Residential Treatment Centers on West Coast

[WA mother]

I am trying to find an effective inpatient treatment for my 21 year old son.  He is intelligent, musically gifted, and a computer whiz, but diagnosed with BPD.  We have tried therapy and one week of psych hospital, but he has begun to get into legal trouble so I am now desperate to for him to go to a inpatient program that will teach him the skills of DBT.  We also live in WA so would prefer something on the West coast.  I do have insurance and he is willing to go as he realizes he needs help.

Our objective is to better understand the struggles our child faces and to learn the skills to improve our relationship and provide a supportive environment and also improve on our own emotional responses, attitudes and effectiveness as a family leaders

[free-n-clear]

Hi, WA mother.

  I'm sorry to hear that your son is getting into legal trouble. It's great that he's willing to undergo treatment - sadly most people suffering from BPD are never diagnosed and therefore never get the help they need. I've put the call out for some help finding a suitable RTC, so hopefully you'll be getting some responses about that very soon. In the meantime, this link will take you to a thread that you might find some relevant information in: Residential Treatment Program (RTP) or Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)?

  The senior members here on our Parenting a Son or Daughter Suffering from BPD discussion board may also be able to help. (Thanks, Skip! )

  The support and understanding you'll receive here on Parenting as well as the resources and information available here have helped thousands of parents in situations similar to yours, I hope you'll make the most of it, too.

    Cheers, free'n'clear.

[WA mother]

Thank you so much for responding.  You don't know what it means to have a sympathetic and informed ear.  I have pretty much been dealing with this alone as I am a single parent with no family local and the remaining--one brother suffers from bipolar and depression.  It is a lot, but I will never give up on trying to help him. 

The most frustrating thing is trying to get him help, but everyone telling me that he is not likely acute enough for inpatient in the ER (this was after spending 1 week in the ICU for an overdose) or now for a DBT treatment program unless he fails outpatient.  I understand it to an extent, but he was arrested on the day that he was starting outpatient and if I don't get him to every appt he has, he doesn't go.  He is also ADD so has horrible impulse control.  Yet, they also tell me that I need to let take care of himself and if he doesn't, let him suffer the consequences.  He may be 21, but he still needs help. 

Just thanks for anything, anyone can tell me. 

[HealingSpirit]

Dear WA mother,

I'm a West-Coaster too, but unfortunately, I don't have any familiarity with RTC's.  I wish I did, but it sounds like Free'n'clear has great info.  My BPDD is 17, and we haven't had to look into RTC's thus far, but it's good to know others here HAVE, in case we ever need to.  Wishing you success finding a good fit for your DS.

I just wanted to welcome you and tell you I share your pain.  But, it sounds like you've already won half the battle if your DS is willing to get help.  It is his life, after all.  You're such a good mom for supporting him through this!

Hang in there!

[free-n-clear]

  Hi again, WA mother.

  I just found something else -  https://bpdfamily.com/message_board/index.php?board=4.0 

  www.health.usnews.com/best-hospitals/rankings/psychiatry

  Hope all's well with you and your young bloke. (Oz speak for son )

  free'n'clear.

[WA mother]

Wow, Free' n ' Clear--those were great links.  It will take a while to get through them, but I already found something very interesting that we will try--neuro feedback.  It sounds very promising and there are several places that specialize in it in our hometown that I am encouraged.  My son also has a scientific "bent" that I think that the process would also intrigue him    I have my research cut out for me, but at least I have some real leads!  Thank you so much.

[Rapt Reader]

Hello, WA mother & I'd like to join free'n'clear and HealingSpirit in welcoming you to this site. Your son reminds me very much of my own adult (37) son who was diagnosed with BPD last year. What finally helped him with his troubles (and there were many!) was a 21-day stay at an Intensive In-Patient Dual Diagnosis Program, where he was diagnosed with BPD. Like your own son, at 20 mine was diagnosed with ADD, and then he also had diagnoses of Clinical Depression, Social Anxiety, Suicidal Ideations, and Substance Abuse/Addictions.

At the Dual Diagnosis Program he learned DBT, and after he was discharged from that program, he started Neurofeedback Therapy. At this time (more than a year later), he is still going to Therapies: Out-Patient Therapy once/week; Neurofeedback Therapy once/week; Psychiatrist once/month. And, the wonderful news is that he has been clean and sober for almost 16 months, and is the happiest and healthiest he has ever been 

He's doing great, and the Neurofeedback Therapy is a big reason for that, after his life and mental health was saved by the DDx Program and the DBT he learned there. If you haven't read his story, it's here: My Son's DDx Program & NFT Story. I am so glad you are looking into Neurofeedback Therapy for your son, and I wanted to mention the Dual Diagnosis Program option to you, too, if you feel he needs an In-Patient setting for now. Good luck, WA mother