About the Program
Northbrook, IL
Oak Brook, IL
Silver Spring, MD
About the Program: Navigating Teen Challenges Together
At Compass Health Center, we understand the unique pressures and challenges that teenagers face today. Our Adolescent Mental Health & Substance Use Program is designed to support teens as they navigate the complexities of growing up in an increasingly demanding world.
Program Overview: Your Teen’s Path to Balance and Growth
Your child’s well-being is at the heart of everything we do. Our program addresses the intertwined nature of mental health and substance use disorders, acknowledging that many teens may engage in substance use to cope with anxiety, stress, or depression. In the clinical world, we call this co-occurring substance use or dual diagnosis.
By focusing on mental health as the cornerstone of support, we aim to guide your teen with the tools to avoid substance use, build resilience, and find healthier coping mechanisms.
What We Offer: Comprehensive Support for Every Teen
- Immediate Access: A mental health assessment for your teen within 24 hours of your initial inquiry to ensure symptoms do not escalate. Teens can then start the program as soon as the next day.
- Psychiatric Evaluations: A full psychiatric evaluation within 24-48 hours of beginning a program to better understand your teen’s unique needs.
- Dedicated Psychiatrist or Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner: Your teen will be matched with a psychiatrist or psychiatric nurse practitioner who will follow them throughout their treatment at Compass. They will ensure your teen’s treatment evolves toward their goals, including prescribing and managing psychiatric medication if necessary.
- 24/7 Access to Psychiatric Support: in addition to your teen’s dedicated psychiatrist or psychiatric nurse practitioner, all individuals in our programming have access to a Compass prescriber 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for emergent needs outside of the program.
- Specialized Care: A key component of our program is evidence-based care led by Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselors (CADC) to help teens and families understand the relationship between mental health and substance use.
- Group Therapy: Daily evidence-based, structured sessions foster peer support, increased insight, new coping skills, and shared growth.
- Individual Therapy: One-on-one sessions with compassionate master’s and doctorate-level clinicians who specialize in adolescent care.
- Family Therapy: We believe healing happens together—weekly family therapy sessions are an integral part of the journey.
- Creative and Experiential Therapies: From art to yoga, our therapies engage your teen on multiple levels.
Our Specialized Approach: Evidence-Based and Teen-Friendly
We use a blend of therapeutic modalities, each proven in its effectiveness and chosen for its relevance to adolescent care for mental health and teen substance use:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Challenging and transforming thought patterns and behaviors.
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): Building emotional regulation and distress tolerance, interpersonal effectiveness, and mindfulness skills.
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): Encouraging mindfulness and value-driven actions.
- Motivational Interviewing: Fostering internal motivation for change and commitment to treatment.
When to Seek Support from Compass Health Center
Your family’s needs and your teen’s well-being are our top priorities. We focus on addressing concerns such as vaping, marijuana use, and other illicit drugs that might affect their well-being at school, at home, or during extracurricular and social activities. Our approach is holistic and addresses the entire picture of mental health and substance use.
- Teens who are struggling at home, at school, or socially
- Frequent or chronic absence or tardiness from school or classes, or seeking out increasing support from school clinicians
- Teens who would benefit from learning skills and strategies to achieve their full potential
- Teens reporting self-harm actions or urges
- Teens who need more support than what is traditionally offered in outpatient therapy, such as requiring multiple treatment modalities (psychiatry, group therapy, individual therapy, and family therapy) in one program
- Teens reporting suicidal ideation or when there are concerns about safety
- Teens who were recently psychiatrically hospitalized
- Teens in need of expedited medication changes within the context of comprehensive treatment
- Teens self-medicating through drug and alcohol use to alleviate symptoms of anxiety, depression, and other mental health concerns
- Teens that are isolating or have a significant change in their usual behavior
Get Started: Your Teen’s Journey to Lifelong Well-Being Begins Today
Our Mental Health & Substance Use Program is available across all Compass Health Center locations in Illinois and Maryland. Call us to schedule an assessment within 24 hours for your teen.
Our Success Stories
Compass saved my life! I came into Compass with suicidal ideations and no hope. After a couple of weeks of being in the program, I did not have those thoughts anymore. Compass helped me change my mindset, from a negative pattern of thoughts to a more positive and optimistic frame of mind.
Patient
My child is leaving Compass more equipped to handle her emotions, her anxiety, her depression, and the things that all trigger these. She is willing to use the skills, which is a huge change, and this is all due to how well Compass worked for her.
Parent of Child Patient
I liked how in Compass, everyone was respectful of my opinions, pronouns, and preferred name. There was no judging, and you can open up to people. I also like how I can relate to other kids. I also really appreciate learning new skills.
Patient
Compass is a godsend. An amazing program for children who are struggling and families who are seeking help and guidance. I could not imagine that she would be so much better in less than 2 months. I wish we could have found Compass without going to the ER. Thanks for all you do!
The evening IOP program challenged me in a supportive and respectful way to help change my way of thinking. Compass provided me with the tools to help deal with life situations in a healthy way.
