information for professionals

ADMISSION CRITERIA

Admission to the JOURNEYS usually requires one or more of the following criteria:

• A recent suicide attempt
• Current "real and present danger" suicide ideation
• Recent history of substantial self-mutilation or other self-endangering behavior
• Assaultive threats or behavior toward family or others have occurred and there is a clear risk of escalation or repetition of this behavior in the near future
• Disordered, psychotic or bizarre behavior such that the patient cannot function in everyday activities
• Severe depression with functional impairment
• Severe anxiety with functional impairment
• A need for medically supervised detoxification for alcohol and/or other drugs
• A need for inpatient medication stabilization due to history of severe side effects from psychotropic medications or the failure of outpatient medication management
• A severe inability to attend to age-appropriate responsibilities or severe deterioration of family and school functioning that is too intensive to be evaluated at a lesser level of care

TREATMENT

Based on the assessment and orders obtained from the admitting psychiatrist, a master treatment plan is initiated. This plan is formally reviewed by the attending psychiatrist and program staff on an on-going basis. Daily review of treatment and patient progress occurs with the physician and nursing staff.

Family therapy and involvement is an important part of the treatment process and is incorporated into the treatment plan. Educational support is also available and is included into each adolescent's daily schedule as appropriate, as are communications with home schools to exchange lesson information and progress.

Discharge planning is initiated at the time of admission, then formulated and revised throughout the treatment stay. A written Aftercare Plan is developed with participation of the patient, family members, and the hospital staff. It includes recommendations for further treatment and/or follow-up activities.

INDIVIDUALIZED PLANS

During the first 72 hours, your child will be assessed by a number of professionals including a psychiatrist, a therapist/counselor, and nursing staff. After this initial phase of treatment is completed, your child will be placed in one of five treatment tracks, according to their presenting issues.

Depression/Suicidality
This track will help your child explore and identify the triggers for their depression. It will address the consequences of suicide and negative self talk. Through treatment the patient will learn about healthy versus unhealthy self esteem, black-and-white thinking, and gain more healthy stress management skills. Through written assignments and regular therapy meetings, your child will be given tools to more effectively manage their depression and develop a safety plan to prevent further suicide attempts.

Self Esteem/Self-Harm
Similar to the depression track, the self esteem track will focus more heavily on issues with self esteem. There is also a specific focus on self harm behavior, addressing the causes, the addictive nature, and the recovery process for self mutilation. This track will provide your child with practical alternatives to self mutilation and allow them an opportunity to identify and discuss the origins of this behavior. Through written assignments and regular therapy meetings, your child will be able to utilize tools to raise self esteem and reduce destructive behaviors.

Anger/Aggression
This track will address the basics of anger management through the use of cognitive-behavioral therapy techniques. Your teen will identify triggers for their anger, their typical responses, and the belief system that guides them to these actions. Your child will gain a basic understanding of thinking errors and explore the impact their anger has on family and friends. Through written assignments and regular therapy sessions, the teen will begin to understand the feelings beneath their anger and learn that by addressing these feelings, the anger will become more manageable.

Anxiety
This track is for our patients with panic symptoms or difficulties managing stress. This track will explore triggers and origins of anxiety and help the teen develop a "damage plan" for managing periods of stress. It will also give the teen tools to reduce the amount and frequency of their worrying through coaching positive affirmations and negating negative self talk. Through written assignments and regular therapy sessions, the teen will be given tools to effectively reduce stress, form more positive relationships, and communicate their feelings.

CAST (Clean and Sober Teens)
This specialty track is catered towards those adolescents who require intensive treatment for drug addiction. Through a 3 to 4 week course, the teen will gain an understanding of the disease concept of addiction and learn ways to create a stronger, sober recovery environment. This comprehensive track will address the causes of addiction and help the teen develop ways to manage feelings, communicate with their family, and have fun without the use of illegal substances. It will also pay close attention to the necessary transition from treatment to home - creating a strong follow-up treatment program for after discharge through the use of referrals and the development of a relapse prevention plan. This track, like the others, will also involve regular therapy meetings and therapeutic written assignments.

PROGRAM COST

Intermountain Hospital accepts most insurance plans. Self pay options are also available. Contact us for details or questions about payment arrangements.

MORE INFORMATION

For more information about Intermountain Hospital's JOURNEYS program for adolescents, please contact our Assessment, Admission and Referral Department 24/7 at (208) 377-8400.