Knoxville’s Bipolar Disorder Treatment Center for Teens

Learn more about bipolar disorder treatment at Village Behavioral Health near Knoxville, TN

Bipolar disorder is a serious mental illness that causes adolescents or teens to experience unusual shifts in mood. When they are in a state of mania, they feel extremely happy and tend to be more active than usual. However, when in a depressed state, they are very sad and not as active as they would usually be. The symptoms of bipolar disorder are much more powerful than the normal ups and downs of everyday life. Adolescents and teens with bipolar disorder should get treatment as soon as possible before it completely overtakes their life. With proper treatment and support, teens can learn to manage their symptoms and lead successful lives.

At Village Behavioral Health, a bipolar disorder treatment center in Knoxville, we have years of experience helping adolescents or teens who have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder learn to get their symptoms under control so they can get their lives back. We understand how exhausting it can be for teens to go through life cycling between severe mood states. We will do everything we can to help you work through this emotional, difficult time. You do not have to go through this alone; our friendly and highly qualified staff at our treatment center is here to help.

Helping a loved one get treatment for bipolar disorder

As a parent, having a child with bipolar disorder can be upsetting and exhausting as you are dealing with someone experiencing extreme changes in mood. If you suspect your child has bipolar disorder, it is important that you take your child to their primary care physician as soon as possible to be evaluated and to rule out any possible medical causes for their symptoms.

If your adolescent or teen has bipolar disorder, here are some basic things you can do:

• Be patient
• Be understanding about mood episodes
• Encourage your child to talk and be sure to actually listen to them
• Make sure that your child understands that treatment can help them get better
• Help your child have fun

In addition to helping your teen, remember that this can be a stressful time for you as well; coping with the mood swings and short tempers can be challenging. If you do not take the time to take care of yourself, your life may become overwhelming. The more you keep your stress levels down, the better you will feel and the more helpful you will be. Talk to your doctor to get referrals to a mental health professional or a support group.

Why consider treatment for bipolar disorder at Village Behavioral Health near Knoxville, TN

While there is currently no cure for bipolar disorder, proper care at a treatment center can help control symptoms, if left untreated, this disorder can greatly affect all areas of an adolescent’s life. Mood episodes are intense and often occur with extreme changes in behavior and energy levels. When in a manic state, adolescents or teens tend to have a shorter temper, engage in risky behavior, and are not able to properly sleep. By contrast, during a depressive state, they may complain about pain like stomach aches, experience feelings of guilt or worthlessness, and have no interest in activities they normally enjoy.

Most adolescents or teens with bipolar disorder find that treatment offered in a residential mental health bipolar disorder treatment center to be very helpful at reducing their symptoms. Through a residential treatment center, you will get the medications you need to stabilize your symptoms while receiving therapy that can help change your behaviors. Individual and group sessions will allow you to learn how to better get along with friends and family members as well as provide you with much-needed emotional support. Additionally, as you learn healthy coping skills, you will be better prepared to deal with different moods states and react in a more appropriate manner.

Village Behavioral Health philosophy and treatment benefits

At Village Behavioral Health, a bipolar disorder treatment center in Knoxville, we provide troubled youth with a structured, caring, and supportive environment that assists in healing emotional and cognitive problems, such as bipolar disorder. Additionally, our bipolar disorder treatment center gives our clients the opportunity to learn adaptive problem solving skills in order for them to successfully rejoin their families and community. The goal of our residential treatment center is to help adolescents or teens make better choices by helping them understand how their choices have affected them.

Types of bipolar disorder treatment offered at Village Behavioral Health near Knoxville, TN

Our residential bipolar disorder treatment center in Knoxville provides teens with 24-hour supervision and intensive therapeutic services. Each client will receive an individualized bipolar disorder treatment plan designed for their needs. After a thorough assessment, our staff at our treatment center will create a treatment plan and each teen will be assigned to a cabin group. The cabin group provides adolescents or teens with positive support from peers and allows each client to mature during their stay. At The Village, we use a phase system that focuses on treatment instead of behaviors. Each phase focuses on specific problems, goals, and objectives identified in the client’s individualized treatment plan.

We have found that the best treatment method for bipolar disorder is a combination of medication and therapeutic approaches. Some of the methods our bipolar disorder treatment center may use include:

Medication: Medications, such as mood stabilizers, may be used alongside therapies to help control the symptoms associated with bipolar disorder. Once these symptoms are under control, a teen is better able to engage in the therapeutic process. Medication for bipolar disorder is usually an ongoing process and your child may need to try different types of medications to find one that works best for their needs. We have an in-house psychiatrist and nurse practitioner who oversee medication management.

Individual therapy: Individual therapy is held at least once a week and often uses methods like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to help identify and change responses to life stressors. Additionally, during individual therapy each client will go into more depth about their emotions and learn more helpful thoughts and behaviors.

Group therapy: Groups are held multiple times a day within your cabin group. Each day begins with a morning meeting to allow each client to set goals for the day. Some of our groups focus on distorted thinking and how to change those thoughts; others focus upon the importance of being able to take ownership of one’s own actions and problem-solving techniques.

Family therapy: Family involvement is very important for creating a lasting change for the teen. We believe that family must be active participants in the treatment process in order for treatment to be fully successful. Family therapy is held at least once per week and focuses on issues within the family dynamic. Additionally, family visitation is allowed after a child has been in the program for at least two weeks, starting with on campus visits and progressing to overnight visits. This allows your child to practice using newly-learned skills before they are fully integrated back into the family unit.

In addition to traditional therapy methods, our bipolar disorder treatment center at The Village offers a number of wonderful experiential programs. These include:

• Music
• Crafts
• Sports
• Recreational therapy
• Drama
• Adventures program
• Mindfulness
• Relaxation

Continuing care and levels of treatment for bipolar disorder

Our aftercare planning at The Village, a bipolar disorder treatment center in Knoxville, begins during the intake process with a therapist who works directly with you and your teen to identify potential step-down options that will best suit continuing treatment needs. Several weeks before discharge, your teen’s treatment team will make a recommendation based on their needs. We will set up the intake session for the next phase of treatment. Your child may step-down into an Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) or a Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) or may be ready to return home with referrals to traditional outpatient therapy. Whatever your continued needs, Village Behavioral Health will ensure everything is in place before your child leaves our care.