Riverview Behavioral Health is the most trusted self harm treatment center for men, women, and children in Texarkana, AR. We craft unique treatment plans for our patients to provide long-term success in recovery.
Self Harm Treatment
Learn more about self harm treatment at Riverview Behavioral Health Hospital in Texarkana, AR
Self-harm, which is also known as self-injury or self-mutilation, is a misguided method of coping that many adolescents employ when they are unable to effectively handle stress and emotional pain. Some teens may cut, burn, puncture, scratch, pinch, or cause some other type of physical harm to themselves, often inflicting physical pain in an attempt to control psychological pain. Self-harm can be symptomatic of a mental health disorder or disorders, which may worsen if treatment is not received. Fortunately, adolescents who are inflicting harm onto themselves need not continue to suffer. Many types of therapy can help teens to abstain from self-harm and can provide relief for any mental health concerns that may be causing self-injurious behaviors.
At Riverview Behavioral Health, we recognize how important prompt treatment is when a teen is engaging in self-harm, and we are pleased to supply the care that is needed to help adolescents combat this issue. We offer developmentally appropriate services, and we treat each teen as a unique individual with his or her own needs and strengths. If an adolescent in your life may need the care we have available, please do not hesitate to contact us today.
Helping a Loved One
Helping a loved one or family member get treatment for self harm
Young people who engage in self-harming behaviors often go to great lengths to hide this unhealthy method of coping with stress. However, if you suspect that self-injury is an issue affecting the life of an adolescent in your life, it could be helpful to heed the following recommendations:
- Learn about self-harm, including the signs and symptoms and types of mental health conditions that may trigger this sort of behavior.
- Establish a safety plan so that you will have a process in place that can help your teen access immediate medical attention should he or she require such services after harming him or herself.
- Speak with your teen to learn about how he or she is feeling and coping with emotional pain. You may want to also tell your teen that you are aware of his or her self-harm and convey your concern regarding this issue.
- Talk to your adolescent about the need for treatment and encourage him or her to be receptive to help.
- Schedule an assessment for mental health care so that your teen can begin receiving services as soon as possible.
- Try your best to be part of every step of your teen’s treatment. By being part of an adolescent’s care, you are both learning about self-harm, the illness(es) that is causing this behavior, and how you can support your child during this time in his or her life.
It is also a beneficial idea to get your own support while your teen is being treated for self-harm. Coming to terms that one’s child is grappling with mental health concerns can be stressful for some parents and legal guardians, so by accessing your own services, you can tend to your own needs while being there for your teen.
Why Consider Treatment
Why consider treatment for self harm at Riverview Behavioral Health Hospital in Texarkana, AR
Should an adolescent continue self-harming, the resulting effects can be disastrous. Ongoing self-injury can lead to permanent scarring, disfigurement, paralysis, and a variety of other permanent consequences. Additionally, any mental health conditions present at the same time are likely to worsen, which will further damage an individual’s emotional wellness. Teens who continue to self-harm are at risk of failing academically and may not be able to reach their fullest potential.
Furthermore, if an adolescent continues to self-mutilate and conceal this sort of behavior, relationships with peers and loved ones are bound to suffer, which could result in social isolation and worsening self-esteem. However, it is important to know that help and hope are available. Proper and developmentally effective treatment is available for adolescents who self-harm; treatment that can prevent a fatal outcome and enable teens to live healthier and more satisfying lives.
Types of Treatment
Types of self harm treatment offered at Riverview Behavioral Health Hospital in Texarkana, AR
Riverview Behavioral Health, which is conveniently located in Texarkana, Texas, is an exemplary provider of mental health treatment for individuals of all ages who are battling a myriad of mental health concerns. With several forms of care available, those in the Texarkana area have relied on Riverview as the go-to mental health treatment center when someone is requiring immediate stabilization of mental health symptoms, as well as longer-term treatment for youth who need additional support to abstain from self-harm and other mental and behavioral health concerns.
When young people between the ages of 5 and 17 need prompt and effective mental health treatment, they can benefit greatly from Riverview Behavioral Health’s inpatient programming. This level of care features only the most effective treatment methods, as well as behavior modification techniques that are proven to help young people improve their emotional wellness and learn to control impulsive behaviors. The staff of professionals who supply treatment do so with an unparalleled dedication to helping children and teens thrive, and each young person who comes for care is perceived as an individual with unique needs, strengths, and goals for the future.
We assess the treatment requirements of every child and adolescent who is in need of our services so that our staff can determine if our programming is appropriate for him or her and which methods of care will bring about the most positive results. Among the interventions that may be incorporated into a young person’s treatment plan, the following are those that our inpatient program offers:
Medication management services: Children and adolescents who come to Riverview Behavioral Health may benefit from certain medications if mental health symptoms are severe. When indicated during our streamlined admissions process, our staff will speak to the child’s parent(s) or legal guardian(s) about the need for medication, and, if consented by those responsible for the child or teen, our onsite psychiatrist can determine what kind and the amount of a medication(s) that will benefit the child or adolescent most. While a young person is taking psychotropic medication(s), our team of compassionate nurses closely monitors the effectiveness of any medication(s) given so as to preserve the safety and overall wellness of the children and adolescents entrusted in our care.
Medical care: As a means of ensuring that each child and adolescent is maintaining good health while receiving treatment for self-harm, we employ a medical doctor and nurse practitioner so that the basic medical needs of the children and adolescents we treat are cared for. Additionally, the same team of nurses that assists in the monitoring of each child and adolescent’s progress while taking psychotropic medication(s) is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to provide medical care and support for the duration of a youth’s time at Riverview Behavioral Health.
Individual therapy: Each week, children and teens at Riverview Behavioral Health are able to meet with a licensed mental health professional for individual therapy sessions. During these sessions, a young person can discuss his or her self-injury, experiences of the past, goals for the present, and ambitions for the future. Additionally, children and teens grappling with self-harm can utilize individual therapy sessions to process their feelings and emotions in a safe space so that they can improve upon their overall emotional wellness.
Group therapy: Group therapy sessions are an integral part of the care that children and adolescents receive while at Riverview Behavioral Health. Led by licensed mental health professionals and behavioral health technicians, young people partake in process groups and other types of group therapy opportunities multiple times per day while working to heal from self-harm. Among the topics that may be covered during group therapy sessions, the following are those that children and adolescents may talk about with our staff and their peers:
- Crisis intervention
- Education on mental health conditions
- Medication education
- Anxiety management
- Any topics that may be relevant to the group that influence positive treatment outcomes
- Art therapy
- Coping skills
- Recreation
- Stress management
Education services: At Riverview Behavioral Health, we will do all that we can to prevent disruption in our young patients’ education while they are receiving care for self-harm. Because of this initiative, while a child or adolescent is partaking in our inpatient care, he or she will participate in the education services that we offer each day. We have certified teachers onsite who will conduct lesson plans, assist with schoolwork, and help children and adolescents continue working towards any academic endeavors that they may have.
Family therapy: Because the success of our young patients’ healing journeys are often reliant on the support they have with their family members and/or other loved ones, we, at Riverview Behavioral Health, include family therapy in our child and adolescent inpatient programming. Offered at least one time each week, family therapy sessions are conducted by our staff and can help youth and those closest to them understand self-injury better and forge healthier bonds that can support emotional wellness for all involved. We strongly encourage family members to participate in these sessions, as we believe that children and adolescents experience more favorable treatment outcomes when they know they have the backing of their families and loved ones.
Family program: Whether a child or teen has been battling self-harm for some time, or if a young person just recently started self-harming, family members and/or legal guardians often have several questions about their child’s mental health and require support of their own during this time in their lives. For these reasons, Riverview Behavioral Health is pleased to offer a family program that allows parents, guardians, and loved ones to participate in group therapy opportunities, partake in educational lectures about mental health conditions, and benefit from the support of other families who have a loved one grappling with mental health concerns. This program does require preregistration in order to attend, and all who come for this invaluable service will leave with a greater understanding of their child’s condition and of themselves as providers of support for him or her.
Continuing Care
Continuing care and levels of treatment for self harm
Depending on the needs of the child or teen who is self-harming, the interventions that are incorporated into the customized treatment plan that is created can vary. Some methods of care will occur more or less frequently, though each youth is able to participate in any of the interventions that we offer. We make the treatment planning process personalized so that each young person is able to experience the most favorable treatment outcomes possible.
Furthermore, in addition to personalized treatment planning, each patient in our child and adolescent inpatient program receives individualized discharge planning. From the moment that they are admitted, our staff plans for each youth’s discharge so that children and teens have the follow-up supports and resources in place that will allow them to cope with urges to self-injure in a healthy manner. Among the supports and services that a youth may access, we are pleased to provide school-based services that can assist young people in improving their emotional wellness while receiving a top notch education at the same time as healing from self-harm.
If your child or an important youth in your life could benefit from the world class care that Riverview Behavioral Health has to offer, feel free to contact our center at your convenience to learn more about the programming options we have available. At Riverview, we strive to improve the lives of every young person who is entrusted to our care, and we believe that we can help a child or adolescent in your life as well. Call today to schedule an assessment with our staff and let today be the first day of a better life for a youth you know.