Teen Program - Intake and Orientation

Individual Assessment

When a family chooses Mirasol as the treatment center for their child, they make a $1000 deposit to hold their space. At that time, the Director of Admissions will mail or provide a link to a series of questionnaires, releases, medical requirements and requests for psychiatric evaluations, school records and other necessary information required for admission. The Director of Admissions will make an appointment for a telephone assessment. The assessment takes 30-45 minutes. The client's physician and psychiatrist will fax the appropriate information to Mirasol, and our medical and clinical directors will review the information and approve the admission.

As part of the admission criteria, girls must be physically and emotionally stable. The applicant's primary care physician writes a letter to Mirasol stating that his or her patient is medically stable and cleared for residential treatment. Lab work, an EKG and a psychiatric evaluation are also submitted to Mirasol's physician for approval. The entire process generally takes from seven to 14 days.

Arriving at Mirasol

Upon admission, each teen receives a thorough medical, emotional, psychiatric, educational, developmental, nutritional and social assessment by Mirasol staff. Decisions about medication are made in concert with the teen and the family.

The staff develops a treatment plan for the child with a focus on the presenting issues and the recommended length of stay. On a weekly basis, girls and their treatment team meet to set goals and monitor progress. The treatment program combines therapies supported by research, a school program and an individualized treatment plan.

The staff works closely with the families or primary caregivers to help the teen integrate the new behaviors and skills. They gain confidence, learn personal responsibility, recover from their eating disordered behaviors, and eventually make a smooth transition home with an intensive aftercare plan in place with the treatment team at home as well as participation in Mirasol's Focused Continuing Care for a year after treatment.

The girls participate in group therapy which includes psychoeducational groups, process groups and daily life skills groups.

1. Psychoeducational groups include information about eating disorders, nutrition, appropriate exercise levels, family dynamics, depression, anxiety disorders, roles and relationships, and more. The teen needs to be educated about her diagnoses and the skills necessary to lead a rich and productive life.
2. Process groups may be structured cognitive-type groups or completely experiential. This is where group members begin to relate to each other and compare and contrast their personal experiences. Process groups provide the clients with the opportunity to see how skillfully they communicate with others. Are their communication skills appropriate for their age? Do they need to learn to relate to their peers and adults in a more effective manner?
3. Daily life skills groups help clients learn hands-on skills that help them with everyday life. These skills include time management, cooking, menu planning, shopping, the skills they need in school, work, with family and friends. Most important are the skills in problem solving — the cognitive steps they can use to handle any situation that arises. It's Mirasol's goal to provide your teen with the skills and tools she needs to live successfully in the world.