Wellspring's Residential Adolescent Program for Girls ages 13 -18 is designed to treat a wide range of emotional and behavioral problems, including but not limited to, eating disorders, attachment difficulties, traumatic stress disorder and substance abuse.

Family reunification is the primary goal of the residential adolescent program. To achieve this goal, Wellspring's family-style ambience provides daily living experiences of relationship with staff and peers as a way to address problems with parents and relationships. These problems are typically reenacted at Wellspring, both in the milieu and at school, but they can now be addressed with professional skill and understanding. The Wellspring "family" experience becomes an essential part of family therapy as parents and professionals work together in the learning and treatment process. Parents or Guardians have to be able and willing to be actively involved in the treatment process as indicated and recommended by the Treatment Team.

While family therapy (including individual family sessions, multi-family groups and parents support groups) is the cornerstone of treatment, individual therapy, group therapies, and expressive therapies are closely coordinated to address key issues. Treatment plans are designed to meet individual needs within the general program. A sample daily schedule is available here.

Wellspring's treatment of severe eating disorder combines close monitoring and management of symptomatic behavior with nutritional planning and medical supervision. This provides a secure basis for treatment of the emotional and relational issues that make up the substructure of the illness. Our experience shows that only this integrated approach to the treatment of severe eating disorders will produce positive long-term results.

Treatment of substance abuse addresses the unique aspects of addiction through psycho-education, recovery programs and drug counseling. The emotional problems related to substance abuse, such as depression, anger management and family issues, are addressed conjointly within the general program.

Attachment difficulties develop when a child fails to bond emotionally with parents and is then unable to trust parental (or adult) relationship and control. This basic difficulty is expressed through a wide range of behavioral problems - chronic lying, stealing, underlying rage, authority conflicts, lack of adequate conscience, etc. Our therapeutic approach is designed to address the child's rejection of closeness and parenting, while providing a firm and safe context for the child to open and allow emotional connection with parents and adults. More intensive modalities designed to treat more severe cases are also available.

The Arch Bridge School, our therapeutic special education school, is an essential component of the residential adolescent program. The resident's performance within the school, both academically and behaviorally, is an important measure of readiness to return home. As part of our transition and discharge process, recommendations are made to support appropriate academic placement to assure continued success with schooling after Wellspring.

The Wellspring Foundation is accredited by JCAHO and licensed by the State of Connecticut for all of its programs. Many insurance carriers reimburse Wellspring as a network provider and by single-case agreement.