Teen Residential Treatment Questions Parents Ask
Below are the answers our admissions team gives parents before their teen comes to Hillside Horizon for residential treatment. If yours is not here, call and a person will pick up.
Clinically reviewed by Alejandro Alva, M.D., Medical Director.
- 31 answers
- Admissions 24/7
- Joint Commission accredited
- Family-owned since 2021
Deciding On Teen Residential Treatment
What is teen residential treatment?
It is a live-in level of care with 24/7 staff, daily therapy, and a structured day. At Hillside Horizon that happens in separate houses for boys and girls ages 12 to 17 in Southern California, with school on site.
How do I know if my teen needs residential treatment?
It fits when weekly therapy or outpatient care has not produced a lasting change, or when safety at home is the question. Admissions will be upfront about whether this level of care fits your teen.
How is residential treatment different from a therapeutic boarding school?
A therapeutic boarding school is mainly a school with support built in, while residential treatment is a clinical level of care. At Hillside Horizon therapy leads the day, and school runs on site with Advantages School International.
Do you treat substance use alongside mental health?
Yes. When substance use and mental health challenges happen together, we treat both in the same week for teens ages 12 to 17. We are not a detox hospital.
Who is Hillside Horizon for?
We care for teens ages 12 to 17. Boys live at Ridgeview in Villa Park or Richards in Perris, and girls live at Shasta in Yorba Linda.
Do you offer a partial hospitalization program?
No. We offer residential treatment, outpatient treatment, and a virtual IOP for teens, and admissions can help you compare them for your teen.
Do you offer an intensive outpatient program?
Yes. Our virtual intensive outpatient program (IOP) is nine to twelve hours a week on school-night evenings, and we also offer outpatient treatment.
What is the difference between residential and outpatient care?
In residential care your teen lives in one of our homes with staff overnight. In outpatient care your teen lives at home and attends treatment sessions around daily life.
Admission And The First Days
Can I come with my teen to intake?
Yes. Parents or legal guardians are encouraged to be at intake to share history and support the first hours. After that, we talk through how you stay involved, because family work is part of the plan.
What if my teen does not want to come?
Many teens do not choose to come, and we plan for that. Motivational interviewing runs from week one to help your teen find a reason that is truly their own.
What should we pack?
Bring comfortable clothing, hygiene products, prescribed medications in their original packaging, and ID and insurance information. A detailed packing list is provided when your teen is admitted.
What can we not bring?
For the safety of everyone in the house, leave behind drugs, alcohol, weapons, and anything that would disrupt treatment. Some electronics may be restricted, and a full list is sent before admission.
Can we tour the homes first?
Yes. Families can tour the homes by appointment through admissions, and some areas may be limited during a visit for privacy.
Staying Involved As A Family
How often is family therapy?
Parents join family therapy every week, along with coaching on what to change at home. Sessions happen in person or over secure video, so distance does not keep you out of them.
When can I talk to my teen?
Calls with your teen begin in week two, when the clinical team says it is time. We set consistent call times so you stay close without filling the day.
Will I hear how my teen is doing?
Yes. You get written updates every week, and a care coordinator you can reach.
Is there support for parents while my teen is in treatment?
Yes. Parents get family therapy and coaching every week, so the changes at home keep pace with the work your teen does here.
Are there family visits?
Yes. Beyond weekly family therapy we schedule family visits and participation days, with clinical staff in the room.
Daily Life And School
What does a day look like?
School starts at 9:00 a.m., therapy runs from 11:00 a.m., and recreation follows at 4:00 p.m. Experiential therapies such as art, music, and yoga fit into the week alongside individual and group sessions.
Does my teen keep up with school?
Yes. School runs on site with Advantages School International, and its Cognia-accredited coursework can transfer back to your teen's home school. Gym and art therapy can count toward PE and art credits.
Do boys and girls live together?
No. Boys and girls live in separate houses, and the same clinical team works in all three homes.
Who cooks the meals?
Our in-house chef prepares lunch and dinner each day, so meals are shared and regular.
Does my teen see a psychiatrist?
Psychiatry and medication management are available when the clinical team recommends them. Our Medical Director is Alejandro Alva, M.D., and our Clinical Director is Stacia Ponce-Rodriguez, LMFT.
Does my teen get a treatment plan?
Yes. Your teen's treatment plan is reviewed as their progress changes, and discharge is planned around that progress instead of a set date.
Is there group therapy?
Yes. Skills groups run alongside individual therapy several times a week, and family therapy happens every week.
Cost And Insurance
How do families pay for treatment?
Families use in-network benefits, out-of-network reimbursement, or self-pay. We verify your benefits at no cost before anyone is asked to commit, and benefits vary by plan.
Which insurance plans do you work with?
We work with plans including Aetna, Anthem, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Carelon, Cigna, GEHA, and Magellan. If your plan is not listed, call anyway, because benefits are checked plan by plan.
Do you publish your prices?
No. What a family pays depends on their plan and the length of stay, so we verify benefits first and talk through cost on a call.
Length Of Stay And After
How long does residential treatment last?
Most stays run 60 to 90 days. Some finish closer to 30, and a few need longer, because we discharge on progress instead of a set date.
What happens after discharge?
Discharge is planned around a clear next treatment team, which may include our outpatient or virtual IOP program. We also check in at 30, 60, and 90 days.
Do we practice coming home before discharge?
Yes. You practice the first weekend home before discharge, so the move back is planned with the team instead of rushed.