Philadelphia’s Leading Adjustment Disorder Hospital

Learn about adjustment disorder treatment at Belmont Behavioral Health System in Philadelphia, PA

Adjustment disorder is a stress-related mental health condition that occurs after an individual experiences a significant life stressor. If an individual is struggling to adjust after a trauma, serious change, loss, or other stressor, symptoms of an adjustment disorder may develop. Examples of such symptoms may include irritability, depression, anxiety, and even thoughts of giving up on life. Fortunately, these disorders are usually not permanent, but they can lead to ongoing mental health concerns without proper treatment.

Belmont Behavioral Health System, an adjustment disorder treatment center and hospital in Philadelphia, offers comprehensive support and care for any type of adjustment disorder. Through evidence-based treatment and individualized care, our staff can help you or your loved one determine the causes and complications of adjustment disorders, and treat any other underlying mental health conditions all in one supportive environment. We know that adjustment disorder can greatly impact the lives of both individuals and their loved ones, which is why we remain committed to delivering quality care that treats the whole person.

Helping a loved one get treatment for adjustment disorder

It is often difficult to know when a loved one is suffering with any kind of anxiety or sadness if he or she does not verbalize it, which can make it feel overwhelming to try to help him or her. Fortunately, there are ways to help your loved one cope with this difficult situation.

• Take time to research as much as possible about adjustment disorders. Because these disorders are linked to a particular stressor or trauma, see if you can learn more about the changes that your loved one has experienced. You may want to consult with a mental health counselor, or ask about book recommendations that can help you learn more.
• Learn more about treatment for adjustment disorder. There are a number of evidence-based treatments available that have proven effectiveness in treating the symptoms of this disorder. If you have questions, call a treatment center of your choice, and find out what specific treatments options are available.
• You will want to openly and calmly discuss treatment options with your loved one. Before doing so, be sure that you are feeling calm and comfortable, as your loved one may be feeling anxious or defensive following his or her stressful life change. You may not be able to force your loved one into treatment, so emphasize a supportive approach and encourage your loved one to embrace treatment in his or her own time. If the need for treatment is pressing, an experienced counselor may be able to help you arrange a gentle family intervention.
• Once your loved one decides to accept treatment, you want to be prepared to help him or her remove any barriers that may prevent that treatment from coming to fruition. You may want to help with childcare or pet-sitting, or help by arranging transportation or planning meals. You may even choose to accompany your loved one to appointments.
• If the treatment center of your choice offers family counseling or family support, you may benefit greatly from these services.
• Self-care is very important through this entire process. You will need to have support of your own so that you may remain healthy through this entire process. If you are overly stressed or exhausted, you will not be able to help your loved one. Do not neglect your own daily activities, be sure to get enough sleep, and remind yourself of things you enjoy. Friends and family are wonderful resources during any time of stress.

Why consider treatment for adjustment disorder at Belmont Behavioral Health System in Philadelphia, PA

Without treatment, an adjustment disorder may severely impact every area of an individual’s life. The results of letting an adjustment disorder go untreated may include relationship conflicts, job loss, financial strain and more. Often, these disorders may result in a decrease in social support, which makes it even more difficult to recover. These disorders may also activate or worsen preexisting mental illnesses. However, with qualified, evidence-based care, individuals of all ages can receive supportive treatment to manage the symptoms of adjustment disorder and any complications that have arisen as a result of those symptoms.

Types of adjustment disorder treatment offered at Belmont Behavioral Health System in Philadelphia, PA

Our hospital is a psychiatric treatment center that provides care for children, adolescents, adults, and geriatric patients who are struggling with psychiatric concerns, substance abuse, and co-occurring mental health problems. Each year, we care for approximately 3500 individuals in our inpatient treatment center alone.

Founded in 1937 as a 60-bed psychiatric hospital, we have grown to exceed the dreams of our founders, and we pride ourselves on being established members of our community in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Our campus is situated on 13 acres of land in a park-like setting that provides a serene environment in which to help individuals overcome mental health difficulties.

Treatment at Belmont Behavioral Health System, a hospital for adjustment disorder treatment in Philadelphia, is based on a foundation of individualized care. We recognize that each person who comes to heal with us brings a unique set of strengths, needs, and treatment goals. We are committed to developing care plans that are tailored for each person who struggles with adjustment disorder. At our treatment center, no two treatment plans are the same, and our treatment is so successful that 92% of individuals who receive inpatient care are discharged home, instead of to other levels of care, after treatment has ended.

Our hospital offers a wide range of interventions across various levels of care. These interventions include the following:

Medically monitored detoxification: At our treatment center, we recognize that individuals with psychiatric disorders may also struggle with substance abuse issues that can interfere with their ability to manage the symptoms of adjustment disorder. As a result, we provide detoxification services that allow individuals to safely withdraw from substances of abuse under the watchful eye of our physicians and nursing team. While we are unable to provide detox services for individuals using methadone or Suboxone, we are able to maintain those treatments for individuals who are already taking these medications.

Medication management: Many individuals who are struggling with mental health disorders, including adjustment disorder, benefit from including medications in their treatment regimen. At our adjustment disorder treatment center, every patient meets with a member of our medical team for an initial medication evaluation and ongoing daily medication monitoring.

Individual therapy: Patients can make substantial progress in their treatment for adjustment disorder when they have a regular opportunity to process emotions, triumphs, and setbacks within the safety of a one-on-one therapeutic relationship. To support this progress, we provide regular individual therapy for every patient at our treatment center. The frequency of sessions varies based on the patient’s age, unit, and need, as determined through collaboration between the patient and his or her treatment team. Patients meet with social services providers, case managers, rehab service providers, pastoral counselors, and other trainees and clinicians as recommended by the treatment team. Children and adolescents have daily individual therapy with members of their treatment team.

Group therapy: In addition to individual therapy, group therapy forms the backbone of treatment for adjustment disorder at our hospital for adjustment disorder. Led by members of our social services/case management, rehab, and nursing teams, group sessions are offered daily and provide a chance for patients to learn and practice coping skills while supporting and being supported by their peers. Our groups, provided at least twice daily, are focused on recovery and resilience and operate in modalities such as music therapy, leisure, art therapy, peer support, occupational therapy, talk therapy, psychoeducation, and creative expression. Groups cover a wide range of topics, some of which include:

• 12-Steps
• Cognitive-behavioral skills and interventions
• Stages of Change
• Medication education
• Substance abuse
• Trauma-focused interventions
• Aftercare
• Self-care
• ADLs (Activities of Daily Living)
• Spirituality
• Dialectical behavioral therapy skills
• Meditation and mindfulness
• Managing psychosis/illness management
• Problem-solving and decision-making
• Building strengths and resilience
• Self-esteem
• Values and goals
• Healthy boundaries
• AM/PM Community Meeting
• Wellness and Recovery Action Planning
• Behavioral activation (ceramics, ice cream social, exercise/yoga, art, music, activities/games, team building/challenge course, etc.)
• AA/NA support groups
• Peer-run groups (motivational speaker series & Face to Face Friday)

In addition to these groups, patients are invited to attend monthly alumni support meetings that give them an opportunity to speak with alumni from our treatment center and explore methods for achieving long-term success in treatment.

Family therapy: Our more than 80 years of experience treating mental illnesses like adjustment disorder has  shown us that one person’s mental illness often affects his or her entire family. In addition, family support can sometimes make the difference between relapse and long-term success. As a result, at our hospital, we emphasize family involvement and therapy throughout a patient’s hospitalization. Our treatment teams work with parents, grandparents, and other caregivers in order to develop the most comprehensive treatment solutions that will best enable our patients to thrive after treatment. Our case managers meet with family members, schools, community agencies, and other organizations to develop coordinated discharge plans. On our child and adolescent units, family sessions can also include development and utilization of crisis and safety planning, development and utilization of coping and communications skills, exploration of the family dynamic, and ways to improve interpersonal skills within that dynamic.

Experiential therapy: Individual and group therapies are of enormous benefit, but we have found that our patients also benefit from involving more of their bodies and minds in their recovery process. Experiential therapies use embodiment and sensory experiences to deepen individuals’ engagement in treatment, increase empowerment, and promote a sense of safety. Some of these interventions include:

• Art therapy
• Music therapy
• Role playing
• Guided imagery

Education: For children and adolescents in our care, we recognize the importance of ensuring continuity in their education so that they are not forced to choose between mental health care and academic success. Children and adolescents at our treatment center attend two hours of schooling per day, receiving instruction that is specially tailored around their Individual Education Plans (IEPs). The social worker works closely with the child or adolescent and the Pennsylvania Child and Adolescent Service Program (CASSP) throughout the patient’s length of stay to ensure all services are planned collaboratively with the patient, his or her family, and all agencies involved in the child or adolescent’s life.

Other interventions: As a leading provider of mental healthcare in Pennsylvania, we are equipped to offer a number of other interventions to those in our care. Some of these include:

• Nutrition consultation: All individuals in our care have access to our staff dietitian as needed.
• Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT):Individuals who are seeking alternatives to medication, or those for whom medications are not working, can elect to receive ECT for symptoms including depression, psychosis, catatonia, and mania. This form of treatment is quite safe and completely voluntary. This process generally involves a series of treatments two or three times a week for six to twelve treatments. In addition, maintenance treatments are often provided on an outpatient basis for the prevention of symptom relapse. Services are provided by certified ECT physicians, one of whom is our hospital’s Medical Director. The ECT physicians oversee ECT-trained nursing staff and an external group of certified registered nurse anesthetists.
• Internal medicine: We provide internal medicine services to all of our patients. Our admissions process includes a physical exam, and consultation with an internal medicine physician is available throughout the course of a hospital stay.
• Motivational speakers: We recognize that it can be superbly helpful to hear from other individuals who have learned to manage mental illness, and we bring in volunteer speakers, many of whom are trained as certified peer specialists and who have lived with mental illness and addiction, to offer personal insights into the challenges and successes of the recovery journey.
• Sensory programming (STAR Program): Individuals’ bodies can be powerful allies in the pursuit of improved mental health, so our STAR program (Sensory Tool Awareness and Routines) is used to foster an increased sense of safety, self-awareness, and control over patients’ lives by teaching tools which help to balance and regulate their nervous systems.
• Autism services: Our on-staff behavior specialist is certified in autism studies and provides consultation on behavioral interventions for individuals with autism and families of those individuals.
• Welcoming committee/Active treatment: As a part of our commitment to providing individually tailored treatment, we recognize that some individuals can benefit from interventions outside of groups, and we have developed resources that further allow patients to take treatment into their own hands. Within this intervention, we give patients a brief assessment and self-help materials to allow them to continue their growth outside of groups. We are also developing materials for individuals whose dominant language is not English.

Because recovery from adjustment disorder is a journey, we recognize that inpatient care is only the beginning for many individuals. As such, our treatment teams, and especially our case workers, work with schools, community agencies, and other organizations to develop coordinated and integrated treatment and aftercare plans. We begin planning for discharge from day one of treatment so that our patients leave our hospital into the welcoming arms of community-based support and external resources, maximizing patients’ abilities to continue the progress they made in treatment.

We put forth every effort to ensure that patients at our treatment center in Philadelphia can be successful in their recovery journeys. If you or a loved one is struggling with adjustment disorder, please do not hesitate to contact us. Today could be the first day of a brighter future.