About Harborcreek Youth Services – Harborcreek
Harborcreek Youth Services (HYS) offers behavioral healthcare to adolescents in Harborcreek, Pennsylvania. Along with a residential program, they also run community programs that service residents from across Erie County.
Their residential treatment program aims to address and heal any behavioral health concerns that adolescents are facing, including substance misuse. The goal is to help adolescents work through unresolved trauma, address underlying mental health concerns, and help kids learn to regulate their emotions, thinking patterns and reactions to difficult situations.
HYS follows the Sanctuary Model of treatment, which emphasizes 24-hour assistance during treatment. This creates a deep sense of security for the kids and helps them fully embrace the treatment process.
Their residential program includes individual therapy, family therapy and group therapy sessions that are based on dialectical behavior therapy techniques. They also provide life skills classes each week for the adolescents to learn practical skills that will help them in school and at home and set them up for bright futures.
Upon entering the facility, all youth are screened to determine if they need substance abuse counseling. If required and helpful, adolescents receive extra individual and group counseling sessions each week.
Most youths engage with additional therapies, depending on their interests and needs. There’s a drug and alcohol group that meets weekly to discuss challenges and skills related specifically to substance misuse. Other therapies include art sessions, music therapy, writing sessions and grief support.
The staff help generate a strong sense of community for the kids through fun activities, including visits to local YMCAs, state parks, sporting events and museums. Their beautiful facilities include two gyms, a picnic area, a zen garden, a large swimming pool and a sanctuary labyrinth.