Sending our teen to residential treatment was one of the hardest decisions we have ever had to make, but Newport Academy in Oakley ended up being such an amazing place for them. We are so grateful we chose Newport, and what truly made the experience so positive was the people who work there.
From their counselor, to the staff who worked with them and their pod every day, to the people working behind the scenes, everyone played a part in our teen's experience. The staff were so patient with them, even on the really difficult days when they were struggling with being away from home or did not want to participate. They continued showing up for them, talking with them, encouraging them, and helping them work through what they were feeling.
The staff really took the time to get to know our teen -- their personality, their strengths, the things they struggled with, and what kind of support worked best for them. It never felt like our teen was just another kid going through the program.
They helped our teen learn accountability, communicate in healthier ways, and better manage their anxiety, stress, and overstimulation. They also gave them tools to recognize when they were becoming overwhelmed or frustrated and work through those feelings before they escalated into anger. They helped our teen learn how to handle tough situations in healthier ways, especially when things felt out of their control or did not go the way they wanted. Those are skills and tools we have already seen them use since coming home.
I also really appreciated how much Newport included and supported us as a family. The family therapy, communication, and discharge planning helped us understand what our teen was working on and what we could do differently at home to continue supporting them. They did not just send them home and leave us to figure everything out on our own. They helped prepare all of us for the transition back home.
Since our teen returned home, we have seen such a huge difference. They are calmer, communicating better, taking more accountability, and handling situations differently than they did before. Of course, everything is not suddenly perfect, but we can genuinely see the growth and the difference their time at Newport made. They have talked to us about things they learned there, used some of those tools on their own, and have even taught us some of the skills they learned because they thought they could be helpful for our family too.
Meria, who works with experience and alumni support, has stayed in regular contact with me to check on how our teen is doing and how the transition home has been going. Having someone continue to reach out and support us after discharge has meant so much. I really appreciate that the support did not just end the day our teen came home.
Looking back, I am incredibly thankful we chose Newport Academy. Watching the changes in our teen since they came home has reassured us that we made the right decision, even though it was an incredibly hard one to make at the time. I would absolutely recommend Newport Academy in Oakley to another family who is trying to decide if residential treatment is the right next step for their teen. read more