Introduction to Simply Thrive Day Treatment for Teens

Introduction to Simply Thrive Day Treatment for Teens

We at Simply Thrive Therapeutic Associates are excited to announce the launch of our new Teen Day Treatment Program. 

What sets us apart? At STTA, both day treatment therapists and the program manager are trained as Certified Trauma and Resilience Practitioners (CTRP). This certification is the foundation of our program. We treat teens 13-18 with trauma-related issues to calm their nervous systems down through awareness and simple techniques. We then focus on adding in tools like CBT and DBT to change their thinking. 

We have a curriculum set up to address issues with both the client and the family unit. While the teens are learning new skills, the parents are also being taught to learn new parenting techniques to support their teen\’s progress. 

What programs we use: We use research based programs that have been tested and have shown to be effective with teens dealing with trauma. These programs work in conjunction with the CTRP training. 

We have also included the Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) created by the founder of the polyvagal theory (Stephen Porges who has changed the way we view trauma) to continue to calm down the nervous system. 

We use an app that does weekly assessments to monitor and track symptoms. It helps us create a baseline of where we are starting and then tracks how symptoms and behaviors are changing. We can look at the facts to see how each client is progressing and make informed decisions. This app also allows us to assign homework and have a daily check with three different issues. 

What is SSP? The Safe and Sound Protocol is a new and innovative way of calming the nervous system down by listening to carefully selected and crafted music to reprogram the polyvagal nervous system–by going through the middle ear right to the vagus nerve. Once a teen is stabilized in the day treatment program, we can start SSP.  It requires about 10 30-45 minute sessions to administer the SSP. We are seeing great improvements in client’s outcomes by using this technique. 

Why calm down the nervous system first? When a person feels like they are in fight or flight all the time, “the old reptilian brain” kicks in; rapid heart rates, sweaty palms, difficulty swallowing, tight muscles. It shuts down the “new brain” or the part that is used for critical thinking. Very little information is able to come in. If everything around you feels like a threat, it is hard to relax.

Until a person can teach their body how to turn off the fight or flight, it will continue to react to the world around it.

Using Research-Based Therapeutic Interventions: We use research-based interventions because we know they work. The programs and curriculum we employ with our teens have been proven to be effective in the long term. We can take what works and individualize it. We can track our progress with each client through the testing to see what is working and what is not and make individualized changes for each client.

What the program entails: Each week the client and family is involved in the following schedule. 

Groups are Monday – Friday from 3:30-6:30pm

• Included are DBT skills, mindfulness, CBT/REBT, trauma informed groups, expressive arts, and yoga groups.
  • 1 – individual session per week with primary therapist 
  • 1 – family session (teen and parents/guardians) with primary therapist 
  • 1 – Parent psycho-educational and skills building group on Wednesdays 7:00-8:30pm

Tina Kinnan, MRC, LCMHC

Owner | Mental Health Therapist