Adolescent Intensives

While the brain is plastic or moldable at every age and stage of development, a key component is willingness of the participant.  We have found that when our teenage clients want to make changes in their lives it is impressive and extensive.

Teenagers are our partners at TheraPeeds Family Center. After our teenagers decide to participate in the full evaluation process, we sit with them and discuss their results and offer them information to help them make the decision as to whether they want to commit to an intensive or not. It is completely up to them. Decision made, we move on to the brain rewiring!

We create highly specialized, individualized intervention, based on our H.O.P.E. Model, that focuses on:

  • Determining the specific interventions and protocols needed for that area of the brain
  • Providing those interventions in the correct order/sequence
  • Identifying appropriate outcomes of the intervention based on the area of brain activated
  • Measuring of the outcomes to identify increased function

Our programs involve a trans-disciplinary team approach that involves a combination of specifically designed interventions including use of specialties such as:

  • Occupational Therapy
  • Physical Therapy
  • Speech Language Therapy
  • Audiology
  • Nutrition ad Feeding Therapy
  • Psychology
  • Mental Health Counseling and Behavior Therapy
  • Cognitive-Education Intervention
  • Sound Intervention
  • Cerebellum Activation Coaching

Another key component of activating neural plasticity is not only creating change in the wiring of the brain of the adolescent, but equally important, ensuring that the brain is supported by an environment that will facilitate use of the newly acquired skills.

Research shows that the most influential aspect of the environment for a teenager is their parents’ behaviors that can facilitate or inhibit independence. Science also indicates that it is imperative that the family also changes to support gains in the individual. For this reason, all intensives at TheraPeeds Family Center involve parent training and coaching.

Family Center, involves parent training and coaching.

Our program uses our researched-based W.A.Y. Model, that also engages the science of neural-plasticity to rewire changes in how parents think about and behave with their children. This is why at TheraPeeds Family Center, we offer a W.A.Y. to H.O.P.E.

Our intensive programs usually require:

A minimum of 6 weeks of intervention

(determined at the evaluation, based on evaluation results and family needs)

5 sessions per week

(Monday- Friday)

Average sessions run from 3 to 6 hours per session

(based on your adolescent’s needs)

A Recent Intensive Case

18-year-old Sarah came to us reluctantly, she knew she wanted to do better in her life, but she was initially resistant to the process. She came to the evaluation at the urging of her mother, but after participating she told us “I want this, I want my life to be easier and happier, I am tired of struggling.” As part of our process, she sent an email to her evaluating clinician, acknowledging her challenges, her understanding of her evaluation results and her desire to participate in the intensive.

She participated in a six-week intensive where she worked hard and pushed herself to develop increased independence in her life skills. She developed increased problem-solving, decision-making skills and gained over three years in her cognitive abilities. She developed more independence in her study-skills and returned home to much more success in her college life.

Sarah wrote a testimonial at the end of her intensive that this was “one of the most important and life-changing experiences ever.” She left TheraPeeds excited, motivated, grateful and happy. She encourages young adults such as herself struggling in school, with focus, with independence and life skills to consider taking this step. She says “these six weeks have changed my life.” Her parents say it was the best investment they have ever made!

Frequently Asked Questions

  • How can I get my teenager an intensive?

    It all begins with evaluation. We first evaluate your young adult to determine if they are a candidate for our programs and how we can help. To be effective, we must identify where in the brain the breakdown is occurring, therefore an evaluation is imperative. Please contact our intake coordinator at clientcare@therapeeds.com to discuss your teenager’s case.  Please note your adolescent must be available to participate in the intake.

  • Can I start my intensive at any time?

    Once we determine that an intensive is an appropriate intervention, we then move forward to create a program that is highly individualized and specific to your adolescent and family’s needs.

    We take into consideration:

    a)      Specific length of time needed (minimum 6 weeks)

    b)      Specific combination of interventions/components (services to be provided in the intensive)

    c)       Specific clinical team that will be the best fit your teenager’s needs and personality

    Because of this, we provide you with dates of when that ‘just right’ combination is available for your family. Sometimes that might mean a waiting period, but please know that this is necessary for us to offer the absolute best service that will support the changes that you want for your young adult and family.

    We work our hardest to accommodate your family’s request for dates and times of intensives, however your teenager’s clinical needs are our primary focus and we will always consider those first.

  • What if my teenager is in school?

    Our intensive program is year-round. When we make recommendations for an intensive program, we take into consideration your teenager’s functional status in school. If it is NOT necessary, we DO NOT recommend an adolescent’s being pulled from school for an intensive. Those are students who typically come to us in afternoons or during school vacation time