Adolescent Treatment Program
Inpatient Treatment

The Menninger Clinic’s Adolescent Assessment and Treatment Program specializes in providing comprehensive assessments and treatment for teens 12 to 17 years of age and their families. We provide a nurturing environment, stabilize and treat from day one.

Our treatment team integrates a wide array of interventions and 12-step work for teens with co-occurring disorders, including an emphasis on social cognition and relationship skills. Teens continue their academic work, staying enrolled in their own school and working with our certified teachers.

Why consider a diagnostic assessment?

The inpatient assessment fits the needs of adolescents who are not making the desired progress in other treatment settings, are seeking a second opinion or are experiencing little relief from medication or other interventions.

The Adolescent Assessment and Treatment Program offers this two- to three-week service based on years of success with a structured and systematic approach to assessment, utilizing the combined expertise of the team members during a focused, brief hospital stay. This process leads to a greater understanding of the teen, individual needs, factors affecting progress in prior treatment and the disorders and complications that are of concern to the family and adolescent.

Staff have found that the intensive work during the brief assessment period presents the opportunity for engagement and collaboration between the adolescent, family and team. Inclusion of treatment during the diagnostic process is aimed at stablizing symptoms and behavior and gaining knowledge about what treatment works and what doesn’t.

The team brings together these findings with what is gained from talking with prior treaters, the patient and the family to complete the comprehensive diagnostic picture and develop treatment recommendations.

The parents or guardians are encouraged to accompany their adolescent for admission. The parents meet with various members of the assessment team, providing information about the patient’s and family’s experiences, review the schedule and set plans for communicating progress reports.

During the assessment, the adolescent and their family receive:

• A psychiatric evaluation, psychological testing (neurological testing, if indicated), family assessment, neuropsychiatric assessments (MRI, PET scans, CT scans, EEG) when indicated, addictions assessments, nutritional evaluation and psychosocial rehabilitation assessments
• A thorough medication assessment
• Introduction to a variety of treatment interventions, including dialectical behavioral therapy skill building, other brief therapies, addictions treatment and family work
• A diagnostic conference that brings together all evaluators as well as the teen, the parents and referring clinician for a discussion and interpretation of all assessment findings and observations. A final diagnosis is determined and participants in the conference discuss how the diagnosis affects family life, school and social functioning.
• A plan for continued treatment that is supported by the patient, family and referring professionals
• Recommendations for follow-up and consultation

With the recommendation of the clinical team, should the teen and family decide to continue treatment in the Menninger Adolescent Treatment Program, a customized treatment plan will be implemented.

Beginning steps of recovery

After the comprehensive assessment, the teen transitions into a customized treatment program designed for their needs and goals. Throughout treatment, adolescents meet one-on-one with their clinical team, consisting of a psychiatrist, psychologist, primary nurse, clinical social worker, mental health associate, addictions counselor and psychosocial rehabilitation therapist.

During the stay, the patient:

• Engages in individual, group and family therapies, medication review and other prescribed interventions
• Learns about effective coping strategies and optimal use of treatment through supportive patient groups and coaching from staff
• Continues to receive academic support and focus on normal adolescent tasks and growth
• Renews hope of attaining goals
• Focuses on building skills that can be maintained after returning home or during follow-up treatment

One of the strengths of the team is its experience working with families. Parents or guardians participate in weekly family therapy. In addition, parents may participate in the Menninger Family Workshop.

As in the assessment, the patient and family collaborate with the clinical team to establish a discharge plan that will be effective in providing the necessary community support and follow-up treatment.

For assistance in seeking treatment for your teen at Menninger, call our Admissions Office:

• 800-351-9058 or 713-275-5000