Typical Resident Profile
Who We Serve
Often, a teen's diagnostic picture and the matching interventions and services called for are easily or moderately transparent. However, some youth, ages 13-17.9, present a more complex picture and are ideal candidates for the Institute. Residents may be experiencing emotional, behavioral, or physical problems, such as:
- Psychologically Fragile - e.g., suicidal ideation or past attempts, other self-harm propensity such as cutting, deep depression, certain classes of obsessive-compulsive disorders (OCD), anxiety disorders, etc.
- Emerging Thought Disorders.
- Physical Problems - e.g., body weight issues, diabetes, cardiovascular issues, range of motion, overall stamina, etc.
- Treatment Resistant - For some struggling teens who have proven to be treatment resistant, an alternative assessment may be implemented to explore treatment options.
- When wilderness therapy is not advisable due to severe depression and anxiety, eating disorders, self-harm concerns, etc.
- Residents who Require a Pre-Long Term Placement Assessment - The Institute is the perfect place to provide intense, customized assessments for teenagers and their families when there is a lack of coordinated, clinical data derived from a variety of specialized sources. Thus, the Institute's integrated assessment will aid in the long-term placement decision triage process.
- In-depth Testing - Testing beyond standard protocols (WISC, TAT, etc.), such as neuro-psychological, speech pathology, vocational testing, brain mapping, testing for known or suspected Learning Disabilities such as dyslexia, non-verbal learning disorders, etc., as well as the ability to provide in-depth academic testing, and possible live observations of family system difficulties.
- Medication Assessment and Management.
The Institute provides services that not only include short-term crisis stabilization, but, more importantly, the provision of in-depth evaluation, assessment, and treatment services for teenagers ages 13 - 17.9. The Institute will not only provide prescriptive short- and long-term treatment protocols in all domains, but start the child on a treatment regimen prior to being placed in a residential treatment center, therapeutic boarding school, or outpatient setting.
Typically, struggling teens who will benefit from the Institute have attempted to cope with their problems through "acting in" by running away, withdrawing, truancy, or engaging in self-destructive behaviors.
