Self-Harm Treatment for Teens
Is your teen dealing with self-harm? Let’s navigate this journey together.
Teen Self-Harm
The Adolescent Wellness Academy addresses the escalating crisis of teen mental health, highlighted by nearly 1 in 4 teenage girls in the US engaging in self-harm, such as cutting, burning, or hitting themselves, and 1 in 10 teenage boys doing the same. The rates of self-harm hospitalizations have doubled among children aged 5 to 17 over the past decade, with approximately 20,000 hospitalizations due to self-harm occurring annually among teens in the US. Our programs aim to bridge the gap between the complex world of mental health care and the everyday lives of teenagers and their families, making support accessible and practical.
We offer comprehensive treatment options, including a Therapeutic Day Program and an Intensive Outpatient Program, tailored to meet the unique needs of adolescents struggling with self-harm and other mental health issues. By focusing on early intervention, personalized care, and a family-centered approach, the Adolescent Wellness Academy strives to foster resilience, personal growth, and lasting recovery, ensuring a supportive community for teens and their families on their journey toward wellness.
Our programs demystify mental health
At Adolescent Wellness Academy, we specialize in connecting with teens and their families, making mental health support more accessible and approachable. Our clinicians break down barriers, speaking a language that both teens and parents resonate with, to provide meaningful support for adolescent depression.
Take the first step toward support with a free consultation.
How to tell if your child may be engaging in self-harm
What to look for
- Unexplained cuts, bruises, or burns
- Wearing long sleeves or pants even in hot weather
- Finding sharp objects or instruments in your child’s belongings
- Frequent isolation or withdrawal from friends and family
- Expressions of self-loathing or worthlessness
Symtoms your child may be experiencing
- Disrupted sleep
- Changes in appetite or weight
- Feeling very tired or low in energy
- Aches and pains
- Sad or bad mood
If you notice any of these self-harm signs in your child, it’s essential to take action. While seeking professional help is crucial, there are steps you can take in the meantime to support your child.
First, please make sure to communicate with your child. Let them know you’re there to listen and support them without judgment. Encourage them to express their feelings and concerns.
Also, you could maintain a stable and nurturing environment at home. Routine, healthy meals, regular sleep patterns, and physical activity can positively impact mood and overall well-being.
Consider enrolling your child in programs like Adolescent Wellness Academy that support young individuals with mental health challenges.
The Adolescent Wellness Academy
We help teens with self-harm feel safe, loved, and cared for as they heal.
Through our program, teens receive personalized support in a safe and nurturing environment, empowering them to overcome depression and thrive.
- Holistic Understanding: We approach depression as a multifaceted issue, addressing its psychological, emotional, and social dimensions.
- Evidence-Based Therapies: Our program incorporates proven therapeutic techniques tailored to each teen’s needs.
- Family-Centered Support: We involve the entire family in healing, fostering communication and collaboration for lasting positive change.
Self-Harm Treatment Programs
Therapeutic Day Program
Our teen depression therapeutic day program is a comprehensive full-day program covering 4-5 hours of treatment daily educational support to ensure your teen stays on track in school.
- Weekly psychiatric assessment
- 1 hour of individual therapy per week
- 4 hours of daily therapeutic groups
- On-site school support
- Clinical support for crisis management
- Weekly Parent Support Group
- Weekly parent coaching call
- Nutritional support as required
Intensive Outpatient Program
Our IOP afterschool program is designed to address the challenges of teen depression. Covering 3 hours of dedicated treatment sessions, offered 3 to 5 days a week, provides a supportive environment where teens can openly discuss their struggles and work toward healing.
- 1 hour of individual therapy per week
- 3 hours of daily therapeutic groups
- Clinical support for crisis management
- Weekly Parent Support Group
- Weekly parent coaching call
- Nutritional support as required
What AWA Self-Harm Therapy Treats
Mental health problems can have a wide range of causes. It’s likely that for many people there is a complicated combination of factors – although different people may be more deeply affected by certain things than others.
Other mental health issues that are commonly treated within self-harm
Mental health issues often overlap and can coexist with self-harm. Some commonly treated mental health issues that may accompany or be related to self-harm include:
Teen self-harm signs and symptoms include a change from the teenager’s previous attitude and behavior that can cause significant distress and problems at school or home, in social activities, or other areas of life.
Self-harm symptoms can vary in severity, but changes in your teen’s emotions and behavior may include the examples below.
- Feelings of sadness
- Feeling hopeless or empty
- Irritable or annoyed mood
- Loss of interest or pleasure in usual activities
- Loss of interest in, or conflict with, family and friends
- Low self-esteem
- Feelings of worthlessness or guilt
- Fixation on past failures or exaggerated self-blame or self-criticism
- Extreme sensitivity to rejection or failure, and the need for excessive reassurance
- Trouble thinking, concentrating, making decisions, and remembering things
- Ongoing sense that life and the future are grim
- Frequent thoughts of death, dying, or suicide
- Behavioral changes
- Poor school performance or frequent absences from school
Bipolar Disorder: involves cycles of depressive episodes and periods of mania or hypomania.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): PTSD can develop after exposure to a traumatic even.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD): OCD involves recurring, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors or mental acts (compulsions).
Eating Disorders: Conditions such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating disorder are often associated with depression.
Benefits for teens receiving treatment
Teens receive educational support to ensure they stay on track in school while pursuing their therapeutic goals.
We recognize that personal growth involves self-discovery, and the pace of this journey varies for each individual. Teens participate in the program for 4-12 weeks and then drop down to our lower level of care (IOP).
Each client has an individualized treatment plan developed by a multidisciplinary treatment team. Our program offers a mix of individual and group therapy where families are fully involved.
Our program also offers a community where teens (and parents) experience a sense of belonging. In groups, teens learn from each other, find other teens going throught the same challenges as them, practice compassion and develop social skills. This is where the real magic happens.
What Makes Adolescent Wellness Academy Different
When you join our therapy or afterschool programs, you enter a caring and non-judgmental community. This support network involves teens, their families, peers, and our team. Together, everyone plays a role in supporting each other while our clinicians create a safe space for this supportive community to flourish.
- Building resilience
- Fostering self-discovery and awareness
- AWA offers a treatment experience beyond managing symptoms, aiming for transformative healing and lasting change
- Engaging in creative and experiential activities offers various clinical benefits.
- Our programs demystify mental health
- Family Connection
Our Self-Harm Treatment Locations
Teen self-harm treatment and therapies are available at the following locations:
Getting Started
1
Reach Out
Call or email us, and we will get to know your loved one’s concerns. Our Admissions team will understand your teen’s needs. We will verify your insurance coverage and work with you to find a solution that will help you with your financial situation.
2
Complete Assessment
An assessment process is designed to gather information about the teenager’s mental health history, symptoms, triggers, and any previous treatment experiences. This assessment helps in tailoring the therapy program to address specific needs effectively.
3
Schedule First Session
After completing the assessment, patients can schedule their initial therapy session. This session allows the therapist to evaluate the teenager’s condition further, establish rapport, set treatment goals, and discuss the overall therapy plan moving forward.
Reach out to us today! You'll never be alone again.
All calls are confidential.
We accept most insurance but do not take Medicaid at this time.
Your care is
covered here
We understand that you have more pressing concerns right now, the cost of teen mental health and substance abuse treatment should not be one of them.
We are in-network with all major commercial insurance providers in Florida.
We’d like to handle the insurance details so that you can focus on what truly matters.
Why Choose AWA
Our program’s positive impact and strong outcomes are the driving force behind our work. Seeing families thriving and witnessing the transformation of the teens fills us with a sense of purpose.
Frequently Asked Questions
Signs that your teenager may need therapy for self-harm include persistent sadness, loss of interest in activities they once enjoyed, changes in sleep or appetite, difficulty concentrating, irritability, feelings of worthlessness or guilt, and thoughts of self-harm or suicide. If you notice any of these symptoms lasting for an extended period, it’s essential to seek professional help.
The duration of teen self-harm therapy programs can vary depending on the severity of the behavior, the effectiveness of the treatment, and the individual progress of the teenager. Some programs may last for a few weeks to several months, while others may extend for a year or longer.
In some cases, medication may be recommended as part of the treatment for teen self-harm, particularly if the behavior is severe or not responding to therapy alone. However, medication is not always necessary, and the decision to prescribe medication should be made in consultation with a qualified healthcare provider.
Parents often play a crucial role in supporting their teenager’s participation in therapy and facilitating their recovery from self-harm behavior. This may involve attending family therapy sessions, providing emotional support at home, helping to implement strategies learned in therapy, and collaborating with the therapist to create a supportive environment for their teenager.
It’s essential to research and evaluate teen self-harm therapy programs carefully to ensure they meet the needs of your teenager. You can start by asking for recommendations from your child’s pediatrician, school counselor, or mental health professionals in your community. Additionally, you can research online, read reviews, and schedule consultations with therapists or program directors to learn more about their approach and credentials.
It’s not uncommon for teenagers to be resistant to therapy, especially if they’re feeling overwhelmed or ashamed about their behavior. In such cases, it’s essential to have open and honest conversations with your teenager about the importance of getting help and addressing their concerns or reservations about therapy. You may also consider involving a trusted family member, friend, or mental health professional to help encourage your teenager to participate in therapy.
Supporting your teenager’s recovery from self-harm behavior doesn’t end when they complete a therapy program. It’s essential to continue providing love, understanding, and encouragement, as well as helping them practice the coping skills and strategies they learned in therapy. Additionally, staying connected with their therapist or mental health provider can help ensure ongoing support and follow-up care as needed.
Teen self-harm therapy refers to specialized programs or interventions designed to help teenagers cope with and overcome feelings of self-harm. These programs often include counseling, psychotherapy, and other therapeutic techniques tailored to the needs of adolescents.
