WHY CHOOSE TRANSITION?

THERE ARE MANY REASONS AN ADOLESCENT MAY BENEFIT FROM TRANSITION

Is she ready for action?  Is she committed to change?

The diagram below outlines the stages of change we navigate as we attempt to apply new learning and change our behavior.

When students are in a highly structured environment, they have the opportunity to move through the pre-contemplation and contemplation stages to the point of preparation for change.  It is difficult for the student to enter the action stage, however, when she has little opportunity to make choices for herself.  Action happens when the student is able to choose to commit to change to change and apply what she has learned.

At Mosaic House, students have the freedom to internalize the decision to change and the structure to encourage them to commit to action.  Their mentoring coach and their therapist help them work through any regressions back to the contemplation stage.  Our goal is to move them from contemplation ("I don't know if I want to change,") to solidfy taking action ("Here is what I am doing to change.).

Can she use the skills she has learned?

During the initial treatment phases, student learn skills and start to apply skills to help them change behavior.  Student often leave treatment with a short list of skills that they feel comfortable using.  The last phase of this process is skills generalization where the student is able to flexibly apply skills in new situations and modify skills when circumstances change.  This is a "trial and error" process that cannot take place until the student has a wider variety of situations in which to practice skill use.  At Mosaic House, students are focused on skills generalization for their specific goals.  Coaching and therapy time as well as community group time is often focused on helping students generalize skills to new situations.  Once students have demonsrtated they can generalize skills, they are ready for the next step!  

How much freedom can she handle?  How much support does she need?

A transition experience is basically an assessment that allows parents to gain valuable information about what their student can and cannot do while she remains in a structured environment.  As we remove the scaffolding, students and parents learn how much has really changed through treatment and where each student may need additional support.  At Mosaic House, students are gradually given freedom and have to earn privileges.  It is difficult for parents at home to maintain the level of containment many students need to gradually shift from the restrictive treatment experience to being a "normal" teenager.  Too much freedom too quickly can overwhelm a student's new and fragile coping skills.  

Are you ready?

The long journey of a student's struggle is a family process.  At the end of the journey through primary treatment, parents may not be ready to have the student return home for any number of reasons.  Transition can provide a safe alternative where the student can continue to grow and parents can determine the next best step.  The transition experience allows parents to shift from parenting a child who is struggling with mental health issues to parenting a child who is struggling with adolescents/young adult issues.  

While students many not actually "choose" to go to a transition program like Mosaic House, all of the students who are accepted to the program must have some commitment to being in the program and continuing their therapeutic journey.  

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"Helping adolescents to increase internal motivation and commitment to healthy behaviors."