An aftercare program is a vital part of the recovery process and offers clients ongoing care to benefit their mental health and well-being. It helps children build their self-esteem and confidence in maintaining good mental health and giving them all of the tools necessary to be healthy and happy.
HillsidesCares welcomes California children and adolescents from all walks of life who want an aftercare program to continue their recovery from depression, anxiety, or substance use disorders. Our youth mental health aftercare program can support your continued efforts in practicing communication skills, fine-tuning coping skills, improving self-esteem, and building healthy relationships with your peers.
What Is Aftercare in Mental Health and Why Is It Important for Long-Term Recovery?
An aftercare program is a therapeutic program that begins once a person completes an inpatient or outpatient treatment program. It is for those who wish to continue working with a therapist to treat depression, anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorders, substance use disorders, bipolar disorders, and other treatable mental health issues.
Aftercare programs take a personalized approach to dealing with your child’s symptoms and discuss how well they are doing at home and at school. They do this by creating a structured program that includes several key components, such as:
- Individual and group therapy sessions using cognitive-behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, medication management, mindfulness practices, and other beneficial therapies
- Coordination with outside support groups, peer support groups, and other programs to continue their education and development
- Encouraging children to participate in exercise groups, nutrition education, stress management, and other life-skills programs to improve their chances of leading a mentally healthy lifestyle
- Continue working with family members and loved ones to ensure they create a stable and supportive home environment.
- Continuing education and life skills training, such as communication, decision-making, caring for pets, and other life skills.
Aftercare also helps prevent relapses and reduce crisis situations by giving your child a safe space to talk about and learn to manage their emotions.
What Is the Purpose of Mental Health Aftercare?
The main purpose of an aftercare program is to ensure your child reaches their long-term recovery goals safely. Through continued support, your child will build a support network that will be there when symptoms spike. By improving their coping and life skills development, they can reduce the risk of future relapses and continue forward in their progress.
Enrolling in an aftercare program will ensure they make progress in improving their mental health and ensuring long-term success.
What Services Are Typically Included in Mental Health Aftercare?
A mental health aftercare program is highly personalized to the client’s unique symptoms and triggers and will include behavioral and holistic therapies. What is an example of aftercare? Here are the typical services you can expect during an aftercare program.
Outpatient Therapy
Clients participate in private and group therapy sessions where a professional therapist will use cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) to help their child thrive. Other types of therapies used in aftercare include:
- Animal-assisted therapy
- Trauma-informed therapy
- Mindfulness practices
- Yoga and meditation
Medication Management
If your child is taking any medication to help with their mental health, medical staff will continue to administer medications and monitor their condition. They will work with the therapist to make any adjustments to the medication and to taper them off when they no longer need it.
Family and Relationship Support
Parents and siblings will continue to work on improving conflict resolution and the family relationship. They will also learn to develop healthy relationship traits and recognize bad habits in others.
Crisis Intervention and Emergency Planning
During aftercare, you will work on learning and fine-tuning a personalized crisis plan for when emergencies happen. They will discuss what to do if your child experiences a crisis and who to call, such as 24/7 crisis hotlines, mobile crisis units, and emergency contacts for immediate help.
Case Management and Support Services
An aftercare program can help you find outside resources for programs that can help you care for your child. These can include parenting, behavioral, and basic needs support.
Lifestyle and Wellness Support
Another common service in aftercare is assistance with improving lifestyle habits and wellness support. You and your child will learn about the benefits of healthy eating and how it can improve your mental health. They will also work on building other healthy routines, such as starting an exercise program, yoga and meditation, journaling, mindfulness practices, and other beneficial activities.
Choose HillsideCares Today for a Suitable Youth Mental Health Aftercare Program
HillsideCares is a full-service mental health treatment center that works with children and adolescents who want to continue their mental health journey. Our aftercare program takes a whole-person, holistic approach to creating a tailored approach to returning to their home life. Your child will continue talking with a therapist in group and private therapy sessions to work through any lingering issues and learn to cope with any situations as they arise.
To speak with us about what our aftercare program is and how it can benefit your child, fill out our online form or call 323.641.4842 today to schedule a consultation.