Welcome to Simply Teens!
Outpatient Mental Health Therapy
We are so glad you have found our website. We are a teen center that specializes in working with teens and their families. We want to support both your teen and your family on your journey to wellness. Please check out our pages below for more information.
If you aren’t sure what you are looking for, please email us and we will reach out to you within 2-4 business hours. We look forward to collaborating with your family and your teen.
Our goal is to teach teens and their families life-long skills to ensure success. We want to stop the cycles of self-destructive behaviors that lead to continued hospitalizations, struggles in the home and school, and distress. We want to support our community one family at a time.
What is IOP?
An IOP is an Intensive Outpatient Program where a client participates either three days a week or five days a week in a group setting. Our treatment program is designed using Dialectic Behavioral Therapy alongside trauma informed care to decrease symptoms of trauma, depression, and anxiety.
IOP/DT Groups
We offer two options for IOP group therapy; five days a week or three days a week. Groups consist of learning and practicing DBT skills, utilizing art to identify and express emotions, addressing the polyvagal system and its relation to trauma, and somatic exercises. This program is designed to help teens who are struggling with daily functioning due to having experienced trauma(s) including that resulting from a mental, physical, emotional, and/or medical event(s). At Simply Teens, we combine group, family, and individual therapy along with the Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) to work through each client’s presenting concerns.
Family
Family sessions are offered to all clients who participate in group therapy. Family sessions are designed to assist in strengthening the family unit and increasing communication skills.
Parent Workshop
We are happy to provide a weekly parent workshop for clients currently in our program, participation in the workshop can continue after the client is discharged. The parent workshop reviews skills that clients learn in group, provides parent skills, and allows for parents to connect to others in the community.
What is SSP?
When the body is exposed to a threat, the autonomic nervous system sends an individual into a state of fight, flight, or freeze. These are the three main stress responses. During these states, a myriad of hormones are released and individuals experience physiological changes such as trembling or shaking or a change in heart rate or pace of breath. Once the perceived threat is removed, the nervous system calms down and the individual can return to their pre-threat state. Some individuals, however, have been repeatedly exposed to perceived threats and find themselves living in a constant state of hypervigilance. This might look like increased irritability and anxiety, feeling overwhelmed, having difficulties connecting with others, and having troubles remaining focused.
The Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) is a new and innovative way of calming the nervous system down by listening to carefully selected and crafted music to reprogram the polyvagal nervous system by going through the middle ear right to the vagus nerve. Once a teen is stabilized in the day treatment program, we can start SSP. It requires about ten 30-45 minute sessions to administer the SSP. We are seeing great improvements in clients’ outcomes by using this technique.
Other Groups/Offerings
artWe are currently offering several year round, open groups –
Teen and Tween Resiliency Groups – Once a week groups for teens aged 15 to 18 and once a week group for tweens aged 11 to 14. In these groups members learn coping skills as well as build healthy connections with other teens and tweens dealing with similar difficulties.
LGBTeens – A once a week virtual group for LGBTQIA+ teens (13-17) to learn coping skills and community connections, some topics include identity, boundaries, values, and more.
Coping with College – A virtual once a week group for college students (18-23) to work on healthy habits, distress tolerance, interpersonal skills and more.
We also have summer group running (open from the third week of June to the second week of August) –
Autistic Art Group – A once a week group for autistic teens (15 – 18) to build community and social connection through expressive arts.
Healing for the Culture – A once a week group for Black teens (13-18) to connect and support each other while building skills around boundaries, interpersonal effectiveness, and more.
What is IOP vs. Day Treatment
IOP is an insurance word and Day Treatment is a state word. They are often used interchangeably. The reason we use both words is because we are licensed by the state and working towards accreditation. Our licensed status means that we have gone through the rigorous process of state licensure. Our facility is education rated and safety checked. Our staff has completed myriad trainings on safety, trauma, and are CPR certified. We adhere to the regulation of North Carolina in providing trauma informed evidenced based care.
Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) – Group, Family, and Individual, is non-residential
Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) – Residential program, takes place out of the home
Out-Patient (OP) – Typically Weekly/biweekly or as needed