When issues like anxiety and depression hit, they can feel overwhelming fast. They make it difficult to carry out daily activities and get in the way of your relationships. Not to mention, mental health disorders like these can impact your overall health and happiness.
If you’ve been managing mental health problems on your own, but feel stuck in a cycle of crises, you might be considering professional treatment. Perhaps you’ve tried weekly or bi-weekly therapy sessions, but are still struggling to cope with (and carry) the weight of your stress. Residential therapy could be the best next step for you.
Residential therapy programs provide steady, structured, and round-the-clock support for people struggling with mental health and substance use disorders. It offers a unique opportunity for individuals to step away from the pressures of everyday life and focus fully on their healing.
Of course, taking this step can be intimidating. For many, residential therapy means pressing pause and putting your life on hold. However, some people require this level of care in order to move out of crisis and into a state of recovery. Let’s explore what residential therapy really is, what it entails, and who can benefit from it most.
What does “residential” mean in therapy?
Residential therapy—also called residential treatment—is a structured, live-in form of mental health care. It offers intensive, 24/7 treatment and support for individuals suffering from mental health conditions and substance use disorders.
In residential therapy programs, clients live at the treatment in which they are receiving care. However, these treatment centers are not hospitals. Residential therapy centers provide a safe, comforting, and community-based living environment where individuals can focus on their healing. While structure and supervision are core aspects of residential treatment, clients still have access to a variety of amenities, like fitness centers, yoga classes, beach or hiking excursions, art studios, libraries, as well as comfortable and safe living environments where they can feel at home.
Residential therapy programs are temporary, lasting several weeks to several months, depending on the severity of a person’s condition. After a residential program, most clients will continue to receive outpatient therapy regularly, to maintain a sense of support.
Residential Therapy vs. Traditional Therapy
When most people think of therapy, they think of a regular cadence of one-on-one, talk-based sessions with a therapist or counselor. These scheduled sessions might be in a telehealth or in-person format, and happen every one to three weeks. Residential therapy programs, however, offer a more structured and in-depth approach to mental health care. They focus on providing safety, supervision, and always-available support for clients in need. By living in a residential facility, clients can focus entirely on their healing—no more fitting in therapy appointments during lunch breaks.
What are the key components of residential therapy programs?
Committing to a residential therapy program can feel scary if you don’t know what to expect. However, there are many benefits of residential therapy that you can look forward to.
Here are some of the key features of residential therapy:
- Safe and comfortable housing:
Much like the name implies, clients live at the center in which they are receiving treatment. At Turnbridge, the residences are designed to reflect peace and comfort, so that clients can feel safe, supported, and at ease while away from home.
- Comprehensive treatment/therapeutic services:
In a residential therapy center, clients are given personalized treatment plans to recover from conditions like depression, substance addiction, eating disorders, and other mental health struggles. Not all treatment plans are the same, but each are comprehensive and consider the full individual. In these facilities, a person isn’t simply participating in talk therapy sessions. While psychotherapy is core to recovery, there are many evidence-based therapies that will be applied in these programs.
- 24/7 supervision and support:
The beauty of a residential treatment program is that there is always help, if and when you need it. In these facilities, clinicians and support staff are available around the clock to ensure clients are safe and that their needs are met. Whether it’s a sudden panic attack, or fear that arises at certain times of the day, clients always have someone to lean on when they need it most.
- Full focus on recovery:
Unlike traditional or outpatient therapy, residential programs give individuals the chance to step away from the distractions, pressures, and stressors of everyday life. In turn, residents are able to fully commit to their healing journey. Residential therapy centers offer the time and space needed to recover from complex mental health conditions. In these facilities, you’re surrounded by other people walking in similar shoes, as well as compassionate and trained professionals who know your experience well.
- Community support:
As noted above, residential treatment facilities offer not just a pathway to recovery, but an entire recovery community. In these programs, you’ll find other peers (of similar age/gender) who are facing similar challenges. You’ll find expert staff who have either walked in your shoes previously, and/or who have spent years training to help you overcome mental health hurdles. At Turnbridge, you’ll find community not just in your therapy sessions or living environment, but also through recreational activities like sober sports leagues, art and music workshops, group outings, and more. Residents also attend 12-step meetings and support groups where they can meet other individuals in recovery. This community is meant to foster connection and build a solid support network that will last for years to come.
- Gradual reintegration:
When people think of residential treatment or rehab, they might think that’s it—recovery has been achieved when the program is complete. However, this is not the case and facilities that approach treatment in this way are not setting individuals up for success. The best residential treatment programs will ensure clients are prepared for integration back in society, prior to the program’s completion. At Turnbridge, for example, residents work through each phase of treatment at their own pace. As they progress, they can explore outside opportunities like local classes, volunteer opportunities, support groups, and sober housing options. Additionally, our staff works closely with outpatient treatment providers to ensure clients continue receiving therapy and support once their program ends. This gradual transition helps reduce the risk of relapse.
Who can benefit from residential therapy?
While everyone can benefit from therapy in some capacity, residential therapy is not always required or right for everyone. Most often, this residential format is recommended for people with more complex or severe conditions, and/or who have not found relief through previous methods of care.
In summary, residential therapy is best for individuals who:
- Are facing severe, complex, and/or persistent mental health conditions that get in the way of daily life
- Are struggling with multiple, co-occurring disorders (such as depression and drug addiction)
- Have not responded well (or seen lasting benefits from) outpatient treatment/therapy
- Require a higher level of care and supervision than outpatient treatment can provide (for example, those with suicidal thoughts and behaviors)
- Do not have a safe, supportive, or stable environment where they can heal
Residential therapy offers many benefits, especially for those who require a stable and supportive environment where they can heal without the distraction of mainstream life. Residential therapy bridges the gap between hospitalization and outpatient therapy, and therefore is best for those who need a deeper level of mental health care.
When should someone go to residential therapy?
Residential therapy is most urgent or necessary when a person meets any of the following criteria:
- Feels like they are in complete crisis
- Shows signs of suicidal ideation and self-harm
- Needs constant monitoring and supervision to ensure their/others’ safety
- Is unable to function in everyday life, due to mental health struggles
- Lacks a safe, secure living environment
- Experiences severe symptoms, such as hallucinations, extreme mood swings, violent behaviors
- Abuses drugs and alcohol
If you’re unsure if you or your loved one needs residential therapy, do not hesitate to reach out to your physician or a mental health professional for advice. Turnbridge can also help you make an action plan.
Is a residential therapy program right for you?
Considering a residential therapy program for you, or your loved one? As you explore your treatment options, one thing to consider is that there are all different types of therapy programs. Residential therapy is best when it is geared towards your individual needs, so be sure to look for a program that:
- Is experienced in, and dedicated to, specific demographics (i.e. centers with gender-specific programs, for example, or tailored programs for teenagers)
- Offers a variety of evidence-based modalities—the most effective treatment for mental health conditions is multi-faceted
- Will develop a customized treatment plan, personalized to your (or your loved one’s) individual needs at the physical, emotional, mental, and social level
- Allows you work at your own pace, with extended stays available for those who have more complex conditions or need to spend more time in treatment
- Specializes in dual diagnosis, or treating co-occurring disorders, for those facing multiple conditions
If you’re unsure where to turn or how to find the right treatment program, Turnbridge is here for you. Turnbridge is a recognized treatment provider for adolescents and young adults. Our residential therapy programs are always personalized and designed to treat the whole individual. Learn more!