Family Therapy for Teens in Phoenix: When Your Family Needs Support
When your teen is struggling, your entire family feels the impact. At Horizon Recovery in Phoenix, we understand that teen mental health challenges and addiction don’t just affect the individual – they create ripples throughout the whole family system. Our specialized family therapy program helps Phoenix families heal together, providing the support and guidance needed during these challenging times.
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Helping Arizona Families Heal Through Connection, Compassion, and Clinical Support
Adolescence can be a turbulent time, and when a teen struggles with anxiety, depression, addiction, or emotional disconnection, the entire family feels it. At Horizon Recovery, based in Arizona, our family therapy program helps families build trust, improve communication, and support one another as they navigate the complex landscape of teenage mental health. Whether your teen is facing emotional overwhelm, trauma, or behavioral challenges, family therapy offers a space where healing can begin, together.
How Family Therapy Helps Teens and Their Families
Family therapy focuses on improving relationships within the family system, especially when one member (like a teen) is facing significant emotional, behavioral, or psychological stress.
Our therapy sessions help:
- Restore healthy communication between parents, teens, and siblings
- Reduce patterns of blame, resentment, and emotional shutdown
- Address core issues such as substance use, school avoidance, self-harm, or identity struggles
- Create a safe environment where teens feel heard, respected, and supported
- Help parents understand how to respond, not react, and reestablish their connection with their child
We combine licensed, evidence-based family therapy with optional supportive practices that draw on the mind-body connection, including mindfulness, somatic techniques, and emotional regulation strategies.
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Teen Mental Health in Arizona & Beyond
Teen mental health challenges are increasing, and Arizona families are not immune.
Horizon Recovery is committed to providing accessible, in-person family therapy at our Arizona location, as well as virtual options for those across the state.
- CDC data shows 1 in 3 high school students nationwide report persistent sadness or hopelessness
- In Arizona, families face additional challenges around access to care, academic stress, and peer pressure in both urban and rural communities
- Family-based therapy models are clinically proven to improve treatment outcomes in adolescents
What to Expect from Family Therapy at Horizon
Our approach is tailored, collaborative, and always trauma-informed.
- Initial consultation with a licensed clinician to understand family dynamics and goals
- Ongoing therapy sessions with the teen, family members, and/or parents, based on clinical recommendations
- Education and tools for parents to strengthen communication and boundary-setting
- Optional integration of mindfulness practices and stress-reduction techniques
- In-person sessions at our Arizona facility and virtual options are available statewide
Whether your teen is struggling with depression, anxiety, addiction, or emotional dysregulation, our family therapy program is designed to restore clarity, trust, and connection.
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Meet the Experts Behind Our Programs
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Brian Carlisle
RN, FNP-C, MSLE / Administrator
- Family Nurse Practitioner with 15+ years as a Fire Department Captain/Paramedic
- Holds a Master’s in Leadership and Ethics
- Founded Horizon Recovery to provide evidence-based care with deep empathy, drawn from real-world crisis experience
Patrick Buehl
Executive Director
- Holds over 30 specialized certifications in behavioral health
- Leads with lived experience and a focus on holistic, personalized treatment
- Oversees program implementation, clinical coordination, and family engagement
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Dr. Mona Amini
MD, MBA /Medical Director
- Board-certified psychiatrist specializing in adolescent mental health and behavioral addictions
- Former president of the Arizona Psychiatric Society and active leader within the American Psychiatric Association
- Committed to evidence-based, inclusive care and mentorship of future psychiatric professionals
Why Arizona Families Trust Horizon Recovery
We understand that family systems are complex, and healing takes a whole-team approach. Whether you’re located in Scottsdale, Phoenix, Mesa, or surrounding Arizona communities, our team is here to support your teen and your entire family with comprehensive care.
Integrating Evidence-Based Family Therapies
Our Family therapy sessions seamlessly integrate proven therapeutic techniques, ensuring families receive the best care possible:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): CBT helps families cultivate a more positive and constructive outlook by addressing negative thought patterns and behaviors.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): This approach focuses on acceptance and change, guiding families in managing their emotions and improving relationships.
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Elements of Our Family Therapy Sessions
Collaborative Discussions: Guided by our seasoned therapists, these discussions create a space for open dialogue and ensure that every member feels valued.
Skill-building Workshops: From effective communication to conflict resolution, families are taught essential skills that benefit their daily interactions.
Activity-Based Engagements: We incorporate activities that foster teamwork and unity, from creative arts to group exercises, reinforcing the importance of collective effort
Committed Mental Health Care for Teens and Their Families
You can expect support and genuine empathy from the first time you call us. We do this work because we are called to it. Most of our families have been touched by mental health disorders or addiction, too.
We understand the healing journey – that’s why we’ve dedicated our lives to helping teens and their families overcome mental health challenges like depression and addiction. We’ve been there, and we know the way forward.
We go the extra mile to support families right from their initial contact with us. Small gestures, such as a comprehensive welcome packet that explains what to expect during residential treatment, go a long way in making families feel at ease.
Moreover, as a pioneering step in our industry, we’ve introduced a dedicated Family Liaison whose sole responsibility is proactively communicating with families daily as their loved ones progress through treatment.
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About Our Family Program
Family therapy sessions will be offered after our clinical team determines the most effective time. Often, the adolescent needs some time to work through some things before the family is brought into the therapy.
Our family liaison will update families on the progression and the best time to schedule a family therapy session.
Our experienced therapists will guide family therapy session frequency and content.
Family Liaisons
During the intake process, families will be introduced to our Family Liaison. Their role is to guide families through the entire journey, from explaining the process and addressing questions to providing support during a resident’s stay at Horizon Recovery.
Furthermore, the Family Liaison will assist in preparing families and residents for graduation, ensuring a smooth transition for the healing journey ahead.
At Horizon Recovery, we believe that transparency and support are paramount in your child’s care and treatment.
Our dedicated Family Liaison is here to ensure you’re always in the loop, easing the burden of uncertainty and allowing you to focus on what matters most—your child’s well-being.
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The Difference at Horizon Recovery
Our approach to mental health and substance abuse treatment for teens and adolescents is a bit different than what you may have seen before. While we focus on clinical excellence and employ proven, evidence-based treatment modalities here, we never lose sight of heart and soul. Recovery is about more than just medical science and psychotherapy, after all.
Teens struggling with depression or addiction are often in crisis. Being a teenager is tough already. You’re struggling to find your identity and understand your place in the world. Your hormones are surging; emotions run high. You’re experiencing new feelings and facing challenges you’ve never faced before. When depression, anxiety, or substance use disorders enter that equation, too, it can be a recipe for chaos.
In our view, every teen we treat needs to feel seen, heard and understood. Our mission is not only to help them overcome their substance use disorder and learn to manage their mental health. It also empowers and inspires them. We treat and heal at Horizon Recovery, but we also engage and educate. Every teen we treat gains a greater understanding of their condition and symptoms, but they also get practical tools for managing their emotions and making better decisions.
Better Mental Health Treatment for Teens and Adolescents
We offer a higher standard of care for teens struggling with addiction, depression, or other mental health challenges.
If your teenage son or daughter is wrestling with their mental health or a substance use disorder, we’re ready to help. Horizon Recovery offers teens the best residential mental health treatment in Phoenix, AZ.
Change begins with action.
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