Teens Program
Caron’s transformational treatment for substance use and mental health disorders opens bright futures for teens.
At a Glance
-
Integrated treatment plans
address both substance use and mental health.
-
Gender-specific living spaces
and programs offer safety and confidentiality.
-
Academic programs and services
support each patient’s educational goals.
Pennsylvania
Highlights of the Teen Program
Caron’s Teen Program, located on the Pennsylvania campus, treats mental health issues and substance use for teens (ages 13-18), giving them the direction and support they need to build a foundation for long-term recovery. Our empathetic staff uses their depth and breadth of experience to uncover the root causes of a teen’s behaviors and employs proven methods to treat them.
Clinical excellence and uncompromising patient-centric care are the cornerstones of Caron’s core programming, which includes the Teens Program. With more than 60 years of treating substance use disorder and process addictions, Caron emphasizes Recovery for Life and provides teens we treat with lifetime support. We view substance use disorder as a chronic treatable brain disease that requires a long-term management plan.
Specialized Programming for Teens
While the most common issues we deal with are substance use with anxiety, ADHD, trauma, and depression, our team of medical and mental health professionals can also help teens with these co-occurring conditions and behaviors:
- Anger Issues.
- Body Image Issues.
- Codependency.
- Family conflict/problems.
- Mood disorders.
- Self-esteem/self-loathing.
- Self-injurious behaviors, including cutting.
- Sexual issues.
We combine proven evidence-based therapies like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), cognitive processing therapy (CPT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) with 12-Step principles to address all aspects of optimal wellness.
Gender-Specific Programs
For Young Men
Caron’s specialized treatment teams help young men as they seek to find ways to develop a healthy masculine image. In gender-specific groups, they can relate to one another and feel supported to deal with issues related to:
- Sexuality.
- Cross addictions.
- Entitlement and narcissism.
- Anger management.
For Young Women
Many young women struggling with a substance use disorder have an elevated need for connection. At Caron, we give them a safe space to develop those connections as they address issues like:
- Anger, depression, and anxiety.
- Trauma.
- Self-injurious behaviors.
- Body image.
Foundational Treatment Elements
Caron’s Teen Program incorporates a variety of treatment elements, including:
- Thorough assessments of a patient’s physical and mental health and medical history to develop an individualized treatment plan.
- Detoxification at an on-site, state-of-the-art medical facility under the supervision of medical professionals.
- A safe environment.
- Core group and individual counseling as well as peer counseling.
- Firm boundaries and expectations.
- Developing responsibility, self-esteem and life skills.
- Screening, specialized counseling, and education for addiction interaction disorders, such as gambling, sex, or eating disorders, which can become chronic and progressive if left unidentified and untreated.
- Attention to physical activity, including access to our on-site, fully equipped fitness center.
- Bolstered recreational/adventure activities.
- Therapeutic activities, including physical activity and creative work.
- Introduction to the 12-Steps both on campus and off-site.
- Relapse prevention skills.
At a Glance
-
Integrated treatment plans
address both substance use and mental health.
-
Gender-specific living spaces
and programs offer safety and confidentiality.
-
Academic programs and services
support each patient’s educational goals.
A Mother's Perspective - Jenny
My Daughter Was Addicted to Heroin but Marijuana Was Her Worst Drug.
Our expert team understands teens' developmental and treatment needs.
Extended Treatment Builds Foundation for Long-Term Recovery
Research from the National Institute on Drug Abuse has shown that treatment extending beyond 90 days provides a deeper level of effectiveness. The Phase II Program offers a safe and supportive environment to continue work on:
- Healthy relationships: Patients work on skills for developing healthy relationships with siblings, peers, and parents and participate in 12-Step meetings and Big Book studies.
- Increased responsibility: Teens in Phase II continue to participate in recovery stages, progressing as they did in Phase I to increasing levels of responsibility and receiving incentives, such as off-campus/overnight visits with family.
- In-depth therapy: Patients who need treatment for trauma, depression, or another mental health issue, an addiction interaction disorder, or a process addiction benefit from in-depth therapy that leads to deeper healing.
- Re-integration: When their clinical team thinks they are ready, patients receive a therapeutic home pass to explore reintegration into family, home, and education/work. Staff members support patients throughout this challenge by mapping out plans, setting goals, and maintaining accountability.
- Relapse prevention: Each teen’s treatment team works with the teen, their family, and their referral source (if applicable) to develop an individualized relapse prevention plan along with a continuing care plan to support the teen when they leave treatment.
Families also can take advantage of the Phase II program through a multi-family education program they attend with their teen. This program enables patients and their families to delve more deeply into issues specific to their experience.
Reinforcement for a Life in Recovery
- A continuing care plan developed by the treatment team includes tools and recommendations for recovery when your teen returns home.
- Free services like Caron's alumni support activities provide a peer community and guidance for a full year after your teen is discharged.
- My First Year of Recovery, an individualized therapeutic support and monitoring program, offers additional support and accountability.
- Outpatient programs at Caron’s outpatient treatment and recovery centers in Pennsylvania, Washington, DC, Atlanta, and New York also offer continuing care options.
