Recovery Support
At Guardian Recovery – Montville Adolescent Center, your teen’s mental health journey starts wherever they are. Whether you need intensive clinical support or are ready for outpatient therapy, we provide care that matches your current needs. As they progress, they can easily move to the next level of support—without changing providers or losing the trusted connections you’ve made with your care team.
We are a true dual diagnosis provider. If your teen is receiving mental health treatment and also facing addiction, or vice versa, we address both together. Our integrated approach treats your mental health and substance use challenges at the same time, helping you achieve comprehensive and lasting healing.
Teen mental health treatment is specialized, structured care designed to help adolescents work through emotional, psychological, and behavioral challenges during a critical stage of development. Unlike therapy built for adults, our approach is shaped around how teenagers think, feel, and process the world — accounting for school pressure, peer relationships, identity, and family dynamics all at once. Our clinicians blend individual therapy, family involvement, and psychiatric support when appropriate, treating conditions like anxiety, depression, trauma, and mood disorders through evidence-based methods including CBT, DBT, and EMDR. When mental health challenges overlap with substance use, our team addresses both together through integrated dual diagnosis care, because treating one without the other rarely leads to lasting change.
Care typically falls into a few levels depending on what your teen needs. Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) offers the most structured daytime support for teens who need intensive care while still returning home each evening. Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) provides a lighter, more flexible schedule that lets your teen continue attending school while receiving consistent therapeutic support. For families who need care from home, our Virtual Mental Health IOP delivers the same evidence-based treatment through secure online sessions. Every plan begins with a thorough assessment, so our clinical team can recommend the right starting point and adjust care as your teen progresses.
Every family’s situation is different, but these are common signs it may be time to reach out.
If any of these feel familiar, reaching out for an assessment is a caring first step. For a closer look at what these behavioral shifts can look like, read our guide on signs of a troubled teen — our team is here to help you understand what level of care may be right for your teen.
Treatment begins with a comprehensive clinical assessment, where our team evaluates your teen’s emotional, behavioral, and psychiatric needs to build a personalized plan. From there, care is delivered through a combination of individual therapy, group therapy with peers, and family therapy sessions, using evidence-based approaches like CBT, DBT, and trauma-informed care. Our Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) provides intensive, structured treatment for 5-6 hours a day, 5-7 days a week, while your teen returns home each evening. As symptoms stabilize, most teens step down into our Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP), which offers continued support for about 3 hours a day, 3-5 days a week, allowing them to maintain school and family responsibilities while treatment continues. Every step of this process is coordinated by your teen’s care team, so transitions between levels of care happen smoothly and without gaps.
Levels of care highlighted in blue are available at this specific Guardian Recovery location. We’ve designed this page to help you understand the complete treatment journey, even if some levels may be offered at other Guardian Recovery facilities in your area.
Don’t see the level of care you need in blue? No problem. Guardian Recovery operates multiple treatment centers, and we’re here to connect you with the right program at the right location.
What it is:
Intensive daytime treatment (typically 5-6 hours daily, 5-7 days per week) focused on stabilizing mental health symptoms. Your teen can live at home, at our program facility, or in a sober living environment.
Who it’s for:
Those experiencing acute mental health challenges who need intensive support but don’t require 24-hour residential care.
What to expect:
Individual therapy, group sessions, psychiatric care, medication management, and skills training for managing symptoms.
Why it matters:
Provides hospital-level care while allowing flexibility in your living situation and maintaining some daily structure.
What it is:
Structured mental health treatment (typically 3 hours daily, 3-5 days per week) for ongoing symptom management and skill development.
Who it’s for:
Those stepping down from PHP, or individuals managing anxiety, depression, trauma, or other mental health conditions who can maintain daily responsibilities.
What to expect:
Evidence-based therapies, coping skill development, psychiatric support, and strategies for long-term mental wellness.
Why it matters:
Offers substantial clinical support while your teen continues school, work, and family life.
What it is:
Structured mental health treatment (typically 3 hours daily, 3-5 days per week) for ongoing symptom management and skill development.
Who it’s for:
Those stepping down from PHP, or individuals managing anxiety, depression, trauma, or other mental health conditions who can maintain daily responsibilities.
What to expect:
Evidence-based therapies, coping skill development, psychiatric support, and strategies for long-term mental wellness.
Why it matters:
Offers substantial clinical support while you continue work, school, or family life.
What’s the difference between PHP and IOP for teen mental health?
PHP (Partial Hospitalization Program) provides intensive daytime treatment, typically 5-6 hours a day, 5-7 days a week, for teens who need significant support but not 24-hour care. IOP (Intensive Outpatient Program) is a lighter step down, usually 3 hours a day, 3-5 days a week, for teens who can maintain school and daily responsibilities while continuing treatment. For a full breakdown of which program fits your teen’s situation, read our guide on Teen IOP vs. PHP.
Can my teen be treated for both a mental health condition and substance use at the same time?
Yes. Guardian Recovery – Montville Adolescent Center is a true dual diagnosis provider — if your teen is facing a mental health condition and a substance use concern together, we treat both simultaneously rather than as separate issues, since addressing one without the other rarely leads to lasting change. Learn more in our FAQ, Can You Treat My Teen’s Mental Health and Addiction at the Same Time?
Does insurance cover teen mental health treatment?
In most cases, yes. Under federal and state parity laws, most major insurance plans — including Medicaid and many commercial plans — are required to cover mental health and substance use treatment at the same level as medical benefits. Coverage specifics depend on your plan and the level of care recommended. Our admissions team can verify your benefits and walk you through the details — see our full guide, Does Insurance Cover Teen Rehab?
What do PHP, IOP, CBT, DBT, and EMDR actually mean?
These are common terms in adolescent mental health treatment, and it’s normal for parents to want plain-language explanations before diving in. For a full glossary of these terms and others you’re likely to hear during your teen’s care, see Teen Treatment Terms Explained.
That’s completely normal. Our admissions team will conduct a confidential assessment and help you find the right starting point for your unique situation.
Medical Disclaimer:
The information provided on this website is intended solely for educational and informational purposes. Guardian Recovery aims to improve the quality of life for individuals struggling with substance use or mental health disorders by offering fact-based content about behavioral health conditions, treatment options, and related outcomes. However, this information should not be considered a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
Important Notes:
The content on this site is believed to be current and accurate at the time of posting, but medical information is constantly evolving.
Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider regarding any questions or concerns about your health or medical condition.
If you think you may have a medical emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room immediately.
Guardian Recovery does not provide free medical advice. For personalized treatment recommendations, please consult with a licensed healthcare professional.
By using this website, you acknowledge that you have read and understand this disclaimer. Guardian Recovery and its affiliates disclaim any liability for the use or interpretation of information contained herein. SEE TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Medical Disclaimer:
The information provided on this website is intended solely for educational and informational purposes. Guardian Recovery aims to improve the quality of life for individuals struggling with substance use or mental health disorders by offering fact-based content about behavioral health conditions, treatment options, and related outcomes. However, this information should not be considered a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
Important Notes:
The content on this site is believed to be current and accurate at the time of posting, but medical information is constantly evolving.
Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider regarding any questions or concerns about your health or medical condition.
If you think you may have a medical emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room immediately.
Guardian Recovery does not provide free medical advice. For personalized treatment recommendations, please consult with a licensed healthcare professional.
By using this website, you acknowledge that you have read and understand this disclaimer. Guardian Recovery and its affiliates disclaim any liability for the use or interpretation of information contained herein. SEE TERMS AND CONDITIONS
