Acadiana Treatment Center is a premier source of superior care for adolescents ages 12-17 who have been struggling with anxiety disorders. Our anxiety disorder treatment center in Sunset, Louisiana, provides adolescents with the comprehensive, personalized services that promote improved mental health and long-term progress.
Learn About Anxiety Disorder Treatment
Treatment for anxiety disorders at Acadiana Treatment Center in Sunset, LA
Everyone gets anxious or stressed out from time to time, but anxiety disorders make a person feel excessive fear and anxiety that disrupts their ability to function in day-to-day life. When a child suffers from an anxiety disorder, feelings of fear over a real or perceived threat might make them feel overwhelmed, or anticipation over a future threat might consume their daily thoughts.
Some of the anxiety disorders an adolescent might struggle with include generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder. A child who is suffering from generalized anxiety disorder has difficulty controlling how much they worry about events or activities in their life, such as how well they’re doing in school or their after-school job. They may also seem constantly on edge or irritable, or they might have difficulty concentrating.
Panic disorder causes an adolescent to feel a sudden surge of intense fear that might also include a pounding heart, sweating, trembling, shortness of breath, dizziness, tingling, or chest discomfort. Some adolescents feel like they have become detached from themselves or like they have lost complete control. Others feel afraid that they might be dying while experiencing panic disorder.
If an anxiety disorder is disrupting your child’s ability to function on a daily basis, the caring and compassionate staff at Acadiana Treatment Center can help. Our anxiety disorder treatment center in Sunset, Louisiana, provides adolescents ages 12-17 with individualized services that help them improve their daily functioning so that they can return to their homes, schools, and communities.
How to Help a Loved One
Helping your child get treatment for anxiety disorders at Acadiana Treatment Center in Sunset, LA
If your child is suffering from an anxiety disorder, this challenging mental health condition can have a serious impact on their life. Fortunately, you can play an important role in getting your child the help they need. Anxiety disorders are treatable, and getting your child treatment for the anxiety disorder they are struggling with can have a tremendous impact on the quality of their life. Here’s how you can help support your child:
- Some anxiety disorders can raise your child’s risk for physical harm and suicidal thoughts and action. First, make sure your child is safe. If you think your child is in immediate danger, call 911 or contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.
- Talk to your child and listen to them about what they have been going through so that you can gain a better understanding of the anxiety disorder they have been struggling with.
- Research age-appropriate anxiety disorder treatment centers in your area that might be a good fit for your child’s needs.
- Educate yourself on anxiety disorders so that you can understand your child’s behaviors and experiences and find developmentally appropriate treatment.
- Practice self-care, whether through family support groups or simply by taking some time for yourself. It is exceptionally challenging to support a child who has an anxiety disorder if you aren’t caring for yourself.
Family support is so important when a child is struggling with an anxiety disorder. Your child will need you there every step of the way as they take their first steps to improved health and wellness. Plan to be an active presence in your child’s life throughout their recovery journey.
Why Consider Treatment
Why consider getting anxiety disorder treatment at Acadiana Treatment Center in Sunset, LA
Anxiety disorders can have a devastating impact on your child’s life, robbing them of their independence if left untreated. Adolescents who suffer from generalized anxiety disorder typically struggle to accomplish everyday tasks, such as their schoolwork or tasks at their after-school jobs.
They may have difficulty concentrating and have trouble sleeping at night, which can make them feel tired all the time. Their academic and after-school job performance may start to drop, limiting their potential for college or career options.
Panic disorder can be even more challenging, causing your child to miss school or work altogether. They may start to isolate themselves from friends and family members and become afraid to leave the house. Without treatment, some adolescents drop out of school because of the symptoms of panic disorder.
Seeking treatment for the anxiety disorder your child is battling can help them continue to enjoy their day-to-day life. The expert team at Acadiana Treatment Center in Sunset, Louisiana, can help your child start to heal from the anxiety disorder they are struggling with and get on the road to a brighter future.
Types of Anxiety Disorder Treatment Offered at Acadiana Treatment Center
Learn about the therapies used in the treatment of anxiety disorders at Acadiana Treatment Center in Sunset, LA
At Acadiana Treatment Center, each adolescent who receives care for an anxiety disorder follows a personalized treatment plan. We develop these plans following a thorough assessment of each young person’s strengths, needs, and goals. Our focus on customized care means that no two young people will have identical experiences at our anxiety disorder treatment center in Sunset, Louisiana.
The members of your child’s treatment team will monitor their progress throughout their time with us and revise their plan as necessary to ensure that they’re receiving maximum benefit from our therapies and other services.
Depending on a host of individual factors, your child’s personalized anxiety disorder treatment plan at Acadiana Treatment Center may include the following elements:
Medical care: The Acadiana Treatment Center staff includes a medical doctor and a nurse practitioner. These experienced professionals are available to provide basic medical care for adolescents who are receiving treatment with us for anxiety disorders and other mental health challenges. Adolescents typically meet with a member of our medical staff on a weekly basis, with additional meetings available as needed. If your child develops a complex medical condition during their time with us, they will be referred to the most appropriate healthcare provider in the Sunset, Louisiana, area.
Medication management services: Certain prescription medications can help adolescents who have been struggling with anxiety disorders. If your child can benefit from this type of care, we can include medication management services in their personalized treatment plan. As is the case with all elements of your child’s care, you will be consulted and kept up to date on all medication-related decisions throughout your child’s time in treatment for an anxiety disorder at our center in Sunset, Louisiana.
Individual therapy: All adolescents who are receiving care for an anxiety disorder at Acadiana Treatment Center participate in regularly scheduled individual therapy sessions. These one-on-one meetings with a master’s-level therapist are excellent opportunities for adolescents to process their experiences at our center, address topics they may be hesitant to bring up in a group setting, and receive focused feedback from a member of their treatment team.
Adolescents typically take part in two individual therapy sessions per week throughout their time in treatment for an anxiety disorder, and they may schedule additional sessions as needed.
Family therapy: At Acadiana Treatment Center, we understand how the entire family can be affected when an adolescent struggles with an anxiety disorder. We also appreciate the vital role parents and other caregivers can play during and after a young person’s time in residential treatment for an anxiety disorder. For these reasons, we provide family therapy on a regular basis, typically once per week. Depending on what’s best for you, family therapy sessions may be held in person or via a conference call. All family therapy sessions at our treatment center in Sunset, Louisiana, are led by a master’s-level therapist.
Group therapy: At Acadiana Treatment Center, groups are an essential component of residential care for adolescents who have been dealing with anxiety disorders. Groups are structured and supportive forums where young people can gain insights into important topics related to anxiety disorder treatment and recovery, learn from the experiences of other adolescents who have had similar struggles, and share their own thoughts and feelings.
Adolescents who are receiving treatment for anxiety disorders typically participate in two psychotherapy groups each week. These groups, which are led by a master’s-level therapist, are based on the cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) model, with elements of dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) and other models incorporated as needed.
In addition to these psychotherapy groups, we also offer an array of educational groups on a variety of topics, such as the following:
- Coping skills
- Anger management
- Social skills
- Conflict resolution
- Setting goals
- Making decisions
- Health promotion and self-care
- Relaxation and anxiety management
- Substance abuse prevention
- Healthy recreation
- Independent living skills
Experiential therapy: Experiential therapy can be a valuable complement to traditional individual and group therapy for adolescents who are receiving residential treatment for anxiety disorders. Various forms of experiential therapy can help adolescents process their experiences, express their emotions, and view their challenges from a new perspective.
During your child’s time at Acadiana Treatment Center, they may participate in a variety of experiential therapies, including art therapy, music therapy, other expressive activities, movement therapy, games, and play therapy. Activity-based therapeutic opportunities are incorporated into our daily schedule. We also typically offer at least one supervised outing each week.
Continuing Care After Residential Treatment for Anxiety Disorders
Continuing care options for anxiety disorder treatment at Acadiana Treatment Center in Sunset, LA
Residential care for anxiety disorders at Acadiana Treatment Center can be an essential part of an adolescent’s path toward improved mental health. However, we understand that your child’s recovery will continue long after their time with us has concluded.
To ensure that your child is best prepared to maintain and build on the progress they make with us, we will provide you with a detailed discharge plan prior to the end of your child’s time at our anxiety disorder treatment center in Sunset, Louisiana. As with all elements of the residential experience at Acadiana Treatment Center, this plan will be customized to reflect and address your child’s unique strengths, needs, and goals.
Some adolescents can benefit from structured step-down support after they complete our residential treatment program for an anxiety disorder. If your child needs this type of follow-on care, their discharge plan can include a referral to a partial hospitalization program (PHP) or intensive outpatient program (IOP). The discharge plan may also include a referral to a trusted provider of traditional outpatient services in your area, if we determine that this type of continuing care is in your child’s best interests.
The discharge plan may also include information about peer support groups, family support services, anxiety disorder advocacy organizations, or any other resources that will be of value to your child and your family in the weeks, months, and years to come.
For additional details about our discharge planning process, to learn more about continuing care for anxiety disorders, or for answers to any other questions you may have about any aspect of anxiety disorder treatment at Acadiana Treatment Center, please contact us at your convenience. A member of our team is available 24/7 to provide you with the information you need so that you can make the best decisions for your child and your family.