Teen Treatment Programs

IOP stands for "Intensive Outpatient Program". IOP programs are most helpful for teens who have completed a higher level of care (such as residential treatment) and need to step down, and for teens who struggle with substance use or mental health concerns but want to limit interrupting school and work.

An assessment at Sandstone Care is simply a conversation. It includes one of our licensed therapists, the individual who is considering the program, and any of their family members that they feel supported by. The purpose of the assessment is to better understand the individual's unique needs and situation, as well as to determine how appropriate our program is for you and which level of care is medically and clinically necessary. The assessment process typically happens in person at one of our offices and lasts around an hour and a half to two hours.

Our clinical team is made up of a group of highly qualified individuals who are all dedicated to helping teens and young adults reclaim their lives. This team includes medical doctors, psychiatrists, licensed therapists, family therapists, and teachers.

Realizing that you need help is a big step, but coming to that conclusion may take some time. There are several signs that getting help is necessary. Some of these signs may include:

•  Trying, and failing, to quit using on your own
• Drug or alcohol use has become your first priority
• Having difficulty maintaining relationships with friends and family
• Abandoning school, work, or social activities in favor of substance use
• Engaging in risky behaviors or acts of self-harm
• Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when not using
• Consistently using drugs or alcohol regardless of negative consequences or problems caused by substance use

Teen Residential or inpatient treatment can be necessary in certain instances. We recommend completing a comprehensive clinical assessment with a licensed professional to help determine the appropriate level of care required.

The amount of treatment needed varies greatly and depends on one's individual needs. At Sandstone Care, we believe in treating our clients as a whole person instead of just treating their substance use disorder or mental health disorders in isolation. Our program is individualized to meet those specific needs and as such length of stay may vary. Typically the Teen IOP program lasts for 8 to 12 weeks.

Our teen intensive outpatient program offers up to 17 hours per week of clinical services including group therapy, individual therapy, family therapy sessions, academic and vocational support, and community activities. Here’s an illustrative schedule for reference. 

Yes! For teens who are in need of a higher level of care, we offer residential treatment and day treatment. 

• Teen Residential Treatment takes place at our Cascade Canyon location. Cascade Canyon is a treatment center designed specifically for teens 13-18 year old's who are struggling with substance use and co-occurring mental health disorders. Our goal is to help teens learn healthy ways to handle the daily challenges of life through an immersive experiential program. Nestled in the Rocky Mountains, we offer a safe and peaceful place where teens can learn more about themselves and begin their healing process. 

• Day Treatment, otherwise known as PHP or Partial Hospitalization Program, is a highly structured level of care, with over 35 hours of weekly programming. Teens ages 13-18 are able to stabilize and begin to understand their addiction and mental health struggles so that they can overcome them. Teens in PHP participate in one-on-one and group therapy, spend time at the gym, and have time for academic support as well as vocational planning.

Sandstone Care work with teens and young adults who are primarily struggling with substance use, but also treats co-occurring mental health disorders. Some of these disorders include depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic-stress, and many other mental health disorders.

Sandstone Care has certified teachers onsite at each of our locations to help support teens with schoolwork. That being said, we are not an accredited school that they can graduate from. However, we do provide structured academic support as part of our program. This includes helping individuals through tutoring, homework assistance, college application prep, grade recovery, and educational mentoring. Our Teen IOP program is an after-school program designed to accommodate client's school schedule to minimize disruptions.

The teens at Sandstone Care are bright and creative spirits who have been impacted by mental health issues. Typically, they are struggling with, or have experienced, anxiety, depression, trauma, and/or substance use. Teens with a history of violence, teens that are actively suicidal or psychotic, teens that have severe and persistent mental illness such as schizophrenia, or teens that exhibit behavioral issues that would disrupt the treatment milieu are not appropriate for Sandstone Care. Each teen is carefully screened by the admissions team and the Program Director, and if needed, the Executive Clinical Director and Medical Director for appropriateness.