Alpha Connection

Physical, emotional, and mental turbulence characterize the adolescent stage of life. Many adolescents experience the onset of anxiety during this time, a normal reaction to the challenges and uncertainties of growing up. A certain amount of anxiety is normal, but excessive anxiety can be debilitating and have long-term consequences if left untreated. In this blog, we will discuss the symptoms of adolescent anxiety and offer support strategies for parents, teachers, and other caregivers.

Recognizing Teenage Anxiety

Anxiety in adolescents is more than occasional concern or stress over tests or social situations. It entails excessive fear or worry that persists for an extended period, interfering with a teenager’s daily life. It is essential to recognize the indicators of anxiety, which manifest in a variety of ways.

Frequent Indicators of Teenage Anxiety

1. Anxiety is frequently accompanied by physical symptoms such as migraines, stomachaches, muscle tension, perspiration, and restlessness.
2. Look for indicators of increased irritability, mood swings, excessive anxiety, and anger. Additionally, adolescents with anxiety may disengage from social activities or display perfectionism.
3. Anxiety can disrupt sleep patterns, resulting in difficulty falling asleep or remaining unconscious. This can lead to chronic fatigue over time.
4. Academic Difficulties: Anxiety may negatively affect a teen’s academic performance due to difficulty concentrating, excessive worry about grades, or dread of making mistakes.
5. Anxious adolescents may withdraw from peers and social situations, resulting in social isolation. They may be excessively self-conscious and fearful of criticism or judgment.
6. As a means of coping with emotional distress, some anxious adolescents may engage in self-injurious behaviors such as slashing or burning.
7. In an effort to self-medicate and alleviate their anxiety, some adolescents resort to drugs or alcohol.

Offering Assistance

1. Encourage nonjudgmental, frank communication with your adolescent. Inform them that you are available to listen and offer support whenever they are ready to speak.
2. Inform Yourself: Educate yourself on anxiety disorders, their causes, and their treatment. Understanding the disorder will allow you to empathize with your adolescent.
3. Consult a Mental Health Professional If you suspect that your adolescent is contending with anxiety, you should seek professional assistance. They can provide an accurate diagnosis and recommend an appropriate course of treatment, which may include therapy and, in some instances, medication.
4. Encourage Healthy Habits: Promote a healthy lifestyle that includes regular exercise, a well-balanced diet, and adequate rest. These factors can have a significant impact on the mental health of adolescents.
5. Help your adolescent develop coping strategies, such as deep breathing exercises, mindfulness, and journaling, to manage anxiety.
6. Reduce Stressors: Work with your teenager to identify and reduce stressors in his or her existence. This may entail adjusting academic expectations, harmonizing extracurricular activities, and establishing a supportive home environment.
7. Support Their Interests: Encourage your adolescent to pursue their interests and passions, which can serve as a valuable distraction and source of fulfillment.
8. Encourage a Healthy Social Life: Assist your adolescent in forming and sustaining friendships. Social connections can serve as a formidable barrier against anxiety.

The conclusion

Anxiety in adolescents is prevalent and treatable. As parents, educators, and caregivers, it is our responsibility to recognize the warning signs, offer support, and encourage adolescents to seek professional assistance when necessary. We can empower adolescents to navigate the challenges of adolescence and develop resilience in the face of anxiety by encouraging open communication and promoting healthy practices. Remember that your understanding and support can make a significant impact in the life of a teenager.

Significant development, self-discovery, and creative exploration characterize adolescence. As adolescents navigate the transition from childhood to adulthood, they seek outlets for self-expression, opportunities to establish relationships, and opportunities to acquire skills that will shape their identities. Group activities concentrated on art, music, and sports provide adolescents with a dynamic environment in which to cultivate their creativity, forge friendships, and develop essential life skills.

The Synergy of Creativity in Group Activities

Teens can share their passions, ideas, and talents with others who share similar interests through the unique environment provided by group activities. Creativity and innovation are fueled by the cohesion of a group, whether they are painting a mural, playing in a garage band, or training together on the sports field. Collaboration with peers encourages adolescents to think creatively, to learn from one another, and to alter their own creative processes based on a variety of perspectives.

A canvas for self-expression, art

Teenagers can visually and tactilely express their thoughts, emotions, and personal narratives through artistic endeavors. In a group setting, young artists can collaborate on murals, installations, and even meaningful community initiatives. Teens are encouraged to embrace diversity of thought, refine their artistic techniques, and value the power of collective imagination through group art projects. Additionally, the process of collaborative creation fosters a sense of belonging and shared accomplishment.

Harmonizing Minds and Hearts through Music

The ability of music to transcend barriers and connect individuals on a profound level is remarkable. Teenagers can collaborate on composing, arranging, and performing songs through group music activities such as creating a band or vocal ensemble. These experiences teach adolescents about collaboration, communication, and the magic of combining individual melodies to create harmony. In addition to providing a channel for emotional expression, group music activities help adolescents navigate their emotions and form bonds over shared musical interests.

Teamwork, Discipline, and Determination in Sports

Participation in team sports not only improves physical endurance, but also teaches vital life skills. Team sports such as soccer, basketball, and volleyball require adolescents to collaborate closely with one another, nurturing camaraderie and teaching effective communication. Teens learn about sportsmanship, resilience, and the value of hard work through amicable competition. Through victories and defeats, they acquire a sense of discipline and resolve that transcends the playing field.

Beyond Entertainment: Holistic Advantages

Group activities in art, music, and sports offer a great deal of entertainment, but their benefits extend far beyond that. These experiences contribute to adolescents’ overall development. Teens’ ability to exhibit their talents and contribute to group outcomes enhances their confidence. Teens learn to comprehend and value the contributions of their peers, fostering empathy. In addition, these activities can serve as beneficial outlets for stress and anxiety, providing a respite from academic and personal pressures.

In conclusion

Group activities centered on art, music, and sports stimulate the development and creativity of adolescents. These activities foster collaboration, cultivate individual talents, and offer a safe environment for self-expression. Whether teens are wielding a paintbrush, strumming an instrument, or chasing a ball, the connections made and lessons learned in these group activities have a lasting impact on their development as well-rounded, future-ready individuals. Therefore, let’s encourage our adolescents to embrace the pleasures of creating, performing, and playing together.

Every child deserves a safe, loving environment to grow up in. However, many children in the foster care system have experienced situations that most of us can’t even imagine. These experiences often lead to trauma, which can have long-lasting effects on a child’s mental, emotional, and physical well-being. At Alpha Connection Youth and Family Services, we believe in shedding light on these issues to foster understanding and support for these resilient young souls.

What is trauma?

Trauma is a response to a distressing or disturbing event that overwhelms an individual’s ability to cope. It can cause feelings of helplessness, diminishing their sense of self and their ability to feel a full range of emotions. Trauma can come from a single event or from prolonged exposure to distressing situations.

Why are Kids in the Foster Care System at Risk?

• Past Experiences: Many children enter the foster care system after experiencing neglect, abuse, or witnessing domestic violence. These experiences can be deeply traumatic.
• Separation from Family: Being removed from one’s family, regardless of the circumstances, can be a traumatic event for a child. The uncertainty of not knowing when or if they’ll return can exacerbate these feelings.
• Multiple Placements: Some children are moved from one foster home to another multiple times. This lack of stability and constant change can be distressing.
• Systemic Challenges: The foster care system, despite its best intentions, can sometimes inadvertently contribute to a child’s trauma due to bureaucratic delays, overburdened caseworkers, or a lack of resources.

Signs of Trauma in Children

• Behavioral Changes: Acting out, aggression, withdrawal, or regressive behaviors like thumb-sucking
• Emotional Responses: Excessive fear, anxiety, mood swings, or depression.
• Physical Symptoms: Sleep disturbances, changes in appetite, or unexplained aches and pains.
• Academic Challenges: Difficulty concentrating, falling grades, or frequent absences from school.

How Can We Help?

Trauma-Informed Care: This approach recognizes and responds to the signs of trauma in children. It involves understanding the impact of trauma and integrating this knowledge into policies and practices.

• Stable Environments: Providing a stable, predictable environment can help children feel safe and secure.
• Therapy and Counseling: Professional help can guide children in processing their trauma and developing coping strategies.
• Education: For foster parents, caregivers, and teachers, understanding trauma and its effects can lead to more compassionate and effective support.
• Community Support: A supportive community can make all the difference. Mentorship programs, after-school activities, and community centers can offer additional resources and safe spaces for children.

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The journey of a child in the foster care system is filled with challenges, but with understanding, care, and the right resources, we can help mitigate the effects of trauma. At Alpha Connection Youth and Family Services, we are committed to supporting these children and ensuring they have the tools and support they need to thrive.

If you’d like to learn more or find out how you can help, please contact us.

Teenage violence is a distressing and pervasive problem that affects communities all over the globe. Some adolescents may engage in aggressive and violent behavior as they struggle to navigate the intricacies of their changing emotions and social dynamics. The purpose of this blog is to cast light on the underlying causes of adolescent violence and to explore effective solutions for preventing and addressing this troubling phenomenon.

Motives for Youth Violence

1. Social and Peer Influences: Peers and social groups have a significant impact on adolescents. If they are surrounded by people who exhibit aggressive behaviors or glorify violence, they may feel compelled to imitate these actions in an effort to fit in or obtain acceptance.
2. Family Dysfunction: A troubled family environment, such as witnessing domestic violence or experiencing neglect or abuse, can have a profound effect on the behavior of adolescents. Inadequate role models and support systems can contribute to emotional instability and aggression.
3. Media and Entertainment: Violent content in video games, movies, and online platforms can desensitize adolescents to real-world consequences and obscure the distinction between fiction and reality. Exposure to such media on a constant basis can foster aggressive tendencies.
4. Teens who experiment with drugs and alcohol may be more prone to violent outbursts as a result of impaired judgment and increased aggression while under the influence.
5. Bullying and Harassment: Being bullied at school or online can cause extreme stress and emotional turmoil, prompting some adolescents to retaliate violently.

Options for Combating Teenage Violence

1. Education and Awareness: Implement in schools all-encompassing educational programs that emphasize conflict resolution, empathy, and emotional intelligence. Raising awareness of the repercussions of violence can assist adolescents in making more informed decisions.
2. Strengthening Family Ties: Provide families with support services and resources to foster healthy communication and relationships. Teenagers are less likely to use violence as a coping mechanism if they are raised in a nurturing environment.
3. Encourage media literacy programs to assist adolescents in analyzing the content they consume critically. By teaching them to distinguish between fiction and reality, the influence of violent media on their behavior can be mitigated.
4. Increase the availability of mental health resources and counseling for troubled adolescents. Providing an outlet for individuals to communicate their emotions and difficulties can prevent violence resulting from emotional distress.
5. Foster positive peer groups and community activities that promote inclusivity and empathy in order to construct positive communities. Teens can channel their energy into productive avenues by engaging in constructive pastimes and team-based activities.
6. In nations where firearms are readily available, enforcing stricter gun control measures can considerably reduce the risk of lethal violence among adolescents.

Conclusion

Teenage violence is a complex issue with deep-seated causes that requires a multifaceted strategy to effectively combat. We can create a safer environment for adolescents to develop and thrive by addressing the underlying factors that contribute to violence and implementing preventative measures. It is possible to pave the way for a future in which juvenile violence is drastically reduced, if not eradicated, by equipping adolescents with the means to resolve conflicts peacefully and promoting open dialogue about emotions. As a society, we must prioritize the welfare of our youth and collaborate to create a safer, more compassionate world for the generations to come.

 

Substance abuse among adolescents is an urgent problem that affects innumerable young people and their families. Teens can find the fortitude and resources necessary to overcome addiction if they have the proper support systems in place. In this blog, we will examine the path to recovery for adolescents struggling with substance abuse, as well as the crucial support mechanisms available to assist them on their journey.

Recognizing the Problem

Recognizing the presence of substance abuse is the initial step towards recovery. Teens and their loved ones must be able to recognize the signs of addiction and comprehend its effects on various aspects of life. Open and truthful communication is crucial during this stage, creating a secure environment in which adolescents can express their struggles.

Seeking Professional Help

Substance addiction recovery frequently necessitates professional intervention. Encourage adolescents to seek assistance from addiction counselors, clinicians, or medical professionals with expertise in adolescent substance abuse. These professionals can provide the necessary direction, design individualized treatment plans, and provide support throughout the recovery process.

Developing a Supportive Network

Recovering is not a solitary process. Teens must surround themselves with a network of friends, family, and mentors who understand their struggles and care about their well-being. Support groups and community organizations can play an important role in connecting adolescents with peers who are undergoing similar experiences, fostering empathy and shared development.

Implementing Treatment Strategies

Recovery requires implementing effective, individualized treatment strategies for each adolescent. In some circumstances, this may involve a combination of therapy, counseling, behavioral interventions, and medication. Teens can begin to heal and develop healthy coping mechanisms by addressing the underlying factors contributing to substance misuse, such as trauma, mental health disorders, and dysfunctional family relationships.

Developing Coping Skills

Adolescents must develop alternative coping skills to replace substance abuse. Encourage them to investigate healthy outlets such as creative pursuits, sports, mindfulness exercises, and support groups. Teenagers can reduce their risk of relapse and develop a solid foundation for long-term recovery by learning positive ways to manage stress and emotional challenges.

Education and Prevention

Preventing relapse and future substance abuse is essential to the recovery process. Educating adolescents about the risks of substance abuse, its effects on their health and relationships, and its long-term consequences can empower them to make informed decisions and resist peer pressure.

The road to recovery from adolescent substance abuse may be long and difficult, but it is possible to achieve a healthier, substance-free existence with the proper support and resources. Teenagers can pave the way to a brighter future by recognizing the problem, seeking professional assistance, establishing a supportive network, implementing effective treatment strategies, developing coping mechanisms, and emphasizing education and prevention. Let us join together as a community to support and empower adolescents on their path to recovery and to assist them in reclaiming their lives from substance abuse.

 

During adolescence, the journey of self-discovery is a pivotal and transformative time in a person’s existence. Young people between the ages of 12 and 20 face a complex interaction between their personal identity and societal expectations. This delicate equilibrium frequently results in identity and role confusion. In this blog, we will examine the complexities of this issue as well as potential solutions.

The Formation of Identity

During adolescence, adolescents begin to develop a sense of self and search for answers to fundamental concerns about who they are. They investigate numerous facets of their identities, including their values, beliefs, interests, and aspirations. This exploration frequently conflicts with social norms and expectations, resulting in perplexity and inner conflicts.

Societal Expectations

Society imposes certain roles and expectations on individuals, particularly during the adolescent years. These expectations may include academic performance, career objectives, physical appearance, interpersonal relationships, and conformity to social norms. Sometimes, striving to meet these expectations can obscure a young person’s genuine self, creating a divide between who they are and who they believe they should be.

Peer Influence and External Validation

During adolescence, peers play an important role in molding identity and influencing behavior. Desire for acceptance and validation from peers can lead to the adoption of roles or behaviors that are consistent with the group, even if they contradict one’s true self. This external validation can contribute to a sense of confusion among young people who struggle to distinguish between their own aspirations and their peers’ expectations.

Cultural and Family Expectations

Cultural and familial expectations exacerbate the difficulty of identity and role confusion. The cultural values, traditions, and familial aspirations of an individual may conflict with his or her own desires and interests. For young people, balancing these external influences while maintaining a sense of self can be a daunting task.

Coping Strategies

a. Self-Reflection and ExplorationIt Is essential to encourage young people to engage in self-reflection and exploration. They can acquire a deeper understanding of their authentic selves by examining their values, interests, and aspirations.
b. Open Communication Creating a safe and non-judgmental environment for open communication with trusted adults, such as parents, instructors, or mentors, can provide invaluable support during this difficult period.
c. Embracing Individuality Encouraging youth to embrace their unique qualities and interests can aid in the development of a solid sense of self. It is essential to emphasize that everyone’s journey is unique and that being authentic is more important than conforming to societal norms.
d. Obtaining Support If identity and role confusion persist and have a significant impact on mental health, obtaining guidance and support from counselors or therapists can be beneficial.

Conclusion

The process of adolescent self-discovery is not without obstacles. Identity and role confusion can arise when adolescents struggle with societal expectations and the formation of their genuine selves. By recognizing and comprehending this intricate interplay, we can provide the necessary support and guidance to assist young people in navigating this period of transition. Encouraging self-reflection, fostering open communication, embracing individuality, and seeking support when necessary are crucial steps toward resolving identity and role confusion and empowering young people to live authentic, fulfilling lives.

As a parent or mentor, assisting at-risk adolescents can be a difficult and complicated endeavor. At-risk adolescents are more likely to engage in risky behaviors, such as drug or alcohol abuse, or to suffer from mental health issues, such as anxiety or melancholy. However, there are techniques that parents and mentors can use to assist these adolescents in thriving. Here are some suggestions for working with teenagers at risk:

Establish a Relationship on the Foundation of Trust and Respect

As a parent or mentor, one of the most essential things you can do is establish a strong relationship with the at-risk adolescent. This involves establishing a relationship based on mutual trust and esteem. Take the time to get to know the adolescent, to attend to their concerns, and to demonstrate concern. Make an effort to comprehend their position and refrain from passing judgment. When the adolescent feels valued and heard, they are more likely to be receptive to guidance and assistance.

Provide Emotional Support

Teens at risk may struggle to regulate their emotions and require additional emotional support. Encourage the adolescent to express their emotions in a healthy manner, whether through speech, writing, or creative outlets such as art and music. Inform them that it is acceptable to feel sad, furious, or frustrated, and assist them in identifying healthy coping strategies. You can also demonstrate healthy emotional regulation by positively expressing your own emotions.

Promote Healthier Behaviors

Teens at risk may be more likely to engage in risky behaviors, but by providing positive reinforcement, you can encourage healthful behavior. Praise the adolescent for making healthy decisions, such as engaging in physical activity or volunteering, and encourage them to participate in constructive activities, such as sports, music, or community service. Encourage healthful behaviors such as adequate rest, nutritious eating, and abstinence from drugs and alcohol.

Establish Limits and Consequences

It is essential to establish distinct boundaries with at-risk adolescents and communicate the repercussions of violating those boundaries. This helps to establish structure and consistency, which can be reassuring for impulsive adolescents. Define clearly which behaviors are acceptable and which are not, and apply consequences consistently and fairly.

Seek Expert Assistance

Seek professional assistance if you’re struggling to assist an adolescent at risk. A mental health professional, such as a therapist or counselor, can offer you and the adolescent additional support and guidance. In addition, they can assist in identifying underlying issues that may be contributing to the adolescent’s risky behavior and offer specialized treatment or interventions.

Supporting at-risk adolescents can be difficult, but it is also extremely rewarding. When you establish a strong relationship with an adolescent at risk and provide them with the necessary support, you can assist them in overcoming obstacles and thriving. Remember to approach situations with patience, empathy, and consistency, and seek professional assistance when necessary. You can positively influence the life of a high-risk adolescent if you employ the appropriate strategies.

Empathy is a crucial component of emotional growth because it helps people connect with others deeply, control their emotions, and encourage helpful behaviors. Empathy is something that can be learned, but it’s crucial to start teaching and practicing it early on.

Children with autism and other developmental issues may have a harder time learning empathy because people with autism sometimes have trouble deciphering non-verbal cues like body language and facial expressions.

Fortunately, any age can learn empathy by modeling, prompting, reinforcing, and positive reinforcement. These methods can assist kids in comprehending others’ emotions and teaching them how to react to them with the proper words, body language, facial expressions, and tone of voice. The most effective methods for teaching empathy to kids are listed here, along with instructions on how to use them.

Show Examples of Empathy

It’s crucial to set an example for the conduct you want your child to learn. This exemplifies empathy and helps your youngster grasp what it feels, sounds, and looks like. For instance, being sympathetic to your distressed child, offering assistance to those in need, or performing community service.

The more empathy your child experiences, the more probable it is that they will emulate that behavior.

Develop the Ability to Take a Different Stance and Practice Theory of Mind

To improve theory of mind, start putting easy perspective-taking exercises into practice. Work on basic abilities like gaining a sensory viewpoint to get started. For instance, what I can see, hear, smell, and feel is distinct from what you can do. To teach prosocial actions, you can gradually increase your understanding of the intentions and desires of other people. For instance, if I need help carrying a package or if I tell you how much I adore your new toy, I might ask for a turn playing with it. You can then graduate to more complex talents like comprehending social circumstances. For instance, if we could dissect social interaction and consider the scenario from each party’s point of view. We can consider their feelings, potential actions, potential motives, and thoughts as well as how they might feel and think.

Prompt Conversation on Feelings

It is beneficial to discuss freely with your child about how they are feeling and why they might be feeling that way rather than ignoring them when they are expressing feelings like fear, anger, or sadness. Children should comprehend the connection between our feelings, actions, and thoughts. Make sure to communicate freely about your feelings as well as how other people’s actions affect your feelings, behaviors, and thoughts.

It’s important to refrain from correcting your child when they seem sad or angry; instead, teach them that all emotions are acceptable and assist them in learning to control them via dialogue and contemplation. This is crucial to help kids develop sympathetic behavior by teaching them how to process their emotions and feeling safe while doing so. It also enables them to identify various emotions in others and in themselves.

Encourage Compassionate Behavior

In order for your child to learn and practice empathetic behavior, you must teach them to watch out for others—whether that means in the family or in the neighborhood. This can be accomplished by engaging in activities with your child like giving goods to a neighborhood charity, participating in community service, or assisting a family member or friend with chores. Your child can emulate and learn from your empathic conduct by watching you act with kindness and compassion toward others.

Show Appreciation and Reinforce Empathic Behavior

When your child demonstrates empathy for others, reward them for their actions to promote more empathy in the future. So that kids may comprehend what the conduct was and why it was good, be explicit in your appreciation by mentioning the empathic behavior and how helpful and kind it was. For instance, I appreciate how you hugged and assisted your friend up after they fell; this will make them feel better.

Building and maintaining positive relationships, as well as living a healthy and happy life, depend on the ability to empathize and control one’s emotions. If you need help with your child or want to know if your child would benefit from behavioral intervention programs, contact Alpha Connections. Our intention is to provide children with the resources they need to establish and preserve healthy bonds with members of their family, peer group, and community. Contact our helpful team today for more details.

A dual diagnosis is given to a child, adolescent, or adult with a mental health illness and a AUD/SUD. Dual diagnosis patients have co-occurring disorders. Adolescent mental health issues that often co-occur with alcohol and substance use disorders include:

• Depression
• Insomnia
• PTSD
• BPD
• Misconduct
• Disobedience
• Anorexia

Experts believe that 60-75% of adolescents with alcohol or substance use disorders also have mental health disorders. Co-occurring illnesses confront teenagers and mental health professionals for various reasons.

First, mental health and alcohol/substance use illnesses share symptoms. Second, people with co-occurring disorders commonly self-medicate with alcohol and drugs. Finally, alcohol and drug use can worsen mental health condition symptoms, which can lead to increased usage.

Self-Reinforcing Cycles

This creates a cycle of symptom/self-medication/symptom/self-medication that’s hard to stop, and diagnosing co-occurring disorders is difficult because their symptoms can mask those of mental health disorders and vice versa. That’s not the same as above. As mentioned above, alcohol/substance use disorders and mental health issues have similar symptoms and may make each other invisible, causing physicians to miss one while focused on the other.

Clinicians and co-occurring illness patients often struggle to answer the question: which came first, the mental health disorder or the alcohol/substance use disorder? The answer is not always clear. However, with proper treatment and diagnosis, an adolescent with co-occurring AUD/SUD and mental health disorders can overcome both conditions. Treatment and diagnosis will follow.

Integrated Co-Occurring Disorder Treatment

Adolescents with co-occurring addiction and mental health disorders struggle to acquire a proper diagnosis. Diagnosing addiction and co-occurring mental health issues takes time for the following reasons.

1. After abstaining from alcohol or drugs, SUD or AUD symptoms may develop.
2. Clinicians, adolescent clients, and families must adjust the treatment strategy as mental health condition signs occur.
3. Clinicians at the treatment center or provider must be trained, experienced, and skilled to treat both conditions.

Dual-diagnosed adolescent parents must understand that treatment works. An integrated therapy paradigm that treats the complete person is the best way to manage co-occurring diseases, according to research.

What Can a Parent Do for the Child?

If you think your kid has both a mental health issue and an addiction problem, have them assessed by a psychologist, psychiatrist, or other mental health expert, especially one who treats addiction and mental health disorders in adolescents. A biopsychosocial profile will give a mental health expert a detailed view of your teen’s issues.

After a comprehensive evaluation, your kid may be recommended for therapy. Outpatient counseling twice a week may be enough. However, dual diagnosis may prevent outpatient therapy from helping your teen heal and move forward.

Your child’s therapist may suggest more extensive treatment. Intense treatment may include:

Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP)

This treatment goes beyond weekly therapy or drug and alcohol counseling. Programs determine treatment duration and frequency. Teens in intensive outpatient programs live at home, attend school, and receive 3 hours of treatment per week.

Partial-Hospitalization Programs (PHP)

This treatment goes beyond intensive outpatient. Like IOP, program-specific therapy amounts and timing vary. Adolescents attend school part-time and receive daily treatment for four hours. If needed, they live in a sober living facility.

Residential Treatment Centers (RTC)

In residential treatment centers, your child lives at a non-hospital treatment center. Depending on your child’s progress, this rigorous treatment may span 28–120 days. Residential alcohol rehab has many benefits, including full-time alcohol therapy and a drug-free atmosphere. Your child can focus on healing without drinking.

Adolescents with dual co-occurring disorders may benefit from IOP, PHP, and RTC regimens.

Psychiatric Hospitalization

If your teen is suicidal, insane, or needs 24/7 medical supervision due to heavy alcohol consumption, they may need hospitalization. Heavy binge drinking, an increasingly harmful practice among teens and young adults, may require medical monitoring. Medical monitoring may be needed for potentially life-threatening alcohol withdrawal.

These levels of care – excluding psychiatric hospitalization, which prioritizes urgent safety and stability – typically use one or more of the following therapeutic approaches:

• Personal counseling
• Counseling groups
• Counseling families
• Exercise and mindfulness are experiential
• Alcoholics Anonymous or SMART Recovery

Your teen’s treatment depends on the center and degree of care.

Supporting Your Child

Supporting and encouraging your adolescent with a dual diagnosis and extensive treatment is crucial. Recovering can affect your relationship with your teen. You can support your teen and ease recuperation by doing these:

• Communicate
• Learn their diagnoses
• Discover mental health and substance use disorders
• Participate in therapy and recovery
• Listen actively
• Keep showing up and being sincere, sympathetic, and kind, and they’ll eventually open up
• Recover at home. Consider removing alcohol and drugs from your home
• Family alcohol consumption may affect your teen’s alcohol use disorder
• Be an example for your teen
• Be tolerant if your teen relapses. Avoid criticizing or overreacting

Understand that co-occurring disorders are hard to control. Your teen’s troubles don’t indicate a problem. They’re fighting two chronic, recurrent diseases. Be willing to address your personal issues that may cause conflict or stress with your teen or negatively affect your family dynamic.

Unconditional love supports your child during treatment. Open, honest, and direct communication follows compassion and empathy. Dual-diagnosed teens need you. They need your advice, wisdom, and support. They need your unconditional love and support through the ups and downs of rehabilitation. Teens who know their parents support them are more likely to recover.

It might be upsetting and difficult for you if your child declines to go to a behavioral disorders examination. How can you get around the denial and enroll your kid in the evaluation?

Your youngster will become more obstinate if you react violently to their resistance or outbursts. Keep your cool and speak in a supportive, rather than judging or critical, manner. Keep your cool and follow these instructions to get your child to comply.

Overcome Unawareness

Your youngster might not be cooperating because they don’t understand the issue. Children may not initially be aware that their behavior is a problem. Give your child specific examples of their conduct in response to this. Describe how these behaviors point to the demand for an evaluation.

Fighting Denial

Both adults and kids frequently react in denial. Even when they are aware of the problem, your child could dismiss it as unimportant. Your child may acknowledge the problem but insist that it will resolve itself.

Get support from close friends and family members your child respects and trusts to counter this. Have them reiterate the same point you are trying to make to your youngster. They might begin to understand that there’s a bigger problem when they hear it from multiple sources.

Push Through Resistance

Your youngster has overcome denial, thanks to you. Despite admitting there is a problem, they are adamant that they can solve it on their own. As a way to overcome opposition, an analogy might be effective. Remind your child that in order to treat an ear infection, an antibiotic prescription from a doctor is required. Then describe how getting an assessment is similar to getting a prescription. It’s a critical first step in starting to deal with the current problem.

Talk about how the ear infection would heal much more slowly if there were no medication. In addition, avoiding antibiotics may increase the likelihood that a person would become worse and experience more pain. Ask your child if the best way to deal with a problem is to use all the remedies available, in language that is appropriate for their age. Stress that receiving an evaluation expedites the healing process.

Promoting Acceptance

Even when your child consents to the assessment, they can still be apprehensive. A powerful tool is information. By explaining how an assessment operates, you may reassure your child.

Inform them that an assessment merely entails meeting with a counselor who will probe them about their feelings and thoughts. Mention that a physical examination may also be required. Tell your child that you will be present for some of the assessment and that other sections will take place one-on-one with the counselor.

Contact the Alpha Connection staff if you’re still having trouble getting your kid to try counseling. We might be able to offer suggestions to make things simpler.