for clients.
What is your cell phone policy?
Clients do not use cellphones on our campuses. We offer daily opportunities for them to make calls to family members. We find that grounding clients in face-to-face connection, without distraction and the negative effects of tech overuse, supports the treatment process.
How safe is the treatment environment? Are the clients under constant surveillance/supervision 24/7?
The safety of our clients is our top priority. In our residential program, staff are on shift 24 hours a day, with room checks performed every 15 minutes during the overnight hours. During the day, clients are engaged in a highly structured schedule that includes group, family, and individual therapy; academics; experiential modalities; and weekend programming.
Our staff is highly experienced in working with adolescents who struggle with mental health issues, and we pride ourselves on maintaining an industry-leading client-to-staff ratio.
Communicating with Your Teen During Treatment
Can my child call me daily?
Regular phone calls are available to clients to contact parents following the orientation period.
When we have a child in care, who do I communicate with about them?
You can communicate regularly with several members of your child’s treatment team, including the individual therapist, family therapist, academic support, residential supervisor, and others.
How will my team communicate with me?
We will contact you by phone and/or email, whichever is best for you.
What happens if I have a family emergency and need to get in touch with my teen right away?
Families will be provided with a list of several contact people on site that they can call or email at any time in case of emergency.
Insurance and Payment
How much does Newport Academy cost?
About 98 percent of our clients utilize insurance to pay for the cost of care. We work with most major insurance companies, both in and out of network, to minimize the out-of-pocket cost for families. Learn more about the cost of treatment at Newport.
What is included in the price of seeking care?
Treatment cost includes all services provided to the client and family, including psychiatric care, family and individual therapy, academic programming, housing in residential treatment, experiential activities, and food.
What insurances does Newport take?
We work with most major insurance companies, both in and out of network, to optimize access to care for families. A full 98 percent of our clients utilize insurance to cover treatment costs.
What happens if you don’t work with my insurance?
Newport’s Admissions team is highly experienced in negotiating single case agreements (SCAs) for clients whose insurance company is not in network with us. If we are unable to negotiate an SCA, we do have a private pay option.
Outpatient Programming
What is the difference between teen residential and teen outpatient treatment?
While attending a teen outpatient program, your child is in programming during the day and/or afternoon, and is at home overnight and on weekends. In residential treatment, teens live on-site in a comfortable, homelike environment while receiving treatment. Both residential treatment and the highest level of outpatient care (a Partial Hospitalization Program, or PHP) typically include an academic component.
What’s the difference between a PHP, an IOP, and outpatient services?
The main difference between a Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP), an Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP), and outpatient services is the amount of time your child spends in treatment.
At the PHP day program level, adolescents attend all-day programming, five days a week. The IOP level is usually five afternoons a week, following the client’s attendance at their home school. Outpatient services refer to the lowest level of teen outpatient treatment, with programming provided fewer than five afternoons a week, depending on the client’s and family’s needs and goals.
What happens in outpatient therapy?
In a teen outpatient program, clients typically have a structured daily schedule that includes individual and group therapy sessions, experiential modalities, and time in the classroom focusing on academics and life skills.
Depending on the day and the outpatient program location, teens may be tubing on a nearby river, doing yoga a ropes course, making art or music, doing community service with their peers, or participating in family programs that involve parents and siblings in the healing process.
Are teen therapy and outpatient adolescent mental health the same?
Teen outpatient treatment encompasses teen therapy and much more. A PHP, IOP, or outpatient services for your child will provide a wide range of therapeutic and academic experiences, while offering a stable and supportive community and addressing the entire family’s needs.
For Referring Professionals
What kinds of disorders do you treat?
At Newport Academy, we treat adolescents who are seeking positive growth and recovery from teen mental health disorders and co-occurring issues, including:
- Teen depression
- Teen anxiety
- Trauma and PTSD
- Parent-child attachment wounds
- Teenage substance use disorder
- Obsessive compulsive disorder
- Disordered eating
- Suicidal thoughts and self-harm
- Social anxiety
- Phobias
- Device management issues, such as social media addiction and gaming disorder
As a referent, who should I contact first?
The Newport Academy Outreach Team is always available. You can contact them at NationalClinicalOutreach@newportacademy.com.
Who will be treating my client? Are there physicians on staff?
Each client’s treatment team may include a psychiatrist, family therapist, individual therapist, academic teachers and tutors, counselors, medical experts such as doctors, nurses, dietitians, and a continuing care planner dedicated to developing an after-care plan for your teen following treatment. In addition, clients in residential treatment are supported by Care Coordinators, Program Managers, and Residential Supervisors.
Who should I contact regarding my client who is in treatment?
Referring providers will be in communication with their client’s clinical team once a week at minimum, via email or phone depending on your preference. Referring providers are kept informed throughout their client’s treatment stay and are also involved in the discharge planning process. We value the insight and experience of referring providers and consider them an integral part of their client’s treatment team.