Welcome to The Nautilus Center

Adolescent Day Treatment

Comprehensive mental health care & wellness support setting teens ages 13-18 on a path of sustained well-being

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Philosophy of Care

The Nautilus Center exists to address the growing mental health challenges facing adolescents today. The nautilus shell symbolizes slow and protected internal growth, the naturally occurring beauty of the golden ratio, transformation and resilience. We apply a holistic approach to wellness with focus on the basic needs for sleep, nutrition, social connection, mentorship and the mind/body connection to well being. We want our teens to learn how to feel well and stay well.

Our team of youth treatment specialists are carefully chosen for their deep commitment to providing an environment where teens can learn to feel well and address underlying problems. We understand that challenging behavior is usually not the problem, but a symptom of the problem—we aim to achieve more than symptom reduction. To do so, our therapeutic methods are tailored to each adolescent’s unique profile of strengths, needs, interests and goals to help them move forward and experience a more satisfying life.

How We Help

Teens may exhibit persistent sadness, irritability, low energy or a loss of interest in activities they once enjoyed. They may withdraw from family and friends, struggle in school or feel hopeless about the future. With support teens can regain a sense of connection and purpose.

Depression

Anxiety

Presenting as excessive worry, restlessness, difficulty concentrating or physical symptoms like headaches and stomachaches, anxiety can interfere with school, relationships and daily functioning. We can help teens build coping skills, improve emotional regulation and feel more in control of their thoughts and reactions.

Substance Abuse

Substance use that may begin as experimentation or as a response to stress can arise from mental health challenges, lack of coping skills or unregulated emotions. Substance use impacts judgement, behavior and overall well being. Intervention strategies can build resilience and coping skills, address underlying mental health issues and reduce reliance on substances.

Dual Diagnosis

When mental health challenges are accompanied by co-occurring substance use issues, treatment becomes more complex. The Nautilus Center program is well equipped to address these challenges with integrated treatment modalities that create more effective and lasting outcomes.

Teens experiencing trauma & grief from loss, family disruption, or distressing events and life circumstances require supportive, trauma-informed care to gently process their emotions and restore a sense of trust, stability and safety.

Trauma & Grief

Self Harm & Suicidal Ideation

Impaired coping skills and overwhelming emotions can lead some teens to engage in self harming behaviors such as cutting or thoughts of suicide. With appropriate support and compassionate care, teens can learn safer ways to manage emotions and intrusive thoughts and employ strategies for avoiding self harm

ADHD & Neurodivergence

If your teen is experiencing challenges with attention or emotional regulation, impulse control or organization that may impact their daily functioning or sense of well being, The Nautilus Center provides targeted support that aligns with and appreciates these differences, developing strategies that work with each individual’s strengths and unique way of thinking and learning

Medication Management

When medications are needed, recommended or adjusted as a part of a treatment plan, our clinicians provide thoughtful, comprehensive and appropriate evaluation, prescribing, and monitoring of medications that support mental health treatment.

What To Expect

We offer parents a supportive and efficient admissions process. A helpful admissions professional will guide and support you. We reduce stress and avoid unnecessary delays in accessing care for your child.
On the continuum of care, Day (3hrs/day) and Extended Day (5hrs/day) Treatment lie between standard outpatient therapy and emergency hospitalization.
The Nautilus Center is structured for those teens who are not progressing in their hourly therapy sessions, but do not need hospitalization. We can also serve as a “step down” program from hospitalization or residential treatment.
Treatment duration is determined with consideration for medical necessity, individual progress, and insurance parameters. This treatment is usually approved for 2-8 weeks.
The teens arrive approximately 10 minutes before the start of their session and will often hang out in one of our comfy spaces until start time. First, as a group, they will gather on yoga mats and pillows, check in with the group, do guided breathing, mindfulness and self-compassion exercises , followed by stretching, gentle movement and light resistance activities. Last, they each set their intentions for treatment that day.
Next, the group breaks up and each participant will head to their next activity; perhaps expressive arts, individually designed therapeutic projects aimed at their treatment goals, individual, or group therapy. The teens will often choose the group therapy topic that is most relevant to their interests and treatment goals. Each participant will have 2-3 therapeutic activities per 3-hour session, and 3-4 activities per each 5-hour session.
Lunch will be provided for the teens in Extended Day Treatment. Academic support is provided according to individual education plans.
Each Day or Extended Day session concludes much like it begins, with mindfulness and movement activities for mind/body calmness and self regulation, and setting intentions for the remainder of the day.
Throughout each session, kindness, respect and compassion are modeled by Nautilus staff members and are encouraged in each participant.
We know how deeply you love your child. We also know that love does not always make it clear how to help. When an adolescent is struggling with mental health or substance use challenges, families often feel overwhelmed, unsure, or afraid of doing the wrong thing.
At The Nautilus Center, we help families become an active, effective part of the healing process. Family support outside of treatment can have a meaningful impact on long-term outcomes, and we provide compassionate, practical guidance to help you understand your child’s needs, strengthen communication, and support progress at home. Our role is to help you help your child with respect, clarity, and without judgment.
Every new mental health program such as The Nautilus Center must apply for and negotiate agreements with the major insurance providers to become an In-Network Provider for those policies. We are entering that process now.
Therefore, we are currently Out-of-Network. Please check to see if your policy has out-of-network benefits, which may cover much of your fees. Families may also choose to pay privately to have more autonomy and control over the duration of their child’s treatment.

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Thomas P. Callahan, PHD

Founder, The Nautilus Center

With over 40 years of experience serving and treating adolescents in a variety of settings including schools, residential & psychiatric care, and community-based programming, Dr. Tom Callahan is deeply committed to addressing the mental health crisis among adolescents today. An Educational Psychologist in private practice for the past 25 years, Dr. Callahan recognizes the mental health challenges and gaps in care that exist for this age group. He created The Nautilus Center specifically for adolescents and their families with the mission of building resilience and improving mental health by teaching teens the fundamentals of wellness. With a genuine respect and appreciation for the developmental stage of adolescence, Dr. Callahan’s philosophy of care focuses on relationships, recovery and resilience, offering hope and healing.

Our Promise

The path to wellness begins with a willingness to try today. The Nautilus Center welcomes you to our safe, inclusive therapeutic space where you will be met with respect, kindness and understanding

Support for your child.

Guidance for your family.

Talk with someone who understands