Child and Youth Therapy

Addiction treatment among Youth

Adolescence is when identity is formed – this period is characterised by personal challenges and internal struggles. A young person is often faced with defining their individual principles and life goals. The end of this development phase is marked with emotional and physical maturity. Healthy adolescence should bring about the ability for self-determination which, in turn, shapes our identity.

Alcoholism or substance abuse among youth results from an inability to handle life situations.

Studies among young adolescents carried out in Poland show that substance abuse exists among children as young as 13. Over 30% of school pupils have taken drugs at least once. Estimated 30% of primary school children knows who the drug dealer at their school is or knows where to buy drugs. Curiosity, the willingness to show off, the desire to fit-in with friends or an attempt to escape the reality are among the most common reasons listed by young drug users.

As a parent of an adolescent, it is difficult to recognise when your child’s drinking becomes alcoholism. Often parents are also unable to judge the severity of the problem.

The addiction treatment in Youth and Adolescent

You should take action immediately once you think there might be a problem.

Meeting a counsellor will help determine if and what kind of therapy might be necessary. An appropriate alcohol or drug psychotherapy should be preceded by a medical assessment, family interview and detox, if required. An alcohol or drug detoxes are intended to cleanse the patient’s body out of toxines and allow them to begin psychotherapy.

In order not to interfere with daily or family commitments, we offer day therapy for school children. If, however, the adolescent in question no longer attends school due to their addiction, a stationary (in-house) form of therapy might be more appropriate.

We offer the individual and group therapy for children and young adolescent. We employ treatment methods that allow our young patients to understand their own behaviour.

Our psychotherapy teaches about the addictions and their mechanisms. It enables the addicted adolescents to understand the motives behind substance abuse and shows how to reject peer pressure to use psychoactive substances. In addition to that we explain the psychology behind addictions and their impact on human lives.

In the course of the therapy, our young patients are encouraged by our psychotherapists to share their experiences and analyse their daily struggles. The patients examine the psychological mechanisms that led them to use substance and work towards finding new behavioural patterns. The group therapy involves interpersonal games and exercises, developed specifically for children and young people. These therapeutic methods are designed to increase self-awareness and help them understand the behavioural patterns that resulted in addiction.

Family therapy in addiction treatment

Aside from working with an addicted adolescent, professional addiction treatment centres involve also their family members in the therapeutic process. Parents of addicted children often struggle with shame, a sense of failure and hopelessness. Our psychotherapy helps the parents to let go of their shame and allows them to examine their family dynamics which might have led to the addiction. The addiction therapy aims at establishing which family behaviours should be changed to prevent a relapse. The family environment plays a key role in the child’s recovery. Working with family members gives them a better understanding of the addiction problem and helps them let go of the sense of powerlessness.

Our centre will support your child and your family during this difficult time of recovery.

Addiction therapy involves a detailed medical examination, followed by the individual or group therapy at our Centre – we offer stationary or day unit forms of therapy. In addition to that, we take care of the family members and help them understand the struggle their child is facing.