Program focuses on teens with mental and chemical issues

Mission Hospital Laguna Beach launched a program for adolescents who are struggling with both psychological issues and chemical dependency.

The program, which began Monday, is tailored to help teens from 14 to 17 cope with mental health issues, according to a news release.

Structured as an afterschool intensive outpatient program, adolescents attend three groups a day from 4 to 7:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday.

The treatment curriculum was created with the goal of helping adolescents become motivated for positive change, learn ways to achieve and maintain sobriety, as well as manage mood and behavioral disorders. The group topics address and teach coping skills designed to help adolescents develop good mental health practices and lifelong sobriety.

“Living a substance-free lifestyle is our vision for all teens in South Orange County,” Fred Richmond, Mission’s executive director of behavioral health services, said in the release. “Our new services for adolescents will play a major role in making this vision a reality.”

To further enhance the program, individual therapy time is provided by licensed clinicians along with family sessions.

A parenting program will run one evening a week in order to equip parents with skills to support their children. Each family will be required to meet individually with a therapist at least once a week to discuss challenges specific to them and obtain strategies on how to overcome obstacles.

Complementary approaches such as yoga and art therapy are included in the group sessions.

For more information, such as program costs, or to register, call Mission’s Laguna campus at (949) 499-1311.

The hospital is at 31872 S. Coast Hwy.