Inpatient Treatment Program for Children, Adolescents & Teens in Missouri

Sometimes the symptoms of a mental health concern become so unmanageable that a child or adolescent is no longer able to function. In other cases, they may be thinking about harming themselves or someone else. When this happens, they need immediate support to help them regain a sense of safety and stability. 

The acute inpatient program at Lakeland Behavioral Health System serves children and adolescents ages 4-17 who are in crisis from the effects of a mental health concern. Also known as acute behavioral health hospitalization, this program aims to relieve the intensity of these symptoms so that your child can transition safely to a lower level of care.  

Everyone heals at the pace that is right for them, but the average inpatient stay at our facility in Springfield, Missouri, is about five to seven days. At the end of your child’s stay, they may transition to one of our step-down levels of care, such as our residential program or intensive outpatient program, or we will refer your child to the appropriate outside provider. 

At Lakeland Behavioral Health System, we recognize that everyone has different lived experiences that can influence the way certain mental health concerns affect them. Because of this, we will take special care to understand your child’s medical history, presenting symptoms, and goals for seeking care with us. 

Everyone who receives support through the acute inpatient program at our Springfield, Missouri, facility follows a care plan that we tailor specifically to them. Group therapy is the main method of care we use in this program, with discussions personalized to your child’s goals.  

During these sessions, we use a trauma-informed approach based on the principles of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to help your child set the groundwork for lasting healing. 

We also offer an array of experiential therapies, such as music therapy, art therapy, and animal-assisted therapy. Other services our care team may recommend during your child’s time in our acute inpatient program include individual therapy, family therapy, and medication management. A full medical staff is available to provide medical assessments and basic medical care as needed. 

Our care team believes that healing should be a collaborative process, so your child’s providers will work with them every step of the way. We’ll adjust their care plan as needed to ensure that they continually make progress toward their goals. 

If your child is in crisis from a mental health concern, reaching out for help may seem overwhelming. The compassionate team at Lakeland Behavioral Health System strives to make the admissions process as streamlined as possible so that your child can get the care they need when they need it. 

To get started, please call us to get in touch with one of our mental health assessment specialists. They will conduct an initial screening, during which they will ask you about your child’s medical history, whether they’ve received treatment before, and what led you to seek treatment for them now.  

They will then pass along the information they gathered during the screening process to one of our providers, who will determine whether the acute inpatient program at our Springfield, Missouri, facility meets your child’s needs. If we believe that Lakeland Behavioral Health System is the best fit for your child, a knowledgeable member of our team will assist you with the rest of the admissions process. 

Severe symptoms of a mental health concern shouldn’t stop your child from functioning. With the help of the experts at Lakeland Behavioral Health System, they can get on the path to a better, brighter future.