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Adolescent mental health and wellness

Adolescence is a tough time for children. Everything from heredity to family life, other relationships and school can affect your teen's mental and emotional well-being. We offer the support they need to thrive.

Mental health hospital for teens in Northern Virginia

Adolescence brings new experiences and emotions, some of which can hold you back. You are not alone.

Many teens experience depression and anxiety that can get in the way of living fully. Dominion Hospital has supportive mental health programs for adolescents struggling during this transitional phase of life.


Get an assessment now

In just a few easy steps, you can get started on the road to recovery and wellness. Let us help you find the programs you need to heal.

In just a few easy steps, you can get started on the road to recovery and wellness. Let us help you find the programs you need to heal.

Adolescent mental health conditions we treat

Our adolescent programs are appropriate for individuals struggling with:

  • Anxiety
  • Bipolar disorder
  • Crisis and symptom management
  • Depression
  • Distress tolerance
  • Eating disorders
  • Emotional regulation
  • Family conflict
  • Gender dysphoria
  • Psychosis
  • Self-esteem and body image issues
  • Self-injurious behavior (via the HEAL program)
  • School avoidance and socialization
  • Substance abuse (via the Intersect program)
  • Suicidal ideation

Adolescent mental health services we offer

Our teen mental health care programs are offered in both inpatient and outpatient settings and include therapeutic treatment as well as education services.

Inpatient program for teens

Inpatient programs are centered on the care and treatment of patients with diagnoses such as depression, bipolar disorder and anxiety. Treatment is rooted in evidence-based clinical practices.

Meeting each patient where they are in their recovery process is essential to building resilience and making positive changes. We create an individualized treatment plan to address your unique needs. Group and individual therapy and discharge planning sessions are also at the foundation of our inpatient programs.

Key components of our inpatient treatment for adolescents include:

  • Psychoeducation — provides information about the causes and effects of your particular mental illness to expand understanding of your condition, reduce feelings of helplessness and increase opportunities for better self-care
  • Psychotherapy — employs evidence-based treatment methods, such as cognitive-behavioral, dialectical behavioral, solution-focused and family and group therapies to enhance your sense of well-being
  • Expressive therapy groups — incorporates alternative therapies, such as art, dance, movement, music, yoga and recreational therapies to help address key emotional, behavioral or mental health issues that may not be accessible through words
  • Psychopharmacology — uses medication, when appropriate, to assist in treatment
Read our adolescent inpatient handbook. 

Outpatient program for teens

Outpatient programs are rooted in evidence-based clinical practices. This includes cognitive-behavioral therapies, as well as dialectical behavioral, acceptance and commitment and expressive therapies. Outpatient care helps patients focus on crisis stabilization, symptom management and positive coping strategies. Our outpatient program gives your teenager the option to receive care on a more flexible schedule.

Our goal is for both adolescents and their families to develop the practical skills needed to thrive at home, school and in the community. We accomplish this by fostering family support to handle any problems at home, granting deeper insight into the patient's treatment. We offer family therapy sessions, parent skills groups and multi-family nights as the foundation of our programs.

Read our outpatient handbook.

Partial hospitalization program (PHP)

PHP is a supportive, outpatient program for people who need intensive care without 24/7 monitoring. This program provides patients with daytime support Monday through Friday.

Key components of our PHP include:

  • Behavioral and logic skills, psychoeducation and mindfulness training
  • Coordination and planning with established outpatient providers
  • Coordination and planning for transition back to school
  • Expressive therapy
  • Group, individual and family therapy
  • Intersect treatment track to address dual diagnoses
  • Medication stabilization
  • Physician-led multidisciplinary treatment team
  • Treatment held five days a week (Monday through Friday)

Intensive outpatient program (IOP)

More intensive than regular therapy and more flexible than our partial hospitalization program, IOP offers support to those before they transition to just weekly therapeutic care. Key components of the adolescent IOP include:

  • Behavioral and logic skills, psychoeducation and mindfulness training
  • Coordination and planning with established outpatient providers
  • Expressive therapy
  • Group sessions each evening
  • Multi-family night every Wednesday, in which one family member is required to attend (virtually)
  • Physician-led multi-disciplinary team
  • Physician consultation available per request
  • Referrals for new outpatient providers
  • Treatment held three evenings a week (Tuesday through Thursday)
  • Weekly individual sessions with a clinical therapist

Adolescent mental health education

All school-age patients are encouraged to work on their schoolwork while they are in the hospital during the academic calendar year. During the summer, the education services staff implements a summer curriculum that includes leadership and team building activities, social skills development and other activities that promote and encourage creativity.

Education services

Our education services team consults directly with appropriate school personnel to address school stressors related to admission. They will also explore available school assistance, when applicable, and provide case management for all adolescent patients. When the time comes, they will help communicate with schools to facilitate your teen's transition back to the classroom.

The Learning Lab

The education services staff is also responsible for supervising and providing support to patients in The Learning Lab. Here, patients — other than those who are in our off-site outpatient programs — will have access to an interactive digital whiteboard, laptops and a printer.

Our Adolescent mental health and wellness Locations

Currently Viewing:

Dominion Hospital
2960 Sleepy Hollow Rd
Falls Church, VA 22044
 (703) 536 - 2000

Currently Viewing:

Dominion Hospital
2960 Sleepy Hollow Rd
Falls Church, VA 22044
 (703) 536 - 2000
Choices Adolescent Outpatient Program - Falls Church
6565 Arlington Blvd
Falls Church, VA 22042
 (703) 720 - 5527

0.6 miles

Choices Adolescent Outpatient Program - Chantilly
14501 George Carter Way
Chantilly, VA 20151
 (703) 227 - 8180

15.7 miles