Your teenager or adolescent has agreed to seek mental health therapy. If your son also has a substance use disorder, an inpatient adolescent treatment center provides a secure, safe space for recovery. At Foothills at Red Oak Recovery in North Carolina, we provide holistic and evidence-based programs geared for teen therapy. We are proud to offer five tips to get them ready for a stay at our facility. For more information about our treatment programs, reach out to Foothills at Red Oak today at 866.300.5275.
1. How to Deal With Cold Feet
Remind your son of all the ways that therapy will improve his life. Anxiety, depression, and other mental health illnesses can take a toll on your child’s well-being. By agreeing to go to therapy, he can undergo individual therapy sessions to get to the root of his mental health disorder. He can then learn coping mechanisms to deal with his thoughts and feelings productively.
Your son may change his mind many times before the first day of mental health therapy. Talk to him about all the benefits of learning to cope with mental illness without turning to drugs or alcohol as a way to self-medicate. Additionally, you can remind him that it’s not his fault. Substance use disorder and mental illness impact many young people his age.
During his free time, he can write letters to friends and family members and explore new activities designed to cope with mental illness. Your son can also keep up with schoolwork thanks to our continuing education program.
2. Dealing With Fear of the Unknown
Even after recognizing that he needs help, your son may dread leaving home for mental health therapy. Let him know that you’ll be thinking of him every day. You can record videos and contact him via video chat whenever possible. Further, this is a brief time in his life, and the benefits far outweigh the risks.
As a parent, you have probably developed a great deal of patience in dealing with your children. You’ll need to show understanding and love to your child now more than ever. Even if their mental illness or substance use disorder has caused them to act out in negative ways, they still love you and need your approval.
Providing reassurance helps your son stay focused on teen therapy. Our psychological testing services help identify your child’s mental health disorder. We will design a unique therapy plan for your son from the information we receive at the intake interview.
3. Removing the Stigma of Mental Health Disorders
From post-traumatic stress disorder to bipolar disorder to anxiety, mental health therapy can provide an outlet for adolescents and teenagers who don’t understand their symptoms. Your son may be aware that he has specific issues without fully understanding that he needs help to get better. So, we include cognitive-behavioral therapy and other modalities to help him get to his condition’s root causes.
4. Let Him Know You Will Support Him No Matter What
Adolescence in the teenage years brings intense feelings as hormones and body changes come into play. Many parents have experienced anger, sadness, and tears as they watched their children grow. Let your son know that he is not alone. Our family therapy services allow you to become part of his recovery for mental illness and substance use disorders. Further, we provide frequent updates so you can track your son’s progress during his mental health therapy.
5. Provide Parental Guidance and Support
If your child under age 18 refuses to seek help, you can sign them into mental health therapy and substance abuse treatment without their consent. The best option is to get their approval and prepare them for their stay at Foothills at Red Oak Recovery. However, he may not give you a choice.
Seek Teen Therapy in North Carolina
At the end of the day, you are the parent. You can try to make the transition as smooth and comfortable as possible. By reassuring your son that you will support and love him throughout recovery, you can make it easier for him to commit to the process. Contact us at 866.300.5275, or contact us online to learn more about our mental health therapy services in North Carolina.
