California Teen Center has expanded of its virtual Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) for adolescents, extending structured mental health support to families throughout California. Based in Yuba City, the center now offers online access to the same clinical care used in its in-person programs for teens ages 12 to 17.
More details can be found at https://teencenter.org/
Many families across Northern California struggle to find timely adolescent mental health care, particularly outside major cities, says the organization. California Teen Center's virtual IOP was created in response, giving teens in Sutter County, Yuba County, Marysville, Live Oak, Gridley, Colusa, Sacramento, Roseville and Chico access to the same licensed clinicians without long drives or lengthy waitlists.
A peer reviewed study published in JMIR Formative Research found that adolescents and young adults who completed a virtual intensive outpatient program experienced a significant decrease in depression symptoms between intake and discharge. Separate data has noted average wait times of six to eight weeks at many youth serving mental health facilities nationwide.
That gap between demand and access is part of why California Teen Center expanded its virtual offering. The program mirrors the structure of in person treatment, combining individual therapy, group sessions and family therapy delivered by licensed clinicians, so teens who cannot easily reach a clinic each week can still receive consistent, structured support.
"Many of the families who come to us have already tried weekly therapy and are still struggling," says Dr. Sayeh Beheshti, founder of California Teen Center. "Our virtual IOP gives teens across California the structure of a higher level of care, without asking a family to put their whole routine on hold."
California Teen Center is licensed by the California Department of Health Care Services and accredited by The Joint Commission. The center also offers a Teen Day Program, outpatient therapy and step-down care, and works with insurance providers, including Anthem, Blue Shield of California, Carelon, and Aetna.
"Dr. Beheshti and Dr. Armstrong have both been incredibly supportive throughout our experience," one parent recently shared. "We used the telehealth option, and it made a real difference, not just for our teen, but for our whole family. Having that flexibility to connect from home took so much pressure off an already difficult time."
Interested parties can find more information by visiting https://teencenter.org/