Comprehensive PTSD & Trauma Treatment for Teens at Alpha Behavioral Health

One mental health concern that affects today’s teenagers is trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It’s a severe enough concern that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) estimates that between 15% to 43% of girls and 14% to 43% of boys go through at least one trauma, and 3% to 15% of girls and 1% to 6% of boys develop PTSD as a result. That’s why at Alpha Behavioral Health, our treatment plans for teens help teenagers overcome PTSD and other mental health disorders. With treatment plans featuring the latest in trauma-based treatment, teens everywhere can experience a life not ruled by pain and fear. 

To encourage teens and young adults to seek treatment, we must first gain an understanding of PTSD and other trauma disorders. Only then can we understand why effective treatment is the only option for recovery. 

Understanding PTSD and Trauma in Adolescents

How PTSD and trauma manifest in teens and young adults is different compared to mature adults. Being aware of the causes and symptoms of PTSD and trauma in both teens and young adults is essential for quick and complete recovery. 

What Is PTSD?

PTSD is the result of a person experiencing a traumatic event that causes great pain or fear. For children, it’s often the result of adverse childhood experiences, such as neglect or abuse. People who have childhood trauma as the result of continuous adverse childhood experiences can have what is known as complex post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD). Those who have trauma as a result of a singular event are typically diagnosed with PTSD. For ease of reading, CPTSD and PTSD will simply be known as PTSD, as Alpha Behavioral Health treats both.

These experiences cause the nervous system and our flight or fight response to continuously react even when the danger has passed. It’s normal to feel scared after or during a traumatic event. However, when you cannot turn off this fear and anxiety, it becomes PTSD. PTSD often shares signs with anxiety and major depressive disorder. It is not uncommon for those with PTSD to also have these co-occurring mental health disorders, known as a dual diagnosis. Those with PTSD may also struggle with other conditions, such as addiction and chronic stress. 

Some typical events that cause PTSD are:

• Assault, both physical, sexual, and psychological 
• Abuse, both physical, sexual, and psychological 
• Natural disasters, such as floods or hurricanes
• School shootings
• Exposure to violence and crime
• Death or suicide of a loved one 
• Surgeries and other invasive medical techniques 
• Adverse childhood experiences, such as neglect or food insecurity 
• Accidents, such as car crashes 
• War 

Signs and Symptoms of PTSD in Teens

To be diagnosed with PTSD, a person must experience symptoms for longer than one month, with symptoms severely interfering with daily life. PTSD that manifests in teens can display varied symptoms, with no two people being exactly alike. If your teen has experienced a traumatic event, it’s important to monitor them closely to catch any signs of PTSD or trauma. 

Some common signs of PTSD in teens are:

• Reliving the traumatic event with flashbacks or dreams 
• Avoiding places, events, objects, or feelings that remind them of the traumatic event, which can persist in self-isolation
• Being easily startled, quick to angry outbursts, or irritable 
• Intense feelings of guilt, self-blame, shame, or fear
• Increased disruptive, disrespectful, or destructive behaviors, aka “acting out”
• Being constantly tense, on edge, or guard
• Declining grades 
• Intense worry about safety for themselves and their loved ones 
• Losing interest in once enjoyable activities
• Difficulty in feeling positive emotions, such as happiness 
• Engaging in self-medicating behavior, such as substance use and other risky behaviors 

Typical physical symptoms of PTSD in teens are:

• Physical signs of stress, such as getting sick easier due to a weaker immune system
• Difficulty concentrating 
• Unplanned or unexplained weight gain
• Stomach and digestive problems
• Problems falling or staying asleep
• Racing heart, chest pain, or increased sweating
• Panic attacks 

The Impact of Trauma on Mental Health

Trauma is often the underlying cause of several mental health disorders besides PTSD. As mentioned before, anxiety and major depressive disorder are two of the most commonly occurring disorders alongside PTSD. This makes it difficult for a teen to focus on school, work, or home responsibilities. To a parent, their teen might simply be acting out with bad behavior because of hormones or drama. In reality, they are struggling with how to deal with a serious mental health disorder that causes significant distress. It is also common for a parent to assume that a teen can simply “get over” or “grow out” of childhood trauma, which is not possible.

Without treatment, trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder can not just cause other mental health disorders to occur. It can also drive a teen to seek self-medicating behaviors to soothe the pain and stress they feel. This often becomes substance abuse, which can quickly become an addiction. These conditions intensify over time, impacting both mental and physical health. In some extreme cases, a struggling teen may begin to have thoughts of suicide to escape their symptoms.

That’s why it’s vital to get help right away if your teen is displaying signs of trauma and PTSD. Treatment doesn’t just help your teen feel better; it can also save their life. 

Why Choose Alpha Behavioral Health for PTSD and Trauma Treatment?

Located in Austin, Texas, Alpha Behavioral Health offers families who are struggling with trauma comprehensive and compassionate mental health care and treatment. With a focus on teens and young adults, clients at Alpha Behavioral Health gain the jump start they need for a happy and successful adulthood. Families choose Alpha Behavioral Health for several reasons, including our commitment to quality and understanding mental health treatment. 

Our Commitment to a Safe and Supportive Environment

Here at Alpha Behavioral Health, we are committed to providing an environment that is both safe and supportive. With expert professionals on staff, each therapeutic activity is conducted with utmost safety in mind. Clients also have access to services, such as individual counseling or the Alpha Launch program, to further find support among peers and professionals. Each client who walks through our doors can expect to be treated with respect and understanding, no matter their age.

Tailored PTSD Treatment for Young Adults

With a focus on providing quality treatment, Alpha Behavioral Health offers treatment plans that are the latest in trauma-based treatment. Each client is an individual and can expect to be treated as such. As a result, each client will have a custom-tailored treatment plan designed to treat their particular trauma. From psychological trauma to childhood trauma to lingering traumatic stress, each individual will get the treatment they need to recover. No trauma is too severe for Alpha Behavioral Health. 

Integrating Family Support in the PTSD Recovery Process

Families are considered intricate in the healing process and are thus involved in treatment. With therapy such as family therapy, families and their loved ones can reach common ground and better understand each other. While clients are receiving treatment, families are also receiving instruction on how to reduce stress in the household and healthily manage their mental health. Sometimes, families struggle with trauma too alongside their teens, and Alpha Behavioral Health offers support for everyone. 

Our Therapeutic Approaches to PTSD and Trauma

Alpha Behavioral Health is a residential treatment center that also offers an intensive outpatient program (IOP) to clients who are struggling. Sometimes, a person struggles with a dual diagnosis and has severe co-occurring disorders such as an addiction or major depressive disorder. In these cases, treatment at a residential treatment center is appropriate. With less severe cases, teens with PTSD or a dual diagnosis can utilize our intensive outpatient program so they can continue to participate in work, school, or home while receiving treatment. Regardless of the treatment plan chosen, each client can expect to receive quality and evidence-based therapy along with robust support services. 

Individual Counseling and Support

All clients at Alpha Behavioral Health have access to counseling services that provide more than mental health care. These services help teens find their place in the world and inspire confidence within themselves. It’s also a place for teens to speak their minds in a supportive and private setting. 

Evidence-Based Therapies

Clients at Alpha Behavioral Health have access to the latest and more scientifically-based therapies designed to treat trauma in all forms. All therapy is conducted by licensed and certified therapists, ensuring quality and safety. The most common form of therapy used in trauma treatment is psychotherapy, also known as talk therapy. Psychotherapy is used to help clients process the trauma they have gone through. The goal is to teach clients coping skills to help them eventually recover from their trauma.

Some common evidence-based therapies used for trauma and PTSD treatment are:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT): A type of psychotherapy that focuses on identifying and changing harmful behavior and thoughts. Cognitive behavioral therapy is also used to identify triggers, teach coping skills, and inspire positive change.
• Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT): A type of psychotherapy used to help clients identify, accept, and positively channel their feelings and emotions. The goal of this therapy is to help clients accept themselves and their feelings. When it comes to post-traumatic stress disorder, dialectical behavior therapy is often used to help clients resolve feelings of guilt and shame.
• Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR): A type of psychotherapy, EMDR is used to help clients process their trauma without being re-traumatized by their memories. This is not the same as hypnosis and instead uses eye movements to lessen the impact of traumatic memories.
• Mindfulness-based approaches: A holistic psychotherapy approach that utilizes positive and grounded thinking to prevent symptoms of PTSD and trauma. The goal is to keep the client in the here and now to prevent them from slipping into traumatic memories. 
• Anger management: A tool used to help clients process, accept, and positively channel their feelings of anger. It also gives clients the tools needed to use anger appropriately and avoid using it to harm oneself or others. As PTSD often causes clients to feel intense anger, anger management is used to help them manage their anger appropriately. 

Holistic and Experiential Modalities

Alpha Behavioral Health utilizes a holistic treatment philosophy, which means that it’s not just the mind that receives treatment. The body and the spirit are also treated and nurtured, allowing clients to emerge from treatment as wholly healed persons. Some activities used as part of PTSD treatment offer a way for healthy self-expression, which builds confidence and self-acceptance. Others encourage communication with others and help clients find joy.

Some common modalities used at Alpha Behavioral Health are: 

• Art therapy and creative expression: This therapy uses art and other forms of creative expression to help clients cope with the effects of PTSD and trauma. It’s also used as a form of self-expression for topics that are hard to express or verbally talk about. Art therapy is often used post-treatment as a healthy form of emotional expression and stress relief.
• Family therapy: A psychotherapy used to help families and clients understand and communicate with each other. Family therapy is a safe place for expression and discussion and is considered vital to the treatment process at Alpha Behavioral Health.
• Wilderness therapy: This therapy is conducted outdoors. It involves moving one’s body, interacting with peers, and experiencing new adventures. Wilderness therapy is designed to build confidence, encourage communication, and help one find a deep connection with nature’s healing power. Clients at Alpha Behavioral Health often explore the splendor of the Texas wilderness during the healing process. 
• Experiential therapy: This therapy exposes clients to new experiences and is often conducted alongside wilderness therapy. These new experiences are used to replace negative experiences related to trauma and help the client become more confident in themselves. 
• The Alpha Launch program: Not quite a therapy, but a program that helps teens navigate their lives in a healthy way. It’s often used to help teens build confidence, learn life skills, and prevent relapses. 

The Alpha 180 Transitional Living Program

At Alpha Behavioral Health, we understand the unique challenges faced by young men, especially those who are struggling with trauma, PTSD, and addiction. To give these young men the best start in life, we have created the Alpha 180 Transitional Living Program. This immersive aftercare experience gives young men the tools and confidence they need to succeed in their goals and remain in recovery. Located in the quickly growing Austin, Texas, clients have access to a safe place to recover and are in the center of culture and activity. It’s never boring in Texas, and our clients work and play hard! 

Clients who choose Alpha’s transitional living program can expect to gain the following:

• A community of support
• Connections with their peers
• Family support
• Empowerment and self-confidence
• Access to the Alpha Launch program
• Training in life skills for independent living 
• Mental health care support 
• Fun and exciting adventures 
• Integrated clinical services

Clients who finish treatment or the transitional living program are never alone and can always find support and further assistance at Alpha Behavioral Health. 

Seeking Treatment for Trauma and PTSD at Alpha Behavioral Health

If your teen is struggling with the effects of trauma, PTSD, and its co-occurring disorders, it’s vital to get help as soon as possible. Alpha Behavioral Health makes this easy through phone, SMS text messaging, and a contact form. It’s always okay to send a message or call to ask questions. You may even schedule a tour to see for yourself what an average day at Alpha Behavioral Health is like. Our quality and compassionate care quite often speak for itself. 

Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon for teens to have experienced traumatic events and experiences in their lives. It can leave them with deep mental and emotional scars that prevent them from living life to the fullest. In severe cases, untreated PTSD can lead to other disorders, such as addiction. Receiving treatment is vital for any chance of recovery. That’s why at Alpha Behavioral Health, located in Austin, TX, we offer PTSD treatment specially designed for teenagers. Provided by compassionate and understanding staff, teens find the support and encouragement they need to overcome their PTSD and achieve recovery. If your teen is exhibiting classic signs of trauma, don’t wait to get treatment. Call Alpha Behavioral Health today at (833) 257-4218.