Therapeutic Day Treatment Program for Teens
The Center for Families Therapeutic Day Treatment Program is a Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) designed to help teens build strong relationships, learn and practice healthy coping skills, grow their self-worth, and reestablish trust and connection with themselves and their loved ones. We offer PHP programming in Malvern and West Chester, PA, and in Minneapolis, MN.
Our PHP treatment program for teens, which encompasses our Therapeutic Day School, is an academic and therapeutic program for adolescents ages 13 to 18 who are struggling with behavioral, mental health, and/or co-occurring substance use disorders. Our on-staff licensed psychiatrists provide personalized diagnostic assessments, which inform our educational and therapeutic day treatment services tailored to teens and their families. The daily schedule incorporates a variety of evidence-based therapeutic modalities proven to be successful in treating youth. Teens spend time in the classroom daily with specialized instructors and tutors, so they can stay on track with their academic progress while receiving the treatment they need.
CFF’s multidisciplinary treatment team and expert staff, including psychiatrists, psychologists, family therapists, registered dietitians, teachers, and tutors, develop individualized treatment plans to address the needs of each client in our PHP programming. Treatment modalities range from CBT, DBT, and EMDR with certified therapists, to nutritional education, psychodrama, and experiential group therapies. Our PHP empowers teens with self-compassion, self-esteem, social media awareness, and coping skills that build resilience in today’s complicated world. CFF’s facilities provide both outdoor and indoor environments for the delivery of clinical, experiential, and academic modalities.
The staff end up feeling like a part of your family; they are always there and willing to support you, even when it all feels so hard. They are a great group of humans and I admire the work they do with all of the kids. My daughter’s self-esteem transformed after just a couple of months. She even ended up having fun!
—Susan, CFF parent
Therapy Outside the Treatment Room
Our integrated approach to treatment also acknowledges that restoring healthy, authentic connection—particularly when teens are building the infrastructure and tools with which to effectively express themselves—does not always take the form of traditional therapy.
In Pennsylvania, teens at CFF may find themselves helping care for the residents of the Center for Chickens (our chicken coop!), doing yoga, playing kickball, and taking seasonal Adventure Therapy excursions, such as tubing on the Brandywine and kayaking and paddle boarding at Marsh Creek State Park—all facilitated through a therapeutic lens.
In Minneapolis, MN, our Center for Families location is close to beautiful Bde Maka Ska Park, named for the gorgeous lake at the center of the recreational area. It’s an ideal location for outdoor activities like kayaking, canoeing, and biking, all facilitated through a therapeutic lens.
Experiential activities at both locations may also include improv theater, outdoor team challenges, community service, horticulture therapy.
Tailored Treatment
Each client has an individualized treatment plan developed by a multidisciplinary treatment team that includes:
- Board-certified psychiatrist
- Licensed therapists
- Registered dietician and
- Experiential therapists
- Coordination of care with professional referral sources
- Teachers and academic tutors
Center for Families’ Nourish Program
Our newest PHP program is specialized for teens experiencing mental health struggles that are accompanied by poor body image and/or a difficult relationship with food. Located in West Chester, PA, the Nourish program treats primary mental health concerns while ensuring teens get the care they need to improve their relationship with food, eating, and their body. We provide individual nutrition screening and risk assessments, nutritional consultations and education, and family support.
What to Expect in Center for Families’ Therapeutic Day Treatment Program for Teens
In our Therapeutic Day Treatment Program, also known as our Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP), every aspect of the daily schedule is designed to support teens in gaining skills and self-knowledge as they learn new, healthy ways of navigating their world.
Evidence-Based Therapeutic Approach
Our evidence-based therapeutic programs for teens have changed the lives of adolescents in Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey, Minnesota, and across the country. Part of what makes CFF’s approach so successful is that we recognize that personal progress requires self-discovery. Moreover, we know that one of the most critical components of a successful therapeutic day treatment experience at the partial hospitalization level of care is the alliance between a teen and their therapist. Within this context, teens are guided to heal relational trauma and repair family connections.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the teen therapeutic program’s hours?
Center for Families’ Therapeutic Day Treatment Program meets five days a week from 8:00 am–3:30 pm ET, with slightly different hours for specialized programming once a week. Teens who have been identified as needing additional support are also welcome to attend one of our Outpatient evening groups. Additionally, our Partial Hospitalization Day Program schedule includes daily academics integrated with experiential and clinical modalities. Upon admission, teens are enrolled in a specialized treatment plan to meet their individual needs.
How closely are parents involved in CFF’s Therapeutic Day Treatment Program?
We believe that parents are essential members of the CFF treatment team. Our staff works closely with parents to help them understand their child’s progress or setbacks while in treatment, and provides parents with weekly updates from their child’s primary therapist, who have advanced training in Attachment-Based Family Therapy (ABFT) and utilize that training in the treatment approach.
How will being in a treatment program for teens impact a teen’s school attendance/schoolwork?
While a teen is enrolled in our PHP Program, our credentialed teaching staff works confidentially with the teachers at their home school to develop a year-round academic plan to meet their specific educational needs. Through the collaborative efforts of our team approach, teens can keep current with their home school curriculum, get back on track if they’ve fallen behind, and excel academically while receiving the treatment they need.
