Teen Treatment Programs Helping Teens Struggling with Attachment Issues

Treatment Center Helping Teenagers With Attachment Issues

How Does Solstice East Help Teens with Attachment Issues?

Solstice East is a groundbreaking residential treatment facility that helps teenagers with attachment issues. Our approaches to treatment are vast, and we are able to provide teenagers with a mind and body building experience.

Because attachment issues in teenagers are delicate, and can come from a background of trauma, we make sure to first build trust and a relationship with our patients. Our staff is trained in: EMDR, cognitive behavioral therapy, somatic experiencing, equine assisted psychotherapy, family therapy, group therapy, real-life situations, academic teachings, nutrition classes, and physical fitness. A healthy mind coincides with a healthy body, that’s why at Solstice East we focus on healing the entire package of mind and body in teenagers with attachment issues.

At Solstice East, we believe one of the main aspects that sets us apart from other residential programs for troubled youth is the focus on the whole person and not just the problem behavior. Many years of experience have taught us that problematic behaviors are signs of much deeper core issues that need to be addressed properly, so that each girl can build a strong foundation from the basics.

What are the Causes of Teenage Attachment Issues?

Attachment issues in teenagers tend to be the direct consequence of childhood trauma. Attachment disorders are the result of negative experiences in this early relationship. If young children feel repeatedly abandoned, isolated, powerless, or uncared for- for whatever reason- they will learn that they cannot depend on others and the world is a dangerous and frightening place.

A variety of negative parenting and familiar factors can undermine a child’s sense of security, which, in turn, can negatively influence attachment formation.

Teenagers suffering from attachment issues tend to have difficulty connecting to others and managing their own emotions. This results in a lack of trust and self-worth.

Attachment issues go in conjunction with other disorders such as: trauma, lack of self-esteem, anxiety, and depression.

Human beings are biologically driven to pursue relationships that create security. As children get older and grow into adolescence, it is natural for parents to detach and allow the teenager space to figure things out on their own.

However, some teenagers do not have the “cognitive and social abilities” for their parents to separate. As events become harder and more stressful, a teenager may look to their parents for added support. If that support is not present, then the teenager may feel issues with abandonment and develop insecure attachments in negative places.

Why Should Parents Choose Residential Programming For Attachment Issues in Teens?

Sending a child away to a residential program can have powerful benefits for the child and the family. 

Sending your child away from home to receive treatment:

• Ensures the immediate safety of the child and family at home.
• Removes the immediacy of communication- “knee jerk” responses to anger or frustration are eliminated while the child can learn new, healthy ways to deal with their emotions.
• Removes child’s current stressors, peer group, and temptations.
• Serves as a total reset for the family.  Communication can resume slowly.
• Ensures the child is focused on the therapy and peer group of the facility, not in attempts to get their friends to “rescue” them from local treatment.
• Improves accuracy of assessment outpatient treatment relies on the child accurately recounting events, feelings, and behaviors sometimes days after, whereas at inpatient program assessment is in real-time.
• Ensures the confidentiality of the child.  At a local facility, the child will likely encounter peers or even form relationships with individuals that could potentially continue after treatment.

Treatments for Teenage Attachment Issues

At Solstice East, we believe treatment begins with the development of healthy relationships. Teenagers suffering from attachment issues will first learn how to build relationships within their families, other members of our program, and also within themselves. Once trust has been established, various therapeutic options are available to help treat teens with attachment issues. 

Our unique perspective on treatment focuses on a holistic and natural approach. In addition to therapy, we also build up a strong academic component. Solstice East believes in teaching tools and real-world experiences, this way the teenager is able to return to society with a set of skills.

Our concept is that a healthy mind and body go hand-in-hand. We focus on providing balanced nutrition and plenty of physical fitness activities to our patients. Solstice East is a believer in mindfulness, “the process which involves awareness of ones thoughts, feelings, body sensations, and environment.”

Symptoms of Teenage Attachment Issues

Teenage attachment issues can be recognized in various symptoms:

Flinching when touched
Affection is perceived as threatening
Control Issues
Feelings of anger and defiance
Rebellious behavior
Drug and alcohol abuse
Manipulative behaviors
Negative thoughts
Difficulty showing affection to others
Hard time showing guilt, regret, remorse
Sexually promiscuous
Depression and anxiety
Low cognitive functioning
Poor performance in school and activities
Stunted mental growth

Equine Therapy Helps Teens Build Relationship & Communication Skills

An important aspect of programming at Solstice East is our equine therapy program. Equine therapy helps students build emotional regulation, self-awareness, mindfulness, and communication skills.

Equine therapy has been found to help individuals struggling with depression, anxiety, trauma, substance abuse, and much, much more. Some of the areas in which equine therapy can help include:

Relationships. Many troubled teens struggle to develop healthy, strong relationships with friends and family members. Therapy with horses allows teens to develop a healthy relationship with a living thing, giving them the chance to take the first step towards understanding how to nurture and maintain relationships.

Stress and Anxiety Relief. This isn’t just in equine, but also in therapy with other animals as well. Animals have a way of calming us down and smoothly our nerves over. Equine therapy has also been shown to actually relieve physical ailments associated with mood or anxiety disorders, such as headaches, dizziness, or nausea.

Self-Reflection. One of the things that troubled teens struggle most with is self-reflection. This ability is needed in order to move through life in a satisfying and successful way. By working with horses, teens see the direct effects of their actions which gives them the opportunity to understand natural consequences.

Resources for State Families Seeking Help

Families for Depression Awareness helps families recognize and cope with depression and bipolar disorder to prevent suicides and assist those struggling with mental illness get well. The website offers education, training, and support to unite families for the healing process. Free tests, education webinars, and toolkits to help families better understand mental illness are also included.
APA One of the leading psychological communities in the world, the American Psychological Association has more than 100,000 members representing all areas of the field working professionals, scientists, students, educators, and more. The American Psychological Association works to improve the qualifications of psychologists by implementing higher standards of ethics, education, conduct, and achievement.

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