PTSD Treatment Center for Children & Adolescents in Missouri

Lakeland Behavioral Health System helps individuals struggling with PTSD build a strong foundation for long-term recovery. Serving Springfield, Missouri, Lakeland is the leading provider of psychiatric treatment for children, adolescents and older adults.

Learn More About PTSD Treatment

Learn More About PTSD Treatment at Lakeland Behavioral Health System in Missouri

When you are facing a dangerous situation it is only natural to experience fear. Situations in which an individual feels threatened cause split-second changes in the body that prepare an individual to either defend themselves or avoid the danger, a reaction generally referred to as the fight-or-flight response. After a particularly traumatic event, some individuals may develop Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

A traumatic event is one that is perceived by the individual to be threatening. These fearful events can have long-term negative effects on a person’s ability to function in many, if not all, aspects of their life. The aftereffects of experiencing a trauma can impact an individual’s social, emotional, and physical well-being. Traumatic events can occur on one occasion or can continually occur over a period of time. What is considered to be traumatic is based on how the event is perceived and experienced by that individual, which means an event that is traumatic for one individual may not be for another.

At Lakeland behavioral health center in Missouri, we know how much pain a traumatic event can cause in your life and that the effects of PTSD are emotionally and physically draining. We can help you get past those events in your life and once again be able to see the world as a safe place.

Why Consider Treatment

Why Consider Treatment for PTSD at Lakeland Behavioral Health System in Missouri

We know that the idea of an inpatient center may seem terrifying at first, but for those who are suffering from a traumatic event, it can end up being a lifesaver. For individuals who are suffering the lasting psychological effects of a traumatic experience, it is important to treat these symptoms as soon as possible. If left untreated these unresolved feelings can build up and cause an individual a great amount of difficulty. Left to deal with these difficulties alone, an individual may become socially isolated because they no longer believe the world is a safe place and think that something bad will become of them if they leave the house. They may have serious bouts of anxiety or depression or periods of angry outbursts.

Our acute care center is designed to offer a vast amount of treatment in order to allow for our patients to get better and be able to leave our inpatient program. We will ensure that we provide you with all of the tools necessary to help you along in the therapeutic process so that you can continue to work on your recovery even when you leave our healing center. At Lakeland, we are so much more than just stabilization– we are here to jumpstart the treatment process. We provide our patients with confidential, personalized treatment plans that will effectively help them to recover from their PTSD. Our multidisciplinary approach includes a variety of different therapeutic techniques that will help educate patients and their family about their specific condition and learn more effective coping skills.

 

Our Philosophy

Lakeland Behavioral Health System’s Philosophy and Benefits

Lakeland’s behavioral health center in Missouri provides high-quality treatment for emotional and behavioral disorders in a residential and acute hospital setting. Each day it is our goal to provide our patients and their families with the best possible care and most effective treatment. We dedicate all of our time to being an outstanding provider of quality, safe, and cost-effective psychiatric services that meet the needs of all children, adolescents, young adults, and seniors in the community we serve. We have multiple years of experience helping patients get past troubled times and return to a state of emotional well-being. Our compassionate staff is dedicated to helping individuals change their lives so that they are better equipped to function in their home environment.

Types of Treatment

Types of PTSD Treatment Offered at Lakeland Behavioral Health System in Missouri

Upon arriving at Lakeland Behavioral Health System, each individual will undergo a complete medical and psychological evaluation that will help us to determine your individualized treatment needs. Our treatment team is made up of psychiatrists, psychologists, pharmacists, psychiatric nurses, social workers, clinical dietitians, and a recreational therapist all trained to provide you with the best possible care. All patients are matched with a therapist who will work best for their specific situation. Your therapist, along with other members of the treatment team, will work with you to create and implement an individualized treatment plan. Some of the following techniques may be used in your treatment:

Medication Management: On many occasions, patients come to us in a crisis situation and initially need medication to help control the symptoms of their condition until they are able to learn more effective coping strategies. Often when these new life skills are learned, medication is able to be decreased or even eliminated. Sometimes medications are used to treat the symptoms of a co-occurring disorder and may need to be used for a longer term. All medication use will be monitored and altered if necessary.

Individual Therapy: Individual therapy is used to give patients alone time with a therapist so they can discuss the issues and emotions surrounding their traumatic experience. Individual sessions are a chance for a patient to discuss issues that may bring up a great deal of painful or scary emotions that they may not feel comfortable discussing in a group.

Group Therapy: At Lakeland, we offer a number of different groups in order to promote an atmosphere of healing where individuals can gain support from others who are struggling with similar issues. Group time is spent educating patients about their condition and other topics such as medication. Additionally, group sessions are used for coping skills, life skills training, trauma, and anger management.

 Family Therapy: Family participation is a big part of the healing process here at Lakeland and parents of children patients are expected to fully engage in the whole treatment process from the initial intake assessment of the last discharge planning meeting. Family members will receive education about what a diagnosis of PTSD means, any medication needs, and specific coping strategies that have been learned. In addition to therapy, family members are allowed to visit for up to an hour each day.

We also have a variety of experiential programs that are designed to help you return to your previous level of functioning. Depending on your treatment plan you may be involved in some of the following activities:

  • Art therapy
  • Music therapy
  • Pet therapy
  • Play therapy
  • School programming
  • Therapeutic exercise

Continuing Care

Continuing Care and Levels of Treatment for PTSD

At the end of your inpatient stay with us at Lakeland behavioral health center we will work with you through discharge planning to help determine the most appropriate next step for your recovery process. The aftercare plan that you will create with our discharge planners is designed to provide continued care once you have left us. Our extensive discharge planning process will not only assess the most appropriate next step for your treatment, but will also connect you and your family to essential community resources. If additional treatment is needed, we will help you to identify the most appropriate program. For some this may be a Residential Program or a less intense Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) or Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP). If it has been determined that you are ready to return home, we will work with you and your family members to make sure that medication is under control and that better coping skills are put into place.


Marks of Quality Care
  • Arkansas Juvenile Officers Association
  • Better Business Bureau (BBB)
  • Missouri Hospital Association
  • Missouri Juvenile Justice Association
  • The Joint Commission (JCAHO) Gold Seal of Approval
  • Tricare

There was a time when my sister's PTSD was at its worst. Living through each day was a nightmare for her. Fortunately, the staff at Lakeland Behavioral Health were well equipped and were able to provide her with the appropriate therapy. She is getting better now, and I have Lakeland to thank.

– Steven S.

In response to the growing need for mental health services, we are expanding our older adult programming to include ages 40+