Residential treatment centers

[teachandbeach]

Long post

Our 18 yo daughter had been in and out of acute hospitalization for suicidal ideation 3 separate times from December to January related to severe depression.  Once discharged, she never made it a full week before being admitted back.  She began cutting before her 3rd hospitalization and she even managed to cut while in the hospital.  We decided to try a residential treatment facility for mental health yet had difficulty finding a place that 1. Was relatively close by 2. Was a facility for mental illness, not addiction/rehab center and 3. Accepted insurance.  We found a facility 7 hours away and took her the end of January.  Keep in mind, at the time her diagnosis was depression and anxiety. 

Her first week and a half was going well, but by the middle of her second week she was cutting again.  She was cooperative and stopped, however the cutting started again during her third week and she was having suicidal thoughts.  The facility sent her to the ER where she was transferred to an acute psychiatric hospital.  There she was given a secondary diagnosis of BPD.  We went to pick her up when she was discharged and felt the residential facility was not the best fit for her with the new diagnosis(even though the facility was willing to take her back).  We were advised that she may benefit from intensive one-on-one counseling and enroll in a DBT group back home.  Finding therapists that use DBT as well as finding a group DBT session has been exhausting and frustrating ... .there aren't many offerings in our area.   

We finally found a program.  She is starting once a week therapy with a counselor, and once a week family therapy session.  In addition, she is going to have intensive in home counseling.  She is on a 6 week waiting list for a DBT group that will meet once a week for 6 months.   

We feel that by placing her in residential may not have been the best option given her new diagnosis and may have made things worse for her.

Without mentioning names of places, does anyone have success with residential facilites?  If so, what was offered as treatment for your loved one with BPD?  We just keep second guessing our decision to get her in treatment at home versus staying at residential.  She shared with us that she felt the residential was not working for her and she would be willing to commit to the plan at home.  It's just so scary.

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

[Only Human]

Hi teachandbeach 

I'm short on time at the moment but wanted to welcome you to BPD Family!

You're dealing with so much with your daughter and I understand feeling scared. You will find many parents here who can relate to what you've shared, you are not alone.

There is a thread posted at the top of this board, HOW TO GET THE MOST OUT OF THIS SITE. It includes a link to another member's experience with RTC, I wonder if you've seen it? Here's a link:

HOW TO GET THE MOST OUT OF THIS SITE

Again, Welcome! I look forward to getting to know you better and supporting you on your journey. We are walking alongside you, supporting you, rooting for you and your family. 

~ OH