Adolescents Behavioral Health

Adolescent Behavioral Health Services

Of SandyPines’ six residential units, five are dedicated to serving adolescents, ages 13–17. Our Dolphin, Manatee, Pelican, Seagull and Starfish units provide adolescent patients with a secure and structured therapeutic environment for them to build on existing strengths and learn new healthy strategies to improve communication, emotional regulation and socialization.

Our treatment team develops an individualized plan for each adolescent based on their needs and strengths. Their daily schedule may consist of participation in several clinical programs, including individual therapy, group therapy, activities therapy, substance abuse therapy and more.

A Balanced Day (ABD) app is a digitalized behavioral management program built on an iOS platform. The application process is based on the practice of Operant Conditioning, specifically the principles of Positive Reinforcement. ABD integrates into the milieu of an inpatient psychiatric program or residential treatment center. The intuitive design promotes staff knowledge of behavior management principles (e.g., schedules of reinforcement, operationalizing behaviors; shaping of behaviors and positive reinforcement), enhances critical thinking skills with challenging patients, facilitates positive staff to patient relationships and reinforces patient participation in active treatment. ABD is one facet of an overall structured clinical program. Other key elements include, a robust and compliant schedule, clinical and evidence based driven group programming, and a collaborative treatment planning approach.

Students at SandyPines attend Riverbend Academy, our on-site accredited school under the jurisdiction of the Martin County School District. Our school building includes classrooms, a library, computer lab and smart boards in several school classrooms. Riverbend Academy also utilizes research-based interventions to meet each student’s academic needs.