Child and Adolescent Services

Children and teens experiencing mental health challenges benefit from care designed specifically for their age and experiences. At The Shores at Westport, our programs for young people provide structured inpatient treatment in a supportive environment that helps young people stabilize, build coping skills and begin their path toward recovery.

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Helping Children & Teens Heal Safely

At The Shores, children and teens with acute mental health disorders can receive care in a safe, nurturing and age-appropriate environment. We offer personalized care plans for mood, anxiety, conduct, and psychotic disorders, including medication management.

The child & adolescent unit is designed to help young patients feel more comfortable and supported during treatment. We provide the same level of care for the same mood, anxiety, trauma, personality, and dual diagnoses that we do for adults, with the addition of childhood conditions, including:

Reactive attachment disorder
Disruptive mood dysregulation disorder

Special features such as a sensory comfort room provide a calming space designed specifically for kids. With 24-hour nursing care, a trained team member is always available to support a child who may be experiencing distress.

Comprehensive Healing

Care at The Shores focuses on treating the whole person. Individual therapy is trauma-informed and patient-centered, using proven approaches such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) and, when appropriate, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR).

Emotional and social healing is also a key part of treatment, helping children and teens through activities like creative arts, skills development and community education in an environment designed to feel less like a hospital and more like a sanctuary for recovery.

Support During and After Treatment

Family Involvement

Family involvement plays an important role in your child or teen’s recovery. At The Shores, our team works closely with families and caregivers to develop care plans and keep loved ones informed and supported throughout treatment.

As you prepare for discharge, our team will connect you to the next appropriate level of care within The Shores continuum of care; other outpatient services provided by Hartford HealthCare, or care by clinicians that meet your needs within your local community, ensuring a safe and supportive transition.