At Ascent Behavioral Hospital, our behavioral health services are designed to provide teens with stability, structure, and support during a challenging time in their lives. Here's what a typical day might look like:
A Typical Day in Treatment
- Morning Routine: The day begins at 6:30 AM with wake-up and morning preparation. Patients tidy their spaces and enjoy a nutritious breakfast to start the day with focus and energy.
- Therapeutic Activities: Patients engage in group therapy sessions throughout the day, with discussions focusing on emotional regulation, coping strategies, and peer support. Individual therapy is also integrated into the schedule to address personalized goals and challenges.
- Medication Management: Patients meet with an on-site medical provider to review and adjust medications as needed, ensuring immediate access to psychiatric care.
- Recreational Therapy: Activities like art, yoga, or team-building exercises are included to encourage self-expression, build confidence, and reduce stress.
- Meals and Social Time: Nutritious meals are served in a gender-separated, supportive environment, with breaks for relaxation and socialization.
- Evening Reflection: The day concludes with time for journaling, relaxation, and personal reflection, fostering mindfulness and preparing patients for a restful night.
The Importance of Routine and Structure
Routine and structure are essential components of the healing process at Ascent Behavioral Hospital. A predictable daily schedule, paired with evidence-based behavioral health services, helps teens feel secure and supported while they work through their challenges. This structured environment allows patients to focus on their goals, build healthy habits, and practice essential coping skills that will serve them long after their stay.
By creating a balance of therapeutic engagement, personal reflection, and physical activity, the treatment experience at Ascent Behavioral Hospital helps teens stabilize and lay the foundation for lasting recovery.
Preparing for the Next Steps Comprehensive Discharge Planning
Proactive Discharge Planning
At Ascent Behavioral Hospital, aftercare planning begins the moment a patient arrives. The average patient stay is 7-14 days, so an individualized discharge plan is paramount in ensuring continued healing. This proactive approach ensures that every aspect of a patient's continued care is thoughtfully arranged before they complete their stay with us.
Therapist Involvement
Our therapists serve as case managers for each patient throughout the patient’s stay at Ascent Behavioral Hospital. In addition to providing therapy to patients, your child’s assigned therapist will take the lead in coming up with a recommended transition plan. They coordinate with families and external providers to create a comprehensive aftercare strategy tailored to each patient’s needs. This includes identifying appropriate outpatient providers, coordinating medication management services, and connecting families with additional support resources in their community.
Comprehensive Aftercare Support
It will be stressful for the patient and their family when they are discharged from a psychiatric hospital. The primary goal should be for the patient and the family to continue to heal. Ascent Behavioral Hospital will provide patients and their families with support that will help them take the next step in their treatment. The aftercare support and recommendations will help both the child and the family in understanding what comes next. Families are provided with detailed information about recommended next steps, assistance in establishing initial appointments, and a clear understanding of their child’s ongoing treatment plan. This thorough approach to discharge planning helps create a seamless transition from acute care to long-term support, giving teens and their families the foundation they need for continued healing and growth.
Healing the Whole Teen Our Holistic Treatment Approach
Stabilization for Acute Psychiatric Crises
Acute psychiatric inpatient care provides intensive, 24-hour treatment for people experiencing serious mental health crises that require immediate intervention. Ascent Behavioral Hospital specializes in stabilizing teens who are struggling with acute psychiatric crises like being suicidal, homicidal, actively psychotic, or self-harming. Our structured program typically spans 7-10 days, during which patients receive round-the-clock care from our experienced medical team, including daily psychiatric evaluation, medication management, and therapeutic support. With safety as our highest priority, we maintain continuous monitoring through safety checks every 15 minutes and in-depth security measures throughout our facility. This level of intensive care creates an environment where teens can stabilize and begin their journey toward recovery with the full support of medical professionals who specialize in adolescent mental health.
A Holistic Approach to Behavioral Health Services
At Ascent Behavioral Hospital, our goal is to stabilize teens who are going through a mental health crisis. We recognize that mental health challenges affect many aspects of someone’s life, not just their mental health. True stabilization requires attention to the whole person. This is why we are dedicated to providing behavioral health services that treat our patients holistically, encompassing the social, physical, emotional, and spiritual dimensions of wellness. During their stay, patients receive carefully coordinated care that includes psychiatric support, medication management with an on-site psychiatrist, therapeutic interventions, and focused Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skill building. While the acute nature of care means concentrating on the most pressing needs first, our clinical team works to understand each teen's complete situation and helps develop targeted strategies for their specific challenges. This comprehensive approach allows us to not only address the immediate crisis but also lay the groundwork for continued healing.
A Warm and Supportive Healing Environment
While Ascent Behavioral Hospital maintains the highest standards of acute psychiatric care, patients and their families will find that our atmosphere is very different from the cold, sterile environments of many hospitals. Since our patients are coming to us during a stressful and scary time, it is crucial to their healing that they feel comfortable so they can focus on stabilization and getting help. Our thoughtfully designed facility combines exceptional behavioral health services with an environment that fosters a sense of emotional safety and comfort. Our secure environment features comfortable spaces for therapy, recreation, and reflection, staffed by compassionate medical professionals who understand the delicate nature of acute psychiatric care. From welcoming common areas to peaceful spaces for family sessions, every aspect of Ascent Behavioral Hospital's environment has been carefully considered to support the healing process while maintaining the highest level of safety and professional care.
Prioritizing Your Teen's Well-being The First Steps
At Ascent Behavioral Hospital, we prioritize your teen's safety and well-being, starting with a smooth and thorough admissions process. Walk-ins are not accepted, and we strongly encourage parents to call us first. This initial step is crucial to ensure we understand your teen’s unique needs and can provide the appropriate support from the moment they arrive. When you call, our compassionate team will guide you through the process.
By calling first, you help us maintain a secure and structured environment, enabling us to focus on providing the highest level of care for every patient. Take the first step toward stabilization and healing today by giving us a call.
Key Features of Our Care
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