There is no simple test to tell if a child is transgender. Experts often refer to the idea of insistence, consistency, and persistence in terms of gauging whether a child is just going through a phase or not.  This means…

A psychiatric residential treatment facility (PRTF) provides out-of-home psychiatric care to children, adolescents, and young adults in a non-hospital, highly structured setting.  PRTF’s serve clients whose mental health needs require more intensive treatment than can be provided in a community…

Eating disorders are complex, and affect all different kinds of people, but adolescents and teenagers are most at risk. There is no one identified cause of eating disorders when it comes to teens; instead studies cite a number of possible…

Although it is often assumed that young people are more carefree than adults, their lives are full of emotional ups and downs. This is hugely evident in the statistics regarding adolescent and teen mental health, with as many as one…

What Is Self-Harm? Self-harm (sometimes called self-injury or self-mutilation) is the act of intentionally harming oneself in a physical manner. Self-harm is an expression of personal distress and often a coping mechanism. Self-harm is not a mental illness itself (but…

Entering residential treatment can be a difficult, confusing, and stressful time for both the parents and the adolescent or teenager going to treatment.  Before physically entering a residential treatment program, patients will learn what to expect from their stay in…

When a person suffers from two or more mental health conditions, they are referred to as “comorbid” or co-occurring disorders.  Anxiety and depression are the two diagnoses most closely related, and for adolescents and teenagers, the two mental health disorders…

Mental illness is hugely common in adolescents and teenagers.  In fact, approximately one in five young people meet criteria for at least one mental illness.  Mental health issues can affect all areas of a teen’s life, from school performance to…

Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) is one of the more common mental health disorders found in adolescents and falls under the umbrella of disruptive behavior disorders.  Adolescents with oppositional defiant disorder demonstrate disobedient, defiant and/or hostile behavior, often when interacting with…

  Residential treatment centers provide individualized mental and behavioral health care for youth struggling with a variety of issues and struggles. Residential treatment often addresses the following: Trauma and abuse Depression and/or anxiety Eating disorder(s) Personality and mental disorders Low…

Mental illness is a disorder of brain function.  There are many different classes and categories of mental health disorders, and those who suffer from mental illness do not do so by choice.  Various factors can cause and/or contribute to the…

What is ADD? ADD, or attention-deficit disorder actually falls under the umbrella diagnosis of attention-deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD).  ADD is a somewhat outdated term, but if it is used today, it is typically referring to the inattentive type of ADHD,…