Adolescent IOP: Helping Teen's Mental Health In Utah

The door slams, the line goes dead, the engine of the car starts, and your teen is gone again- whether emotionally distant or staying physically away, you are left feeling scared, confused, angry and at a complete loss. You love your teen, you know their potential, and yet every interaction feels like a minefield, and the feelings of helplessness just keep getting bigger. If your teen is struggling with their mental health, either because of social situations, difficulty with school, challenges with emotional regulation, or exploring their identity, you likely feel out of your depth in supporting them. Maybe you’ve tried weekly therapy for your teen, or maybe they have tried inpatient care and need more than weekly therapy as they adjust to life outside treatment. Regardless, Intensive Outpatient Programs (adolescent IOP) for youth might be the support your teen and family need.

What is an Adolescent “IOP”?

IOP stands for Intensive Outpatient Program. These programs provide a step between weekly therapy (which may not be enough for your teens needs) and inpatient care (which may be more than your teen needs) by providing 6-8 hours of structured, evidence based therapeutic interventions each week. An adolescent IOP focuses on the specific needs and challenges that come with adolescence, including identity development, emotional regulation, developing self efficacy and self compassion, and interpersonal skills. Red Willows Adolescent IOP provides several forms of therapy each week to support the mental health of youth in Utah. Each week, clients in the adolescent IOP participate in:

Individual therapy with a licensed therapist. These sessions are scheduled on days when group therapy isn’t happening to ensure clients are getting individual support for their goals throughout the program.
Group therapy led by masters level clinicians. Group therapy includes three sessions a week. Each session is 2 hours long and split into two parts- the first is called “psych ed” where clients learn about mental health topics through lessons provided by clinicians. The second half is processing and offers space for clients to talk about their problems, challenges, successes and receive support from group members and clinicians. The combination of learning about mental health topics and the support of group members who “get it” provide an environment rich for personal development.
Case management, as needed, for developing goals and solving practical problems. Case management is one of the services Red Willow Counseling Adolescent IOP’s offers that sets our program apart- but many people don’t know case management is or what it provides. Case management is a collaborative process where the client and case manager assess the problems the client is facing, develop goals to solve the problems, and then explore how to make achieving the goals possible.
Family support and collaboration to support youth and family development. Family support takes many forms at Red Willows Adolescent IOP- everything from education regarding mental health, family therapy as needed, and Family Days where family members come to a group session.

Is an Adolescent IOP Right for Me?

Assessing for what level of care your child needs can be challenging, but our team at Red Willow Counseling can help. If you aren’t sure if your teen needs more support than weekly therapy, reach out to our team for a free consultation- we can review your child’s needs, history, goals and current level of well being to assess the level of care they need.

Typically, adolescents who would benefit from IOP:

are struggling to get to weekly therapy– it feels like a drag and often the adolescent seems bored or unhelpful
find that weekly therapy helps, but they are struggling to see real change in their experience or behavior
need more skill building education and practice for developing social relationships
are stepping down from a higher level of care like inpatient treatment

What Makes Red Willow Counseling’s Adolescent IOP Different

Red Willow Counseling provides IOP for a variety of needs (Recovery IOP for adults with addictions, or our Mental Health IOP for adults who need support for struggles related to mental health)- our team has run IOPs since 2017, and are experienced in this type of therapeutic intervention. We also provide case management when needed, which is a service many IOPs do not provide. We have found case management to be one of the most effective components of IOP- providing the scaffolding for success after IOP ends. Case management offers the benefits of setting a goal and working towards it, the self efficacy and self esteem of goal achievement has lasting benefits for adolescents seeking support.

Is IOP Effective for Adolescents?

The short answer is yes- the research regarding IOP in general show significant benefits, including the benefits of receiving education about mental health topics including communication, shame and guilt, emotional regulation and more. Additionally, IOP provides the “sandbox” for adolescents to practice the skills they are learning in group- including communication skills, identifying emotions. But people who attend IOP often report that the biggest benefit is the processing portion of group- where clients can talk about their problems, worries and successes with the support of group members. For adolescents, this social connection can be even more powerful as adolescence can be a socially isolating time for many youth, especially those dealing with mental health challenges.

Adolescent IOP: The Next Step In Mental Health Support For Youth

If you are at the point where you are feeling lost, disheartened, overwhelmed, hopeless or confused regarding your teen’s mental health and not sure where to look, contact our team at Red Willow Counseling. We are dedicated to helping you find a solution that works for you and your family, and can help find other resources if, for some reason, the Adolescent IOP at Red Willow isn’t the most supportive level of care. The teen years can be challenging for the whole family, and you can start the journey of finding support- we are here to help.

Parental mental health and the impact on children

While mental illnesses are more common than you think, raising a child while dealing with a mental illness can pose quite a few challenges. Many adults are impacted by mental illness, but that doesn’t necessarily mean their children will have negative effects. This blog will share how untreated parental mental health can negatively impact children, how to help yourself and your children cope with mental diagnoses, how parenting styles impact childhood mental health, and more.

Most Common Mental Illnesses

Anxiety and depression are common mental illnesses in adults. While many parents may deal with these, they can be managed more easily and limit the effects on children. However, untreated mental illness can impact family members significantly.

More severe mental illnesses like bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, PTSD, and anger can have physical and mental impacts on children. Coping with a mental illness can be challenging as an adult, but children who have to deal with an unstable adult and navigate the complexity of an illness they know nothing about can feel impossible. Parental mental health is about more than just stress on the child, it can impact decision making an other adult responsibilities.

Even a parent with a minor mental illness can cause children a moderate amount of stress. Having anxiety about situations can lead your kids to feel anxious about them too.

What Studies Have Found About Childhood Impact

Researchers have looked at children with one parent impacted by mental illness, children with both, and children without mental illness in their families. While every family will be different and external factors can also play a role, those children with one or both parents having a mental illness had higher levels of distress.

The American Journal of Psychiatry followed children of depressed parents for 20 years. They found that these children were three times more likely to develop a mental illness or struggle with substance abuse.

PLOS One found that those who struggled with coping, rumination, and blame also were more likely to struggle with mental health problems. Children who didn’t blame themselves or others for their negative experiences had better outcomes.

Additional findings concluded that parental mental health may cause children to:

Develop a lack of coping skills
Be at a higher risk of developing behavioral issues
Face social deprivation
Develop abusive tendencies
Have trouble bonding with a mentally ill parent
Have trauma due to parental suicide attempts, hospitalization, institutionalization, overreactions, or volatile parents.

Parenting Styles And Their Impact On Mental Health

There are multiple types of parenting and your style can change as you and your children grow and learn. Looking at the common parenting styles can help us understand a little more about how they impact the future emotional and mental health of children.

Repeatedly protecting children or limiting their opportunities can cause them to develop high anxiety. In certain situations, some children may do the opposite and develop a sense of over-independence. Critical and dismissive parenting may increase the risk of depression. Judging children on their physical appearance, emotional regulation, and learning abilities can affect their development.

Of the four parenting styles, Authoritarian and Permissive have been linked to higher rates of anxiety and depression.

Uninvolved parents put the most risk on the mental health of children. These children could struggle with emotional regulation, anxiety, depression, or trauma.

Authoritative parents are the most likely to maintain a good relationship with their children. Because they set clear boundaries but are willing to communicate with their children, they help them develop emotional regulation.

Authoritative parenting is different from the authoritarian parenting style, which is a strict style of parenting where one or both parents place unrealistic and/or extreme expectations on children, often without communicating at all. This does not lead to healthy emotional development for the child.

When Are Children Most Vulnerable?

Child development research shows that from newborn to five years old is the most crucial period for brain development. Children can be vulnerable into their teenage years, but especially in their younger years, parental mental health challenges can impact them the most.

Especially the physical manifestations of mental health (withdrawal, emotional unavailability, lack of emotion, abuse, forgetfulness, or hospitalization) will change a child’s development. Even if you have a mental illness, managing your symptoms will limit the effects on young children.

Should Psychological Support Be Sought For Parents or Children?

Both parents and children should seek help to navigate the emotions of mental illness. Parents should seek to improve their symptoms and healthily manage their stress instead of allowing their children to be their therapists. Children can benefit from working with a therapist to help them understand new emotions and why their parents may struggle to be parents to them.

Therapy techniques can help children who may have developed a mental illness due to their parents. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, relaxation, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, talk therapy, art expression, and mindfulness can all help with mental illness.

Parenting With A Mental Illness

Taking preventative interventions will reduce the risk of children developing mental illnesses. Addressing risk factors like poverty, abusive tendencies, poor communication, or hostile behavior, is the best way to keep your child resilient.

How Parental Mental Health Impacts Children

Resilient children should understand that they are not responsible for their parent’s difficulties. Working on themselves and moving forward in their own experiences will reduce the risk of mental illness. Some other protective factors you can follow include:

Show love to your child
Help them develop good coping skills
Foster positive peer relationships
Seek family and friend support
Articulate your feelings and help children do the same
Do your best to limit financial or relationship stress from reaching your children
Foster positive self-esteem

Red Willow Counseling

Our practice offers therapy for all ages. No matter your mental illness or current state in life, our therapists are here for you. Using evidence-based practice and a high sense of compassion, you can better handle life’s challenges. Reach out to schedule an appointment in Salt Lake or Park City today.

Mental Health IOP Salt Lake City UT
Journaling for mental health

Journaling and writing down thoughts has been a practice since ancient civilizations. As mental health awareness becomes a more popular topic, journaling is utilized to help process emotions, track progress, and improve mood. Journaling for mental health has helped many patients navigate addiction, depression, anxiety, health concerns, and anger. This blog will share some tips on how to get into journaling and what it can do for you.

How To Start Journaling

Starting something new can be daunting. Learning a skill or being a beginner can make many people nervous, especially the fear of failure. When you begin journaling, you have complete freedom over the medium, how you use your journal, if you use prompts and much more. The biggest thing to remember when journaling is to remain authentic. Don’t sensor yourself, second guess your feelings, or worry about being perfect.

Set Aside Time

Many adults have a busy life and lots of responsibilities, so setting aside extra time can be a challenge. When it comes to journaling, when you rush you limit some of the benefits that can come from self-reflection. Carving out specific journaling time will help you stay consistent and let out feelings after a long day.

Create A Cozy Space

Another way to enjoy journaling is by creating a designated cozy space. It can be easier to open up when you feel comfortable and cozy in this space. A journaling space will give you a spot to get away from others or distractions as well.

Top Benefits Of Journaling For Mental Health

Improves Mood

Those who struggle with anxiety, depression, OCD, grief, or PTSD can benefit from journaling to help boost their mood. When you are having a particularly rough day, writing down your emotions, doodling, or making a gratitude list can help.

Writing about items like a highlight of a day, what made you feel happy, and how you took care of your mental health and mood can be refreshing and help you reflect on your progress.

Encourages Problem-Solving

Writing down challenges and multiple solutions can help you narrow down your choices. Journaling stimulates creative thinking and problem-solving skills that can be hard with a mental illness. You can view issues from a new perspective and brainstorm outcomes without consequences.

Track Progress And Growth

Looking back on past years or months can help people see how far they have come. Tracking emotions, symptoms, and thoughts is beneficial to track patterns for yourself and your therapist. Tracking can boost confidence in continuing mental health treatment when times get stressful.

Enhance Self Awareness

Consistent reflection on your thoughts will give you deeper insight into your behavior, mental patterns, triggers, and more. Increased self-awareness and reflection help to make us better people and have more emotionally appropriate responses.

Improve Gratitude

Gratitude journaling is a very popular method for many people. Writing down what you are thankful for instead of dwelling on the negative is a great way to improve your mental health. Shifting our perspective to look for the positives will increase overall happiness.

Combining Journaling With Therapy

Therapists may suggest that their patients start a journal because of the mood-boosting benefits and ability to process emotions healthily. By journaling, you are also able to relay challenges and emotions to a therapist with ease. Journaling can be a type of homework for therapy patients to try a new coping skill or problem-solving.

If you are struggling to communicate your feelings to a therapist, writing them down in a journal to give to your therapist can help. Even if you don’t feel comfortable writing, your journal doesn’t need to be perfect in order to be beneficial.

Therapy From Red Willow

Our offices have many therapists who specialize in a variety of issues to help you stay on top of your health. Red Willow Counseling and Recovery focuses on treating mental health, substance abuse, addiction, grief, trauma, and more. Our team is passionate about providing compassionate care for all in our community. With locations in Salt Lake City and Park City, we can provide the help that people need in a timely manner. Reach out to us to schedule a therapy appointment or check out our free resources.