When families first come to Camino a Casa, they are often focused on symptoms they can see and measure: withdrawal, mood changes, anxiety, or escalating conflict at home. These concerns are real, urgent, and often what brings a young person into treatment. But beneath those symptoms...
Summer brings a welcome break from early mornings, homework, and the pressures of the school year. But for adolescents struggling with anxiety, depression or other mental health challenges, the loss of structure and daily routine can actually intensify symptoms. Without the consistency of school and peer...
“I hate you.” “Stop talking to me.” “Just leave me alone.” Few things hurt more than feeling rejected by your own teen. While pushing away is a normal part of adolescence, extreme withdrawal, anger, or emotional shutdown can also be signs that something deeper is going on. About 1 in...
When 15-year-old Mia first arrived at Ventura County-based Casa Pacifica, she was withdrawing from the world around her—and hurting herself in ways that deeply alarmed her family. She stopped hanging out with friends, spent hours obsessively on her phone, and became increasingly isolated, trapped in...
The digital world offers teens unprecedented access to information — and with that access comes serious risk. A recent article highlights this danger in the most tragic terms: a 19-year-old California college student repeatedly turned to ChatGPT for drug advice and later died of an...
Parents and caregivers who show support, even through simple actions, can help lower suicide risk and bolster their LGBTQ+ youth's mental health. June is Pride Month in the United States. It’s a time when many LGBTQ+ community members gather to celebrate their experiences, support one another and...
Teen Stress Management Teenagers face a variety of stresses. For some, it is trying to balance a part-time job with mountains of homework. Others may deal with peer pressure around substance abuse or sex. But chronic stress —from financial insecurity, dysfunctional family dynamics or bullying —is different....
Is Family Therapy Right for You? Whether your youth is dealing with trauma, an anxiety disorder or another mental health struggle, family programming is an essential part of the therapeutic healing process. Family involvement helps parents and caregivers better understand and support their youth, and work through challenging situations...
September is Suicide Prevention Month After the last two years of pandemic living, economic uncertainty and tragic national events like mass shootings, stress and uncertainty have taken their toll on many people’s well-being. Sobering statistics state that suicides increased during the Covid-19 pandemic. Suicide is also...
Spread Kindness As children and youth return to in-person learning for the 2022 school year they can be exposed to triggers for mental health challenges, such as disrespect and bullying. National Civility Month is a reminder to treat others as one would wish to be treated....