Types of Treatment
Mental Health Treatment
Our treatment team has passionately created a curriculum focused on teens, young adults, their families and the specific struggles they face. In today’s America, most teens are struggling with mental health concerns. We have seen a major shift towards teens needing comprehensive mental health care. No solution would be complete without addressing the core mental health concerns of each participant. We utilize highly skilled licensed professionals to both assess and treat our participants. Though our services focus on outpatient programs, we know that each person requires a personalized plan for recovery. A holistic approach is the most effective solution for these complicated issues. Whether its depression, anxiety, self harm, mood disorders, learning disabilities, etc, our team is here to support you on your family’s journey to recovery.
Behavioral Health Treatment
Identifying concerning behavior in adolescents can be challenging, but persistent symptoms lasting weeks or months, disrupting daily life at home, school, or with friends, warrant attention from a health professional. Adolescents displaying signs such as loss of interest, low energy, social withdrawal, substance use, self-harm, risky behavior, or suicidal thoughts may benefit from evaluation and intervention to address underlying mental health concerns. Early recognition and intervention are crucial to supporting adolescents’ well-being and preventing further escalation of mental health issues.
Addiction Treatment
Experimentation with alcohol and drugs is prevalent among adolescents, with about 5% developing problematic patterns leading to substance use disorders (SUD). Early initiation of substance use during adolescence, reported in over 90% of adults with SUD, correlates with heightened risks of mental health issues, academic difficulties, physical health problems, and cognitive impairments later in life. Recognizing the impact of early substance use initiation on adolescents is crucial for implementing preventive measures and interventions to mitigate long-term adverse effects on their well-being.
Trauma-Informed Treatment
With so many teens and young adults reporting substance use and mental health conditions, we have also seen a rise in the prevalence of trauma. Most teens and their families report trauma as being part of the concerns. To this end, we have employed highly trained professionals who specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of trauma-based conditions. Our team uses a wide variety of services to treat trauma. These can include therapies like animal assisted therapy, EMDR therapy, Yoga therapy, brainspotting, and more to help participants manage their nervous systems and find stability.
Mental Health Disorders
Promoting Mental Health
In the United States, a significant portion of adolescents needing mental health services, estimated at 75 to 80 percent, remain underserved due to various barriers including stigma, cultural influences, and limited access to supports and providers. Mental health treatment for adolescents encompasses diverse approaches and settings, tailored to their needs, preferences, and the severity of their condition, which may include psychotherapy, peer mentoring, medication, or a combination thereof.
Engaging families and youth from the outset of treatment planning is necessary as well, since their involvement ensures consideration of contextual factors and enhances the effectiveness of interventions aimed at addressing adolescent mental health needs.
Substance Use Disorders
Addiction Therapy
Otherwise known as Addiction, substance use disorders (SUDs) have caused significant damage to our teens and young people.
At the Nautilus Center for Mental Health we know that substance use is a symptom of underlying conditions. Our highly trained staff has created a curriculum that can address both mental health and substance abuse concerns.
Our holistic approach understands that treating the person underneath is the goal of treatment. We are a recovery-forward organization that takes pride in helping our participants to identify, treat, and recover from the underlying conditions that are identified with substance use disorders. Let our team help guide you and your family today.
Dual Diagnosis
Dual Diagnosis and Co-Occurring Disorders
Adolescents frequently receive referrals for substance abuse treatment without corresponding referrals to qualified mental health professionals to address underlying causes. Many teens exhibit symptoms of mood disorders, leading to self-medication with drugs and alcohol. Families and caregivers encounter challenges in finding treatment for adolescents grappling with both substance abuse and diagnosed brain disorders, such as ADHD, depression, or bipolar disorder, due to a gap in available programs and services tailored to their needs.
Neurodiversity
Neurodivergent-Informed Therapy
We provide therapy in a neurodivergent-informed manner. We appreciate the developmental differences between clients and meet them where they are. Our goal is to provide tools and mechanisms which allow our clients to live their best life while managing the challenges that may arise as a by-product of neurodivergent features.
What We Treat
Mood Disorders
Feelings of depression, irritability, or moodiness are prevalent among adolescents, with at least 50% reporting significant experiences of these symptoms, alongside their parents. While negative mood is characteristic of various mental health conditions, depressive disorders are particularly common in this age group. The presence of additional symptoms such as persistent sadness, impatience, or anger, disrupting school, relationships, sleep, or appetite, may indicate a major depressive episode, necessitating consideration of other mood disorders for accurate diagnosis and treatment.
Personality Disorders
Substance Use Disorders
The majority of adults diagnosed with substance use disorders initiated substance use during adolescence or young adulthood. Consequently, adolescents with substance use disorders often encounter elevated rates of physical and mental illnesses, decreased overall health and well-being, and the potential for addiction development.
Major Depressive Disorders
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is prevalent among adolescents, yet its recognition and treatment are often hindered by variations in symptoms compared to adult criteria. The severity of symptoms typically determines the initial treatment approach, which may include psychotherapy, medications, or a combination of both for adolescents experiencing MDD.
Bipolar Spectrum Disorders
Adolescence, a vulnerable developmental phase, exposes young people to various stressors amidst physical, psychological, and social changes. Differentiating between bipolar disorder and typical teenage behavior requires a thorough history, as adolescent bipolar disorder is often undiagnosed despite its characteristic mood fluctuations. Pharmacologic treatment of adolescent bipolar disorder is challenging and may necessitate combination therapy to address comorbid conditions like attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and anxiety disorder, while psychosocial interventions such as family education and stress management can complement pharmacotherapy.
Suicidality
With a rise in mental health and substance use conditions overwhelming the United States over the past decade, we have also seen an equally concerning rise in suicidal ideation and self harm. Our team takes these conditions seriously. From the moment we interact with our participants we assess and screen for self harm. If identified we have a comprehensive approach that gives each individual the tools they need to maintain safety. Knowing that this problem is getting worse around the United States, we have created what we believe to be a comprehensive intervention.
Anxiety Disorders
Anxiety disorders represent the primary mental health challenge among adolescents, often going untreated despite the availability of evidence-based diagnostic and treatment approaches. Left unaddressed, these issues can persist into adulthood and worsen in severity, underscoring the importance of early intervention and support.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) during childhood and adolescence presents as an impairing condition characterized by distressing symptoms, including intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and time-consuming rituals (compulsions). These symptoms significantly impact daily functioning and require careful attention and intervention to mitigate their effects.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
When adolescents and young adults experience the trauma leading to PTSD, their symptoms may differ from those seen in adults. While some PTSD symptoms in teens resemble those in adults, young adults are more prone to exhibiting impulsive and aggressive behaviors. Without proper treatment, symptoms may persist for years, highlighting the importance of caregivers understanding the effects of PTSD and learning coping skills to support their children.
Dissociative Disorder
Dissociative identity disorder (DID) in young adults manifests through the presence of dissociative identities, identity disruption, amnesia, and hallucinations, with over 80% experiencing auditory hallucinations. Identity alteration in DID can resemble symptoms seen in other mental illnesses like schizophrenia, complicating diagnosis and potentially resulting in inappropriate treatment. Given the overlap in symptoms with schizophrenia, accurate diagnosis of DID in this age group is challenging but crucial for effective intervention and support.
Complicated Grief
Grief among young adults aged 18-25 often leads to academic challenges and disrupts their developmental, occupational, and social responsibilities. This demographic frequently experiences prolonged grief, declining health, heightened substance use, and increased visits to healthcare providers after losing a loved one, with approximately 10-20% facing particularly intense and prolonged grief reactions.
While symptoms of complicated grief and depression may overlap, it’s crucial to recognize complicated grief as a distinct condition requiring specific attention and support in this age group.
Executive Function Disorder
Weaknesses in the ability to plan, organize, independently initiate, self-monitor and remain cognitively flexible can have implications for mental health. We treat those who present with those weaknesses to promote overall effectiveness and resilience.
High-Functioning Autism
Identification and treatment for those with spectrum disorders has improved among school-aged children and young adults. Our treatment honors those abilities and we welcome those with spectrum-related disorders.
Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD/ADHD)
Over 10% of adolescents and teens in Massachusetts are diagnosed with ADHD. While we do not make this diagnosis, we work effectively with those with this condition.