The Best Teen PTSD Treatment Center in Valdosta, GA

Understanding the Treatment for Teens with PTSD

that young people can battle with this mental health condition as well. Also known as PTSD, this disorder is triggered by having experienced, witnessed, or learned about a horrific event or situation in which the individual has been harmed or was at risk of being harmed.

In terms of youth, specifically, who suffer from PTSD, this disorder can become apparent should something happen to a loved one, such as one’s parent(s) or sibling(s). When PTSD is affecting a teen’s life, a great deal of emotional upheaval and behavioral problems can ensue. Because of this type of reaction, which may not necessarily happen immediately after the trauma took place, it is important for treatment to be received as soon as feasibly possible.

Greenleaf Behavioral Health Hospital, a top notch provider of mental health treatment for teens, understands the toll that is taken when a young person is suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder. Via evidence-based treatment protocols and compassionate care from devoted staff, teens who come to Greenleaf for treatment are able to manage the symptoms of PTSD, and go on to live healthier, more satisfying lives.

If your son or daughter has experienced a trauma and is in need of care to over the symptoms of PTSD, feel free to schedule an assessment today.

Helping Your Teen Get Treatment

When a teen experiences a trauma, it can have a profoundly lasting effect on him or her. For some young people, PTSD symptoms do not manifest after a trauma occurs. However, for those who do experience this disorder after some sort of trauma, the impact it can have on their lives can be monumental. Therefore, if your son, daughter, or another child in your life is suffering from PTSD, it is important to navigate through the following steps to get him or her treatment:

• Familiarize yourself with the symptoms and effects of PTSD.
• Formulate a safety plan with a small group of other loved ones so that you all are prepared to help your teen in the event he or she requires immediate treatment for his or her PTSD symptoms.
• Research treatment options that are focused on the needs of young people suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder.
• Contact a center of your choosing to get your questions answered and to learn how to begin the process of admissions.
• Speak with your teen about the need for treatment and be sure to tell him or her how you are planning on being a pillar of support while he or she receives care.
• Try to remain engaged in your child’s treatment by attending family therapy sessions, visiting him or her, and staying in general contact with your child for the duration of his or her treatment.

Also, as a parent or legal guardian of a child suffering from PTSD, it is important for you to be sure to tend to your own emotional health as well. Seek support from your loved ones or consider seeking your own treatment in the form of individual therapy. In doing so, you will be better prepared to help your child during this difficult time in his or her life.

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

The symptoms of PTSD have the ability to engulf every aspect of a teen’s life if proper treatment is not sought. Substance abuse could occur and develop into a problem, self-harming behaviors could start, and additional mental health disorder symptoms could emerge. Additionally, a teen may struggle to perform to expectation at school, be unable to maintain healthy peer relationships, and a once promising future can become tarnished due to the adversities brought on by PTSD. Because of these possibilities, treatment is extremely beneficial for a young person battling this condition. With proper care, the consequences of untreated posttraumatic stress disorder can be avoided entirely.

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 posttraumatic stress disorder 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 PTSD. 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 posttraumatic stress 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 PTSD, 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:

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

Experiential therapy: At Greenleaf, we recognize the importance of remaining active and creative beings while working towards healing from posttraumatic stress 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 PTSD, 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 PTSD, 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 posttraumatic stress 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 PTSD 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 posttraumatic stress disorder 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 PTSD, 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.