Philadelphia’s Leading Conduct Disorder Hospital

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

Conduct disorder is a mental health condition that is characterized by symptoms such as aggression towards others, theft, disregard for rules, deceitfulness, and destruction of property. When this disorder is present and goes untreated, individuals can begin to struggle with numerous consequences throughout their lives. The impact that conduct disorder can have on an individual can prevent him or her from living life to its fullest potential.

Despite the many negative effects that can come from untreated conduct disorder, there are options for care that can make these consequences disappear or lessen. At Belmont Behavioral Health System, a conduct disorder treatment center in Philadelphia, we understand how painful this disorder can be and how much it can affect the individual and the lives of those who love him or her. That is why we are devoted to supplying top-of-the-line care to each patient who comes to us for help so he or she can begin to recover.

Helping a loved one get treatment for conduct disorder

When conduct disorder is present in your loved one’s life, it can bring about a series of emotions for you, ranging from disbelief and anger to sadness and hopelessness. While it might feel as though there is nothing you can do, there are in fact always things that you can do to support your loved one and help him or her get treatment. These things can include:

• Obtaining an education about conduct disorder. Spend time learning the ins and out of this condition, including the causes, symptoms, and treatments that are available. Nail down specific treatment options and places that provide care that can help your loved one so that when he or she does make the decision to get treated, you will be able to supply him or her with options.
• Once you have determined specific treatment centers that can help your loved one if and when he or she asks for it, be ready to hit the ground running. Prepare to help tie up the loose ends that might remain, such as helping out with childcare, making appointments, providing transportation, and working out all other issues the might stand in the way of your loved one focusing fully on his or her treatment.
• Keep your lines of communication open with your loved one. While this might be difficult when his or her conduct disorder is going untreated, work to keep communication going so that you are not only able to state your concerns in a non-threatening manner, but so your loved one can also confide in you.
• In the event that your loved one starts discussing harming him or herself or others, be ready to contact professional help right away. While this might cause friction in your relationship with your loved one, it is imperative that you take these actions to protect your loved one and those who might be impacted by his or her behaviors if they are carried out.
• To be able to do all of the things listed above, you must put yourself above everything else. You have to take care of yourself by doing things such as getting enough rest, eating well, finding a support system that can help you, and continuing to uphold a happy life for yourself. While this might seem unnecessary, it is critical for you and your loved one’s benefit.

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

Individuals who continue on without receiving treatment for conduct disorders can begin to see all corners of their lives begin to deteriorate. Occurrences such as job loss, legal battles, injuries caused by physical altercations, sexually transmitted diseases, and unplanned pregnancies can all occur in someone who grapples with conduct disorder. Additionally, individuals who have this disorder are more likely to suffer from substance use disorders, as they begin abusing alcohol, drugs, or both. It is important that individuals with conduct disorder know that despite the impairment they might suffer from, there is help available that can help them to begin living life independently, successfully, and without being held back by conduct disorder.

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

Our treatment center is a psychiatric hospital that provides care for children, adolescents, adults, and geriatric patients who are struggling with psychiatric issues, substance use, 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 treatment center, 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 conduct 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 conduct disorder. At our treatment center, no two treatment plans are the same, and our treatment is so successful that 92% of inpatients 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 conduct 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 individuals who are already taking these medications.

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

Individual therapy: At our hospital, we know that patients can make substantial progress in their treatment conduct disorder for 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 and counseling sessions for every individual in our care. Frequency of sessions varies based on the patient’s age, unit, and need, as determined by 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, groups form the backbone of treatment for conduct disorder at our hospital. Led by members of our social services/case management, rehab, and nursing teams, groups 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 hospital for conduct disorder and explore methods for achieving long-term success in treatment.

Family therapy: Our more than 80 years of experience treating mental illnesses like conduct 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 treatment center, we emphasize family involvement and therapy throughout a patient’s hospitalization. Our treatment team works with parents, grandparents, and other caregivers in order to develop the most complete 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 therapy are of enormous benefit, and we have found that patients at our hospital 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 at our treatment center, 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 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 health care in Pennsylvania, we are equipped to offer a number of other interventions to those at our hospital. Some of these include:

• Nutrition consultation: All individuals in our care have access to our staff dietician 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. Treatment 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 treatment center’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 experience 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 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 conduct 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’ ability to continue the progress they made in treatment.

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