On residential treatment centers?

Question

I'm currently looking into residential treatment centers for youth because I feel that it would help me to participate in a curriculum like that, since I suffer from depression, on and off self harm, and major relationship issues with friends and family. Is there anyone who has been to one or a loved one has? What things should I look for in one? How much do they usually cost? Any help would be appreciated.

Ok, maybe I should add some more details. I am currently 16, nearing 17, and when I was about 13 I was diagnosed with depression (after I told parents about cutting.) I was soon after started on prozac. Later I started therapy. I ended up switching meds to some other medication and then to welbutrin. I stopped therapy when my therapist thought I was better. I have started therapy again. Before my parents told me that there were only so many medications out there and that they might have to send me away to get help if they couldn't give it to me. That was a while ago. We are fairly well to do, and I'm sure if I told them of my interest my parents would be willing to pay the cost, which I have already seen for a few centers. I just don't think I can getting weekly therapy and then end up in an enviroment that triggers me after wards, I have horrible relationships and am getting worse. I think I need time of for myself. So yeah, I just want inpatient info right now. Thanks anyways =)

No, I'm not on any sort of illegal drugs. But I really don't think that I should be staying at my house and doing outpatient care, cause I'm nearly on the edge and I can't trust my parents or friends right now. How I see it is that everything is falling down around me, and I can't try working on one while the others are falling. So I want to go somewhere I can work on it all at once. And the residential centers I have been looking at are not really for those with severe mental illnesses, they are for troubled teens, like kids who won't go to school or have family issues, add or adhd, things like that. I really don't think it's a place where they have really serious personality cases and stuff like that. But I could be wrong, it's just I'm not looking at a hospital type place, but rather like a place to go and get stronger and stuff like that. And cutting won't be a problem, I'm not a compulsive cutter and I can handle it, I hardly ever cut. But I resepect your opinions and hear them.

Answer 1

Residential treatment is very expensive and often, only minimally covered by insurance (if at all).

Timberline Knolls is one such facility that caters to young adults suffering from depression, anxiety, self-harm, eating issues, etc. You can chceck them out here:
http://www.timberlineknolls.com/home.asp

I believe their fee is something like $27,000 per month... This is pretty standard for residential care...

You do sound motivated, and I wonder about increasing your current supports (i.e. 2x/week therapy, adding a group, etc.)?

If you do not feel that increasing your outpatient supports is enough, and you can't afford residential, call your insurance and ask them which inpatient/residential facilities are covered by them, and find out what your benefits are (i.e. 30 days coverage, with a co-pay, etc). You may have to go to a hospital-based inpatient unit for depression, but you should have some coverage...

Hang in there. Talk with your therapist and explore all of your options, including residential if that's what you feel you need.

Good luck!

Answer 2

I have been the director of quite a few residential treatment centers, and I think this is NOT a good idea for you. Normally, the patients are: often violent, totally in need of mental health care at all times, and often have multiple personality disorders that can get very scary. Your day would be totally regimented. Up at this time, begin your house work schedule-do it right and on time. You would probably cook each week, a meal for the other clients. You would only go where the group goes, and never anywhere by yourself, unless you have been told to go there. People in residential care homes are truly difficult to get along with. I was nearly killed by one client, for no reason...........just a violent outburst when I thought the doctors had him in their office.
Please, continue therapy, and learn how to deal WITH your parents. Are your parents willing to go to therapy, too? That's a big question. Be sure that you are going to a therapist who can help you, by understanding you...........be sure you don't just go and then, not even tell the real truth of things. Your meds may or may not be correct for you. You need to take the least amount of medication that will help you to stop feeling as though you just don't fit in at home or school. Very important question: Are you on any illegal drugs at this time? Drugs will distort your ability to see and to feel things in the right context. Are you hiding something from your parents that they have a right to know, in order to help you? Do you believe they are trying to hide something from you? Ask YOURSELF what would make life at home better for you. Do not just write yourself off as a bad person. You sound like a very nice person who needs more direction in your life. Please, tell the therapist that you have been considering a residentail care home, and the therapist should know what type of places they REALLY are. It's not a good place for someone like you, in my opinion. You sound bright and willing to work with a therapist. DO that. Please...............be honest with therapist, and you will be able to get a lot farther, honestly, in your path to feeling better, and maybe, to even understand that your parents have their problems, and that you have your own.

Answer 3

I've read this and think you're awesome. You're taking charge of your life. However, the main thing I feel like you're not considering is the ridiculous cost of these places. Unless you have the greatest insurance on the planet, figuring out how to completely pay for this is going to be a trick. One way is instead of worrying how to raise money, you can find a place that'll accept what you're able to pay. There is a giant list for every state here: http://www.residentialtreatmentcenters.me You can sort through them, check out their sites, and contact the ones that look desirable and hope they'll work with you. Best of luck.

Answer 4

Residential treatment centers for youth are not used for teens who are successfully/somewhat successfully living in the community with either their family or a foster family. Residential centers are used as a last resort for youth who have just not responded to any other treatment and have become a major danger to themselves or others. (Assault, firesetting, etc.) Things to try first would be individual therapy, family therapy, group therapy, and possibly meds.

There are also outpatient treatment programs for youth who are considered "at-risk" or "high-risk." Like after-school groups and stuff like that. A lot of those places require referrals, though, so I still strongly encourage you to find individual therapy first. The therapist can refer you to all sorts of programs that could help you.

You sound really motivated to get help for yourself, and that will come across to the therapist in individual therapy. Let them know you're willing to try a variety of tactics to get better and the two of you can work together to figure something out that will work for you.

Residential treatment centers cost an arm and a leg. The price is seriously ridiculous. It's really used as a last resort, and to be honest the youth there did not enter treatment voluntarily. They were usually mandated by the court. So it would not be helpful for you to be around people who are in such a negative mindset about treatment.

There are many clinics though that offer therapy on a sliding scale based on income. Touch base with your counselor in school in order to get more info about clinics/other resources in the community you can go to. Then work with that person to find help that will work for you.

You sound really motivated to help yourself and that is excellent, because treatment only works if you're motivated and actively participating. I'm sure that with your mindset you'll do well. Good luck!

(Edit)

You are not a candidate for residential treatment if you've been able to be managed on weekly therapy and meds. Your family issues need to be worked out in family therapy. Even if you were in residential they'd make your family come in once a week to do family therapy anyway.

I do think you need to have your mental health care restructured which is why you should really talk to your therapist about it. You're a bright and movitvated young adult. Given the right tools you can do just fine. More than one therapy session a week would be a good start. A psychiatrist who meets with you more often and helps you to monitor your symptoms would be a good start, too, because they can try to find the right med or med combination. There are many many many drugs out there for depression, and it sounds like you've only tried a few of them. And group therapy would be helpful for you as well because you'd be around other people with the same issues and you can support one another and feel less alone.

You won't have any "time for you" in residential treatment. Residents need to be in eyesight of the staff at all times. There's only a limited number of staff and it's a legal liability for them to be alone with you at any time so it is encouraged for the entire group of residents to be together at all times. And I mean ALL the time. You're even watched while you're asleep, with 15-min bedchecks to make sure you didn't try to run. The main diagnoses of youth in residential treatment are Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Borderline Personality Disorder, Bipolar, and there are also youth in various stages of psychosis disorders where they might hear or see things that aren't there. The places are usually violent due to the severity of the youth's symptoms. Because of that violence we often need to use restraints to keep youth from harming themselves or others. If you were a resident at my treatment center and you started self-injuring do you know what I would have to do if you didn't stop? I'd have to immobilize you with the help of another staff until you calmed down. Your arms and legs would be pinned to the floor until you got control of yourself again.

You really need to go talk to your therapist about this desire to go into residential treatment and discuss other options. You do not sound like a good candidate for residential treatment. I've met with clients with your type of symptoms and family difficulties in individual therapy. Although they needed more work than the average client they were able to work on their stuff in an outpatient setting.

Listen to me and the other person who has worked in residential treatment. We've been in those facilities. You haven't.

Answer 5

Well, it depends..