Teen Mental Health Treatment in Las Vegas

When a Teen May Need an Evaluation

Moodiness, conflict, and changing interests can be part of adolescence. Concern grows when changes last, become intense, or interfere with the teen’s ability to function.

Signs worth discussing with a qualified professional may include:

These signs are not a diagnosis. NIMH recommends seeking help when emotions or behaviors last for weeks, cause distress, interfere at home, school, or with friends, or become unsafe (National Institute of Mental Health, 2024).

What a Complete Assessment Should Consider

The assessor should also consider whether physical health, medication effects, sleep problems, trauma, learning needs, family changes, or substance use may be affecting symptoms. A checklist alone cannot show which treatment is appropriate.

Our Treatment page explains that we evaluate each adolescent individually. Specific diagnoses and admission criteria should be confirmed with admissions.

Choosing a Level of Care in Mental Health Treatment for Teens

Standard outpatient treatment

Outpatient care may fit when a teen can remain safe and manage much of daily life with scheduled appointments and family support.

Intensive Outpatient Program

IOP provides more treatment contact while the teen lives at home or in another approved setting.

Partial Hospitalization Program

PHP is a more intensive day program. It may fit when a teen needs substantial structure but does not require 24-hour residential care.

Residential treatment

Residential treatment provides a live-in setting for teens who need support beyond outpatient levels but are stable enough for a planned residential program. The treatment team can explain Rise’s current daily schedule, therapeutic services, academic arrangements, and family contact before admission.

Acute hospital care

Hospital care is used for immediate psychiatric or medical stabilization. It is not the same as residential treatment.

The right level depends on risk, functioning, medical stability, home support, treatment history, and the teen’s ability to participate. It may change over time.

Explore related guidance on residential, PHP, IOP, outpatient as you compare options for your teen.

How Treatment Can Help

Mental health treatment may help a teen understand patterns, build life skills, improve communication, and restore daily functioning through structured therapy sessions. NIMH notes that youth care may involve psychotherapy, medication, family counseling, parent support, or coordination among providers (National Institute of Mental Health, 2024).

Our services include Individual Therapy, Group Therapy, family therapy, and family involvement as part of comprehensive behavioral health treatment for adolescent mental health needs. We provide evidence based care using CBT and DBT, which are evidence based therapies used for adolescents, along with trauma-focused services and experiential modalities. In individual and group therapy, teens can practice emotional regulation; group therapy also helps build emotional regulation and healthy coping skills. The exact combination depends on assessment and the individualized treatment plan. Families can ask:

Our multidisciplinary team brings different professional perspectives into assessment and care planning. Families should still ask who will participate in their teen’s care at the recommended level.

• What goals will guide treatment?

• How will progress be measured?

• How will caregivers be involved?

• Are outside medical or medication providers needed?

• How will school and community providers be included?

• What would lead to a change in level of care?

Mental Health and Substance Use

Alcohol or drug use can occur alongside emotional or behavioral health concerns, including problems with impulse control. Substance use may worsen symptoms, increase risk, or make diagnosis more difficult. A teen may also use substances in an attempt to manage distress.

We offer substance use and dual-diagnosis assessment as part of broader behavioral health treatment in addition to primary mental health care. When both areas are present, the assessment should address their relationship instead of treating them as unrelated.

We do not provide detox. Possible intoxication or withdrawal requires medical assessment and, when indicated, another service before admission.

Family Involvement Without Blame

Parents and guardians can support treatment without being treated as the cause of every problem. Caregiver observations, home routines, communication, and safety planning can all inform care.

We involve families in assessment, treatment planning, and transition. Ask how updates, privacy, family therapy, and discharge planning work for the recommended program.

At home, caregivers can help by:

• Listening before moving into problem-solving

• Describing specific changes rather than using labels

• Keeping expectations clear and realistic

• Following the agreed safety plan

• Supporting attendance and practice between sessions

• Not stopping medication or treatment without guidance from the appropriate provider

When to Seek Immediate Help

Routine admissions conversations are not emergency care. If a teen is in immediate danger, has a medical emergency, or cannot be kept safe, call emergency services or go to the nearest emergency department.

If a teen has suicidal thoughts or is in emotional distress, call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988. The service provides 24-hour confidential crisis support (National Institute of Mental Health, 2026).

Admissions and Insurance

Our admissions team starts with a private phone call to listen to what the family is seeing and discuss possible next steps. Assessment determines whether our program and a specific level of care are appropriate. Insurance verification is part of the admissions process. If urgent placement is being explored, ask admissions about the current assessment and admission timeline.

We do not accept Medicaid. We work with major insurance providers, including while our in-network credentialing is still in process. Commercial insurance may be considered after an individual benefits review, but this does not establish in-network status. We do not guarantee benefits, authorization, reimbursement, cost, or admission.

Families who want to submit plan information can use the Verify Insurance form. Admissions can also guide families on gathering any records needed for review, and most families have questions about benefits and next steps.

Questions Parents Can Ask

• What is the working clinical understanding, and what remains uncertain?

• Why is this level of care recommended?

• How will safety be monitored?

• What progress should we expect to measure?

• Which services occur onsite and which require outside providers?

• How will our teen have an age-appropriate voice?

• How will family and school communication work?

• What is the transition plan?