Youth Program

At Ridgeview Institute

Program available at the following Atlanta campuses:

Smyrna

Monroe

Youth Services in Smyrna and Monroe

Ridgeview Institute offers youth mental health and addiction programs at two locations in Smyrna and Monroe, GA. The program includes comprehensive, individualized care for young people ages 13 – 17 with psychiatric, addiction, or dual diagnosis disorders. Our inpatient, partial hospitalization, and intensive outpatient treatment options give patients direct access to a variety of care levels based on their clinical needs.

Patients participate in treatment with peers in their age group. The program includes separate tracks for psychiatric disorders and addiction.

About Youth Services

Treatment is intensive and highly structured with an emphasis on family involvement. While treatment for the entire family is an important component of all treatment at Ridgeview, it is essential in working with youth. Research shows that successful recovery is directly related to the level of family involvement and commitment. A wide range of services for families is provided including weekly family therapy, family education, and multi-family process groups.

All of our treatment is designed to foster independence, personal responsibility, and improved relationships with family, peers, and community.

Psychiatric Track – Available in Smyrna and Monroe

The Psychiatric Track is designed to help young people with emotional and behavioral problems learn healthy ways to cope with stress and express emotions. We use both cognitive-behavioral, dialectical and insight-oriented approaches to treatment depending upon the youth’s needs. Success-oriented individualized goals help patients focus on specific core issues and monitor their progress through the program.

Inpatient treatment is recommended for those needing acute stabilization and/or medication management and is available at both the Smyrna and Monroe locations. Both locations offer a youth partial hospitalization program offering a full day of treatment including psycho-educational and therapy groups, Monday through Friday. Our intensive outpatient programs offers 3 hours of programming Monday through Friday, allowing patients to participate in a portion of their school day and other regular activities. Throughout treatment, patients will learn how to become more aware of their behavior, learn specific coping mechanisms to deal with crises and distressing experiences, and learn how to better control their emotions.

Addiction/Dual Diagnosis Track – Available in Smyrna only

Treatment for this track is based on the belief that addiction is a chronic, progressive, primary illness affecting the physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being of the individual and his or her family. Because youth are engaged in the crucial and difficult work of growing up, the damage that untreated addiction causes can be even more profound.

Many teenagers who are addicted also struggle with depression, anxiety, attention deficit disorder, conduct disorder, and other psychiatric and behavioral problems. Our program helps teenagers move to a higher level of functioning and develop non-chemical coping skills for dealing with stress, problems, and emotions. The foundation for ongoing recovery takes active participation in the 12-step programs.

Inpatient treatment may be required initially for detoxification or stabilization. However, the primary level of care for this track is partial hospitalization. Because adolescents with addiction problems typically experience difficulties at school and with peer and family relationships, it is often essential to remove them from that environment and provide a structured and supportive recovery-based environment.

While in the addiction track, patients will participate in a full program of day treatment including psycho-educational and therapy groups, as well as family therapy.

Patients may step down to the intensive outpatient program (3 hours daily, Monday through Friday) as they transition back to home and school.

Continuing care

The treatment team works closely with each patient to set realistic goals for recovery and to develop a continuing care plan to solidify the gains made during treatment. Patients and families are encouraged to participate in aftercare groups, 12-step recovery meetings and/or on-going family therapy following discharge. We also assist families who need a referral for additional treatment or support services.