The goal of a residential treatment center for teens is to help adolescents develop coping strategies to sustain their mental health and lead a fulfilling, healthy life. During a residential therapy program, teens gain the tools they need to pursue their personal goals.
After completing treatment, teens have to apply these lessons to daily life. Returning to their normal responsibilities, relationships, and environments requires adjustment. Furthermore, this is especially true after experiencing the structure and constant support of a residential treatment facility.
It is perfectly natural for teens to struggle with the stress of returning home from residential treatment. However, resources and approaches are available to make this transition easier for teens and for their families.
What You’ll Learn
- Why is aftercare important after residential treatment?
- What step-down treatment programs would help my child during the transition out of residential treatment?
- How can I provide structure at home?
Quick Read
The primary goal of a residential treatment center for teens is to equip adolescents with coping strategies that promote mental health and enable them to lead fulfilling lives. During their time in a residential therapy program, teens learn essential tools to pursue their personal goals. However, the transition back home after treatment can be challenging, as teens must adjust to their normal responsibilities and relationships while navigating the absence of the structured support they received during their stay.
Aftercare is crucial for maintaining the progress made during residential treatment. Studies indicate that ongoing support significantly impacts the longevity of recovery, making outpatient programs an essential resource. Newport Academy offers various aftercare options, including Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHP) and Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP), which provide continued clinical care while allowing teens to reintegrate into their home environments. These programs help reinforce the positive habits developed during treatment and support teens in avoiding relapse.
To facilitate a smooth transition home, parents can adopt several strategies. Understanding that recovery is an ongoing process and preparing for potential setbacks are vital. Establishing a structured routine at home, identifying triggers, and fostering open communication can create a supportive environment for teens. Parents should also engage in their teen’s aftercare planning and celebrate their achievements, no matter how small, to reinforce positive behavior and encourage continued progress.
Finally, staying connected through resources like Newport’s Alumni Program can provide ongoing support for both teens and their families. This program offers community connections, support groups, and events that help maintain the relationships formed during treatment. By utilizing these resources and approaches, families can navigate the challenges of reintegration and foster an environment conducive to healing and growth.
The Importance of Aftercare
Studies show that aftercare is one of the top factors impacting the longevity of teen mental health recovery. After returning home from residential care, many teens benefit from the structure and support provided in an outpatient treatment program. Our clinical experts will recommend the continuing care level that is best suited for the client and family. Newport offers the following outpatient services:
- Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHP). PHP offers full-day programming, five days a week with evenings at home. Teens benefit from comprehensive clinical care through individual, group, family, and experiential therapy, in addition to an accredited academic program.
- Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP). IOP includes programming 3–5 days a week, typically from 3:00–6:00 pm, so teens can attend their home school.
- Virtual Outpatient. Our vIOP, available in several states, provides ongoing clinical therapy and a supportive structure for those without convenient access to an outpatient location.
“One thing I think is unique about Newport is that we start talking about discharge from the very beginning with families. Newport has continuing care planners who help with the therapeutic plan with families. And within Newport, we have a very robust alumni program. We offer support groups, social activities, and online and in-person events to keep kids and families connected.”
Samantha Quigneaux, National Director, Family Therapy Services
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10 Ways to Help Your Teen Make a Positive Transition Home After Treatment
When a teen returns home after residential treatment, families will likely have questions and concerns about how they can assist them in transitioning back to life outside a teen treatment center. Here are six tips that parents and other family members can use to help teens make the most of the lessons they learned in therapy and readjust to home life. Moreover, these tips will help the entire family function more harmoniously.
1. Understand that recovery is an ongoing process.
Residential treatment centers for teenage depression, troubled youth programs, and teen substance use treatment, strive to help teens uncover the underlying causes of their self-destructive behavior. Therefore, adolescents can develop self-awareness and coping skills.
Although troubled teen programs can help teens make a significant change, aftercare is still necessary to help them reestablish the aspects of their life that may have been damaged before they entered treatment. Aftercare resources can reinforce the positive habits teens learn during treatment. Moreover, they may include a variety of resources aimed at providing social, academic, and psychological support.
Read “Tips for Teen Stress Relief.”
2. Seek out resources ahead of time.
Parents can explore the mental health resources available in their community before committing to an approach. Teens will be more committed to their aftercare if they play a significant role in choosing their aftercare treatment strategies. However, it may take time to find programs that suit them well. Therefore, parents’ awareness of the local mental health care landscape will help speed up the process.
Research has demonstrated that, after attending a teen residential treatment center, teenagers are more successful at avoiding relapse when they attend Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous meetings. In addition to such support groups, aftercare may include tutoring, individual or family therapy, and mentorship programs. These resources are designed specifically to help parents navigate adolescents’ transition home from substance use programs for teenagers, residential programs for troubled youth, or residential treatment centers for depression.
3. Identify and monitor triggers and stressors.
Work together to identify potential triggers that may lead to stress or anxiety. Your teen should respond to these situations by utilizing the skills and positive coping strategies learned in therapy. As a parent, you can monitor how effectively they are putting their skills into practice or where they might need to work on their stress response. It’s important to regularly check in with your teen about their emotional state and any challenges they may be facing. This ensures you address problems before they become too overwhelming.
4. Provide structure.
The clear and consistent structure of a residential mental health program helps teens regain control over their lives. Furthermore, it provides stability as they acquire new emotional coping skills. However, when teens move back home after treatment, the shift from a structured schedule to relative freedom and independence can often be shocking. Additionally, in many cases, coming home can dredge up familiar emotional challenges.
It is important for parents to provide stability after youth transition home, while at the same time respecting their boundaries and autonomy. Work with your teen to develop a plan for their ongoing therapy, academic expectations, and responsibilities at home to create a roadmap for success.
Read “How Parents Can Navigate Teen Independence.”
5. Be present.
Residential programs, such as those offered by Newport Academy, integrate family involvement into their treatment models to repair and sustain the family system. However, at times it can be difficult for families to restore bonds that have been strained by a teen’s emotional challenges and time in residential treatment.
When striving to create a supportive and enriching environment, parents shouldn’t underestimate the value of spontaneity. There are many things parents can do after their teen returns home to show caring and commitment to their recovery. Taking time out of your day to randomly send a text message, go on an outing, or simply sit down to watch TV together can help your teen feel cared for, while contributing to a sense of normalcy.
6. Prepare for minor setbacks.
As teens transition back to their daily routines after substance use or teen depression treatment, they may struggle to avoid relapse and familiar emotional triggers. The stress of changing environments may cause students to revert to harmful behaviors. Thus, parents must be prepared to help teens adjust, with understanding and support.
Do your best not to be discouraged, and understand that minor setbacks are not an indication that treatment was ineffective. Rather, such setbacks are a normal part of the transition process as teens learn to manage their mental health more independently.
7. Establish trust and respect.
In order for parents to play an active role in their teen’s mental health, they must have their teen’s respect. Therefore, they can learn about what’s going on in their teen’s life without prying or violating their privacy.
One of the best ways to gain trust is to establish mutual respect. Once a teen has learned skills to manage their mental health independently, parents can continue to support their maturation process by listening to and valuing their opinions. Involve teens in family decisions and communicate openly and respectfully. Parents need to make it clear that they care about their teen’s views and opinions and trust their judgment.
Finally, a teen’s return home after residential treatment is a joyful yet challenging time. Knowing what to expect and being equipped with resources can help smooth the transition for the whole family.
8. Set the tone for open, honest communication.
It’s important to establish a safe space for dialogue where your teen feels comfortable expressing their thoughts and feelings. Encourage them to share their experiences from treatment, including what they found helpful and what they struggled with. Use active listening techniques, such as reflecting back what they say and validating their feelings, to show that you understand and care.
9. Celebrate the wins.
Acknowledge and celebrate milestones, big or small, to reinforce positive behavior and progress. Use rewards or special outings as incentives for reaching goals, making the process enjoyable and motivating for your teen. This positive praise not only incentivizes your teen to continue on the right path, but it shows them that you recognize their hard work and efforts toward making positive change in their life.
10. Stay connected through Newport’s Alumni program
Community and connection doesn’t have to end after treatment. Our robust Alumni Program provides the foundation for a supportive network of others who have experienced similar challenges. We offer separate programming for parents and for teens, as well as special online and in-person events for the entire family.
Highlights of our Alumni Program include:
- Quarterly gatherings, in-person or virtual
- Tailored support groups
- Online parent support groups
- Resource library
- Parent meetups
- Alumni app for secure/monitored online community
- “Stories of Hope” webinars where families share their experience
- Monthly family groups
Sources
J Subst Abuse Treat. 2009 Mar;36(2):131-45
