When you're watching a child struggle with mental health, their care and recovery is your top concern. At Vista del Mar Hospital, we understand this. We know you want to remain in contact with your child and make sure they are making progress towards a healthy, happy life. Here is what you should know to support your child's visit to Vista del Mar Hospital.
What to Expect Upon Arrival at Our Hospital
We know that when you arrive, you may be feeling nervous or unsure about what to expect. That's why our goal when you arrive is to help you and your child feel comfortable and welcomed.
Your visit actually begins even before you arrive at our hospital. When you call our Patient Services Department (intake), you'll have the opportunity to explain your situation, your child's needs, and anything else that would help us understand how to provide care for your child best. Then you'll be given instructions before your child's visit. Please visit our What to Bring page for more information on the items your child will need during their stay. When it's time for your child to arrive, you'll go through an inpatient admissions process. This is where our staff welcomes your child and begins the recovery process on a compassionate, welcoming note, and a mental health assessment is completed. For more information on our intake and admissions process, please visit our website.
What Will My Child Be Doing at Vista del Mar Hospital?
Every patient at Vista del Mar Hospital will have their own behavioral health treatment plan. Professional therapists will create this plan based on your child's individual needs, history, and co-occurring mental health conditions. This helps ensure your child's treatment is appropriate and most likely to succeed.
During their stay, your child will work with our psychologists, psychiatrists, therapists, and case managers to create an individualized treatment plan that addresses their specific needs. They will also be provided with group therapy, expressive art therapy, and nutritious meals.
The ultimate goal of our program is to empower our patients to understand their emotions, thoughts, and needs while helping them to deal with crises and practicing the use of healthy coping skills. Every individual child has different needs, so our staff works with them to identify the best skills and tools they can develop for long-term success. This may include expressing emotions appropriately, improving communication skills, developing healthy boundaries, managing frustration, and anger, and developing important social skills. Overall, our program provides a holistic, rounded approach to care.
We offer multiple ways for patients to engage in the treatment process, including:
- Group and individual therapy sessions
- Recreational and expressive therapies
- Stress management and coping skills
- Intensive assessment and evaluation
- Medication management
- Patient education to understand their mental health conditions
- Chaplain services
- Discharge planning and Aftercare with Outpatient Programs
Please visit our Adolescents Programs page for more details about what our programs include.
Will I Have Communication with My Child?
Within our facility, each unit has designated phone times for patients to reach out. Calls are limited to 10 minutes. We understand you may wish to call and speak to your child during designated times. For safety and security, every patient will be given a confidential patient identification number when they are admitted. Any person calling a patient must have this ID number.
Will I Be Able to Visit?
Due to COVID-19, normal in-person visiting hours have been temporarily canceled. However, you can visit over the phone.
What If I Have Additional Questions or Concerns?
Our staff is here to help you feel comfortable and confident about your child's recovery. If you have questions about what to expect when your child arrives, please don't hesitate to call us. Help is only a phone call away. Vista del Mar Hospital is where healing starts and the road to recovery begins. To learn more specific details about our Adolescent Intensive Outpatient Program, please see our website and call our 24/7 Patient Services Helpline at (805) 653-6434 or contact us online.