Adolescent Behavioral Health Services

Cape Fear Valley Adolescent Behavioral Health Services is the largest provider of mental health services in Cumberland County and the surrounding area. We provide inpatient and outpatient treatment to teens from ages 12-17 and their families for mental healthcare, close to home.

Types of Adolescent Behavioral Health Services at Cape Fear Valley Health

What Mental Health Services are Available for Adolescents?

• Individual, Family and Group Counseling
• Inpatient Services at Dorothea Dix Adolescent Care
• Medication Assistance Program
• Mental Health & Substance Use Disorder Assessment
• Psychiatric Evaluations and Medication Management
• Psychological & Neuropsychological Testing & Evaluations

What Mental Health Conditions for Adolescents are Treated?

• Anger
• Anxiety
• Bullying
• Self-esteem issues
• Self-injury
• Side effects of medications
• Substance use and abuse
• Suicidal thoughts

Our Approach to Adolescent Behavioral Health Services

Cape Fear Valley Health is known as the largest provider of behavioral health services for teens in our six county area.

Families in our community are able to receive mental health services locally without having to travel great distances. Our approach is integrated with psychiatry, psychotherapy, inpatient and outpatient services and an overall comprehensive approach to mental health care.

First and only adolescent inpatient facility

We offer the only adolescent inpatient psychiatry unit for Cumberland, Bladen and Hoke counties and Fort Liberty. Our multidisciplinary team supports the critical components of evidence-based treatment for adolescents.

Opened in the spring of 2022, the new inpatient facility has 16 inpatient beds. We have at least one psychiatrist and up to four psychiatry residents staffed.

Your Care Team

You’ll have a team of specialists working together to help your teen through the treatment process and follow-up care. We also welcome your participation because, as a parent, you’re an integral member of our team.

• Board-certified psychiatrist
• Case manager
• Licensed clinical addiction specialist
• Licensed clinical social worker
• Licensed professional counselor
• Mental health specialists
• Behavioral health technicians
• Parents/guardians
• Psychiatry residents
• Psychotherapists
• Recreational therapists
• Registered nurses

What to Expect for Outpatient Care?

Dorothea Dix Adolescent Care is a specialized facility for teens with serious mental health issues who need intensive care and support. The unit is an acute, crisis-intervention setting. The team provides a structured and stable program in a safe environment. It has a low patient-to-staff ratio.

We will evaluate your child’s needs and guide them to a state of wellness. You are part of our team to assist your child in achieving wellness. Together, we aim to help them stabilize so they can return to home and school.

Our Child and Adolescent Fellowship Clinic allows children and adolescents access to outpatient psychiatric support including medication management and psychotherapy. We also have psychotherapists at our Community Mental Health Center with expertise in child and adolescent mental health care.

What to Expect for Inpatient Care? 

Most rooms are semi-private (double occupancy). Staff may decide to arrange single occupancy based on special circumstances. Medication changes require authorizations from you, as a parent/guardian.

A patient’s hospitalization lasts until the patient is ready to transition into an appropriate outpatient setting. The length of stay usually ranges from three to seven days, based on these factors:

• Severity of illness
• Progress made at the facility
• Community resources available to your family

We are here to help you and your teen during treatment and ongoing care. Feel free to communicate with our staff and ask questions. Please be aware your child will share information with us that needs to be kept confidential. This helps us build trust with them and be more effective with their treatment.

Your child will work closely with their case manager to ensure follow-up care occurs within seven days upon discharge. We look forward to your involvement as an active and positive participant in your adolescent’s care.