The Teen Program is here to help teens with their life goals NOW.

This is a very important time of life.  Many decisions need to be made.  However, most teens brains do not have the formation necessary to make the best choices.   Sometimes this gets them into trouble and changes their life path drastically.

We want to help them find their best selves and make it fun so they participate gladly.

Some issues teens face at this time are:


-- friends, peers, fitting in, being popular, feeling different, alone, pressure to look right
and behave cool

-- low self-worth, self-esteem, depression, anxiety, social self-consciousness

-- drugs, alcohol

-- eating disorders

-- driving, responsibility of a vehicle, rules of the road, avoiding accidents, drinking and driving

-- parental rules seem unfair and irrational, too much pressure, not enough guidance, constant fighting, or feeling neglected by parent

-- grades, to go to college, or do a trade, laziness or career confusion?

-- Whether or not to have sex before marriage, STDs, AIDs, peer pressure

-- brothers and sisters can be annoying

-- need to learn decision making skills

-----------------------

Is Your Teen Using Alcohol or Drugs?

See how many questions you answer YES to:

 Q: Has anyone ever told you your child is drinking or using drugs?

Q: Do you know for sure that your child has 'experimented' with either drugs or alcohol?

Q: Have you noticed that one minute your child can be happy and giddy followed by withdrawal, depression, or fits of anger or rage?



Q:Has your child suddenly developed the need for additional money, for vague or unexplained reasons?

Q: Have you ever seen your child stagger or noticed any slurred speech?

Q: Has your child suddenly turned away from his old friends?

Q: Has your child lost interest in tidiness in his room or does your child pay less attention to personal hygiene?

Q: Has your child developed a negative attitude against anti-drug or anti-alcohol programs, materials or literature?

Q: Has your child been in trouble with the law for any reason?

Q: Has your child developed a bad attitude toward any authority figures in his life?

Q: Have you found that your child has generally become dishonest about things?

Q: Have you found unexplained empty alcohol or solvent containers around the house or grounds?

Q: Has your child suddenly started smoking cigarettes openly?

Q: Has your child had medical conditions that might be attributed to substance abuse, such as digestive problems?

Q: Has your child's attitude toward school suddenly changed?

 Q: Is your child hanging out with an older group or with those that you suspect are using drugs?

Q: Have you seen your child's grades go from pretty good to very bad?

The more questions that you answered YES to, the more likely your child may be using drugs or alcohol, but these changes of behavior can be explained by many other factors.

If you think your child may be using, please call a professional psychologist for an appointment to assess your child and get him into treatment . 

Call to talk to Dr. Olson right away:  (949) 533-4336

I know as a parent, these issues can be scary.   You are not alone.
Please don't let your fears about your own drinking or drug use history stop your teens recovery.  This is a turning point for them that can change their life forever.



Parents of the teens are highly recommended to attend the:

Parent-to-Parent Program: Parents meet once a week in a group, Mondays 6:00- 7:00PM. This is where parents can
• gain support
• learn positive discipline techniques
• determine how to distinguish influence from control
• and make a huge difference in the life of their family.
 


THE INTAKE ASSESSMENT:

The first part will be the phone call or email to the Solutions Center, asking for help.
We can then direct you on what to do next.  You will probably be asked to bring in your teen and talk to a therapist with him or her in the room.   Nothing will happen unless everyone agrees on the program that we all decide is the best course of action. 

The Teen Program is an intensive outpatient program, which means that the client (teen) will come to the center all day Monday-Friday for early morning meetings, activities, group therapy, self-awareness exercises, education on drug and alcohol addiction, taught how to make wise choices and be brave enough to carry them out, community service to learn how to be caring and compassionate toward others, and summer fun activities to help the teens feel capable and competent.  I promise you they will not be bored!   And if they are, they will learn how to deal with frustration.

NAVIGATING MY LIFE:
  Teen Program

We assist participants in resolving personal matters attributable to their concerns. Using evidence-driven therapy, we assist young people in discovering and using their abilities to become successful. Meanwhile, they have fun and learn life skills!



At the core of the Navigation program is a philosophy that the teen is becoming responsible for their own life.  Now is the time to make the right decisions.  We could be seen as coaches helping these age-grouped teams learn solutions to many of life's problems on their own.  Their individual concerns are encouraged to be talked about as many of the other teens have the same issues. 
We help each individual teen come up with their own plan. 

The idea is the help them become productive members of society, not get into heavy drug use, not get pregnant, find a good job or college plan, and get along with their family. 

The after-school program is a good start.  But, the summer program is better. 

The summer program is here to keep the teen occupied in fun activities that  provide motivation, thinking skills, social and self-control skills, and decision-making material targeting the use of cigarettes, alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, steroids, methamphetamine, etc., oppositional defiance, and sex/violence-related behavior.


Study skills and vocational skills are also emphasized and taught to continue to help in transitioning to a more stabilized life. Reading and writing skills are essential to the quality of an adolescent’s life, especially as they move into adulthood.

Teens learn how to map out a plan for their lives while having fun in Orange County, CA!

 

Navigating my life incorporates the principle that unwanted behavior can be changed by clear demonstration of healthier behavior and consistent reward of incremental steps toward achieving it. Adolescents are encouraged to take charge of their lives and be accountable and responsible. The therapy aims to equip the adolescents to gain three types of control:

• Stimulus Control
• Urge Control
• Social Control 

At the completion of this program, adolescents will have been presented the skills to:

Stop the use of cigarettes, alcohol, marijuana and harder drugs (i.e., cocaine, hallucinogens, depressants, amphetamines, etc).

Stop or reduce aggressive and defiant behavior toward authorities and parents. Family harmony is the goal.

State accurate information about the consequences of drug use and abuse, including environmental, social, physiological, and emotional consequences.

Demonstrate behavioral and cognitive coping skills. Develop a successful program for life and make a commitment to not use drugs.



Summer Recreational Component: They will have a chance to learn how to sail, surf, golf, ride horseback, dance, and/or play tennis.



Supplemental Sources of Support for extra fees:
 
• Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Help: to train adolescents in attention and behavioral control (to help reduce ADHD symptoms).

• Anger and Aggression Management 
 


• Educational Tutoring for those students attempting to catch up in school due to past issues.



We can also evaluate and treat your other children for ADHD.

• Psychiatric Medication consults and follow-ups onsite if needed (additional costs may incur).




Parents...