Outpatient Programs for Teens in San Diego, CA

Your Teen's Recovery Journey Starts Here

At Evolve, we use an evidence-based and behavioral approach to treatment that includes psychiatry, a significant focus on DBT skills training, and other therapeutic methods based on the individual needs of your teen. With a national reputation for clinical excellence, we provide a safe and structured environment where teens develop valuable skills and insights, ensuring gains in treatment are maintained long after discharge.

Evolve offers Outpatient services in San Diego, California, providing individualized mental health and substance abuse treatment. Located in the charming coastal community of Del Mar, and just half an hour from San Diego International Airport, our residence is within easy reach of upscale dining, boutique shopping, and stunning coastal vistas. Whether you’re exploring the renowned Del Mar Village or seeking relaxation on the sandy shores, everything you need is mere moments away. Your home away from home will ensure smooth travel transitions for both residents and visitors alike.

What We Treat

We specialize in treating teens who have difficulty regulating emotions, are engaging in high-risk or self-injurious behaviors, or are suffering from suicidal ideation. Many of our teens struggle with high-acuity mental health issues and co-occurring disorders.

Evolve provides a safe and structured environment where teens develop valuable skills and insights, ensuring gains in treatment are maintained long after discharge.

Issues we see most often in our clients:

Depression
Anxiety
Suicidal Ideation
Self Harm
ADHD
Borderline Personality Disorder
Gender Dysphoria
Substance Use
PTSD / Trauma
Disordered Eating
Psychosis
Bipolar Disorder
Parent Child Relational Problems
Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD)
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder

Evolve San Diego Outpatient offers two program levels of care for teens ages 12-17 who are experiencing mental health, substance use, and/or behavioral challenges. Each teen is assessed by Evolve’s Admissions Team to determine the appropriate level of care needed prior to intake. While most teens at Evolve Outpatient start by entering the Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP), some are appropriate to start in the Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP).

Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) - Full Day

Evolve’s Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP), also known as a “day program”, offers teens a comprehensive day of activities five days a week.

This program provides vital support for teens who reside at home but face difficulties maintaining stability and attending school due to the severity of their mental health, substance use, and behavioral issues. Teens at the PHP level of care may struggle with thoughts of suicide, self-harm, cravings for substances, and/or moderate to severe levels of depression and anxiety.

PHP is ideal for teens who require continued structure and intensive therapeutic support after transitioning from a higher level of care such as residential treatment. Additionally, it benefits teens who need more structure and support than provided in an Intensive Outpatient Program, and need to address worsening mental health or substance use problems before residential treatment becomes necessary. The goal is to support teens in PHP with continuing to stabilize so that they can step-down to Intensive Outpatient (IOP) and return to school during the school year.

Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) - After School

At Evolve’s Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP), also called an “after-school program”, teens receive a half day of programming several days a week.

Teens at the IOP level of care may struggle with thoughts of suicide, occasional self-harm that does not require medical attention, cravings for substances, and/or mild to moderate levels of depression and anxiety.

IOP level of care supports teens who live at home and attend school but need more structure and support than weekly outpatient therapy. IOP is also for teens stepping down from a partial hospitalization program, allowing them to reconnect with their school and community while receiving intensive therapeutic support. The goal is for teens to learn how to navigate life and cope with stressors more and more independently so that they can step-down to outpatient care.

Residential Treatment (RTC) - 24/7 On-Site Living

*Not offered at this location.

Talk to your admissions coordinator to find the right levels of care for your teen.

Our residential program provides a safe, structured, compassionate environment where adolescents receive 24/7 support and live on-site in one of our comfortable treatment centers. Patients attend individual and group therapy, therapeutic activities, and more. Ideal for teenagers who are finding life to be unmanageable due to mental health, substance use, or behavioral issues.

Residential treatment is the best option if your teen is finding life unmanageable due to mental health or addiction issues, is experiencing out-of-control behavioral issues, or they have been unsuccessful at lower levels of care.

Program Hours:

Monday – Friday, 9am to 4pm

Services Included:

Minimum of 5 clinical hours/day, 5 days/week

Psychiatry

Weekly psychiatric evaluation. Our full-time, board-certified child and adolescent psychiatrists are dedicated to exclusively treating Evolve clients.

Individual & Family Therapy

Two 50-minute individual therapy sessions a week. One family therapy session a week.

Group Therapy

A variety of evidence-based therapy groups each day help adolescents develop and explore interpersonal relationships and work on specific treatment goals.

Education

Evolve creates an academic environment that caters to each teen’s abilities, enabling students to pursue their individualized education goals while in treatment.

DBT Skills Training

Two 90-minute adherent DBT Skills Training group weekly. Our group sessions adhere to the structure and teaching methods developed by DBT founder, Marsha Linehan and use a curriculum that includes key skills from each of the four DBT modules.

Experiential Therapy

Two experiential therapy groups per week help teens increase self-awareness, practice skills, and explore new ways of expressing themselves. Therapies include: Art and Music.

Program Hours:

Monday – Thursday, 4pm to 7pm

Services Included:

Minimum of 3 clinical hours/day, 3-4 days/week

Psychiatry

Bi-weekly or monthly psychiatric evaluation. Our full-time, board-certified child and adolescent psychiatrists are dedicated to exclusively treating Evolve clients.

Individual & Family Therapy

One 50-minute individual therapy session a week. One family therapy session a week.

Multi-Family Group

One multi-family group weekly. In these group sessions, families can learn from one another, recognize they’re not alone, and get support from others going through similar experiences.

Group Therapy

A variety of evidence-based therapy groups each day help adolescents develop and explore interpersonal relationships and work on specific treatment goals.

DBT Skills Training

One 90-minute adherent DBT Skills Training group weekly. Our group sessions adhere to the structure and teaching methods developed by DBT founder, Marsha Linehan and use a curriculum that includes key skills from each of the four DBT modules.

Experiential Therapy

One experiential therapy group per week help teens increase self-awareness, practice skills, and explore new ways of expressing themselves. Therapies include: Art or Music.

DBT

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

DBT is an evidence-based treatment designed to treat emotional dysregulation, suicidal thoughts and behaviors, self-harm, and other mental health and/or behavioral issues. It is a structured, skills-based approach that helps people reach their goals and create a life that is experienced as worth living. DBT at Evolve includes adherent DBT Skills Training groups four times weekly.

CBT

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is an evidence-based treatment that has been shown to be effective at treating depression, anxiety, substance use disorders, and eating disorders. CBT’s core principle is that thoughts lead to behaviors. According to CBT, individuals carry certain beliefs about themselves, others, and the world. This leads them to think automatically in distressing situations. Many of these automatic thoughts are negative, maladaptive, or generally unhelpful. The therapist’s job is to help the client replace these cognitive distortions with more accurate and helpful thinking patterns. CBT at Evolve includes concrete tools for clients and parents.

Motivational Interviewing (MI)

Motivational Interviewing is an evidenced-based practice that combines a person-centered approach and goal-oriented skills. The goal is to understand a client’s personal goals and priorities in life and help them increase their internal motivation for change.

Contact Our Admissions Team Today

Find out how Evolve can help your teen. Schedule a free assessment with one of our Admissions Coordinators!

Understanding the Admissions Process

Take the first step toward restoring balance, harmony, and peace to your family.

Step 1: Understanding Your Situation

When you reach out to us, we listen. We want to understand who you are, and what’s going on in your family. A compassionate and skilled Admissions Coordinator will guide you through the process and answer any questions you have about Evolve’s programs. We will also answer questions in relation to payment and insurance coverage.

Step 2: Ensuring Evolve Will Be the Best Fit

The next step is known as the pre-admissions assessment, and our goal is to ensure Evolve is clinically appropriate for your teen. After we’ve determined the appropriate level of care, we work with you to decide which location is the best fit, then arrange a time and date for admission.

Step 3: Welcome To Evolve

From the moment your child admits, you’ll see first-hand the warmth and comfort that defines the Evolve experience for teens and their families. Finally, treatment begins. You can rest assured knowing your child is in a safe, comfortable, supportive environment surrounded by a dedicated team of compassionate, experienced mental health and addiction experts.

We know this is a huge step for you and your family. We understand it won’t be easy. Yes, there may be tears. Yes, it may be hard to drive away. But one thing we’ve learned in all our years working with adolescents: treatment works.

Hope Has a Home at Evolve

If your family is in crisis, we can expedite the admissions process to get you the help you need.

Insurance Accepted

Evolve works with most private insurance companies on an in-network and out-of-network basis. We talk to your insurance provider and advocate for you to maximize your benefits at every level of care.

We do not accept Medi-Cal or Medicaid.

Call our admissions team for a free verification of benefits.