Scott Sowle and care team member on campus

Aftercare Plan for Substance Abuse and Mental Health

We recognize that parenting can be tough under any circumstances. When substance use and underlying behavioral and mental health issues are both active, it can seem impossible to remain grounded, have clarity, and take appropriate actions. Fear, guilt, shame, hurt and other emotions may overwhelm parents, and often parents need someone to help guide them and provide assistance in those moments of confusion and chaos.

Our Parent Support & Coaching Program is a 16-week aftercare program provided to parents following their teen’s residential treatment stay at Muir Wood Adolescent and Family Services. Led by a licensed therapist, this mental health and substance abuse aftercare plan involves weekly virtual sessions with parents.

As treatment can be a significant investment of resources – time, emotions, and finances – the Parent Support & Coaching Program aims to provide concrete support to parents as their child transitions back home and reintegrates into the family, school, and community. Active involvement in this program is designed to protect the considerable investment parents have made in their child’s recovery and increase the potential success of long-term goals.

We recognize that better-educated patients and families can better understand the nature of their health challenges and the need for ongoing care. In addition to the Parent Support & Coaching Program, Muir Wood Adolescent and Family Services’ proactive and thoughtful discharge planning connects patients to the best available local providers and resources. This gives them better access to their ongoing continuum of care, which helps to increase the chances of sustained patient progress.

16-Week Parent Aftercare Support

photo of Rawland Glass
Rawland Glass, MSW, LCSW

The 16-week Parent Aftercare Program is provided to all alumni parents at no additional cost. Following their teen’s treatment at Muir Wood Adolescent and Family Services, parents are invited to attend this weekly, 75-minute, aftercare support program.

The program is designed to provide parents with support and resources to continue with the positive gains made during treatment. Led by Rawland Glass, MSW, LCSW, recipient of the Outstanding Clinician Award in 2012, this curriculum-based, online program allows a weekly platform for parents to receive needed support in a variety of ways, including – an ongoing discussion of potential challenges, determining strategies for dealing with and responding to specific dynamics in the family, emphasizing the use of the many tools developed in residential treatment to manage relationships and emotions, the exploration of conflicts and identification of solutions, and to provide the support parents need to remain on track with their family’s individualized recovery plan. Each online session is followed by an email with additional aftercare material, resources, and coursework.

What Happens After Rehab?

Muir Wood Adolescent and Family Services also hosts four peer-based alumni meetings per week. Two meetings for teens and two meetings for parents at 6 pm on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. As a member of the Muir Wood community, alumni are always welcome to join these calls to reconnect with their peers to receive support from, and offer support to, their fellow alumni. We recommend parents and teens alike attend the alumni meetings for at least 90 days following graduation from residential treatment.