Mental Health Treatment

We all remember how tough it was to be a teenager. You probably recall the mood swings that pulled you from the highest of highs to the lowest of lows. While it’s almost guaranteed that your teen will be dealing with new, rapidly shifting feelings each day, it’s also possible that they need professional help.

Anxiety &
Depression

Mental Well-Being
& A Brighter Future

A significant number of teenagers develop mental illnesses like depression, anxiety, and personality disorders during this phase of life. The Forum offers comprehensive mental health treatment for teens between the ages of 12 and 17.

Anxiety

Some amount of worry is typical – for example, it’s normal for your teen to express concern about an upcoming recital or test. But once that nervousness becomes overwhelming, it’s time to get help. Teen anxiety is characterized by large swaths of time spent worrying, an inability to focus on anything else, lost sleep, muscle tension, unexplained aches and pains, and panic attacks. Anxiety that is out of proportion to the current situation and affects your teen’s happiness should be treated in a clinical setting.

Depression

Depression is more than a bad mood. Has your child lost interest in once-loved activities, begun to isolate themselves, and started to seem down most of the time? Have you noticed that they’re sleeping and eating much more (or not at all)? Do they have low self-esteem that contributes to self-harm or suicidal ideation? If so, it is crucial that you find a therapist to intervene as soon as possible.

Emerging Personality Disorders

Personality disorders are conditions characterized by unhealthy thoughts and behaviors. Diagnoses in this category include borderline personality disorder (BPD), narcissistic personality disorder (NPD), antisocial personality disorder, dependent personality disorder, and schizoid personality disorder. However, there are many others not listed here.

The important thing to know about teen personality disorders is that they are not yet fully formed; therefore, they are referred to as emerging personality disorders. Warning signs include unstable relationships, erratic behavior, dramatic mood swings, social isolation, lasting depression, and defensiveness against (or aggression towards) others. They will probably react in extreme ways to even the smallest events – look for hysteria, panic, or rage.

If your teen has begun exhibiting symptoms of an emerging personality disorder, clinical intervention is essential.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a pattern of intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and involuntary behaviors (compulsions). Your teen may feel that something just isn’t right unless they act out certain rituals. Repeating words or phrases, checking assignments a specific number of times, placing items symmetrically, and counting things are all common manifestations of teen OCD. While some children begin showing signs as early as three years old, many individuals don’t demonstrate symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder until they reach middle or high school. Therapy can be helpful for teens who need to overcome (and manage) the symptoms of their condition.

Complex Dual Diagnosis

Often, serious mental illnesses will occur alongside substance use disorder. This phenomenon is referred to as complex dual diagnosis. It can originate in one of two ways: 1) a teen begins to use drugs and alcohol to alleviate symptoms of their mental illness, or 2) their substance use creates symptoms of mental illness. Regardless of how your child developed a dual diagnosis, intensive treatment is required.

The Forum specializes in addressing multiple conditions in teens. Our team of clinicians, led by neuropsychologist Dr. Joanna Savarese, understands how to address each combination of disorders. Integrated services are the cornerstone of our treatment model. We believe that when substance use disorder and mental illness are treated simultaneously, teenagers can achieve positive, lasting results.

It's Time For Things To Get Better.