TGLWC Therapeutic Summer Enrichment Program for youth
Therapeutic summer enrichment programs provide youth and adolescents with structured mental health support in a safe, engaging environment during the summer months.
At Guiding Light Wellness Center, we offer an in-person summer enrichment program designed to support elementary and middle school–aged youth who are experiencing emotional, behavioral, or mental health challenges. We understand how difficult it can be for families to see a child struggle, and our compassionate, child-centered approach focuses on helping each child feel safe, understood, and supported as they grow and heal.
Our in-person summer enrichment program provides structured, age-appropriate services in a nurturing on-site setting. Children participate during the summer while maintaining healthy routines, allowing them to build coping skills, emotional awareness, and resilience through hands-on, interactive therapeutic and enrichment activities. Programming is individualized to meet each child’s developmental needs and promotes positive social skills, emotional regulation, and self-confidence.
We are committed to creating a welcoming, inclusive, and affirming space for children of all backgrounds. Through in-person, evidence-based care, we provide meaningful support that strengthens emotional well-being, encourages healthy peer relationships, and helps reduce the need for more intensive levels of care—while partnering closely with families every step of the way.
What is a therapeutic summer enrichment program?
A therapeutic summer enrichment program is a structured, clinician-led program designed to support youth’s emotional, behavioral, and social development during the summer months. It combines therapeutic services with engaging enrichment activities to help children build skills in a supportive, real-world setting.
The program includes clinician-led groups that focus on emotional regulation, coping strategies, communication, and social skills. In addition, experiential therapy is a core component, allowing youth to learn through hands-on activities that promote self-awareness, teamwork, and confidence.
Community outings are incorporated to help participants practice and demonstrate the skills they have learned in real-life environments. These outings provide opportunities for youth to apply coping strategies, problem-solving, and social skills while receiving guidance and support from clinicians and program staff.
Overall, a therapeutic summer enrichment program offers a balanced approach that promotes emotional growth, skill development, and positive experiences, helping youth return to school better prepared, more confident, and more resilient.
How Does a Therapeutic After-School Program for Youth Work?
Here’s how our therapeutic after-school program supports youth and adolescents as well as their families:
Personalized Treatment Plans
During the first few days, youth meets with their primary therapist (and family members, if appropriate) to create individualized treatment plan goals and objectives.
Group Therapy Sessions
Youth spend at 5 hours per day, five days per week in interactive group programming designed to build coping skills, emotional awareness, and social connection.
Individual & Family Sessions
Each youth has weekly individual sessions and family therapy sessions once a month with our therapists to address individualized concerns and progress.
Experiential Activities
Youth will engage in experiential activities throughout the program to reinforce learning and personal growth.
Peer Relationships
Join consistent, age-appropriate groups where they can develop strong peer support and build lasting relationships.
Small Group Sizes
Groups are limited to no more than 15 youth with a behavioral support specialist assigned to each group to ensure safety, engagement, and meaningful interaction.
Multi-Disciplinary Support
Each participant will also work with a team of clinicians and specialists tailored to their needs to help achieve program objectives.
Medication Support
Psychiatry services and medication management, if needed, are integrated into the program and scheduled to accommodate your teen or young adult.
Discharge Planning
At the conclusion of the program, we provide thorough discharge planning and guidance for next steps to support ongoing growth and success.
Age Range
Our services are available to school-aged youth (ages 5–13).
Average Length of Treatment
Program length is individualized and based on needs and progress, typically lasting 6–12 weeks.
Genders Served
Our services are inclusive of all genders, including female, male, and LGBTQ+ individuals.
Therapy Time Commitment
All group, individual, and family sessions are offered throughout the day, with flexibility for family sessions as needed.
Conditions Treated
We support individuals facing mental health concerns and co-occurring barriers in a compassionate, client-centered environment.
Weekly Commitment
The program includes five hours of programming each day, weekly individual therapy sessions, and monthly family sessions
When is a therapeutic summer enrichment program helpful?
A therapeutic summer enrichment program can be helpful when emotional, behavioral, or mental health challenges haven’t improved with traditional therapy. Youth may benefit for reasons such as:
Daily challenges
Difficulty keeping up with school, home tasks, or personal care may indicate a need for structured support.
Outpatient therapy isn’t enough
When traditional therapy hasn’t been effective, a virtual therapeutic after-school program provides more intensive care in a safe online setting.
Difficulty coping with life changes or stressors
Major transitions, bullying, or academic pressure can overwhelm teens; a Virtual IOP teaches resilience and healthy stress management.
Emotional instability
Frequent mood changes or difficulty regulating emotions that interfere with daily functioning.
Withdrawal or loss of interest
Youth who isolate themselves or stop enjoying activities may benefit from intensive group therapy that promotes connection and personal growth.
After higher levels of care
Individual therapy can provide continued support following hospitalization, residential treatment, or more intensive services.
Accessible mental health treatment: what to expect at TGLWC’s Therapeutic Summer Enrichment Program
Treatment that works around families’ schedules
Our Therapeutic Summer Enrichment Program fits into your child’s life, providing the intensive support they need while allowing them to stay connected to home, extracurriculars, and family.
Intensive mental health support
The program offers focused, healing care for preteens, teens, and young adults facing significant mental health challenges such as severe anxiety, depression, trauma, or OCD.
Personalized mental health care that works for your child
Data-backed outcomes show that participants in our Virtual Therapeutic Afterschool Program often experience reduced anxiety, depression, and distress, along with improved overall well-being.
Benefits of Therapeutic Summer Enrichment Program at The Guiding Light Wellness Center
Therapeutic Summer Enrichment Program offers mental health support tailored to the unique needs of youth and adolescents. Some key benefits include:
Flexible care
Provides youth and adolescents the flexibility to continue their daily routines including school, sports, and more while receiving vital mental health care.
Inclusive Psychiatry Services
TGLWC’s Therapeutic Afterschool Program includes comprehensive psychiatric services and medication management. We begin with a thorough psychiatric evaluation to create a personalized treatment plan for your child. Follow-up visits occur as often as bi-weekly, and at minimum once a month, allowing us to continually adjust and optimize care. This approach ensures consistent, high-quality support, addressing all aspects of your child’s path to wellness.
Evidence-based treatment
Benefit from proven therapies such as CBT and DBT to address anxiety, depression, stress, and emotional regulation.
Supportive Environment
Our program fosters a nurturing and supportive environment for youth to connect with peers and build essential coping skills.
Enhanced daily functioning
Develop problem-solving strategies, emotional awareness, and healthy coping mechanisms for long-term well-being.
Measurable Results
Our therapists track progress with measurable outcomes, demonstrating how much youth have grown and improved through our Therapeutic Afterschool Program.
What does a day of therapeutic summer enrichment look like?
TGLWC Therapeutic Summer Enrichment Program includes a variety of therapies, activities, and skill-building activities designed to help give youth the tools they need to overcome mental health conditions. On a typical day at TGLWC could look like this:
How effective are therapeutic after-school programs?
In-person therapeutic after-school programs have been shown to be highly effective in supporting youth who experience mental health challenges. Research indicates that structured, therapist-led programs can help participants manage symptoms related to depression, emotional distress, and high-risk behaviors.
Studies examining intensive, structured therapeutic programs for youth have found positive outcomes, including meaningful reductions in depressive symptoms, improved emotional regulation, and decreased engagement in self-harming behaviors. Many participants who entered treatment experiencing significant emotional distress demonstrated improvement by the end of the program.
These findings highlight the value of in-person therapeutic after-school programs in providing consistent, accessible support for youth. Through face-to-face interaction, skill-building activities, peer support, and clinical oversight, participants are able to strengthen coping skills, build resilience, and improve overall emotional well-being in a structured, safe, and supportive environment.
Payment Options for Virtual Therapy
➤ In-Network Insurance
Our individual therapy program accepts Maryland Medicaid and CareFirst insurance plans. Using in-network coverage allows for seamless access to therapy services, helping you focus on your mental health without worrying about unexpected costs.
➤ Self-Pay Options
We also offer flexible self-pay options to meet your needs, including cash, credit/debit cards, check, and direct deposit. This provides convenience and flexibility when investing in your mental health care.