Residential Inpatient
When substance use and behavioral health challenges have taken over your teenager’s life, sometimes the most powerful thing you can do as a family is give them the chance to step away from everything and focus entirely on recovery. A residential inpatient treatment facility in South Florida provides a safe, structured environment where healing is your teen’s only job.
At Guardian Recovery, our adolescent residential program provides 24/7 support, intensive therapy, and complete immersion in recovery for approximately 28 days. This is where your teen breaks free from the patterns, places, and peer influences connected to substance use. This is where they discover who they truly are — building confidence they didn’t know they had and developing the skills to create a future filled with possibility. This is where transformation happens.
You don’t have to keep watching your child struggle. Our adolescent residential program gives your teen the time, space, and expert support they need to build a foundation for lasting recovery — and it gives your family the tools to heal together.
Residential treatment, also called inpatient treatment, is a live-in program where your teen resides at our treatment facility while receiving intensive, structured care for substance use disorder and co-occurring behavioral health conditions. Your teen will live in a safe, comfortable environment designed specifically for healing, with access to clinical support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Think of residential treatment as hitting the reset button on your teen’s life. For approximately 28 days, recovery and self-discovery are their full-time commitment.
Guardian Recovery’s adolescent residential program serves teens who need intensive, immersive care to break the cycle of substance use and address behavioral health challenges.
We make admissions as easy as possible. Many teens arrive within 24-48 hours of their initial call.
Many teens feel anxious, angry, or resistant on day one—that’s completely normal. Our staff specializes in working with adolescents and know how to meet them where they are, not where adults think they should be.
Residential treatment is highly structured. Every part of your teen’s day is designed with intention—to break old patterns, build new skills, and support their healing. We believe teenagers heal best when they’re engaged, challenged, and connected — not just sitting in a chair talking about their problems.
Note: Your teen’s specific schedule may vary based on your individualized treatment plan, the facility, and their progress in treatment.
One-on-one sessions with a primary therapist are the cornerstone of adolescent residential treatment. Your teen will work with licensed clinicians who specialize in adolescent development, trauma, and substance use — building trust and addressing root causes in a safe space.
Typically 1-3 times per week, 45-60 minutes per session
Your teen’s therapist becomes their advocate, their guide, and the person who helps them understand themselves in new ways.
Group sessions are a powerful part of adolescent residential treatment. Your teen will participate in multiple groups daily with peers facing similar challenges — fostering connection, accountability, and the realization that they’re not alone.
Process Groups: Share experiences, receive feedback from peers, learn they’re not alone, practice interpersonal skills, and build authentic connections.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Identify negative thought patterns that drive substance use, learn to challenge and reframe distorted thinking, and develop healthier cognitive habits.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): Master skills for emotional regulation, learn distress tolerance techniques, improve interpersonal effectiveness, and practice mindfulness.
Relapse Prevention: Identify personal triggers and high-risk situations, develop comprehensive relapse prevention plans, learn to recognize warning signs, and build resilience for long-term sobriety.
Trauma-Focused Therapy: Address adverse childhood experiences or trauma, understand the connection between trauma and substance use, and begin healing old wounds in a safe environment.
Recovery Integration: Explore age-appropriate recovery principles, work through foundational recovery concepts with guidance, and connect with recovery community resources.
Life Skills Groups: Develop practical skills including emotional regulation, healthy communication, decision-making, financial basics, healthy relationships, time management, and self-care — equipping your teen for independence and long-term success.
Guardian Recovery’s Immersion Program provides comprehensive psychiatric care as part of adolescent residential treatment.
This is true dual diagnosis care. We don’t tell your teen to “deal with mental health later”—we treat the whole person from the start.
Addiction and behavioral health challenges impact the entire family. Healing includes repairing and rebuilding those relationships. We know you’ve been through a lot to get here — you may have experienced denial, anger, fear, grief, or exhaustion, sometimes all in the same day. Please know that seeking help for your teen was an act of profound love, even if your teen can’t appreciate it yet.
Our team will keep you informed and involved throughout your teen’s stay. You’ll receive regular updates, participate in family programming, and have direct access to our staff whenever you have questions or concerns. Recovery is a family journey, and we’re here for all of you.
Beyond psychiatric services, our Guardian Recovery Immersion Residential program for adolescents includes comprehensive medical care and dedicated nutritional support.
Substance use takes a toll on a young person’s body. Residential treatment gives your teen’s body time to heal while we support their physical health.
Understanding addiction empowers your teen’s recovery.
Knowledge is power. The more your teen understands about addiction and their own brain, the better equipped they are to maintain sobriety.
Healing isn’t just about talking. Guardian Recovery’s Immersion centers incorporate dynamic, youth-focused therapies that engage the whole person — mind, body, and spirit — and make recovery feel empowering rather than punishing.
Recovery engages the mind, body, and spirit. These holistic approaches make healing accessible and engaging for teenagers.
One of the unique advantages of Guardian Recovery’s adolescent residential program is our accredited academic programming.
Treatment doesn’t mean falling behind. We ensure your teen continues their education while focusing on recovery.
From day one, we’re preparing your teen and your family for life after residential treatment.
We don’t just treat your teen and send them home. We ensure your family has a solid plan and support system for continued recovery.
Guardian Recovery’s adolescent residential program typically runs for approximately 21–28 days, though the exact length may vary based on:
Research shows that 21-28 days of intensive residential treatment provides:
Some teens need more time; some are ready to step down slightly sooner. Your teen’s treatment team assesses their progress regularly and makes recommendations based on their individual journey — not an arbitrary timeline.
Residential treatment is a powerful beginning, but recovery is a lifelong journey. Research overwhelmingly shows that teens who transition through multiple levels of care have significantly better long-term outcomes.
When your teen completes residential treatment at Guardian Recovery, they’ll step down to the next level of our continuum of care:
After residential, most teens transition to PHP, which provides:
This transition is seamless. Your teen will often continue working with the same therapists and treatment team, maintaining the relationships and momentum they’ve built.
After PHP, your teen will step down to IOP, then eventually to outpatient therapy and alumni support.
Guardian Recovery walks with your family through every phase of recovery — from the first day in residential treatment through years of continued support in our alumni program.
Your teen will have a private or semi-private room, depending on facility capacity and clinical recommendations.
Common areas include:
This is your teen’s home for 28 days. We create an environment that feels safe, comfortable, and conducive to healing and growth.
Our admissions team will provide you with a complete packing list when your teen is admitted.
Most teenagers with substance use disorders also struggle with mental health conditions. At Guardian Recovery, we’re a true dual diagnosis treatment provider, which means:
Your teen doesn’t have to manage mental health and addiction separately. Integrated treatment heals the whole person.
We’ve seen families transformed by this process. Your teen has a chance to rewrite their story — to become the person they were always meant to be before substances got in the way. We’ve seen it happen countless times, and we believe it can happen for your child too.
Our treatment advisors are available 24/7 via chat or phone. Thank you for trusting us with your teen’s care. We don’t take that responsibility lightly, and we’re honored to be part of your family’s healing journey.
The hardest part is making the decision. The rest, we’ll do together.
Don’t wait for things to get worse.
Don’t wait until you’ve lost more.
Don’t wait until you’re ready—you’ll never feel completely ready.
The best time to get help is right now. Your new life is waiting. Let’s start today.
Clear, straightforward answers to help you understand what to expect when it comes to Residential Treatment programs, how the process works, and how the Guardian Recovery – Immersion Residential team supports you every step of the way.
Residential treatment is voluntary. You can choose to leave, though we strongly encourage you to discuss concerns with your treatment team first. Leaving against clinical advice (AMA) can put your recovery and insurance coverage at risk. Most moments of wanting to leave are temporary—talking through them often resolves the urge.
Your treatment team can help you manage emergencies. Family can contact the facility anytime, and we’ll ensure you’re informed and supported. In true emergencies, temporary passes or early discharge may be arranged. However, addiction often makes everything feel like an emergency—your team will help you assess situations realistically.
Policies vary by facility. Some Guardian Recovery locations allow smoking during designated times in designated areas. Ask about the specific policy at your treatment location. Some clients use residential treatment as an opportunity to quit smoking as well.
Many employers are understanding about substance use treatment, and federal laws (FMLA) may protect your job during treatment. Our admissions team can provide documentation for your employer. Remember: you can find another job, but you only get one life. Recovery must be the priority.
Your privacy is protected by HIPAA laws. We cannot confirm or deny your presence to anyone without your written authorization. You control who knows you’re in treatment. Many clients tell employers they’re on “medical leave” or attending an “intensive health program.”
While we incorporate 12-Step principles and facilitate meeting attendance, we respect that different approaches work for different people. We also teach SMART Recovery, evidence-based therapies, and other recovery pathways. You’re encouraged to explore what resonates with you.
Costs vary significantly based on insurance coverage, location, and specific program. Most insurance plans cover residential treatment, often with minimal out-of-pocket expenses. Our Immersion Residential admissions team verifies your coverage and explains costs upfront—before you commit.
Previous treatment experiences, even if they ended in relapse, aren’t failures—they’re part of your journey. Many people require multiple treatment episodes to achieve lasting recovery. Each time teaches you something valuable. What matters is that you’re here now, willing to try again.
Licensed therapists, addiction counselors, psychiatric providers, medical professionals, and case managers with specialized experience in substance use and co-occurring mental health disorders.
When clinically appropriate, family participation is integrated to strengthen support systems and improve long-term recovery outcomes.
Care is grounded in research-backed modalities including CBT, DBT, trauma-informed care, motivational interviewing, and relapse prevention, tailored to each stage of recovery.
Seamless transitions across medical detox, residential treatment, partial hospitalization (PHP), intensive outpatient (IOP), and alumni support—all within Guardian Recovery’s Immersion programs in South Florida.
Substance use and mental health conditions are treated together, not sequentially, by clinicians trained in co-occurring disorders—addressing the whole person from day one.
Clean, private, and home-like settings designed to promote safety, dignity, and emotional well-being—not an institutional experience.
24/7 access to medical monitoring, psychiatric evaluation, and medication management to support stabilization, safety, and clinical progress.
Treatment supports mind and body through clinical therapy, wellness practices, and experiential programming that reinforce sustainable recovery.
Each client receives a personalized care plan based on clinical assessments, substance use history, mental health needs, and long-term recovery goals.
Our integrated, clinically driven approach is designed to support lasting sobriety, emotional stability, and long-term recovery success.
Low client-to-staff ratios allow for closer clinical monitoring, more personalized care, and faster response to medical or therapeutic needs—supporting safety, engagement, and stronger recovery outcomes.
We work with most major insurance providers and assist with benefit verification to help you understand coverage, reduce out-of-pocket costs, and access care without unnecessary financial barriers.
Our medically supervised detox program provides 24/7 clinical monitoring and medical support to help individuals safely withdraw from drugs or alcohol. Using evidence-based protocols and FDA-approved medications when appropriate, our medical team focuses on stabilization, comfort, and safety while managing withdrawal symptoms and reducing complications.
Our Immersion Residential location in Boynton Beach, FL, is an inpatient program that offers round-the-clock care in a structured, supportive environment. Patients receive personalized treatment, evidence-based therapies, and compassionate clinical support, allowing them to fully focus on recovery, healing, and building a strong foundation for long-term sobriety.
Our Immersion Outpatient Program in Delray Beach, FL, provides structured, evidence-based addiction and mental health treatment while allowing clients to maintain work, school, or family responsibilities. IOP includes scheduled therapy sessions, clinical support, and relapse prevention planning to support continued progress and long-term recovery.
Guardian Recovery offers a full continuum of care between our nationwide facilities; including PHP, IOP, and Aftercare. Explore our nationwide network of locations to learn more about our programs.
Hoboken, NJ
New Brunswick, NJ
Saddle Brook, NJ
Towaco, NJ
Denver, CO
Plano, TX
Delray Beach, FL
Boynton Beach, FL
Bayonne, NJ
Paramus, NJ
Pine Brook, NJ
Portland, ME
Monmouth Junction, NJ
Plymouth, NH
Lawrenceville, NJ
Westbrook, ME
Tampa, FL
Medical Disclaimer:
The information provided on this website is intended solely for educational and informational purposes. Guardian Recovery aims to improve the quality of life for individuals struggling with substance use or mental health disorders by offering fact-based content about behavioral health conditions, treatment options, and related outcomes. However, this information should not be considered a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
Important Notes:
The content on this site is believed to be current and accurate at the time of posting, but medical information is constantly evolving.
Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider regarding any questions or concerns about your health or medical condition.
If you think you may have a medical emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room immediately.
Guardian Recovery does not provide free medical advice. For personalized treatment recommendations, please consult with a licensed healthcare professional.
By using this website, you acknowledge that you have read and understand this disclaimer. Guardian Recovery and its affiliates disclaim any liability for the use or interpretation of information contained herein. SEE TERMS AND CONDITIONS
