We help teens find or create opportunities to engage
The New York Center for Living's Adolescent Program is an abstinence based drug and alcohol outpatient treatment program for teenagers ages 13-18 who suffer from substance use disorders and addiction. We recognize that drug and alcohol addiction hurts more than the teens that use them, and are therefore dedicated to helping youth and families work through the web of problems caused by adolescent substance use, as well as the underlying mental health and social issues behind it. Throughout the entire treatment process, both the adolescent and their family will learn new strategies to cope with the problems at hand while developing new skills for living a sober life. Treatment for teenagers with drug and alcohol abuse and/or addiction occurs through both individual and group therapy sessions. The anticipated outcome is not only that the adolescent achieves sobriety, but also that all members of the family experience an overall improvement in functioning simultaneously.
Since teenage chemical dependency affects many areas of an individual’s life, treatment targets the restoration of function in many areas of living in addition to substance abuse. Our goal in treatment for our teenage clients is to look at these different functional domains and help them learn pro-social skills in order to deal with the issues that arise. Treatment for teens abusing drugs and alcohol therefore begins with the development of an individualized, comprehensive treatment plan that reflects the goals and objectives that have been developed uniquely for - and in collaboration with - the teen and their family. The functional domains we target include, but are not limited to:
• Family Issues
• Academic Difficulties
• Self-Esteem
• Emotional Impulsivity
• Social Relationship Issues
• Physical Well-Being.
We work collaboratively with schools, families, and other caregivers not only to ensure that adolescents receive a well-rounded treatment experience, but also to make sure that we have a solid understanding of how the teen is doing both in and outside of the New York Center for Living.
We understand that once sobriety and an appropriate lifestyle have been achieved, maintaining sobriety is key. Becoming sober as a teenager is a unique and challenging experience. This is why the New York Center for Living places such a strong emphasis on adolescent sober socialization and creating an environment where activities that are both fun and sober can occur. Learning to rely on sober socialization in place of alcohol or drug-fueled interaction is an important part of continuing recovery. The Clinical staff at the New York Center for Living concentrates on helping teens learn to develop sober support networks. We help our adolescents find or create opportunities to engage in individual, family and group activities that are fun, challenging, healthy and completely sober.