Thousands of teens suffer from substance abuse and mental health issues in North Carolina. Because of that, they’re at risk of experiencing long-term physical and emotional damage. In order to give them the best opportunity for a bright future, families need to get them into treatment. When it comes to choosing between the many teen counseling centers in NC, knowing what to expect is essential. Since no two people face the same challenges or respond to counseling the same, treatment centers use various therapies. Actually, there are several schools of therapy. Therapists choose the best approach for each person based on his or her specific needs. Typically, they combine two main schools to deliver comprehensive mental health and addiction counseling care.
Schools of Therapy at Teen Counseling Centers in NC
The behavioral school of therapy directly addresses how people act. When it comes to substance abuse, therapists use these techniques more than any other. The goal is to help people understand how their behavior puts their lives at risk. Also, counselors aim to help people develop skills for avoiding high-risk situations.
The cognitive school of therapy focuses on how people think and their expectations and attitudes in regard to behavior. It’s the most common treatment for mental disorders. Often, therapists combine it with the behavioral school of therapy to enhance the effectiveness of treatment.
In fact, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is the most popular type of counseling at teen counseling centers in NC. It integrates the principles of both schools to address thoughts and behaviors. In addition, there are several types of CBT, some of which include:
- Dialectical behavior therapy
- Contingency management
- Rational emotive therapy
- Motivational interviewing
By combining the cognitive and behavioral schools of therapy, therapists can address a range of mental and substance use disorders. They can offer everything from drug counseling to anxiety and depression therapy to social media addiction counseling.
Treatment Settings for Addiction Counseling
Addiction counseling can take place in outpatient or residential treatment centers for teens North Carolina has. At an outpatient facility, people attend therapy on a schedule but continue to live at home. At a residential center, they live at the facility until they complete the program and are ready to return home. Usually, these facilities employ tutors to ensure that teens don’t fall behind in their education.
In either case, treatment centers can use behavioral and cognitive therapies in private or group sessions. During one-on-one sessions, therapists work with each person to address their specific problems. During group sessions, they work with multiple people to address a common or similar problem among them. Research indicates that both are equally important to the recovery process.
Medication-Assisted Treatment as a Supplement
Many teen counseling centers in NC supplement therapy with medication-assisted treatment. Whether people suffer from substance use or mental disorders, symptoms can get in the way of therapy. In order to improve the outcome, therapists administer medications that keep the symptoms at bay. They may stop using medications as the treatment progresses.
Choose a North Carolina Treatment Center Today
Don’t let a substance use or mental disorder dampen your teen’s future. Research teen counseling centers in NC to find one that can meet your teen’s needs.
