TREATMENT PROGRAMS

INTERVIEW / ADMISSION

The severity and duration of emotional symptoms, reckless, destructive and dysfunctional behavior must be of such intensity to require immediate treatment beyond the continuum of "normal", troublesome adolescent behavior. Previous treatment failures either on an outpatient, inpatient, or partial care basis do not always indicate the need for admission and treatment. However, our intensive family therapy focused format is usually not found in previous treatment endeavors and therefore represents a more vigorous and vital treatment experience for all family members. It is this process of family members' participation in treatment that is the basis of family connectedness and is reflective of the philosophy of the Institute.

As you give us permission for treatment, a new frame of reference will probably emerge. We introduce new concepts, terminology, procedure and its purpose, including the risks and possible complications of treatment, and the alternatives and possible consequences of no treatment. We cannot give an outcome assurance or guarantee. Our performance of procedures is of the highest quality with favorable outcomes.

The immediate risk and possible complication for parents may include feelings of guilt, ambivalence (anger versus caring) failure, and loss. "Will my child ever forgive me for admitting him/her to AFIC?" Your first visit, the family interview, may be difficult yet informative in that a better understanding of the problems experienced by all family members may surface. Many families actually report a sense of relief, hope, satisfaction and positive attitude about their future after the initial interview.

Those adolescents who are skilled at manipulation and believe that their parents only want to scare them for a few days, or who believe that their parents will "rescue" them because of guilt or fear may possibly threaten to run-a-way. In those few cases when adolescents actually do run, they run back home or to a friend's house. They usually try to contact the parent whom they feel can be manipulated the easiest. They promise that parent a complete reversal of behavior and attitude, if only they can come home! "Give me another chance" is the initial plea from the adolescent. "If you put me back there, I'll hate you!" etc., is the alternate plea which may include a threat of drastic behavior or consequences directed toward the parent(s).

This of course is difficult to cope with but it clearly addresses who is in control and what steps are required to restore reasonable order in the family system. You will be given very specific directions by our staff as to how to return your adolescent to AFIC - if that is the message you want to convey to your son/daughter, i.e., "we are serious and are going to follow-through with treatment". Or your message can be, "we will let you off the hook again and give in to you!".

Our techniques are designed to be clear, frank, direct and accurate, though at times you may feel uncomfortable with them. You may find some of the focused language to be explicit, and possibly unpleasant. Please keep in mind that change is at times temporarily uncomfortable. This is why we have our Parents Survival and Educational Group to help you through this transition period. Your colleagues, other parents, can provide you with the support and direction needed for this transition.

Please try to keep in focus: treatment means change, and no treatment may result in no change and may actually make the condition worse.

24-HOUR CARE:

Adolescents in need of this level of treatment are typically in a crisis interval, reckless or endangering behavior to themselves or others. These adolescents require immediate interruption and stabilization.

Adolescents presenting with "externalizing disorders", such as disruptive or oppositional defiant disorders, conduct disorders, substance use disorders, impulse disorders, with or without concurrent attention-deficit or hyperactivity; or dual diagnoses typically require longer term intensive 24 hour care. Adolescents presenting with "internalizing disorders" such as adjustment disorders, mood disorders, depression and affect disorders typically respond to short term (intensive 24-hour and residential) care.

Our distinct intensive level of treatment provides for adolescents and parents a 24-hour shared group living and learning environment with individualized therapeutic interventions. We utilize a totally monitored and supervised milieu where the environment is maintained to allow normalization for adolescents. In this phase of treatment, adolescents and family members receive comprehensive 24-hour services by a team of experienced professionals in the psychiatric-medical, nursing, mental health, counseling and educational fields, in a shared group living campus environment. The assigned Primary Therapist will be the managing therapist for the entire length of treatment at all levels of care for the adolescent and for the family. This process assures continuity of care for the entire family system and allows our professional team the unique opportunity to structure an individualized treatment plan and program for each family.

PARTIAL CARE

Treatment (day or night care) is utilized for adolescents who have received 24 hour care and progress to a less than severe condition, or those defined as transient reactive disorders with moderate disruptive impact on the adolescent's family, school, or social functioning. Partial care is extremely useful and appropriate in situations where an adolescent's ability to maintain and sustain productive and stable behavior is emerging; or where more intensive 24-hour treatment is no longer needed, yet a brief transitional phase of vigorous treatment is merited.

The partial care treatment plan emphasizes self-esteem, strengths, improved cognitive functioning and continuity of life skill development of each adolescent. It is a progressive and challenging program individualized for each adolescent.

AFTERCARE:

The ADOLESCENT AND PARENT AFTERCARE GROUP (Saturday) is the necessary continuation of care for adolescents and parents. Adolescents and parents meet on a biweekly basis as needed. This group affords each adolescent the opportunity to address unfinished work, confront and support their peers, and to engage each other in a more productive and healthy manner. This group encourages parents to discuss difficulties they are having in their family relationships. Emphasis on the process of "challenging, confronting, consequences and confirmation" is maintained as the basis for success in the family system. This group is facilitated by Primary Therapists who continue to function as advisor and consultant to the family and provides individual and family sessions.