Teen Outpatient Mental Health Program

(949) 557-0077

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What is CBT and DBT?

The Tools Your Teen Needs: CBT & DBT Explained

At ASPIRE, we use two proven therapy approaches — DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy) and CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) — to help teens learn how to manage tough emotions, build healthier habits, and feel more in control of their lives.

DBT – Helping Teens Stay Calm, Present, and Connected

Dialectical Behavior Therapy is especially helpful for teens who feel overwhelmed, shut down, or act out when emotions run high. DBT focuses on four life-changing skill sets:

Mindfulness
– How to slow down and stay focused, even during stress
Emotion Regulation
– How to understand and manage big feelings like anger, sadness, or anxiety
Distress Tolerance
– How to get through hard moments without making things worse
Healthy Communication
– How to set boundaries and build stronger relationships

Why it works: DBT helps teens respond instead of react — giving them emotional stability and stronger connections at home, school, and with friends.

CBT – Helping Teens Rethink the Way They Think

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy teaches teens how their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are connected. If your teen often says things like “I’m a failure” or “Nothing ever goes right,” CBT helps them challenge those thoughts and replace them with more helpful ones. It also teaches real-world coping skills for anxiety, stress, and low motivation.

Why it works: CBT gives teens tools to break out of negative cycles — so they can feel more confident, hopeful, and capable.

Additional Resources

Talking with your child about mental health can feel overwhelming, but you are not alone. The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) offers trusted, evidence-based resources to help parents recognize symptoms, start meaningful conversations, and connect children with the right support. These resources are a valuable starting point. If you feel your child may benefit from more structured support, such as a group resiliency program, please reach out to our team at ASPIRE for guidance and next steps.

Teen Depression

Understanding the signs of depression and how to manage it can be difficult and complex. Use this resource to signs of depression and ways you may be able to seek help. ASPIRE's trained professionals are well versed in understanding depression in teens and young adults and have a regimented program that can help take on depression and work towards healing.

Helping Children with Traumatic Events

Traumatic events occur throughout everyone's lives, but children and teens may process their emotions differently. Use this resource to understand the ways in which your child may be expressing their feelings and emotions.

NIMH Resource on helping children process traumatic events

Stress and Anxiety

Thoughts and feelings of being overwhelmed can impact children and teens at various points in their lives. It's essential to be able to identify when overwhelming thoughts are temporary moments of stress or a sign of something more impactful, like anxiety.

ASPIRE (After School Program: Intervention and Resiliency Education) is an intensive outpatient program for adolescents, ages 12-18, with primary mental health disorders and possible co-occurring substance abuse challenges.

Hoag doesn't believe in pathologizing teens, we believe in supporting them. Starting with an afterschool program like ASPIRE can be a powerful first step, offering a familiar and structured environment where teens feel safe, heard, and empowered. For many, this setting inspires hope and builds trust, creating the foundation for meaningful, transformational change. While higher levels of care, such as residential or wilderness programs, are appropriate and necessary in some situations, these environments can sometimes feel overwhelming or punitive to teens. ASPIRE offers a supportive, collaborative starting point that helps teens engage in meaningful growth without feeling displaced.

Program Structure

Our after-school program focuses on building essential coping and social-emotional skills to better navigate their depression, anxiety, mood dysregulation, and more. Review a sample of our curriculum to see how our approach is different.

Learn more

CBT & DBT Explained

At ASPIRE, we use two proven therapy approaches: DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy) and CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy). These approaches help teens learn how to manage tough emotions, build healthier habits, and feel more in control of their lives.

Learn more

Resources

Helping your child find the help they need can be daunting and confusing. We have gathered helpful resource guides to assist you in speaking with your child about getting help, what behaviors may be an indication of something larger and practices at home to build healthy communication.

Learn more

Let's Take the First Step - Together

ASPIRE is an accredited after-school mental health program in Orange County, helping teens ages 12–18 and their parents build lasting resiliency, communication skills, and emotional strength. Contact us today for a confidential assessment.

Verify Insurance Coverage

Waiting for a Crisis Doesn’t Protect Your Child — It Delays Their Healing.

Teens rarely say “I need help”, but their behavior often does. 50% of all lifetime mental illnesses begin by age 14, and 75% by age 24. Early identification and treatment are crucial to prevent progression and reduce long-term impacts If your child seems distant, angry, or lost, now is the time to act. The earlier teens learn coping and communication skills, the greater their chance of long-term success and mental wellness. You don’t need to wait for a diagnosis, a crisis, or a rock-bottom moment to seek support.

Learn More About Our Program's Structure

Designed for Families Facing Real Struggles.

If your teen is isolating, emotionally overwhelmed, falling behind in school, or feeling hopeless, you are not alone. ASPIRE supports adolescents ages 12–18 who are dealing with depression & anxiety; ADHD & mood dysregulation; trauma, grief & loss; oppositional behavior or self-injury; and OCD or other mental health-related symptoms. We also support parents who feel frustrated, helpless, or unsure of what to do next.

Structure, Support & Skills: All After School.

ASPIRE is an 8‑week intensive outpatient program that meets four afternoons per week, providing teens with essential coping strategies and social‑emotional skill development at a critical time: right after school. The program is delivered in a structured, interactive classroom setting that emphasizes skills acquisition, psychoeducation, and collaborative participation.

Why Hoag?

When your teen is struggling with anxiety, depression, or other mental health challenges, choosing the right care can feel overwhelming, but Hoag's ASPIRE program offers the comprehensive, evidence-based support your family needs during this critical time. ASPIRE is specifically designed for teens aged 12-18 facing mental health disorders and substance abuse challenges. Hoag's ASPIRE is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), demonstrating the program's commitment to the highest educational and clinical standards. Most importantly, ASPIRE doesn't just treat your teen; it includes comprehensive family programming, recognizing that healing happens best when the entire family is supported, educated, and empowered to move forward together toward lasting wellness and resilience.

Two Convenient Locations

ASPIRE at Hoag helps adolescents experiencing emotional and neurobehavioral problems, including depression, anxiety, trauma, grief, via an after-school program.

Hoag Center for Healthy Living - ASPIRE Newport Beach

307 Placentia Ave, Suite 109 B, Newport Beach, CA 92663

(949) 557-0077

Hoag Health Center - Irvine ASPIRE

16100 Sand Canyon, Suite 150, Irvine, CA 92618

(949) 557-0077

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Designed for Families Facing Real Struggles.

If your teen is isolating, emotionally overwhelmed, falling behind in school, or feeling hopeless — you are not alone. For those teens best served at a specialized program with peers, ASPIRE might be right for your teen.

ASPIRE supports adolescents ages 12–18 who are dealing with:

Depression & anxiety
Overwhelming loneliness or loss of human connection
ADHD & mood dysregulation
Trauma, grief & loss
Oppositional behavior or self-injury
Emotional and identity challenges related to adoption
OCD or other mental health-related symptoms

We also support parents who feel frustrated, helpless, or unsure of what to do next. Our process ensures parents are learning the same communication skills we teach teens for lessons to be practiced at home, beyond our educational environment.

Explore how our program works

ASPIRE is an 8-week resiliency outpatient program that meets four afternoons per week, helping teens develop essential coping strategies and social-emotional skills when they need it most — right after school. This is an interactive, educational classroom setting designed to be collaborative. This program is not group therapy; it’s educational skill coaching.

Program Schedule: Mondays–Thursdays: 3:30–6:30 PM Fridays: 3:30–5:30 PM (Parents join from 4:30–5:30 PM)
Accredited education component: Earn 5 high school elective credits from 7 Orange County school districts
Evidence-based therapy: Group sessions using DBT and CBT
Multidisciplinary care team: Therapists, psychiatrists, and social workers
Judgment-free environment rooted in empathy and encouragement
Parental involvement every step of the way

Modules of Focus Per Week

Each week, we will focus on learning a new skill and implement it into practice. For each module listed below, we will spend two weeks discussing and developing skillsets for understanding and development.

This is an educational environment meant to help you learn more about your emotions and effective communication skills. This is not a group therapy environment. We integrate structured learning with art therapy, music, and movement.

Parental involvement is key to the success of your child. The skills we learn together can be taken home and implemented immediately.

Walking the Middle Path

Encourages balancing acceptance and change in relationships and personal decisions.
Teaches validation, dialectical thinking, and reducing extreme or polarized views.
Helps caregivers and clients navigate conflict and build mutual understanding.

Distress Tolerance

Provides tools to survive crisis situations without making them worse (e.g., distraction, self-soothing).
Encourages acceptance of reality in moments of intense emotional pain.
Focuses on short-term coping strategies rather than long-term change.

Emotional Regulation

Helps identify and label emotions accurately.
Teaches strategies to reduce emotional vulnerability and reactivity.
Promotes building positive experiences and increasing emotional resilience.

Interpersonal Effectiveness

Develops skills to assert needs and set boundaries while maintaining relationships.
Balances self-respect, relationship goals, and objective effectiveness.
Includes techniques like DEARMAN, GIVE, and FAST for effective communication.

Verify Insurance

Don’t worry about insurance complexities. We’re are here for you.

Hoag works with most insurance providers and will advocate for you to get the maximum coverage possible.

Hoag respects your privacy and is committed to protecting your personal information. We will take every measure to ensure that the information you share with us remains confidential and is only disclosed to authorized individuals or entities with your explicit consent.

To verify your insurance coverage, call one of our mental health specialists today at (949) 557-0077 and we will be happy to assist you.