What Is Teen Acute Stress Disorder Treatment?
Acute Stress Disorder (ASD) is a short-term reaction to trauma that occurs within three days to one month of a distressing event. While it shares similarities with PTSD, ASD is more immediate. Treatment at this stage can reduce the risk of long-term complications.
Teen acute stress disorder treatment helps young people:
- Process traumatic events in a safe, guided setting
- Regain emotional control and reduce panic or detachment
- Prevent the progression to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Learn to express emotions in healthy, non-destructive ways
Our treatment uses trauma-informed practices to stabilize your teen, reduce internal chaos, and introduce tools that help regulate fear, anxiety, and dissociation. We work with your family as well to help restore emotional balance at home.
This treatment typically includes a combination of trauma-informed therapy, education, and stress regulation strategies. Teens don’t need a formal diagnosis to begin; we assess their experience and tailor care accordingly.
How Acute Stress Disorder Affects Teens
Trauma can disrupt how a teen thinks, feels, and interacts with the world. ASD often appears quickly and intensely after a traumatic experience. It may shake their confidence, relationships, and sense of safety in ways they don’t always express out loud.
Symptoms May Include:
- Feeling emotionally numb or disconnected
- Trouble remembering parts of the trauma
- Sleep disturbances or nightmares
- Avoiding reminders of the event
- Sudden mood swings or irritability
- Panic attacks, flashbacks, or physical tension
- Feeling “outside of their body” or detached from reality
- Startling easily or appearing constantly on edge
ASD can affect school performance, relationships, and self-esteem. Without help, it may evolve into PTSD. Early treatment can make a significant difference.
If your teen is showing these signs, our team can step in with individual therapy or group therapy and trauma-focused care. We also support parents through education and family therapy to help rebuild trust and communication.
How Southern Live Oak Wellness Can Help
We understand how quickly trauma can unravel a teen’s stability. Our program is built to respond fast, with compassionate, effective care from a team that knows how to connect with adolescents.
We use a whole-person model that considers mental, emotional, physical, and social factors. Teens are never treated like a “case”, they’re seen as individuals with potential for healing and growth.
Our Program Offers:
- Trauma-informed care with licensed adolescent therapists
- Safe, quiet environment designed for healing
- Flexible scheduling through PHP and IOP levels
- Personalized plans that include family involvement and academic support
- Collaboration with schools, physicians, and outside providers, if needed
- Access to trauma-focused services like CBT, DBT, and EMDR
- Support from a dedicated case manager and licensed care team
“We help teens catch their breath, find stability, and begin to process what happened, before it turns into something deeper.”
What to Expect in Treatment
Our goal is to help your teen feel safe, seen, and supported. We begin with a clinical assessment to understand the trauma, symptoms, and support systems in place. From there, we create a care plan that includes:
Core Elements:
- Trauma-focused therapy (CBT, EMDR, or DBT)
- Family therapy to rebuild trust and communication
- Crisis regulation tools like grounding and mindfulness
- Creative therapies such as art, music, or movement
- Academic support to keep school progress on track
- Recreation for teens and nature therapy for balance and stress relief
- Skill-building sessions to boost self-esteem, communication, and stress tolerance
Sessions are held in a peaceful, home-like facility that makes teens feel comfortable, not clinical.
Depending on your teen’s symptoms and daily functioning, they may attend our Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) or Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP), both of which allow flexibility for school and family life.
Why Choose Southern Live Oak Wellness
We’re not a one-size-fits-all program. Our team specializes in teen trauma and provides rapid support when it’s needed most.
What Sets Us Apart:
- Licensed, trauma-certified adolescent clinicians
- Low client-to-staff ratio for personalized attention
- Integration of evidence-based and experiential therapies
- Coordination with schools and families
- Located just north of Atlanta in a calm residential setting
- Complementary therapies like yoga, red light therapy, and massage
- A care environment rooted in dignity, empowerment, and safety
- Alumni and aftercare planning to support long-term recovery
Teens leave our program not just stabilized, but stronger. Our outcomes show increased emotional regulation, improved school engagement, and better family communication.
FAQs About Teen Acute Stress Disorder Treatment
Is this the same as PTSD treatment?
Not exactly. ASD occurs immediately after trauma, while PTSD is diagnosed when symptoms persist past one month. Early treatment for ASD can prevent PTSD.
What if my teen refuses therapy?
Many teens are unsure at first. Our therapists are skilled in building rapport and using creative therapies to help teens feel comfortable.
How soon should we start treatment?
The earlier, the better. Prompt care during the first month after trauma offers the best chance for recovery. Even a few days can make a difference.
Is this covered by insurance?
Most major insurance plans cover mental health treatment. We’ll help verify your benefits and guide you through the process.
Will my teen fall behind in school?
We offer educational support to help students stay on track academically while focusing on recovery.
Does this include medication?
We offer medication management as part of the treatment plan if needed. All medication decisions are made with parental input and close clinical monitoring.
How to Get Started
Taking action now can make a big difference in your teen’s future.
Here’s How to Begin:
- Call or complete our form for a private consultation
- Get a same-week assessment with one of our licensed clinicians
- Start your teen’s treatment with guidance every step of the way
We’ll help your teen turn a traumatic moment into a healing milestone. And we’ll walk with your family every step of the way, from crisis to clarity.
