Treatment in California

Teen Reactive Attachment Disorder Treatment (RAD)

Teen Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD) consists of a child’s emotional detachment from their parents or caretakers. Normally, this disorder begins in the early years of childhood.

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At Beachside Teen, we understand that parenting a teenager with reactive attachment disorder can feel overwhelming. Located in the serene surroundings of Malibu, our residential facility offers a safe and nurturing environment for teens struggling with mental health and behavioral challenges. Our comprehensive treatment for reactive attachment disorder in teens is designed to address the unique needs of those with this condition. Our ultimate goal is to provide teens and their families with the tools necessary for overall healing and growth.

Learn more about our teen mental health programs or call us now at 877-983-5144.

What is Reactive Attachment Disorder?

Reactive attachment disorder (RAD) is a serious condition that can develop when a teen experiences disruptions in early bonding and attachment with caregivers. It often stems from neglect, abuse, or unstable home environments during childhood. Without a secure attachment to a caregiver, teens with RAD may struggle to form healthy relationships, confide in others, or regulate their emotions.

Those with this condition frequently exhibit an increased fear or mistrust towards other people—this makes it hard for them to participate in close, supportive relationships. As a result, they may act erratically as a strategy to push others away. This emotional instability creates a poor foundation for handling anxiety, stress, and anger. It can negatively affect their overall quality of life by causing difficulties at school, home, in friendships, and in later romantic relationships.

Reactive Attachment Disorder in Teens

RAD is considered to be a rare condition—though it is very serious. It impacts approximately 1% of children and adolescents. The symptoms correlated with this disorder often resemble those of autism spectrum disorder. This can lead to the possible misdiagnosis of RAD. In most cases, the signs of this condition begin to surface in children before the age of five. This highlights the need for early detection and intervention to prevent intense problems in emotional and social development. Warning signs often correlated with reactive attachment disorder in teens include:

Escalating Behavioral Problems: Persistent issues at school, such as frequent detentions, conflicts with teachers, or refusal to follow rules, as well as defiance or power struggles at home, may indicate underlying attachment difficulties.
Social Isolation: Teens with RAD may avoid social interactions or struggle to maintain friendships, often appearing detached or uninterested in connecting with peers.
Persistent Defiance or Aggression: Ongoing anger, irritability, or aggressive outbursts—especially when disproportionate to the situation—are common in teens with RAD.
Emotional Dysregulation: Severe mood swings, persistent anxiety, or deep depression may signal an inability to process emotions effectively, often stemming from early attachment disruptions.
Risk-Taking or Self-Destructive Behavior: Engaging in dangerous activities, self-harm, or substance use can be a cry for help and a way of coping with unresolved emotional pain.

How Do Teens Develop Reactive Attachment Disorder?

At Beachside Teen, we believe that understanding the root causes of RAD is the first step toward healing. By exploring underlying factors and addressing associated challenges, we help teens and their families rebuild trust, connection, and emotional well-being.

RAD typically develops during early childhood due to adverse experiences that disrupt the formation of secure attachments. Common driving forces behind the development of this disorder include the following:

Neglect or Emotional Deprivation: When a child’s basic emotional and physical needs go unmet, attachment bonds may not develop.
Abuse or Trauma: Physical, emotional, or sexual abuse can interfere with a child’s ability to trust caregivers.
Frequent Changes in Caregivers: Moving between foster homes, adoption placements, or other transitions can prevent consistent attachment.
Institutionalization: Spending time in orphanages or similar environments may limit opportunities for bonding with a primary caregiver.

Signs and Symptoms of Reactive Attachment Disorder in Teens

It is important to be aware of the symptoms of reactive attachment disorder as quick intervention can make a substantial difference in a teen’s long-term development. Children and adolescents with this condition may showcase the following signs:

Difficulty forming emotional bonds with others
Avoiding eye contact
Little interest in playing with toys or games
Persistent feelings of mistrust or fear of intimacy
Avoidance of physical touch or affection
Seldom smiling
Inability to be consoled
Self-soothing behavior
Not reaching out to be picked up as a child
Aggressive or oppositional behavior
Lack of remorse after misbehavior
Low self-esteem or feelings of worthlessness
Difficulty empathizing with others

As a child with RAD transitions into a teenager, their symptoms will be placed into one of two categories: inhibited and disinhibited. Symptoms classified as inhibited include:

Emotional detachment or little emotional expression
Withdrawing emotionally and socially
Displaying discomfort or a lack of responsiveness when being consoled or reassured
Exhibiting avoidant behaviors
Avoiding all types of relationships and friendships

Disinhibited symptoms of reactive attachment disorder in teens are as follows:

Not respegctin social boundaries
Displaying clear immaturity
Forming inappropriate attachments
Interacting with strangers the same way they interact with parents
Seeking attention constantly
Extreme dependence

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How Do I Help My Teen With Reactive Attachment Disorder?

As a parent or caregiver, you play a crucial role in your teen’s recovery journey. Here are some ways you can support your teen with RAD:

Foster a Safe and Stable Environment: Consistency and structure help teens feel secure.
Practice Patience: Healing from RAD is a gradual process that requires understanding and perseverance.
Encourage Open Communication: Create opportunities for your teen to express their feelings without fear of judgment.
Seek Professional Help: Specialized therapy and treatment programs like ours are essential for addressing the complexities of RAD.

At Beachside Teen, we guide parents in supporting their teens through this journey, offering family therapy sessions and educational resources to strengthen familial bonds.

Our Reactive Attachment Disorder Treatment Programs

We offer tailored programs to help teens with reactive attachment disorder overcome challenges and build healthy emotional connections. Our programs are designed to help each teen easily transition through every stage of recovery, so that they can heal without any gaps in treatment. Additionally, we offer academic support and resources to ensure their progress in school is not affected by their need for treatment. Programs offered at our Malibu facility are highlighted below.

Residential Treatment Program

Also called inpatient rehab, our residential treatment program provides a secure, structured environment with 24/7 care and intensive therapy to address the challenges related to RAD. Those in this type of programming live on-site at our comfortable care center. This allows them to fully focus on personal development without any interference from the outside world.

Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP)

Our partial hospitalization program (PHP) offers therapeutic support and skill-building, with evenings at home to practice fostering positive relationships. Participants typically attend sessions during the day, five days a week. The goal of this program is to incorporate a limited amount of flexibility into a teen’s schedule without compromising structure.

Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)

Our intensive outpatient program involves treatment sessions three to five days a week, with each lasting a few hours. Like in a PHP, clients live at home throughout the duration of this program. This flexible option allows teens to manage RAD while maintaining daily routines, like school and family life.

Therapeutic Education Program

Our therapeutic education program ensures that teens have all of the tools and resources they need to excel academically while receiving comprehensive care. Furthermore, our highly-educated specialists design custom education plans to help teens who learn in more unique ways. This allows them to find the academic empowerment they may struggle with in a conventional learning setting.

Aftercare

Our dedicated team is committed to helping teens with RAD heal and develop the tools they need for meaningful, lasting connections. This includes offering aftercare services after their formal treatment plan has ended. Aftercare resources may include recommendations for ongoing counseling or therapy, outpatient programs, or a therapeutic boarding school.

How We Treat Reactive Attachment Disorder In Teens

We take a holistic and individualized approach to treating RAD. Our program focuses on creating a supportive space where teens can rebuild trust, regulate emotions, and develop healthy relationships. Our evidence-based treatment plans are tailored to each teen’s unique needs, ensuring they receive the highest level of care. Therapeutic services offered at our comprehensive facility include:

Behavioral Therapy: Therapies such as dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) are highly beneficial for teens with RAD because they center on changing unhealthy behaviors and ways of thinking. This way, individuals can establish more positive mindsets and improve behavioral habits.
Psychodynamic Therapy: While in psychodynamic therapy, teenagers are assisted in processing repressed experiences and unconscious thoughts that have led to the development of reactive attachment disorder.
Family Therapy: Strengthening family dynamics is a cornerstone of our approach. Family sessions encourage communication, trust, and mutual understanding.
Interpersonal Therapy: Interpersonal therapy is very important for those with RAD as it teaches teens constructive ways to both establish meaningful relationships and handle casual connections.
Equine Therapy: Equine therapy integrates horses into treatment as a way to help teens with RAD cultivate empathy, confidence, social skills, emotional regulation, and problem-solving capabilities.
Expressive Therapy: Activities such as art, music, writing, and equine therapy help teens explore emotions and build self-esteem in creative ways.
Outdoor Therapy: While immersed in nature, those with RAD can gain a deeper understanding of themselves and the world around them while facilitating techniques for stress relief and emotional stability.

Furthermore, we treat reactive attachment disorder in teens with a trauma-informed focus. Our staff is trained in trauma-sensitive practices that prioritize safety, empowerment, and healing for those with this complex condition. We also offer group therapy sessions to encourage open communication and empathetic listening as well as life skills development courses to prepare teens for a successful future.

Our Philosophy

We strive to create a secure environment in which adolescents can heal and flourish. At Beachside Teen, our multidisciplinary staff of dedicated professionals specialize in adolescent mental health. Therefore, our programs are designed to meet the unique developmental needs of those between the ages of 12 and 18. With a focus on compassion, empathy, and long-term solutions, we help teens and their families rediscover hope.

Additionally, our philosophy emphasizes family involvement. This is especially important for those with RAD, as early environmental factors play a key role in the development of this disorder. By including the whole family in the treatment process, we can encourage a healthier home environment that sustains progress and healing on a long-term scale.

Find Treatment for Reactive Attachment Disorder in Malibu, CA

We understand how hurtful it is to see your child struggling, especially with a serious condition such as RAD. That’s why we offer a full suite of clinically-proven modalities and holistic healing strategies to help you and your teen find emotional peace and positivity in both of your lives. We want to help them address their challenges early on, so that they can evolve into successful, fulfilled adults. To learn more about the services we provide or to start the enrollment process today, give us a call or visit our admissions page.

Begin The Healing Journey Today

Your teen’s well-being is too important to wait. If your child is struggling with depression, reach out to Beachside Teen today. Our compassionate team is ready to guide your family toward healing and brighter days ahead.