Child and Adolescent Inpatient Services

The Brattleboro Retreat offers specialized inpatient programs for children and adolescents. The children’s program serves children ages five through twelve with a typical child to staff ratio of two to one, and the adolescent program serves youth ages thirteen to eighteen. Although each program is distinct and offers age specific treatment, both programs are designed to provide short term, specialized inpatient hospital care for children or adolescents who have serious social, emotional, psychiatric or substance abuse disorders that have led to disruptive and maladaptive behaviors and relationships. Both programs also have a multidisciplinary team approach to treatment and utilize a trauma informed model of care which is short term, strength based, and skills oriented. At the Brattleboro Retreat, we recognize that successful treatment and reintegration back to the community depends on effective collaboration with families and community providers. Therefore, both our child and our adolescent inpatient program engage in ongoing communication with families and work to coordinate services with community providers.

The Brattleboro Retreat’s child and adolescent inpatient programs treatment philosophy is based on the belief that inherent in each child is the desire to be accepted by others and to do well. The programs utilize a strength-based, trauma-informed and resiliency model of care, with a focus on deliberate and sensitive support for children, adolescents and their families as they learn new ways of understanding and managing their lives.

Many of the children and adolescents we serve have experienced significant difficulties in their lives, including trauma. These experiences commonly lead to low self-esteem, poor peer relationships, difficulty following direction and negotiating transitions. The skills necessary for self-regulation have often been underdeveloped and it is our intention to help build these skills with children, adolescents and families.

Meet Our Staff

The Brattleboro Retreat employs the largest staff of specialty-trained child psychiatrists in the region. Our professional, multidisciplinary team is uniquely qualified through education, experience, and dedication to work with children and adolescents in need of mental health care. They include:

Robyn Ostrander, MD, medical director of Child & Adolescent Services
William Knorr, MD, staff psychiatrist
Desiree Biesheuvel, MD, staff psychiatrist
Mark Anagnostopulos, Ph.D, staff psychologist
Paul Boutin, MD, staff psychiatrist
Alix Goldschmidt, LICSW

Who is appropriate for the inpatient program?

Children and adolescents who require our Inpatient Services typically are diagnosed with depression, suicidal tendencies, conduct disorders, bipolar disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorders, eating disorders, anger management issues, and/or chemical dependency.

Assessment and Evaluation

For each patient, we conduct a comprehensive and multidisciplinary assessment and evaluation that involves the child or adolescent, his or her family members, and, at times, a local agency representative. We consider such factors as physical health, psychiatric status, substance abuse history, family issues, and educational needs. Based on the results, we design a customized treatment plan with goals that can be modified during the program as behavioral needs change. Planning for discharge and aftercare begins immediately upon admission to ensure that the patient, family, and other caregivers are prepared for a smooth transition either back into the community or to a less restrictive care environment (e.g., residential, partial hospitalization, and/or outpatient services). The average length of stay is eight to 10 days. Based on their needs, patients may move back and forth along a continuum of care at the Brattleboro Retreat, from inpatient to residential to partial hospitalization.

Services and Treatment

Children and adolescents participate in separate programs that are age appropriate. For both groups, a typical day begins and ends with a therapeutic community meeting, which is a forum where patients and staff address issues related to living and sharing space in the community, review general expectations and rules of the program, and develop assertiveness skills to help clarify feelings and positions. The day may also include special-issues treatment, physical activity, and quiet time. We also offer short-term family assessment and intervention.

Treatment Modalities

Each program provides a range of specialized, age and developmentally appropriate care which includes:

Multidisciplinary assessment
Family therapy
Group therapy and psychoeducation
Art therapy
Therapeutic activities and age specific milieu
Assessment for medication
Substance abuse treatment
Attendance at Meadows School on the Retreat Healthcare’s campus.

Therapeutic Services

Retreat Healthcare's Therapeutic Services Program is based on seeing each patient in terms of their abilities and potential as fully functioning individuals. The Therapeutic Services program encompasses creative arts therapy, movement, physical fitness, outdoor activities, and other recreational and leisure activities necessary for effectively coping with our stressful lives.

Arts and Crafts for the smaller children.
Traditional games for smaller children.
Traditional sports for some of the older children.
Completely outfitted fitness room with instruction.

Insurance and Payment Information

Since Retreat Healthcare contracts with more than 100 national and regional insurance companies, we are able to accept most commercial and managed care payers, as well as Vermont Medicaid. Our staff members collaborate with patients and families to manage insurance and reauthorization requirements, and to arrange reasonable self-payment plans, if necessary.

Admissions

Admissions accepted 24 hours a day. Please call 1-800-RETREAT for more information.

For more information call 1.800.RETREAT