When an individual is not coping at home, school, or work due to behavioral, emotional, and social issues and needs more help than they can receive in a weekly therapy session but does not meet the criteria for hospitalization, the Intensive Treatment Program at The Woodlands Behavioral Health & Wellness Center is an option. The Intensive Treatment Program works with those who are experiencing the following:

• Suicidal thoughts
  
• Severe depression and anxiety
  
• Anger, rage, aggression
  
• Erratic mood swings 
  
• Oppositional defiant behaviors
• Self-harming behaviors (cutting etc.)
  

We specialize in the evaluation and intensive treatment of those who cannot cope in school (or work) due to emotional or behavioral issues. After resolving the issues involved, we work closely with all involved to get them back into the classroom or to work. If the client is a student and able to cope in school, treatment is scheduled after school hours. After the intensive treatment, we continue to work with the client, family and their school/employer to monitor progress and ensure that they maintain their improvements. 

Key components of the Intensive Treatment Program:

• An assessment identifies a primary diagnosis, the causes of the client's distress, any risks and any co-existing disorders that also need to be addressed during treatment.
  
• The integrated treatment team including Clinical Psychologists, Child, Adolescent & Adult Psychiatrists, and Licensed Professional Counselors work together to develop and implement an individualized integrated treatment plan for each client.   
  
• Plan can include (with the client's authorization) contact with the school, primary care physician and/or employer initially to inform them about the client's situation and how it is being managed and to ensure continuity of regular outpatient treatment when the patient is discharged from the intensive program.
  
• The team closely monitors the client's progress through regular treatment team meetings and adjusts the treatment plan when necessary. For parents, there will be ongoing communication about their child's progress. 
  
• Discharge plan will be implemented to ensure client and family knows what to expect after completion of the program. 
  
• The Intensive Treatment Program has been successful in helping clients avoid hospitalization however if the team determines that inpatient treatment is necessary they help the client and parents identify the most suitable in-patient treatment program for the client and work with this program to facilitate the smooth transfer of the client.

Highlights of treatment: 

• Significant others and/or family are expected to participate in treatment. A client's behavioral, emotional, social, and cognitive issues always have an impact on their family system therefore therapy with the child and their family is a critical part of their treatment.
• Therapy focuses on helping the client develop more effective coping skills. Clients learn to identify situations that trigger their anxiety, depression, anger and the negative thought patterns they have developed related to these situations. They are then taught to change these negative patterns to more positive ones to facilitate more positive and productive behaviors. 
• Some clients will have the opportunity to learn and practice social skills while participating in a peer group.
• Parents can receive parent counseling to learn skills and strategies to manage and support their children more confidently. When necessary, a behavior treatment plan, using positive reinforcement, will be developed for younger children to reshape problem behaviors to pro-social behaviors. 
• Coaching will help adolescents and adults learn strategies to compensate for their deficits in organization, planning, self-monitoring etc. when the lack of these skills are undermining their academic/work progress.
• Clients and parents have the option, when appropriate, of consulting with our Child, Adolescent & Adult Psychiatrist to determine whether medication could be used to treat the client's symptoms.