Therapeutic Approach
Every adolescent who receives treatment at Cove Forge participates in a treatment program that is tailored to his special needs. Residents participate in individual therapy at least once a week, group therapy four days a week, and family therapy at least twice a month, as well as a variety of workshops and educational courses. Residents also participate in experiential ropes therapy on our 16-station high and low ropes course twice a week.
Treatment Goals
We have established six main goals in the treatment of mentally ill, emotionally disturbed, and/or mentally retarded teens:
- Foster the belief that we all have basic needs and operate to have those needs met.
- Focus on changing what we do as a means of changing how we feel and also getting what we want.
- Develop coping skills for managing emotional disturbance, mental illness, or mental retardation (e.g., appropriate use of medication, behavior management, decision making, processing through prior emotional trauma, etc.).
- Become involved in school and other age-appropriate activities to help establish stable patterns of behavior.
- Develop an ability to operate within the social and family structure.
- Participate in family counseling in order to facilitate changes in the family system. Families will learn coping skills, how to adjust to the changes in their teen, and how to assess their own family structure and make adjustments to maintain a healthy environment.