There are moments in life when you simply have to write out a pros and cons list when making a major decision. If you’re at a crossroads about how to improve wellness management but have never tried residential treatment for mental health issues, we’ll provide some facts to help your thought process.

Peel Back the Layers

For many people who experience mood disorders, trauma or PTSD, process addictions, co-occurring disorders, and eating disorders, there’s a strong chance they’ll have more than one of these conditions.

Here’s one example. Until just a couple of decades ago, the majority of treatment for eating disorders was directed primarily at the physical symptoms of a particular condition. So if a person was diagnosed with anorexia nervosa because they refused to eat and exercised too much to control weight, treatment focused on convincing them to eat again so they wouldn’t become more malnourished. Occasionally, a therapy component accompanied eating correction, but often it, too, only addressed symptoms instead of identifying and treating the cause of the disorder.

But now, mental health professionals understand—and accept—that biological, psychological, and social risk factors contribute to eating disorders, which the National Institute of Mental Health define as “serious medical illnesses marked by severe disturbances to a person’s eating behaviors.” Potential co-occurring risk factors include ADHD, anxiety, body dysmorphia, depression, and historical trauma, to name a few.

A single health care provider might have challenges helping an individual uncover all the reasons why they’re struggling with a particular condition. And it’s frustrating for that person as well, especially if treatment doesn’t progress as well as it could or their care provider simply doesn’t specialize in addressing a co-occurring issue—such as trauma, for example—and its impact on mental health. Yet will someone really learn to manage their condition more effectively without this understanding?

Potential Benefits of Residential Care

One of the most notable benefits of residential treatment for mental health is that a whole team of experts can not only help someone uncover the realities of their condition, but also unify internally to form a comprehensive care plan.

Just based on the example above, it’s simply not enough to prescribe medication and move on to the next patient, which often happens in standardized mental health treatment. It’s frustrating for both an individual and their provider to not have the time to unlock all contributing influences and get closer to more proactive care.

During a residential stay, clients should respond well in a structured environment with 24/7 support that allows for the only focus to be on healing. This integrated approach often clears the way for establishing regular mechanisms for managing the condition, developing a continuum of care plan, and finding professionals and other groups for assistance after treatment.

Depending on your condition, other benefits to residential treatment for mental health include:

• Group and individual talk therapy to address attitudinal and behavioral aspects of certain conditions and develop coping strategies for managing thoughts and emotions.
• Cognitive behavioral therapy, which helps people identify and process unhealthy or irrational patterns that prompt continual pain, coupled with other progressive applications.
• Specific therapy for grief, post-traumatic stress, and other trauma that might be risk factors for particular disorders.
• Physical and brain exercises to restore new cerebral tissue and release positive chemicals.
• Nutritional plans that eliminate toxins and help restore a balance of amino acids, minerals, and vitamins.

Residential treatment provides a comforting atmosphere to start addressing the type of condition and what additional therapies might be necessary to reach stability and, more importantly, maintain it in aftercare.

Acknowledging Concerns About Residential Care

Again, it’s important to evaluate the benefits against your concerns so the final decision includes comprehensive facts. Inpatient treatment for mental health care for 30, 60, or 90 days might not be readily accessible if you’re:

• Unable to find support for childcare responsibilities.
• Worried about the financial investment—although it’s possible your insurance provider has outlined coverage options for this type of in-depth care.
• Uncertain as to whether you’d want to stay close to home or go elsewhere.
• Not comfortable about the security of your employment situation—although it’s worth researching the Family and Medical Leave Act guidelines with your employer to learn more about your eligibility for protected leave.

Additionally, if you or someone you love simply can’t comprehend the depth of treatment required at the moment, finding a facility that can personally assess your specific needs beforehand might help.

For example, Cottonwood Tucson has a four-day intensive inpatient program that assesses mental health threats and issues, as well as related conditions. This program can personally address:

• Cases of differing and potentially complex diagnoses.
• Individuals with mental health issues who aren’t progressing in therapy.
• People who would like a second opinion to a previous diagnosis.
• Individuals who require a supportive and gentle yet firm process to move past denial of behavioral addictions, mental health issues, or substance abuse.

A Team of Caring Experts

Cottonwood Tucson’s medical professionals look forward to every opportunity to help individuals regain the wellness they deserve.

Our interdisciplinary clinical team includes:

• Nurse practitioners
• Clinical psychologists
• Licensed professional counselors and social workers
• Family therapists
• Registered dieticians
• Exercise and recreational counselors
• Equine therapists
• Holistic healers

A diverse professional care approach ensures that each client at Cottonwood’s holistic rehab receives creative, nuanced, and comprehensive behavioral health care. Our team specializes in united, innovative methods, such as EMDR, brainspotting, and multiple types of therapeutic applications, along with exercise and nutrition education to help each person understand their past and create a promising new future.

We’re Ready to Help

When you or a loved one is ready to go beneath the surface and achieve whole-person health, Cottonwood is open to you. Use the contact information on this page to start your new wellness journey.