A northern Indiana mental health center launched an intensive outpatient program for adolescents aged 13 to 17 struggling with mental health and substance use challenges. The Adolescent Intensive Outpatient Treatment Program at The Willow Center’s Pittsboro facility is a 10-week program offering nine hours of group therapy per week, plus individual and family counseling, with group sessions held 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays.
The program serves adolescents experiencing severe depression, anxiety, emotional dysregulation, self-harming thoughts, substance use, trauma-related symptoms, school suspensions, or involvement with the juvenile justice system. Program therapist Yasmin Martinez described the 13-to-17 age group as “a pivotal time when kids are learning to be more independent yet can feel uncertain about what the future holds.” Erica Bodeker, the clinical site supervisor, called the launch “a pivotal advancement for Hendricks County, addressing the escalating mental health and substance use needs of adolescents through early intervention, prevention and skills-based education.”
Program structure and continuation pathways
A master’s degree-level clinician with specialized adolescent care experience oversees the program. Throughout the program, participants learn to process feelings, practice healthy coping strategies, and foster better relationships. At program completion, participants are encouraged to move into Teen Resilience & Regulation, a lower-intensity program allowing them to continue building progress and improving their long-term emotional health.
The Willow Center accepts most major commercial insurance plans and all forms of Medicaid, making the program accessible to a broad range of families. For information, individuals can call the Pittsboro facility at 317-286-3146 or visit its website.
This article is an AI-assisted summary. All facts and figures are drawn from the original report: https://www.wishtv.com/news/health-spotlight/hendricks-county-center-starts-new-program-for-troubled-teens/