Information Archives - Page 5 of 6

May 7, 2023

Welcome to Alleva!

You've signed on. You're part of the team. Now what?

It's time to get to know us better, and lucky for you, we're an open book. (Read more about us here.)

You can rely on Alleva for all your technological needs. We're proud of what we've built to support the people on the front lines of behavioral health. When charting is quick and easy, you can focus your time and effort on providing the best possible care. With better tools for compliance and reporting, you can feel confident in your operation's growth and success.

We're proud to offer the latest and greatest technology to make your life easier and help your company to thrive!

Here are some key features you'll want to get to know right away:

Say Hello to Tasks
- "Tasks" is our compliance driver. It's an automated list that displays your To-Dos so you know where to dive in.
- Learn more about your dashboard's “My Tasks” widget here.
Say Hello to Insights
- Make your EMR data work for you. You can track your program’s progress and treatment efficacy with advanced, real-time data. Visual graphs and easy reporting features will help you make better business decisions.
- Learn how to see the metrics you care about here.
Say Hello to our Client/Family Portal
- Discover seamless care coordination from anywhere.
- Clients and their loved ones can send secure messages, view calendars, join telehealth sessions, sign consents, and more!
- Send mass announcements to notify alums of upcoming events and keep family members in the loop.
Say Hello to the Alleva Connect App
- Increase engagement with your clients and maintain insight into their well-being.
- Download the Connect App for your mobile device: Android or iPhone.
Say Hello to Telehealth
- You can access built-in, HIPAA-compliant telehealth from the Scheduler with one click.
- All invited parties will be automatically notified of meeting times and provided links to join.

Fun Fact: A study found that if clients get a text message with a link to the event fifteen minutes before it starts, they're 50% more likely to attend. Alleva offers a built-in text reminder feature that automatically pings invitees one day before, one hour prior, and fifteen minutes before the event.

Say Hello to Medications
- Our pharmacy-integrated medication management tool saves time and keeps track of inventory to optimize your workflows.

But wait—there's more! Learn all the ins and outs of our platform at your convenience with Alleva University. You'll have 24/7 access to instructional videos and step-by-step instructions on key topics and features. You can even get Alleva certified.

Thanks again for joining the Alleva team. We're excited to get to know you better, too!

September 16, 2022

Inside Outdoor Wilderness Therapy

Many people have been turning towards Outdoor Wilderness Therapy programs in recent years. They prove an effective approach to treatment and offer a unique experience for many seeking outside-the-box treatment plans. But how does this work, and what can a participant expect?

“Go outside”

A phrase parents and guardians may be sick of saying at this point. But for those whose adolescents and young adults struggle with mental health, behavioral health, and substance abuse, this phrase takes on a new meaning. Outdoor Wilderness Therapy offers prolonged care through a group setting, ensuring that loved ones are safe and in good hands while also experiencing the wilderness and preserving a sense of adventure.

Researchers are working to provide clinical evidence of the effectiveness of outdoor and adventure therapy, and the results are promising. In a study commissioned by Redcliff Ascent, Dr. Steven Aldana cited that “91.4% experienced clinically significant improvement.” This study found the rate of recovery for Outdoor Wilderness Therapy programs to be twice that of other treatment methods.

This outdoor approach has been greatly effective, but it is important to know what this type of treatment really is. Wilderness Therapy is more than just the stereotypical campfire songs and s’mores. So, how are Wilderness therapies conducted?

Models

Two general models characterize the approaches to Wilderness Therapy- Contained and Continuous Flow. The contained flow model involves the same group of clients and guides living with and working together for up to three weeks during wilderness expeditions. In this model, the staff includes trained therapists and guides paired with a group of clients based on an assessment of the clients’ needs, concerns, and diagnoses.

On the other hand, the continuous flow model focuses on a rotation of therapy clients and staff members revolving around the readiness for discharge based on the therapeutic progress of clients. This method is similar to groups in psychiatric settings wherein the group continues to meet on a consistent basis, while participants in the group change over time as they make progress. The time frame for continuous flow groups may depend on the program, but typically lasts up to eight weeks. To promote safe care practices for staff, the continuous care model uses a rotation schedule of a number of days or weeks on and days or weeks off.

Licensed therapists work with clients and staff in both contained and continuous flow models. Sessions are conducted either on-site (nomadically) or at “base camps” depending on how expeditions are conducted. Both contained and continuous flow models rely on patients’ interactions with each other and the wilderness to support and enhance their self-esteem, emotional regulation, positive mindsets, and communication skills.

Family Follow Through

A potentially overlooked portion of Wilderness Therapy is the necessary involvement of family or caregivers. While clients address their personal presenting concerns, these concerns often have roots in family relationships. In order for clients to make lasting progress, their loved ones must learn to make home a place to support the lasting care of the client through therapeutic intervention.

Often, clients cannot maintain positive changes unless their support system helps reinforce the changes made. This is especially true for the adolescent and young adult demographic who primarily frequent Wilderness Therapy.

Difficulties

While evidence grows in support of Wilderness Therapy, challenges persist with funding, communication, and documentation in this outdoor setting.

As with any therapeutic approach, funding may present a concern for practitioners, clients, families, and funding agencies. Families may find these programs quite difficult to afford if they are not covered by traditional insurance plans. Grants and scholarships may exist for these programs. However, acceptance for such funding options may be competitive.

In addition, a common concern for therapy is the use of remote treatment teams to provide services. Wilderness Therapy presents the unique challenge of the treatment team being scattered throughout wilderness settings and having to provide for both the treatment and physical needs of patients. Consequently, therapists and expedition staff must stay in frequent communication about the strategies used in sessions and on the expeditions.

Finally, the documentation of accurate records of client progress help justify the effectiveness of Wilderness Therapy. Documentation is critical because it helps assure that the methods of treatment on these expeditions are empirically based and effective.

The Solution

Although it may not seem so, advanced technology platforms can eliminate all of these concerns. Wilderness programs that have partnered with an EMR platform, such as Alleva, find it easier to keep track of clients, write and upload notes, engage with the team via the communication log, and access digital copies of all important documents.

Through our commitment to being the friendliest EMR on the market, Alleva is changing the Wilderness Therapy game. Our versatility, state of the art cloud technology, and exceptional customer service make us the top choice for care providers and behavioral health facilities, no matter where they are located. Sleep soundly knowing that with Alleva on your team, you can get back to doing what you do best. Reach out today, and request a free demo!

I WANT A DEMO

April 5, 2022

How to Choose Addiction Treatment EMR Software

While new technology or procedure changes in the workplace can be intimidating, switching from paper records to electronic health records is essential in today's behavioral health market. Many clinicians resist change, even if it promises to make the day-to-day feel easier. Many people think, “If it’s not broke, don’t fix it,” when asked to update their charting procedures. But if time is wasted trying to decipher handwriting or figuring out which antiquated symbol to click to view the most recent treatment plan, then an EMR will definitely simplify the process and increase efficiency.

With the right software system, one that is intuitive and handles tasks seamlessly, productivity improves and clinicians discover that they have more time to do what matters most--caring for those they serve.

In the behavioral health space, there are a few competing software programs. It is important to make sure that the time and effort spent adopting a new system is worthwhile. When looking for the EMR that best fits your addiction recovery facility, pay attention to how the system will help you achieve your clinic's goals and what kind of support is in place to see the implementation through.

What is EMR software?

EMR is Electronic Medical Records, sometimes referred to as EHR or Electronic Health Records. It is a major decision to choose what EMR to use and there are many factors to consider: cost, functionality, training, support, and compliance. The short-term time commitment cost of learning a new system is significantly outweighed by the benefits experienced by counselors able to document and track their clients' history more easily and efficiently.

Choose a system that helps to track patient progress and challenges, and updates other team members on patient engagement, seamlessly. Consider the following criteria to determine if the addiction treatment EMR software is right for your facility:

Is it customizable?

It is important to use software that is designed specifically for your industry. Behavioral health treatment centers need an EMR that is secure, makes documentation easy and helps with reporting and compliance. With a task-based system, the clinician is less likely to skip an essential step in the record-keeping process.

Is it collaborative?

Adopting a new EMR is generally done with the purpose of streamlining processes that are already present. Letting staff know that this is intended to be less work and save time is imperative. Giving the people who work with the system the most a say in what they need from an EMR can also allow this to feel like a collective decision. When a system is secure and cloud-based, information can be shared easily. Telehealth features facilitate communication and should be a requirement.

Is it easy to use?

Upgrading to a user-friendly EMR can take some of the paperwork burdens off of therapists. Clinicians who spend exorbitant amounts of time documenting or fighting with old systems are more likely to feel stressed at work. The longer this continues, the more likely it is that clinicians will burn out. Here are some ways that an EMR can alleviate this struggle and help therapists do more of what they love to do.

Spend Less Time Charting - Being able to type notes quickly and have a system that flows smoothly just saves time. A thoughtful setup simplifies processes.
Find Information Easily - When you need to dig around an old system or binder, it can take forever to find a specific record. With a system built to organize client information logically, counselors spend more time reading the actual data instead of clicking around.
Keep Track of Progress- Do screening assessments electronically and see how scores change over time. It makes treatment planning and assessing progress and goals so much easier to understand.

EMR Made for Therapists by Therapists

As a clinician, your needs are a priority. When time is wasted on an incompatible EMR, paper charts, or separate excel sheets to track client information, then there is a risk of burnout, the quality of treatment suffers, and a clinic's ability to meet its goals is at risk.

When an EMR is designed specifically for therapists and not just as an afterthought or an add-on option, our needs are truly addressed. An EMR platform that offers everything in one place makes the most sense.

Alleva's mission is to bring technology to therapists that actually improve their quality of work and takes the stress out of the work. Alleva works to make a system that is intuitive to your personal needs. If you are interested in a hassle-free demo or to learn more, reach out today.

February 14, 2022

Are Electronic Medical Records Safe and Confidential?

Although we may fear the opposite, the truth is that Electronic Medical Records, or EMR platforms, are safe and confidential.

January 4, 2022

Industry Outlook for 2022

The behavioral health market continues to face challenges, such as rising health care costs, pandemic socio-economic implications, and labor force attrition. But there is light at the end of the tunnel. Virtual care provides access to millions of people in need, and facilities with the right technological support are able to offer more equity, better quality, and increased value to their recovery programs.

Behavioral Health Market Growth

The critical importance of behavioral health is often downplayed because treatment is not as straightforward as other physical health conditions for which we have medicinal treatments. Treating depression or substance abuse requires psychological intervention, whereas diabetes does not. This is why the industry has historically faced greater challenges in funding, research, and authorization.

Over the past couple of years, however, we’ve seen a drastic increase in awareness as the need for intervention has grown. The ongoing plight of the pandemic and emerging variants of COVID-19 continue to cause massive challenges for treatment centers. Increased stress levels, the trauma of illness and isolation, economic uncertainty, and greater instability in people’s lives have all contributed to the overdose crisis we face. The essential care provided by treatment centers for those seeking addiction recovery is more critical than ever.

The rise in public acceptance of mental health treatment is making behavioral health care more accessible, thus increasing the market size. Experts estimate the behavioral health market will be worth approximately $240 billion by 2026. This fact attracts many operators to the space, but only those who adapt amid all the current challenges will make a real difference, providing quality care and support to those they serve.

Trends in Behavioral Health

While technology enables care providers to reach more people virtually, those integrating in-person care with remote support are having the most successful outcomes. In a post-pandemic future, the need to support workforce health, wellbeing, and safety will be a priority. Online resources, remote access, cloud-based documentation, and digital therapy, can bridge access gaps.

One of the best digital tools to help behavioral health management is an industry-specific electronic medical record (EMR) system. EMRs help to improve communication between patients and healthcare providers, increasing the efficacy and productivity of treatment centers. Alleva’s EMR is user-friendly and state of the art. With telehealth options through video conferencing, communication and scheduling are effortless. The Alleva EMR offers key features for compliance and documentation. Providers using efficient tools–such as medication management and reporting for business intelligence, producing data in easy-to-read formats–will discover they have more time available to spend with the people in their care.

The Alleva App also increases productivity by helping centers engage with clients, update assignments, send reminders and telehealth invites, even daily questionnaires, directly to clients’ phones. At a time when people are social distancing, this feature creates connection and improves communication.

Maximize Productivity in 2022

The behavioral health industry is growing thanks to an increased acceptance of mental health treatment. Digital EMR solutions like Alleva are perfectly poised to improve the industry for both patients and clinicians. Alleva is here to help behavioral health facilities reach all of their performance goals in 2022.

If you’d like to learn more, schedule a demo for Alleva and see how we help the helpers.

December 8, 2021

3 Tips to Finding Your Recovery Identity

Recovery can be a long road to walk, especially if you do it alone. Unfortunately, social isolation is a common characteristic of addiction, but it doesn’t have to be a part of recovery. In a recent study published in the Journal of Applied Social Psychology, researchers found that connections with social groups help in the transition away from addiction and in creating a new social identity in recovery, or a recovery identity. These tips can be helpful for treatment planners, family and friends, and especially for those in recovery:

Recovery is more than just quitting.

An important step in addiction recovery is ceasing to abuse the substance or behavior. But this is rarely enough to ensure improvement and long-term recovery. The study found that “social relationships have been shown to have significant impacts upon health through behavioral, psychological, and physiological pathways.”

An addiction is not an identity.

It can be difficult to know who you are when it can often feel like your addiction defines you. Being a part of a group can help you find a new identity. The 12-step program can help you identify as a “recovering addict” and this has been shown to increase feelings of belonging and support. This can help you connect to others who are also recovering.

You are not just a “recovering addict”.

While this may be an important identity for you, being a member of multiple groups can lead to a healthy and balanced social identity, an identity that will take you beyond recovery.

The results of the study “also underscore the importance of social network diversity in recovery, indicating that it is important to foster connections with a range of groups beyond those solely associated with recovery.” Maintain connections with family and friends. Go to support groups. Join a softball team. Start a book club. Get involved and find your recovery identity.

Alleva is an EMR that puts people first. As part of the addiction recovery social circle, we are committed to connecting treatment centers and patients and helping them stay connected by providing the right tools for long-term recovery. Learn more about how we support behavioral health facilities with a demo of our products.

May 4, 2021

The Future of the Behavioral Health Industry

The behavioral health industry is growing thanks to an increased acceptance of mental health treatment. Digital solutions like EMRs are perfectly poised to improve the industry both for patients and clinicians. Alleva is ready to help behavioral health facilities in 2021.

Behavioral Health Market Growth

Behavioral health doesn’t always get the attention it deserves because it focuses on mental health and wellbeing rather than physical health conditions for which we have medicinal treatments. It’s not as simple to treat depression or substance abuse because it requires psychological intervention, whereas heart disease doesn’t. This distinction has made all the conditions surrounding behavioral health—funding, research, authorization—different.

The problem with this distinction is that behavioral health conditions are often tied to physical health conditions. We are learning that physical health conditions affect a person’s mental health and well-being, and a person’s mental health can lead them to develop physical health conditions. This is why addressing behavioral health is incredibly important, and why providing quality support for treatment centers can improve our society’s well-being.

Public awareness and acceptance of mental health treatment make behavioral health more accessible, thus increasing the market size. Experts estimate the behavioral health market will be worth around $240 billion by 2026. Due to the amount of money being poured into the industry, many companies will come and go. Only the ones that provide quality care and support will stay relevant.

Improving Behavioral Health Outcomes

But not everything is about money. Because we are talking about behavioral health, the most important aspect of this growth is: how will this affect patients and clinicians?

There are specific goals for the behavioral health industry that are directly tied to improving the lives of their patients and making clinicians’ work easier. One of the ways in which the industry is working to make mental health more accessible is through the increased attention toward digital tools and solutions. During the pandemic, a lot of people experienced mental health symptoms that needed immediate attention, but social distancing guidelines prevented them from addressing those concerns by going to a treatment center. Telehealth and other digital tools were imperative during this time of need and will continue to grow as people realize the power these digital solutions have to help treat behavioral health concerns.

One of the best digital tools to help behavioral health management is electronic medical records (EMR). EMRs help improve communication between patients and healthcare providers, increasing the efficacy and productivity of treatment centers. Alleva’s EMR even includes telehealth options through video conferencing, making communication and scheduling even more effortless. At the end of the day, behavioral health management software like EMR helps treatment centers reduce costs related to substance abuse and other behavioral health concerns.

Challenges for Clinicians

An important part of improving mental health outcomes and increasing the effectiveness of behavioral health is by helping clinicians. The industry can help clinicians by educating them on ways to better measure behavioral health outcomes. Once clinicians understand what they are measuring and how they should define measurement-based care, they’ll be much more prepared to see what that would look like at the level of their treatment center but also at the individual level.

We must also keep in mind that clinicians are also prone to suffer from distress, especially during a pandemic where many people are in a desperate search for care and treatment. Clinicians are facing more patients, more meetings, more forms. And they’ve seen the struggle first-hand, some of them working from home, dealing with family members who may have been infected with COVID-19, and other stressors that come from balancing work and home life. As the behavioral health market grows, we must do our best to help clinicians with their increased workload.

One simple solution to help clinicians is to help establish digital tools like EMR in behavioral health facilities. EMRs help reduce paperwork and organize data. Clinicians can easily review information without having to go through mountains of paperwork. EMRs also make scheduling easier, and with virtual appointments, clinicians can see more patients, give them better quality care, and not feel the burnout that comes from juggling many patients in person. Clinicians can easily communicate with patients and share their insights to help keep their patients healthy while avoiding the distress of mental health work during the pandemic.

Alleva is Ready for 2021

As the behavioral health industry grows during the next few years, digital solutions will be necessary to make the workload manageable. Our friendly EMR helps with scheduling, charts, medication management, and gives you data in easy-to-read formats. And if you ever need to contact a patient, our video conferencing feature lets you hold appointments virtually.

2021 will be a busy year for behavioral health providers. Let us make it easier.

If you’d like to learn more, schedule a demo for Alleva and see how we help the helpers.

March 3, 2021

How EMRs Improve Client Care

Electronic medical records, or EMRs, can help you transform your practice from a stagnant business into a fast-paced and efficient facility without sacrificing care. Through the elimination of paperwork, you’ll say goodbye to mistakes and busy work and say hello to optimization and high-quality care.

January 15, 2021

Experiential Therapy for Addiction Recovery

As self-help guru and motivational speaker Tony Robbins says, "Emotion is created by motion." That is why experiential therapy is an essential part of the treatment protocol embraced by addiction recovery programs. These hands-on, engaging activities offer those in treatment the experience of being in nature, expressing themselves through art, and interacting with others.

These models differ significantly from the images we often associate with therapy: the Freudian picture of a client on a couch with a practitioner diligently scribbling notes and offering an occasional nod. Talk therapy, while beneficial, is only one part of the mental health services picture. Experiential therapies use “expressive tools” and techniques such as role-playing, guided imagery, and animal care to process presenting concerns while building internal resources to process trauma.

Experiential therapy is not just one form of therapeutic intervention but an array of experiences, including emotional processing, interactions with others, creativity, and reflections of events. In addition to traditional treatments, programs that feature art therapy, equine therapy, and movement therapies may best equip clients for recovery and personal growth.

Art Therapy

As an expression of our creativity, art takes place in many forms. Similarly, the possibilities within the world of art therapy feel just as endless.

For some, the thought of talking about themselves is daunting—they have no idea where to begin. Because of difficult life circumstances, painful trauma, and upsetting memories, the process of traditional talk therapy may impede progress. Through art therapy, clinicians have the unique ability to harness the power of personal expression for healing and growth.

During treatment, art therapists present clients with various art forms to express their emotions and experiences through nonverbal means. Clients and therapists then work together to understand the potential meanings and the many layers of each client’s art, both hidden and overt. While the art itself can be subjective, art therapists use objective empirical techniques to interpret, ensuring that the client’s welfare and healing continue to be the highest priority in treatment.

Art therapy is available as a mode of expression and healing tailored to the client’s needs and used in conjunction with other services when necessary. Art therapy techniques' versatility makes them an excellent option for clients who best communicate through expressive means.

Equine Therapy

As an alternative to written or drawn expressive therapies, animal-assisted therapies provide the opportunity to create relationships and nurturing through the care of animals. Equine therapy is one type of the many animal-assisted treatments available.

In treatment with equine therapy, therapists use the bond between human and beast to explore clients’ presenting concerns while challenging their personal growth. Equine therapists have the unique capacity to understand and tune in to both the client and the horse. Therapists then use this understanding to help clients learn how to trust and nurture their relationship with the horse. This trust and nurturance challenge the client to confront their fears and acknowledge their needs for future growth.

Talk or group therapy can be paired with equine therapy's experiential nature to allow clients to process the changes they make in the course of treatment. Attempting to impose your will on an animal 2-3 times your size is a beautiful metaphor for the control we try to assert over our future. Learning to face your pride, step out of your realm of comfort, and do something new can all be incredible growth experiences.

For individuals who feel a barrier to speaking out their hurt, feelings of shame or isolation, or those who have difficulty discussing their failings, equine therapy presents the opportunity to use the horse's support and connection to express their needs. For those who have the chance to interact and connect with a horse in this way, it can be incredibly powerful and healing.

Movement Therapy

Movement therapy may be considered a form of art therapy. However, in this context, it warrants its own definition. Movement therapies harness the connection between the body and mind to foster emotional and physical health. Dance, yoga, and martial arts are a few of the ways that movement can be incorporated into the treatment of emotional and physical concerns. Practitioners of movement therapies facilitate clients’ expression in both challenging and enlightening ways. True to the tenants of dance, “interconnection” and “integration” are integral to this process of expression.

During treatment, practitioners pair clients with movement forms meant to foster the “integration” of the emotional and physical self. In the sense that many problematic symptoms can present somatically, so too healing takes place on the somatic level.

Movement therapists seek to provide environments where clients are safe enough to embrace the challenge of telling their stories through movement. While expression occurs, practitioners also teach clients to bring peace to mind through the brain-body connection. This personal, peaceful awareness is introduced through the practice of mindful movement and meditation.

Experiential therapies seek to embrace the uniqueness of the human spirit and pair it with the beauty of mental, emotional, and physical wellness. Practitioners and clients alike may find that they gravitate towards experiential therapies when seeking to express and facilitate growth through experiences versus traditional talk therapies.

Some recovering addicts feel uncomfortable working through their problems in a traditional therapy setting. Experiential therapy takes addiction treatment into the art studio, the outdoors, and more.

Whether you run a traditional practice and seek new ways to help get your clients up off the couch, or you run a successful therapeutic yoga studio or wilderness therapy program, Alleva has solutions for you. Keeping track of clients and tasks and using our scheduling platform has never been easier. With the friendliest EMR around, your to-do list just got a whole lot easier.

I WANT A DEMO

January 7, 2021

Challenges in Adolescent Treatment

Challenges to mental health treatment have existed across the board throughout age groups, populations, and socioeconomic classes, but the COVID-19 pandemic has brought many of these issues to the surface. Although some face greater challenges than others, mental health remains a difficult subject for many to broach. Receiving therapy can even be harder for those teens in survival mode, coping with tremendous pressures as they transition into adulthood.

What many people don't realize is that mental health disorders begin to develop during adolescence. About 75 percent of adults with a mental health disorder experienced an onset of symptoms before the age of 24. Additionally, suicide is the third leading cause of death among those aged 10-24 years old. For this reason, the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of mental health disorders in young people are more important than ever.

Treatment Challenges

Some of the challenges for this vulnerable group involve a lack of access to services; others are related to the stigma associated with receiving treatment for mental health diagnosis. Some specific challenges include:

Financial concerns
Confidentiality
The stigma associated with seeking mental health treatment

Need for trained adolescent treatment professionals

Lack of access to a clinician is a big problem. There are not enough professionals in the field who are trained to treat mental health disorders. There are fewer who specialize in adolescents. Many schools must share mental health professionals with other schools in their district. This means that therapists are unavailable to focus on a set caseload or provide continuity of care to struggling teenagers. An adolescent having to speak to several different counselors, on an irregular schedule, is an immense obstacle.

Need for greater resources

Lack of access may also be due to finances. Some insurance companies limit the amount of inpatient and outpatient treatment that adolescents can have. This leaves the client, or their family, responsible to pay for services privately. For a group aged 10-24, or a family on a tight budget, this presents a huge challenge. Many young people in our country lack health insurance or reliable transportation, and may even face homelessness. Circumstances like these make services nearly impossible to provide effectively.

Need for greater clarity on ethical and legal matters

In adolescent treatment, there remains the age-old problem of lack of confidentiality in treatment for adolescents. This means that when a minor is involved in treatment, there are countless legal and ethical ramifications, especially with confidentiality. Some states may not allow a minor to explicitly consent to their own outpatient medical treatment. If an adolescent is not able to confide in a parent or guardian, this can create a challenge. Many teens who need treatment for depression or suicidal ideations, do not feel comfortable talking about it with their parents.

Other challenges arise if the adolescent confides in their therapist something of a serious nature, and there is debate regarding whether to inform the parent or guardian. Caregivers not only need to decide what information to share but also how to make sure that a child's family remains updated and informed about their progress, particularly those in residential treatment facilities.

Need to balance treatment for the adolescent and the family

While we may consider the adolescent to be the identified patient, we cannot forget about the role that the entire family plays in the adolescent’s therapy trajectory. When the adolescent functions better, the family functions better and vice versa. Communication processes, attachment styles, and parenting styles all have an impact on the adolescent’s functioning. It is vital to have families work on their dysfunctional patterns in order to truly impact the adolescent’s maladaptive thoughts or behaviors.

There are several forms of family therapy, and they are typically used in conjunction to provide the best treatment.

Psychodynamic -- highlighting the idea that no behavior is random due to our inner conscious and its processes.
Structural Family Therapy -- focusing on the overall structure of the family.
Strategic Family Therapy -- remaining solution-focused to strategize and solve problems.
Cognitive-Behavioral Family Therapy -- focusing on the idea that no behavior is random due to external social forces.

Although we know that family therapy is an enormous factor in the mental health of adolescents, we cannot guarantee that the family is able or willing to take part in therapy. Challenges to families receiving therapy include time constraints, cost, and biases toward receiving treatment. It is also important to consider that if the adolescent is showing maladaptive behaviors and the family believes the adolescent may need treatment, the family may need a lot of psychoeducation before agreeing to complete sessions as a family.

The stigma around mental health

Stigma is a word that we have heard much about, as the importance of mental health has taken over our morning TV programs, social media, and the news. What this generally refers to is the idea that many people avoid seeking treatment for fear that others may see them as weak or unable to solve their own problems. In our individualistic culture, the idea of solving one’s own problems is seen as equivalent to strength, thus therapy is not always considered a valuable resource.

However, in recent years in the younger community, it appears that this stigma is lessening, as we may now consider it acceptable to have a therapist. That being said, there still exists a role discrepancy because many people view having a therapist as a status symbol.

Overall, it is important to remember that challenges facing adolescents in terms of treatment come from both internal and external forces. It is the lack of appropriate resources, and the feelings of shame that may come along with the need for professional help. Compounding the problem is the current state of our healthcare system and the coronavirus restrictions in place. Child and adolescent treatment providers must ensure continuity of care during all phases of the pandemic. We can work together to remove the stigma associated with getting help and mitigate these treatment challenges so that our young people get the mental and emotional support they need.

Whether you work with adolescents in an outpatient or residential treatment environment, or are considering adding an adolescent wing to your inpatient treatment program, Alleva has solutions for you. Keeping track of clients and tasks, staying in touch with family members, and using our scheduling platform has never been easier. With the friendliest EMR around, your to-do list just got a whole lot easier.

I WANT A DEMO

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Welcome to Alleva!

How to Choose Addiction Treatment EMR Software