Lakeland Behavioral Health System provides focused care to ensure that children and adolescents ages 4 to 11 who have been struggling with mental health disorders receive the guidance and support that they need to achieve long-term recovery.
The Benefits of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
The children’s behavioral health treatment program at Lakeland Behavioral Health in Missouri is dedicated to the treatment of children between the ages of four (4) and eleven (11). Through the introduction and age appropriate application of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), children are able to identify triggers and life stressors. Before treatment, ineffectively coping with triggers and stressful situations cause conflict in daily life, presenting as acting out behaviors. By learning acceptable coping methods, patients are able to identify and positively cope with stressors and therefore interact appropriately through their daily routine. Accurate diagnosis and treatment of psychiatric disorders assist the patient to implement changes by stabilization of their mood and behaviors.
Promoting Positive & Appropriate Behavior
Lakeland’s inpatient treatment program for children & adolescents uses a positive rewards system to promote positive and appropriate behavior. All children enter the program at a Rising Star level, with the overall goal of progression through four phases to obtain the Super Star Level. Up to 3 stars are earned each hour for participation in groups and the unit routine. Children are rewarded immediately for positive behaviors with Star Dollars to use for purchasing additional privileges/rewards. Immediate rewards assist the child in identifying positive behavior the moment it occurs.
Intensive Therapies & Evaluations
The children’s program implements intensive therapies and evaluations to individualize each patient’s plan of care. Each child attends 5 psychotherapy groups daily as well as 2 individual and 2 family therapies each week. Each child is evaluated by a psychiatrist a minimum of 3 times weekly and attends a unit staffing weekly with members of their treatment team. The child develops their individualized treatment plan with successful identification of triggers and implementation of coping skills.
