Daybreak proves clinical improvements double in 12-week therapy program vs. a 6-week program

Our kids are in crisis. And, there’s a national shortage of providers to meet the overwhelming need for youth mental health support. That’s why it’s imperative that the kids who are getting care learn the skills they need to thrive in the future. 

Daybreak developed a proprietary, evidence-based teletherapy program off of the Unified Protocol, a cognitive-behavioral (CBT) treatment that can be used to treat many common mental and emotional disorders like anxiety and depression. A treatment study on the use of CBT for the treatment of depression and suicidality in adolescents, proved that following 12 weeks of acute treatment, 71% of teens across groups no longer met diagnostic criteria. Another clinical trial on the effectiveness of CBT for anxiety disorders in youth, found that two out of three children treated with CBT can expect to be free of their primary diagnosis with a course of treatment that usually lasts between 12 and 16 weeks.

We were very intentional about the 12-week length of our program and key milestones that kids must hit in order to see symptomatic improvements. We know that it takes time to build rapport, create strong therapeutic alliances, and involve families and other supportive adults. We know that sometimes in therapy things get a little worse before they get better. And, we know that it’s important to practice the learned skills outside of therapy to build confidence and sustainable improvements. When a mental health program is successful, kids won’t need additional support and it lessens the burden on the entire mental healthcare system. 

Daybreak’s 12-week teletherapy program has proven to double the clinical improvement of kids compared to a 6-week model. We’ve found that the most substantial reduction in symptoms comes between 8-10 weeks of therapy. Overall, the 12-week program results in higher average improvements on the GAD/PHQ/WHO and a reduction in severity of symptoms based on GAD/PHQ scores than a 6-week program.

“3 weeks into the program we've established some rapport and are beginning to develop emotional awareness and understanding. It's hard to imagine being halfway through client care at that point,” says Juan Treviño, National Clinical Director at Daybreak Health. “Around week 6, rapport has been built, we practice skills, and start to see improvements in weeks 6-10. This is a critical point in the program.” 

We’ve heard from school district leaders that 6 sessions just isn’t enough. They talk about how kids can be left with “open wounds” when services end too early. One school mental health leader said, “The last time I checked, 6 sessions wasn’t a whole lot of therapy…especially when kids are having ongoing issues.”

Upon entering treatment, teens complete a diagnostic, evidence-based assessment to evaluate the severity of their symptoms. Every 2-3 weeks, Daybreak therapists prompt students to complete an interim assessment that helps clinicians to evaluate progress and establish what has been working and what has not, and identify continued areas for improvement or support. This is especially helpful during triggering or challenging times during the course of treatment  and provides in-session discussion topics.

Clinicians use the results of the diagnostic, interim, and summative assessments to inform collaboration with school-based counselors, social workers, and families and determine if continuity of care is needed.

The Ultimate Goal: Our Clients Won’t Need Us 

As much as we enjoy working with the teens in our program, our ultimate goal is that they don’t need us anymore. We want them to be well-equipped with the skills and techniques they’ve learned and practiced to feel confident in handling their symptoms on their own in the future.   

‍