In a world where the digital and social environments of our adolescents are rapidly shifting, our awareness of the gravity of their mental health has grown immensely. With each passing year, research shows the critical role of social connections in the mental well-being of our teens. We explored a therapeutic avenue that may be less familiar but no less impactful in nurturing the mental health of our teens: peer support groups.  What Are Support Groups?  Peer support groups are sanctuaries where individuals facing similar challenges can come together to share experiences, insights, a ..read more

We often undermine the stress that teens go through day to day. Between managing school, homework, extracurricular activities, friendships, and the new addition of hormones, there’s a lot going on in a teenage brain. There’s a reason a lot of people say you couldn’t pay them to go back to high school. Ah, to be young again.   We’re a teen treatment center so you know where this is going. The way teens and adolescents tend to handle stress isn’t always productive. We’ve seen it all, so in this blog we’re here to offer 6 healthy coping mechanisms and mindfulness strategies rooted in se ..read more

Surf therapy, also known as surf-based therapy or ocean therapy, is a form of therapeutic intervention that utilizes surfing and the ocean environment to promote mental, emotional, and physical well-being. It involves structured sessions led by trained professionals, such as therapists, counselors, or surf instructors, who guide participants through surfing activities to achieve therapeutic goals.  What is Surf Therapy?  Surf therapy is a form of therapy that incorporates the ocean and surfing into mental health treatment. It involves using surfing and the natural environment of the ..read more

Celeste Martinez Yay! It’s your first relationship, and you’re probably feeling all kinds of emotions – excitement, butterflies, and maybe even a little nervousness. It’s okay; you’re not alone. Like many people, you’re bound to tread carefully, and at the same time, enjoy every moment of this experience. Before exploring this new world, make sure you have a few things in place to keep your relationship healthy and happy. In this blog post, we’ll share tips on how to navigate your first-ever relationship for a smooth and healthy partnership.   1. Building Good Boundaries  One o ..read more

Hiking has some serious health benefits, not just for physical health but mental too. Studies show that walking in nature could lead to lower risk of depression. Exercise in general improves mental health, with evidence showing that it can reduce anxiety, depression, and negative mood. So, we decided to put together a list of the best hiking trails in Malibu, so that you and your family can work on your mental health with a killer view. Santa Monica Mountains Recreation Area With more than 500 miles of public trails running across the Santa Monica Mountains, there’s sure to be a trail for anyo ..read more

TikTok has been a blessing and a curse when it comes to mental health awareness. There has never been as much information on mental illness online as there is now, which means there’s also never been as much misinformation. With the rise of mental health disorder awareness, came the rise of self-diagnoses. And the latest viral mental illness? Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID). DID, previously known as Multiple Personality Disorder, is a rare psychiatric disorder affecting only 1.5% of the entire world’s population. So how is it possible that so many TikTok accounts are popping up left and r ..read more

Having to talk to your teenager about drugs is tricky, on both ends. Teenagers are learning to come into their identities, which means their evolving mindsets can clash with parental boundaries. Parents must guide their child to make good decisions, while still providing a safe place to talk about difficult topics.  So how do you establish limits with your child without pushing them away, especially when it comes to drugs and alcohol? Start an Ongoing Conversation Talking to teens about alcohol and drugs should never be a one-and-done conversation. As your child grows up, their attitudes ..read more

We all have thoughts or ideas that enter our minds that are stressful, distressing, or unpleasant. In most cases, when this occurs, we can recognize such thoughts as meaningless, and they disappear as quickly as they appeared, never to reappear. For someone who lives with frequent, recurring intrusive thoughts, the ability to push them aside is different. For some, worrisome and unwanted thoughts occur daily (or several times each day), leading to difficulties with many aspects of their daily lives. Understanding Intrusive Thoughts Intrusive thoughts are wanted ideas and images that are often ..read more

Controlling your anger can be an incredible struggle. Most parents have been there at least once. What seems to be a harmless conversation with your teen quickly spirals out of control. Suddenly harsh words are said, and your teen stomps out of the room before slamming the door, putting the punctuation on what is the end of a confusing and unintentionally angry conversation. It is difficult for adults and teens alike to control the emotions that accompany anger. However, giving in to those emotions will often make the problem worse rather than providing any form of beneficial solution. For tee ..read more

Mood disorders primarily affect one’s emotions. Most mood disorders involve periods of extreme sadness, extreme happiness, or both. In some cases, your team may alternate between periods of elation and periods of extremely low mood. Certain mood disorders also involve other moods or emotions, such as irritability and anger. What are Mood Disorders? The term mood disorder is a broad term mental health professionals use to describe all types of depression and bipolar disorders. Mood disorders can occur in people of all ages and demographics. However, although they can occur in children, teens, a ..read more