As the country gradually emerges from one of the most challenging years in modern history, the extent of the mental health repercussions remains to be seen. What we do know is that more young people than ever before are struggling—and the majority of them aren’t getting the help they need. According to Mental Health America’s 2022 rankings, 60 percent of youth with major depression don’t receive any mental healthcare at all. Even among the states with the best youth treatment statistics, one-third of young people are still not receiving mental health services.
Boosted exponentially by the pandemic, online therapy is helping to meet this need, providing a convenient and accessible way for teens and young adults to receive depression, anxiety, and grief counseling. For many of these clients, a weekly telepsych session—with a local therapist or one from an online service such as Better Help or Talkspace—offers the optimal level of support, giving them the skills and understanding to address mental health challenges and work toward greater flourishing.
But for some young people, online therapy isn’t enough. As important as telepsych is in providing greater access to care, it is not sufficient when clients are suffering with acute diagnoses. Moreover, not all adolescents respond well to online therapy vs. in-person treatment.
If a client is getting worse rather than better, has experienced recent trauma, or is recovering from or at risk of a mental health crisis, in-person care may be necessary. Moreover, even in-person therapy on a weekly basis may not be sufficient. In these cases, an outpatient or residential level of care can be most effective in creating positive change and avoiding a critical situation.
10 Signs That a Client Needs a Higher Level of Care
There a number of important signs therapists should watch for indicating a client needs a higher level of care. Knowing which questions to ask and how to read in between the lines can provide much-needed information. The assessment process should also include industry-approved tools measuring clients’ levels of depression, anxiety, self-harm, disordered eating, and suicidal ideation.
The top 10 signs that additional support is needed include:
- A breakdown in school performance
- Lack of interest activities and friends they previously enjoyed
- Family discord
- Difficulty sleeping
- Trouble with law enforcement
- Increased use of drugs or alcohol
- Disordered eating patterns
- Anger issues
- Talking about feeling hopeless or suicidal
- Withdrawal from everyday interactions.
As important as telepsych is in providing greater access to care, it is not sufficient when clients are suffering with acute diagnoses or in crisis.
The Benefits of In-Person Treatment
Particularly for adolescents—who tend to build trust and connection through action and activity as much as conversation—there are significant advantages to in-person care. For one, therapy doesn’t have to happen while sitting in an office—it can be on a surfboard, in a yoga class, on a hike, or during an impromptu chat. At both Newport Academy, our teen treatment program, and Newport Institute for young adults, a variety of experiential modalities is included in each client’s tailored treatment plan.
Some of the most powerful interactions that a client may have in residential treatment may occur outside of the therapist’s office. Experiential therapies such as equine, art, and yoga can be extremely supportive and enlightening. And therapists can cover more ground in a short amount of time, because they see clients every day—not only during individual therapy sessions but also in group sessions, at lunch, during Adventure Therapy. Experts say that two or three months’ time in residential treatment is equivalent to a year’s worth of weekly 50-minute sessions.
The peer community developed within the treatment milieu—whether residential or outpatient—is also enormously impactful in enhancing well-being and resilience. Having the support of peers who are struggling with similar feelings can normalize a teen or young adult’s experience, providing a sense of community that many young people have never had. It’s not uncommon for these strong connections to translate into long-standing friendships between clients.
Residential treatment also connects clients, along with their parents and siblings, to an alumni network of support groups, creating access to a like-minded community. At Newport, clients and staff stay in touch with biannual alumni events that typically include shared meals, games, and time to reconnect.
“Teletherapy is no doubt an excellent response for emergencies such as the COVID-19 pandemic. It has also served in the efforts of increasing access to psychotherapy in places with limitations to local mental health resources. Nevertheless it should not always replace the face-to-face therapeutic encounter. Using teletherapy beyond these contexts could pose the risk of eliminating the social activity and physical, embodied closeness that often facilitates healing.”
—Journal of Humanistic Psychology
How Newport Prioritizes Our Relationships with Referring Professionals
Our clinical outreach team works hand in hand with referring professionals to ensure a seamless admissions process for teens and young adults who need a higher level of care. We often speak one-on-one with professionals about specific program details, so they can get to know Newport and our approach. Clients’ treatment teams remain in contact with referring professionals throughout treatment and at discharge to ensure appropriate continuity of care.
Newport’s experts can also provide support for referring professionals who are meeting parent resistance when they recommend a higher level of care. Parents often need to be reassured that there is no shame in needing more support than what they can give their child at home. In fact, the time apart can actually support the process of rebuilding family harmony. Because parents and children can take physical space from each other after a difficult family therapy session, they are often able to be more open and honest in the conversation. Afterward, they have the opportunity to separately process their experience before coming together again.
Understanding the many benefits of in-person care can help parents embrace the decision to move their teen to a higher level of care, or to support their young adult in seeking more intensive treatment. Families, referring professionals, and treatment providers must work together to ensure that young people find sustainable healing and move forward into a fulfilling life.