The Best Teen Depression Treatment Center in Valdosta, GA

Understanding the Treatment for Teens with Depression Disorder

The teenage years are full of ups and downs, and this important developmental stage is not without a host of difficulties. But for some teens, these difficulties are exacerbated by symptoms of a mood disorder, such as depression, making functioning at home, at school, and with friends all the more challenging. Depression can thwart academic achievement, can negatively impact a teen’s social life, and can also lead to thoughts of self-harm and suicidal ideation.

Because of the possibility that depression in teens can have fatal consequences, it is imperative that the adults who work with teens familiarize themselves with symptoms of depression in young people, and keep abreast of options for professional help in the community in which they live. By doing so, these adults can offer support in times of acute need, and can help connect teens and families with a quality treatment program that offers various levels of care which are specifically tailored to the needs of adolescents who are suffering from depression.

Helping Your Teen Get Treatment

When a teen you care about is showing signs of depression, you will no doubt be concerned about his or her health and wellbeing. Fortunately, help exists in the form of comprehensive mental health treatment for teens in crisis. Know that you are not alone in your desire to see your son or daughter access the care that he or she may desperately need, and as you prepare to help your teen engage with treatment, please consider the following:

• When it comes to teens and depression, misinformation abounds. Take time to learn about the disease, and pay specific attention to the ways in which it is known to impact young people differently from adults.
• Begin researching options for treatment in your area, and look for programs that offer teen-specific programming.
• Expect resistance from your teen at first, but maintain a tone of empathy and compassion throughout the conversation, assuring him or her that you care deeply about him or her and only wish to help.
• When you are ready, schedule an assessment with a mental health professional to uncover your teen’s specific needs for care, and create a plan accordingly.

During this stressful time, be sure to be mindful of your own physical and emotional wellbeing. By prioritizing your own health, you will be better equipped to support the young person you care about. Also, by modeling good self-care and healthy boundaries, you will be setting a good example for your teen.

Why Consider Treatment at Greenleaf Behavioral Health Hospital in Valdosta, GA

When you discover that an important teen in your life is struggling with his or her own mental health, it can be difficult to know what steps to take to connect him or her with the support that is needed. And while it may seem overwhelming at first, rest assured that without treatment, his or her condition will only worsen over time. Left untreated, teenage depression will rob a young person of his or her ability to flourish and grow in healthy ways, thus stunting potential indefinitely. At its worst, depression can force a young person into self-harm and suicidal thoughts, putting his or her life in danger. But fortunately, options for care exist to stop the symptoms of teenage depression from spiraling out of control. By accessing a program of care, your teen can reclaim control of his or her life.

Treatment Options for Teens Offered at Greenleaf Behavioral Health Hospital

Located in Valdosta, Georgia, Greenleaf Behavioral Health Hospital is a pioneering provider of world class mental health and substance abuse treatment for individuals of all ages. Since treating its first client, this 113-bed center has offered a supportive and caring environment in which teens, men, and women can come to heal and grow into healthier and more productive beings.

At Greenleaf Behavioral Health Hospital, we understand how difficult adolescence can be when a mental health condition is present. For this reason, we are proud to offer acute inpatient programming for teens between the ages of 12 and 17. When engaged in this invaluable program, young people benefit from compassionate support from our staff and time-tested therapeutic interventions that are proven to help teens successfully manage mental health and substance use concerns. Additionally, each teen is afforded highly personalized care in the form of individualized treatment planning that takes into account each young person’s needs and goals for treatment.

Once the streamlined admissions process is complete, our staff will determine the methods of care that can best address the treatment requirements of the youth. Once done, the teens treated at Greenleaf Behavioral Health Hospital will then experience a blend of the following effective interventions:

Medication management services: Teens who come to Greenleaf for the treatment of depression may require pharmaceutical intervention in order to stabilize and more effectively manage their symptoms. When this is the case, our expertly trained psychiatrists will work closely with each teen and his or her parent(s) or legal guardian(s) so that it can be conclusively determined if medication is necessary. These same staff members, along with the other mental health professionals at Greenleaf, are able to monitor the administration and effectiveness of any medication prescribed so that each young person who receives this type of care will experience the most favorable treatment outcomes.

Detoxification services: For some teens, substance use concerns are present at the same time as depression. Because of this fact, we are pleased to offer detoxification services so that harmful substances of abuse can be cleared from teens’ bodies in order for them to progress in their healing processes. Detoxification is a closely monitored service, as the health and wellbeing of the adolescents we treat are our top priority.   

Individual therapy: Since each teen we treat is a unique person, with varying strengths, needs, and treatment initiatives, we purposefully include individual therapy in the care available to young people needing treatment for depression. During individual therapy sessions, teens will be able to meet with a member of our staff so that they can talk about concerns that they may not feel comfortable discussing in a group setting, process their past experiences and how they are doing in treatment, and work to establish goals for the present and future. These sessions are scheduled on an as-needed basis and can be monumentally helpful for the young people entrusted into our care, as they enable teens to receive the individual attention they deserve.

Group therapy: A great deal can be gained when one is able to receive encouragement and support from others who are grappling with similar concerns. At Greenleaf Behavioral Health Hospital, the treatment we offer teens includes daily group therapy sessions so that each young person is able experience peer support, practice coping skills, and process through their feelings and emotions with other teens who may have experienced similar struggles. When a youth comes to us battling depression, these sessions can be integral in helping him or her develop the confidence needed to heal and become well again. Among the topics covered in group therapy sessions, the following are those that are commonly featured:

• Addictive behaviors and triggers
• Anger management
• Communication skills
• Effectively expressing emotions
• Life skills
• Stress management

Experiential therapy: At Greenleaf, we recognize the importance of remaining active and creative beings while working towards healing from depression. Given this fact, we are proud to offer recreational and creative opportunities to the teens we treat so that they can experience healing on all levels. Depending on each teen’s needs, we facilitate physical fitness activities and creative art projects that are supervised by the dedicated staff who are providing treatment at our hospital.

Family therapy: We have found that the young people we treat tend to thrive and experience more favorable treatment outcomes when they have positive support from the individuals who are closest to them. For this reason, our adolescent programming includes family therapy sessions with a member of our compassionate staff. As a teen learns to manage the symptoms of depression, he or she also learns to rely on the support of loved ones, and family members are given the support and guidance for how they can best help the young person once he or she returns home. Family therapy sessions are also designed to help mend the emotional wounds of the past so that the family unit can move forward as a united front.  

Family education: For the parents and legal guardians of teens struggling with depression, it may be confusing to know what exactly to do to help someone grappling with this type of mental health concern. For this reason, we offer parents and legal guardians support and guidance in the form of education while their children are in our care. During family education opportunities, our staff will do the following:

• Inform those closest to our clients on how to best support their child during and after treatment is complete
• Explain the effects of mental illness on their children’s emotions and behavior
• Provide them with the resources needed to help their children thrive long after leaving Greenleaf Behavioral Health Hospital

Discharge planning: At Greenleaf, we strive to improve the lives of all we treat and arm them with the confidence and skills needed to be healthier. Each teen who is treated for depression benefits from the aforementioned methods of care, and is also afforded a thorough discharge plan so that they can continue to be successful in managing their depression symptoms. Discharge planning at Greenleaf is an ongoing process that aims to address each teen’s barriers to wellness, and attempts to put resources in place so as to ensure that a life of improved mental health is achieved.

Continuing Care and Aftercare Planning

Once a teen has successfully completed our acute inpatient program, he or she may be recommended to participate in a lower level of care so that his or her healing journey can continue. Depending on the recommendations set forth in the youth’s discharge plan, Greenleaf Behavioral Health Hospital offers both a partial hospitalization program (PHP) and intensive outpatient program (IOP). These two outpatient treatment options are designed to help teens working to manage the symptoms of depression slowly transition back into their communities by providing them with the additional services needed to become well again.

As a leading provider of mental health and substance abuse treatment, Greenleaf Behavioral Health Hospital is pleased to offer the high quality care teens need to address, process, and manage such concerns. We firmly believe that we can help your child learn to better handle the symptoms of depression, and we look forward to providing you with the support you need to help this special person in your life. If you would like to learn more about Greenleaf, our treatment methods, how we can help your child, or to begin the process of admissions, feel free to contact us at your convenience.

At Greenleaf Behavioral Health Hospital, we are uniquely prepared to help your teen build the foundation for a healthier future.