Overview of Services

San Marcos Treatment Center provides long-term residential treatment for adolescents, ages 11 through 17, with IQs of 50 and above. Many require special treatment for multiple psychiatric disorders, sexual abuse, substance abuse/chemical dependency, neurodevelopmental disorders and/or neuropsychiatric disorders.

Typical diagnostic categories treated include:

• Attention-deficit Spectrum Disorders
• Mood Disorders
• Psychotic Disorders
• Cognitive Disorders
• Substance Abuse/Dependency Disorders
• Learning Disorders
• Asperger's Disorder
• Anxiety Disorder
• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
• Dissociative Disorder
• Eating Disorders
• Sexual Disorders
• Personality Disorders
• Impulse Control Disorders
• Disruptive Behavior Disorders

Evaluation Services Available

• Psychiatric Assessment
• Psychological/neuropsychological testing
• Physical and neurological examinations
• Nursing assessment
• Laboratory or other medically indicated testing
• Screenings or assessments for the following:
  • Educational/vocational
  • Recreational
  • Reality-Oriented Physical Experiential Services (ROPES)
  • Nutritional
  • Speech/language
  • Sex trauma
  • Sexually reactive/offensive behaviors
  • Substance abuse/dependence
• A thorough review and analysis of all available prior assessments

Specialized Programs

Highly specialized residential programs provide 24-hour care to a broad spectrum of adolescent girls and boys age 11-17 with psychiatric, neuropsychiatric, and developmentally delayed disturbances. These patients may present with a diverse array of symptoms such as severe impulse control, explosiveness, disruptive behaviors, mood disturbance, learning and processing impairments and disturbance of social functioning. Unique therapeutic approaches and a behavior enhancement program create a new environment for young people to experience success. Patients learn to modulate and regulate their behavior, manage anger and mood, and improve their social functioning. Many of the young people admitted to San Marcos Treatment Center have experienced multiple treatment failures and are difficult to manage.

SMTC Programs

Intermediate to Long-term Residential Treatment Center for Females and Males

• Multi-focal/Prescription Plan
• Comprehensive assessment, stabilization, and discharge planning program
• Multi-focal/General Psychiatric
• CHAMPUS/TRICARE approved
• Neuropsychiatric Program
• Developmentally Delayed Program
• Neuropsychiatric/Sexually Offensive Behaviors Program
• Developmentally Delayed/Sexually Offensive Behaviors Program
• Socialization/At-Risk Program

Therapeutic Services Available

Services provided by qualified mental health professionals:

• Individual Therapy
• Group Psychotherapy
• Family Therapy
• Reality-Oriented Physical Experiential Services (ROPES)
• Milieu Treatment
• Behavior Enhancement Program
• Individualized and Self-paced Education Programs
• Master Treatment Plan Development
• Monthly Treatment Plan Updates
• Discharge Planning

Behavior Enhancement Program

The Behavior Enhancement Program is a key component of the treatment milieu. It is based upon the following behavior principles:

1. Positive reinforcement is a powerful intervention that can be used to teach, increase, and maintain adaptive behaviors.
2. Negative behaviors will decrease in frequency and duration when positive behaviors are reinforced.
3. Consistent and understandable consequences and rewards for behavior assist individuals in developing control and accepting responsibility for their own behavior.
4. Staff can provide a therapeutic and consistent environment when they have guidelines and interventions for a variety of patient behaviors.
5. Patient progress and treatment interventions can be evaluated when a system for collection of reliable behavioral data is available.
6. Aversive or punitive approaches are not part of the program.

The Behavior Enhancement Program initially focuses on learning appropriate basic skills and following simple to moderately complex instructions.

Other areas of training include strengthening basic social interactional skills, increasing task completion without distraction or disruption, and beginning to recognize cause and effect relationships with regard to feelings and behavior.

Training occurs while each patient progresses to higher program levels, obtaining additional privileges. Later stages focus on the refinement of these basic skills with the intention of producing more responsible and accountable responses to the community (or others), improving academic skills, and gaining greater insight into resolving or coping with personal problems and/or patterns of behavior.

Education

The on-site, fully accredited school at San Marcos Treatment Center is managed in partnership with The University of Texas at Austin – University Charter School (UT-UCS). In addition to our now augmented staff of teachers, teaching assistants, reading specialists, diagnosticians, registrar and principal, this unique partnership provides the latest textbooks, additional computers and increased classroom time. We are proud to be working with UT-UCS, and the positive effect this relationship has had on the academic experience of our residents.

Vocational Education

An on-site delicatessen and general store provide vocational training as an alternative or adjunct to the academic environment. These programs teach valuable real-life skills and tools for daily living increasing the likelihood of post-discharge success. The programs enhance self-image and self-worth. They also facilitate progress in treatment.

Residents can earn high school credits and a high school diploma while in treatment.