Seeking a Therapeutic Outpatient Program
Parent Q&A
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Kaiser +other recs for 18 yr old back from treatment ? IOP?
–Feb 11, 2025We're new to Kaiser and our 18 year old is coming home in 3 weeks after 11 months in two dual diagnosis programs (addiction and trauma-focused mental health care), so we need to find a team for her asap - from primary care to psychiatrist, individual + family therapist and possibly a recovery program. We're also trying to learn what we can about the IOP programs for 18+ (she's 18+ one month, so maybe they'd place her with adolescents?). Most urgently we need a female individual therapist who understands addiction and sexual trauma, whether it's with kaiser or someone outside, and a primary care doctor who understand ADHD, anxiety and takes a wholistic view of health.
We'd also love any and all recommendations for family therapists who work with Family Systems, and a good couple's therapist who can understand parenting PTSD.
We need a team! Thank you in advance for any and all recommendations, advice, etc.
Feb 11, 2025Intensive outpatient programs for 14YO's cannabis use
–Jan 24, 2024Our 14yo has gone hard for cannabis. We've been through a ringer this school year already, and at this point I'm concerned for his safety. He's consuming 50-100mg edibles regularly, and I don't think his brain can take it.
I think he would really benefit from an intensive outpatient program. He spent most of his life in foster care and has only recently been adopted, so I'm not willing to send him away.
I know a teen who was in the Partial Hospitalization program for depression at Edgewood and got a lot out of it. I want to find something similar on this side of the bay, and we're dealing primarily with addiction not depression.
Has your family been through Edgewood's program? Other tips on intensive programs that aren't inpatient?
Jan 24, 2024Seeking Teen Substance Outpatient program
–Jan 5, 2022Hello, we are seeking an East Bay outpatient substance program for our 15 year old daughter. We don't belong to Kaiser but do have a PPO that is quite flexible. She was previously doing your usual variety of Bay Area substances common to teens. She has stopped but still is very involved with a scene of kids who regularly use substances, so she needs reinforcement in her decisions and a broader understanding of the substance scene. She is fine with being tested regularly. I know that Thunder Road used to serve this function but hear that their staffing/structure has changed and we have some concerns. If you're not aware of an East Bay program, we are happy hearing about broader Bay Area programs that use zoom or even national ones. Driving into Contra Costa also works for us. I'm also wondering if people have experience with the UCSF YOSUP program. I would really appreciate any detail you can include in your response and am grateful for any suggestions you have. Thanks so much for your help!
Jan 5, 2022
It takes a lot of planning when your kid comes home from treatment. We have gone through this however not with an 18 year old. There is a great local Facebook group called “PostTX: Parents with kids home from Wilderness and Residential Treatment”. Many of the families on there have 18 year olds. Some recommendations I can make are:
Couples/Family Therapist:
Scott Webber LCSW in Albany. Very knowledgeable about our kids and helpful
Psychiatrist: Dr Wycoff-Montenegro based in WC but does remote. She is experienced. Caring and respectful to patients and parents. The best we have found.
I only know about IOP for under 18 but our experience wasn’t great with that, especially those directly connected to hospitals unless your kid is just hospital post released.
There are Transitional programs such as Wonder that provide parent coaching, kid support etc all in one. And can be great for the initial transition.
Correction on my previous response:
PostTX Facebook is NOT local but definitely helpful. The local group is: Bay Area Parents of Kids in Residential which isn’t just for Post treatment but has a lot of good information and connections.
You may want to attend a support group put on by an amazing non-profit agency called "Family Sanity." They have 3 support groups every month. The Tuesday evening group is targeted towards parents of young adults and the weekend groups focus more on families who have experienced or are thinking about residential treatment for their child. They are parent-led and may be the only group of people who actually understand what your family has been/is going through. Another well-known non-profit, Willows in the Wind, has recently merged with Family Sanity.
Thank you all for your responses. The Family Sanity Tuesday night group sounds perfect, and I'll look into it. Willows was a tremendous resource and I'm so glad that the mission lives on.
Am also looking into Kaiser Addiction Services and wondering if a psychiatrist specializing in addiction might be a good fit.
We're leaning toward Coyote Coast for support, but also looking into potentially getting a mentor type of therapist for our daughter, and holding off on the family therapy while we each focus on our own work. I may do another post but am wondering if anyone has had experience with Coyote Coast, East Gate Mentoring or Homing Instinct?
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Our family has been in a very similar situation, and we know how overwhelming it can be to find the right team after residential treatment. It’s so important to have professionals who truly understand addiction, trauma, and the family dynamics that come with it.
One resource we found incredibly helpful was connecting with trauma-informed therapists who specialize in working with individuals after treatment. This directory was a great starting point for us: https://www.ttiresourcenetwork.com/
Wishing you all the best in building a strong support system for your daughter’s healing and transition home!
Hello. I am sorry that you and your family are going through this.
Our child is currently working with Yoshiko Hedges of East Gate Mentoring for individual sessions. Our child's issues are very different from yours but Yoshi has been great with her - kind, sensitive and - I think - good with boundaries. I recommend speaking with her to see if she could be a good fit. She's not a therapist but has a therapeutic approach.
I'm currently participating in a Family Sanity group for adults and finding it very helpful. Maybe I will see you there.
Hello- Our son (16 at the time) also went to a dual diagnosis program for 90 days. Someone recommended Coyote Coast to us and we had a really good experience- at least for my husband and myself. My kid at that point was therapied out and would be slightly aloof during our meetings, but in the end, I believe he was soaking it all in. Alex is wonderful. He still checks in with us. He is patient and understanding and he taught us so much about how to really connect and lean into our son. It's not as easy as it sounds. I know you mentioned needing a female therapist, perhaps they have one on staff- but we worked with Alex. Wishing you and your family the very best of luck.