Questions About Mental Health Treatment
The teens who come to Discovery Ranch South care about the people in their lives. They struggle to have healthy relationships. Most of the students also struggle with emotional regulation, self-worth, and identity development. This leads to parent-child conflict. These struggles usually show themselves in the form of depression, anxiety, self-harm, or an eating disorder. If this description resembles a teenager in your life, then Discovery Ranch South may be the right place for them.
What kind of treatment will my child get?
Individual Therapy
Your teen will have two therapy sessions each week. One individual therapy session will be family therapy. You will be able to take part in these therapy sessions via video conferencing.
Group Therapy
Your teen will take part in six core therapy groups and up to two specialty therapy groups. The core groups include DBT, art, equine, recreation, interpersonal process, and phase. Specialty groups include attachment, body image, trauma, seeking safety, narcotics anonymous, and music.
How will I be involved in my teen’s treatment?
You will play a vital part in your child’s recovery. You will be supported by a team of professionals. These professionals have experience in helping young women like your daughter. Everyone on the team shares the goal of helping your teen to return home. When your teen returns home, they will be able to be independent and successful.
You will also be invited to a Parent Seminar three times a year. These seminars take place in February, June, and October. They consist of workshops that take place on Wednesday through Friday. If your daughter is at the appropriate level, you will have the chance for an extended visit on the weekend.
You will be able to exchange letters with your teenager at any time. Many families find that exchanging letters encourages thoughtful communication. There is also an open visit policy.
When your teen earns an appropriate phase, they will be able to call home. How often your child is allowed to call depends on the level that she has earned.
Each month, you will also have the chance to take part in a webinar with the Clinical Director. These webinars will help you to understand the challenges your teen faces. They are also an opportunity to connect with other families. These families are struggling with similar issues.
Will my daughter go to school while she is in treatment?
Your teenager will be taught by certified teachers. There is also a teacher’s aide in each class. You will not be expected to choose between your teen attending school or therapy. Each program receives its own block of time.
For most students, their academic ability improves as their mental health improves. The academic program focuses on mastering concepts. This allows your teenager to move quickly through concepts they have mastered. They will also be able to spend more time working on subjects that are more difficult for them.
What will my teen do besides take part in therapy?
Clubs
Your child will have a healthy high school experience. They will have the chance to take part in clubs. Each club meets once or twice a week. Your teen will be able to choose two or three clubs. Clubs include soccer, technology, musical theater, science, culture and book club.
Outdoor Recreation
Your teenager will take part in recreational trips with her therapist every Friday. Recreation serves several therapeutic purposes. One purpose is helping to motivate your child throughout the program. Another purpose is to give them a chance to get to know their therapists and peers.
Recreational activities include kayaking, skiing, rock climbing, hiking, service projects, and other seasonal activities. These are probably very different than the activities that they take part in at home. That is by design. By taking part in new and interesting activities they can begin to think differently. In this way, recreational activities augment and support your teen’s therapeutic experiences.
These activities will also give your child a chance to gain new interests and hobbies. These new healthy hobbies can replace old, unhealthy behaviors when they return home.
Why do you have a Calf Program?
While your teenager is at the ranch, they will take care of a baby calf. Caring for the calf will give them the chance to develop empathy and responsibility. They will be responsible for bottle-feeding the calf three times a day. Within a few months, the calf will begin eating hay and grain. The calf’s autonomy mirrors your experience with your teens.
For many students, caring for the calf is an open door that leads to greater participation in the program. Even when a student is not willing to care for themself, they can still find the motivation to take care of a calf. When teens are successful in the calf program, it often leads to success in other areas too.
What will my teen eat?
We understand that healthy eating is important to having a healthy body and mind. That is why our professional, trained chef works with our nutritionist to create our menu. Your teen will eat nutritious meals made from whole foods. Also, if your teen has special dietary restrictions the chef will accommodate them.
Many mental health concerns are directly related to self-care such as healthy eating. Most of the students at the ranch have challenges with over or under-eating. At the ranch, your child will learn about Mindful eating. Mindful eating will help your teen to heal their relationship with food and their body.
Most of the meals served at the ranch are made from scratch. They are made to feed the soul as well as the belly. Meals are a highly nurturing part of the day. They are also a chance for your teenager to be social and have fun.
The chef bakes a cake for students on their birthdays. Holidays have full celebratory, healthy meals.