The Best Teen OCD Treatment Center in Valdosta, GA

Understanding the Treatment for Teens with OCD

The symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder, or OCD, can certainly derail a person’s life. Couple the distress brought on by this mental health disorder with the strife that is cornerstone to adolescence, and the resulting effects can be devastating. Characterized by overwhelming compulsions that are driven by obsessive thoughts, OCD can prevent a teen from being able to participate in school, interact with his or her peers, and behave in a manner that allows for healthy functioning. Over time, if treatment is not received, the symptoms of this illness can grow worse and make the transition into adulthood rife with struggles.

At Greenleaf Behavioral Health Hospital, we recognize how difficult it can be to be young and struggling with obsessive-compulsive disorder. We also understand the importance of offering effective care for teens who may be struggling with this mental illness. For these reasons and more, we are pleased to offer world class treatment so that teens can begin achieving to their full potential without being hindered by the devastating symptoms of OCD.

Helping Your Teen Get Treatment

When one’s child is attempting to live life with untreated OCD symptoms, it can be quite difficult to watch. It can also be heartbreaking when one makes every effort to help his or her child, only to realize that the obsessions and compulsions that are part of this disorder are stronger than a parent’s will. What is important to know, however, is that you, as a parent or legal guardian, can advocate for your child and get him or her the care he or she needs. Consider the following:

• Learn all that you can about OCD, including its signs, symptoms, and effects.
• Speak with your teen to learn about how he or she is feeling and coping with the symptoms of this condition.
• Consult with a qualified mental health professional to learn what you can presently do to help your child, and to become aware of the services available to your child that can help with this concern.
• Contact a treatment center that cares for teens battling obsessive-compulsive disorder to learn about the treatment options available, the methods of care used, and the admissions process.
• Speak with your teen about the need for professional treatment. Even if you are met with resistance, it is still important to talk about this issue as it is a way of showing your care and concern for him or her.

Once your child has begun a program, make sure that you make every effort to be part of his or her care. Attend family therapy sessions, call your child, and visit him or her during visiting hours when offered. By doing these three things while your teen is receiving treatment, he or she will feel your support.

Finally, and in order to be of the most support to your child, you must make sure that you take care of yourself as well. Try to relax and engage in activities that rejuvenate you so that when you need to help your child, you will be able to do so with a clear and refreshed mind.

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

In the absence of effective treatment, teens who struggle with OCD symptoms are vulnerable to enduring a great deal of strife that can change the course of their futures. For some teens, substances of abuse are the go-to coping mechanism, which can then bring about another level of problems for the individual. Self-harming behaviors may also start, as many young people who are grappling with untreated mental illnesses resort to this behavior in a misguided attempt to alleviate their emotional pain. Problems at school may also emerge, relationships with peers may end, and familial connections can become strained if OCD symptoms are allowed to persist. Given the severity of these potential outcomes, it is important for a teen to engage in proven effective therapeutic services so that obsessive-compulsive disorder symptoms, as well as any other co-occurring concerns, can be treated in a positive and healthy manner.

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 OCD 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 OCD. 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 obsessive-compulsive disorder. 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 OCD, 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
• Effectively expressing emotions
• Life skills
• Stress management
• Anger management
• Communication skills

Experiential therapy: At Greenleaf, we recognize the importance of remaining active and creative beings while working towards healing from obsessive-compulsive disorder. 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 OCD, 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 OCD, 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 obsessive-compulsive disorder 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 OCD 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 OCD 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 obsessive-compulsive disorder, 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.