When a teen is facing mental health challenges, it can be difficult for families to find the right treatment. But there is hope.
Dr. Lauren Scaletta, PsyD, director of clinical services at Rogers Behavioral Health in West Allis explains what holistic treatment is and why it matters for lasting healing.
What is holistic mental health treatment?
Holistic treatment means looking at the whole self, addressing a person’s:
- Physical health
- Emotional well-being
- Social connections
- Psychological challenges
- Spiritual beliefs or values
Our goal is to meet teens where they are in all those areas. For example, we ensure they’re evaluated by a primary care provider and receive follow-up care if needed. We also include education around sleep, nutrition, and physical wellness. Additionally, they may meet with a dietitian to create an individualized eating plan.
At Rogers, holistic treatment includes spiritual care. This helps teens find a sense of purpose, community, or personal values. Spiritual care could mean religious practice, but it could also involve exploring grief, guilt, or belonging in a safe, supportive way.
A goal of holistic treatment is to build a strong physical foundation so teens are better equipped to do the emotional and psychological work needed for healing.
How is a holistic approach to mental health treatment different from more traditional therapy?
Traditional therapy typically focuses on a specific diagnosis or symptom, such as only addressing substance use or depression. But in many cases, those issues are deeply connected. For example, a teen might use substances to cope with anxiety or depression. If we only treat the substance use, we’re not addressing the root cause, and the anxiety or depression could worsen as substances are removed. Holistic care allows us to treat both at the same time.
What are the benefits of holistic treatment for mental health?
Holistic treatment has several benefits:
- Comprehensive care in one place
Families don’t have to find multiple programs to address all their teen’s needs. Everything is integrated in one place, which can help shorten the time a teen needs to be in treatment and make reentry into home, school, and community smoother.
- Whole-person healing
Holistic treatment allows mental health experts to explore how emotional health, nutrition, physical wellness, and family support are connected. Teens don’t just learn to cope with symptoms. They gain tools for every part of life.
- Family involvement and support
Parents and caregivers are given education so they know what to look out for and how to support their teen moving forward. At Rogers, we include family support sessions that help strengthen relationships and rebuild trust and emotional connection. What’s true of all of us, especially teens, is that the people we’re closest to often get the rawest version of ourselves because those are the people we feel safest with.
- Stronger sense of identity and self-worth
Through skill-building and support, teens begin to recognize their strengths, set personal goals, and gain a clearer sense of who they are, which builds their confidence and self-esteem.
How can holistic treatment help teens who haven’t responded well to conventional therapy or medication?
Holistic treatment can rebuild hope. It allows us to focus not just on the teen’s challenges, but also on what interests and motivates them. For example, a parent might want their teen to be more respectful or limit their phone use, but the teen may be wondering, “How do I make friends?” or “How do I do better in school?” We work with both perspectives—helping with the parent’s goals while also supporting what matters to the teen. That’s where we see real growth.
What changes do families typically notice when a teen is supported through holistic care?
One of the most meaningful changes in the Teen Recovery Program is that teens begin to show more empathy and self-awareness.
We recently added a project where parents share a brief autobiography with their teen during support sessions. This helps teens see their parents as real people and builds understanding. We also see an increased willingness to try new coping skills, even if emotions are still intense.
We work with teens to build more life skills, too, such as the basics of money management, applying for jobs, or building a schedule. These real-world skills may be delayed due to mental health challenges and building them increases hope for achieving long-term goals.
Many teens in our program continue healthy habits outside of treatment, like attending support groups or keeping up a hobby they discovered. That’s when parents really see their teen re-engaging with life.
What role do community outings and activities play in holistic care?
We know that loneliness plays a major role in a person’s well-being. Community outings and activities help teens build skills, make connections, and find new interests.
Every week, teens go out with our experiential therapists for activities like volunteering at a local equine therapy stable or assembling care packages for unhoused communities. These experiences help them feel connected to something bigger than themselves and build a sense of purpose.
They also voluntarily participate in Narcotics Anonymous, Emotions Anonymous, or Alateen, which is for children who have a loved one with a substance use disorder.
We also include fun outings like going to an arcade or the park. These trips help teens practice social skills, manage their emotions in real-world settings, and learn how to enjoy healthy leisure. Rogers care team members are always present to offer support in the moment, which helps teens build confidence and resilience.
Who is a good fit for the Teen Recovery Program? What signs should parents look for?
Teens in our program are often struggling with the basics:
- Keeping up with hygiene
- Attending school or doing homework
- Getting out of bed every day
- Managing their emotions
- Engaging with peers outside of technology
- Experiencing ongoing conflict with family, teachers, or peers
Some may have had interactions with law enforcement or are at risk of being removed from school. Others are struggling with substance use. We’re here to help teens get back on track.
What should parents look for in a mental health holistic treatment program?
Parents should look for a program that sees their child as a whole person and does a full assessment, considering things like identity, cultural background, strengths, and challenges. Ask if the program offers skills-based learning, real-life practice opportunities, and regular family involvement.
Also, don’t hesitate to ask for transparency. Parents have the right to understand what treatment will look like and how they’ll be involved. Credible programs welcome open communication and should be able to explain the research-backed methods they use.
What encouragement would you offer to parents considering holistic treatment for their teen?
First of all, taking the step to explore treatment is a courageous move. Seeking help is a sign of strength, not failure.
Know that progress doesn’t always look like a straight line. It might feel slow at times but even small steps forward matter.
Rogers offers holistic treatment for mental health disorders in teens
If your teen is struggling, we’re here to help.
For more information on the Teen Recovery Program, call 833-308-5887.
