For Parents
- How can I help support my daughter during treatment? What is my role within her care?
- How often will you talk to me about my daughter's progress?
- What if my daughter doesn't want to participate in therapy?
- What role will family members or friends play in treatment?
- How long will the treatment process take? When will we know it's time for discharge?
- How will the family be prepared for her return home?
- Can I talk to someone about my daughter's status and or progress while she is in the Timberline Knolls program?
- Can she continue with school work, academic credits and personal interests?
- How will Timberline Knolls assess my daughter's academic standing?
- Is the Timberline Knolls campus easy to get to?
How can I help support my daughter during treatment? What is my role within her care?
We believe family involvement is integral throughout the duration of your daughter's treatment. Although each resident's treatment plan is individualized, you can share your support through your involvement in family therapy, which occurs on a weekly basis, either face-to-face or via telephone.
Interactive expressive therapy groups, in which all family members can participate, are also an essential way to show support. We also encourage open and consistent communication via telephone and in-person visits.
How often will you talk to me about my daughter's progress?
We strive to maintain open and consistent communication with parents throughout the course of treatment. Your daughter's primary therapist or another designated staff member will provide general information regarding your daughter's progress on a regular basis. You may get academic information and/or progress from the Timberline Knolls Academy principal.
What if my daughter doesn't want to participate in therapy?
We recognize that treatment, healing and recovery are very difficult, oftentimes bringing about tremendous emotions that can lead to resistance. We take special care to ensure each resident's treatment is individualized to her specific needs and concerns, and will work with your daughter to help her become more comfortable with her surroundings and the structure of our program. We will also work to identify your daughter's specific strengths, as well as any possible resistance, to help her begin taking the first steps toward recovery and healing.
What role will family members or friends play in treatment?
Family members and significant others are an integral component in a resident's treatment. Whenever possible, all family members, including siblings, participate in family therapy. Others who hold a significant role in the resident's life are also included in family therapy. Adult family members and significant others also attend Multi-Family Group and educational sessions geared toward supporting and enhancing the resident's recovery. For families who live at a distance, we arrange these treatments via telephone sessions or through conference call; family therapy sessions can also be grouped during family visits.
How long will the treatment process take? When will we know it's time for discharge?
Each resident's treatment process is individual, and length of stay is based on a number of factors. Throughout the course of treatment, discharge planning – including follow-through care and relapse prevention planning – is discussed with appropriate professionals. Your daughter's return home will be discussed regularly during family therapy sessions, and for those residents in our final, Looking Out phase, therapeutic passes may occur. These therapeutic passes are connected to specific treatment plan goals and give all family members the opportunity to "practice" new skills learned in treatment.
How will the family be prepared for her return home?
On the day of admission, the treatment team begins to plan for the resident's discharge. In individual therapy sessions with the resident, as well as in family therapy sessions, the various facets of the plan are developed, explored and adjusted. During the second (Looking In) and third phases (Looking Out) of treatment, day passes with family members and later overnight stays assist both resident and family members to identify how well the recovery process is progressing. After each daytime and overnight pass, both resident and family complete an evaluation of the pass; this feedback provides crucial information in the planning process. The Multi-Family Group provides another forum where adult family members and significant others explore topics essential to the recovery process. All of these avenues of treatment – individual therapy, family therapy, the Multi-Family Group, as well as elements in the treatment process itself – pave the way for a smoother transition to home.
Can I talk to someone about my daughter's status and or progress while she is in the Timberline Knolls program?
Yes. As part of our integrated treatment program, each resident has a primary therapist, a psychiatrist and a team of support professionals. You may contact these team members for updates as appropriate.
Can she continue with school work, academic credits and personal interests?
Without question, the participation in a structured academic environment plays an important role in the developmental needs of an adolescent. We believe all students can learn, achieve and be responsible when they are proactive members in a dynamic therapeutic community.
Timberline Knolls Academy is an Illinois State Board of Education-approved residential school that involves a three-part program of individualized/group therapy, residential/lodge living and education. The Academy follows a quarter-based academic calendar and offers a six-week academic/enrichment summer school program. Because of the dedication of our full-time certified staff and our access to excellent tutorial resources, our students can successfully participate in credit earning subjects, advanced placement courses, ACT/SAT test prep/testing, GED/alternative learning programs, online learning, enrichment courses and independent life skills opportunities.
The Academy seeks to establish a supportive and trusting learning environment. The students are encouraged to take positive risks, evaluate their own work and behavior and monitor their choices internally, thereby developing an improved sense of self. This is accomplished through participation in varied learning that develops their academic, artistic, physical and social skills.
How will Timberline Knolls assess my daughter's academic standing?
At the Academy, all students are provided comprehensive academic assessments to determine their current instructional level, identify whether gaps in knowledge acquisition exist and find out what educational skills need to be developed. Our Academic Coordinator creates an individualized academic plan for each student. We consider the student's present level of achievement rate, ability to learn, special education needs and the requirements of the student's home school district. This is a collaborative effort and involves extensive coordination with the student, family, home school and primary therapist.
Before the student's departure from Timberline Knolls, our teachers communicate with the home school district's designated contact person regarding current performance data, course work profile, pre/post test achievement date, career/college options and interests explored with the staff. The Academy staff also facilitates the appropriate resources and referrals to foster the student's continued development as a lifelong learner.
Is the Timberline Knolls campus easy to get to?
Yes. We are located just a few miles southwest of Chicago, Illinois, and less than a half-hour's drive from either O'Hare or Midway Airport.