The post 5 Benefits of Boarding Schools for Troubled Teens first appeared on Help Your Teens.

One of the most common questions and concerns for parents is, how do you find a quality therapeutic boarding school close to your home?

First you are bombarded with websites, marketing and new terminology that can be confusing and overwhelming especially when you are stressed out and exhausted by your teen’s behavior.

After decades of helping families that are searching for the right behavioral boarding school for their struggling teen or young adult, we complied the top 8 most asked questions and answers by parents.

Staying close to home is not recommended for several reasons.

8 Questions Parents Ask About Placing Their Teen in Troubled Youth Programs:

1. “We want a program close to home so we can visit frequently.”

Almost every parent has the same response, they want a program close to home. It’s probably one of the most common mistakes a family can make in selecting the right therapeutic boarding school for your troubled teen.

This is a major emotional (and sometimes) financial decision — in our decades of experience, we urge parents to choose a program that fits your child’s needs (emotionally, physically and academically), rather than geographically. Of course, this is within reason. Since the pandemic, it’s understandable that some don’t want to travel to the other side of the country, however you can be more reasonable when it comes to choosing residential treatment. It’s always wise to find a program outside of your state — without going to the other side of the country.

This helps remove your teen’s temptation to runaway since they are less familiar with the area. We’ve seen parents choose local programs or places their family is familiar with — the teen will run, and this sets their progress back. When this happens, it prolongs their stay at the school and you have to hit the reset button again. There are no winners.

If you’re concerned about family therapy, you will have virtual sessions and parenting workshops which are typically every other month or every 90 days. Check with the program.

2. “Should our teen help us choose the therapeutic boarding program?”

Absolutely, positively not. Up until this point of their life, they have not been making the best choices, what would convince you that they would make the right one now?

Again, with decades of experience, parents have attempted to work with their teens in hopes they would be excited about a school or a program, getting a new start – or possibly the animals or sports that the program offers, however what happens next can be anything but excitement. 

Your child will start doing their own research online, telling their friends, and realizing they will not be able to take their phones, talk to friends, they will be on a schedule and life will not be the rainbows and unicorns they have been used to. In some situations, they might even miss holidays or birthdays.

If your teen is a flight risk, you are giving them time to better map out their surroundings by telling them where they will be going – or even where you are considering sending them. It is never wise for a parent to threaten a child that they will be sent away, this only starts the program off with a sense of negativity.

It is the child’s behavior that has prompted you to make this decision, no parent simply wants to send a child to residential for no reason. Every parent has their child’s wellness in the forefront.

This is a time for parents to be the parents, make the adult decision for the child that needs help. If you are placing a young adult, it is different. At 18+ years old they do have to be willing to attend. In most of these young adults’ programs your child can speak with the director and other students and get a full understanding of the program. Some young adults know they need this extra boost.

3. “My teen won’t attend a program; how do we get him/her there?”

This is probably one of the most common questions parents ask and are concerned about. Assisted transport is how most parents have successfully and safely brought their teen to residential treatment.

It is especially important to choose qualified and credentialed professionals. The transport service should be licensed and insured to transport teens and have various degrees and/or background in education, psychology, behavioral science, mental health, or other related fields.

It is natural for parents to be apprehensive about this, however after speaking with other parents that have taken this road, you will realize that many of these teens ended up becoming friends with their transports and it is not the nightmare they are imagining. They may initially be angry, but deep down your teen understands they do need help.

4. “I fear my teen will hate me forever if I send them to a therapeutic boarding school.”

Again, another quite common concern of parents, especially parents of adopted children that fear that they will exasperate abandonment issues, is will their teen hate them forever if they are sent to a therapeutic boarding school?

Initially your teen may enter the program and not like you very much (it may feel like hate to you and them) but — they will grow from their fear and anger.

Your teen will likely fear the new situation and may also promise to “do better at home” however you know that you have already heard all these promises and spent a long time trying. It is time to be the adult, be the parent and do what is best for your child.

It is at this time that talking to other parents can be incredibly supportive for you — parents that have taken this journey before you, maybe from the same program you have selected for your teen.

As the program progresses, family therapy and workshops continue to reunite all of you and work through the conflict that tore you apart. Eventually your teen will be able to understand and have gratitude for this experience.

5. “My teen is very smart; will he/she fall behind academically?”

When these teens enter boarding schools for troubled teens, most of them were A, B students and are now underachieving or barely attending classes. Many parents were dealing with school refusal, the simple act of getting out of bed to attend school was impossible.

Therapeutic settings first and foremost get your teen back on track emotionally, but they will also be working on your teenager’s academics.

Now that your teen is in a structured and consistence environment, they become more focused and start feeling good about themselves, which helps them to improve academically – either to get caught up or surpass where they were at their school at home.

6. “Don’t these programs have bad kids; my child isn’t that bad?”

If no one had troubled teens or young adults, there would not be any need residential treatment facilities. Most schools for troubled teens are enrolled with good kids that come from good families, possibly had a good foundation, however, took a wrong turn.

The increase of technology has not helped this generation, screen-addiction, social media – they are not only facing peer pressure at school, but it is also in the palm of their hands 24/7/365.

Doing your due diligence in researching boarding schools helps you to be sure you are placing your teen in the most appropriate setting. Your teen will be with kids like themselves – and their families are like you, begging for help to get their child back to happiness and a functioning adult.

7. Are these programs only for the wealthy people?

The sticker shock of places to send troubled teens can make some parents feel hopeless – however there are financial options, and we also discuss using your medical insurance as much as you are able to.

There are educational loans available for all people, like college loans, parents must qualify for them. Some parents will take a line-of-credit on their home if that is an option, and others may turn to relatives for a loan or gift monies.

There are resources through organizations like The United Way that has free programs, however the hurdle is the child usually needs to be willing to attend.

As far as scholarship programs, when you interview a program, you can ask they if they have any available. It would likely be a reduction in tuition rather than a scholarship. It never hurts to ask.

8. What happens when my child comes home (graduates the program)?

It is normal for parents to be worried about their teen coming home, however this journey has involved the entire family. During this time there has been trial runs with home visits, family therapy, a transitional home plan that has been prepared and discussed many times for everyone to fully understand. Another words, you are not alone in this process either.

Some core components of an aftercare plan:

1. Family engagement. It is imperative that family involvement does not stop because the program ended. Set-up a routine to regularly check-in with each other, such as breakfast, dinner or driving your teen to school or their activities. Stay interested and involved in their daily lives and especially their digital ones.

2. Therapeutic support. Before your teen leaves treatment, have a therapeutic support plan in place that is part of coming home. This can include a therapist, school counselor and if your child requires ongoing medication, possibly a psychiatrist. The first appointments should be arranged for when they get home. You may also want to consider a mentor or teen coach.

3. Back to school. Another particularly important part of the transitional plan is to determine your teen’s educational path. Will they go back to their same school or switch schools (if so, have you enrolled him/her already) or have you signed them up for virtual schooling? (Do not panic, these are all issues that are thoroughly discussed in your transitional home plan with the program therapist and staff that know your child’s needs) prior leaving the school.

4. Consistent structure. Helping your teen maintain a balanced and consistent daily schedule with their daily life — such as school and their activities is imperative. This includes sleep patterns, recreational hobbies (sports, dance, etc.), exercise, limited screen-time, jobs, social life, and other areas in life, will lead them to a healthier lifestyle at home.

5. Relapse plan. No one is perfect, there will be bumps, but the positive side is the likely will not be as bad as it was before. Your teen has learned coping skills (and so has the parents), it is likely they will be angrier at themselves for slipping up. Be prepared by having your boundaries and consequences outlined in your home plan. If drugs or alcohol were involved prior your teen’s treatment, create a plan to avoid the people, places and moods that accompany the substance use.

Bonus tip: Most of these teens entered treatment with the love of their cellphone or video gaming. During the transitional plan, it is time to create your technology agreement for the entire family.

Do you have a question for us? Are you searching for schools for troubled teens for your difficult teenager or young adult? Contact us for a free consultation, since 2001 we have been helping parents find the right therapeutic boarding school for their individual needs.

Also read:

How to Interview Schools for Troubled Teens.

5 Benefits to a Therapeutic Boarding School.

What Is the Cost of Therapeutic Boarding Schools?

The post How to Find a Therapeutic Boarding School Close to Home first appeared on Help Your Teens.

Many parents today struggle to convince their adolescent, especially a teenager to attend counseling. In some situations when they finally attend a counseling session, they refuse to engage, shut-down or manipulate the conversation.

The frustrations have become overwhelming, especially when you have a child dealing with emotional needs.

Starting with a school counselor is a great place to begin, however it doesn’t replace a therapist if your teenager is having serious concerns or issues that continue.

Teen depression, anxiety, defiance, as well as suicide ideation is climbing in healthcare leaving parents begging for help – especially when therapy (counseling) doesn’t seem to be an option. Some young people are turning to smoking marijuana or vaping THC as a form of self-medicating, to cope with anxiety, stress or even depression. 

How to Help My Teen When They Won’t Attend Counseling

Parents should attend counseling on their own with a family therapist, one that specializes with adolescents. Having a trained specialist give you insights (tips) on working with your child can be one of the most effective ways to help your teenager through difficult times. In some cases, if your teen knows you’re going – it might spark them to want to attend to share “their side” of the story.

Stifling the Stigma of Getting Help

Peer pressure is everything to a teenager today – many adolescents still consider attending treatment as a stigma and this can be a common reason why teens are reluctant to seek help.

Other reasons teens might refuse therapy is:

• They don’t think they need it; they believe they are fine the way they are.
• They believe the therapist or counselor will make them take medicine.
• They don’t believe therapy or medicine will work.
• They may have tried it when they were younger, and didn’t like it.
• They are feeling hopeless, and simply don’t want to try.

How a Certified Life Coach Can Help Your Teen When Counseling Isn’t an Option

As parents grow more desperate to get help for their troubled teenagers, Certified Teen Life Coaches have been able to fill a void as an option for some families. The mental health crisis is not diminishing anytime soon, it’s time to learn about all resources available to us to get adolescents the treatment they need. 

Certified Teen Life Coaches are an excellent alternative if your child is refusing therapy, especially if they have an issue with the embarrassment of it (stigma), however having a Teen Life Coach, can be considered cool. 

Your teenager’s life coach can be someone that is more relatable in their world, helping them navigate screentime, peer pressure, bullying (cyberbullying), school refusal (lack of motivation), anxiety, depression and more – helping them restore their emotional health and relationships including with their parents.

Marissa Terron, founder of Families in Need of Direction – Therapeutic Life Coaching, (F.I.N.D.-TLC) and a Certified Teen Life Coach, works with many adolescents (tweens and teens) and shares that although most have refused to attend counseling sessions, some simply preferred the style of a life coach for emotional support.

“Most young people today are struggling with relational issues, social media pressure and addiction that often lead to isolation & depression. In many situations it’s causing intelligent students to fail in school, or refuse to attend classes. The stress and anxiety have become overwhelming to adolescents today and most lack the coping skills to handle their feelings of anger, rage, or sadness.”

“We provide a safe and non-judgmental environment that provides support and guidance to develop effective communication strategies, boundary-setting techniques and conflict resolution skills.” shares Marissa Terron.

Teen Life Coaching also requires the parent(s) to be involved privately or as a whole to learn new strategies that will help them continue supporting their teen as they work through their issues, set and achieve goals and move toward a brighter and productive future.

The goal of a Teen Life Coach is to help your child overcome internal or external challenges that are prohibiting the teen from success and achievement. They can also help rebuild a fractured family and gradually bring happiness back to the home again.

A Teen Life Coach isn’t always a replacement for counseling or a therapist, however this can be an option if your teenager is refusing to attend therapeutic sessions. It can be less intimidating and offer your child the emotional support they may need.

It is every parent’s dream that their teen has a clear path to success and their future. Life does throw us curve balls, so when you have tried many resources to help your troubled teen that weren’t working, a Certified Teen Life Coach might be your answer before you leap into therapeutic boarding schools. 

Also Read:

Safe Therapeutic Boarding Schools

Success Rates of Therapeutic Boarding Schools

The post How to Help a Troubled Teen That Refuses Therapy first appeared on Help Your Teens.

Outpatient treatment was unsuccessful, the school setting is not working, and a short-term hospital stay was unsuccessful — yet a residential treatment (outside of your teen’s comfort area) can work!

Why? Because it’s specifically set-up to stop the downward spiral of a teen’s behavior and change the course to an upward one.

Has your teen become out-of-control? Destructive in the home (especially if you try to remove their phone)? Have you exhausted your local resources and now they are refusing to attend therapy?

Does any of this teen behavior sound familiar:

• Defiance, anger, rage
• Entitlement, breaking curfew, sneaking out
• Disrespectful, attitude, breaking family rules
• Substance use, drinking, vaping
• Internet, smartphone, or gaming addiction
• Self-harm, suicide ideation
• Running away, stealing, legal issues
• Posting inappropriate content online
• School refusal (smart, but failing)

If so, you are not alone!

When a teen is removed from the stressors and triggers of home – not to mention their peer influences and devices (social media) – with a slowed down manageable pace – and placed into an environment with staff, activities (enrichment programs) and therapy designed to encourage change – (build self-worth) – the opportunity for the kind of true and deep change required to turn your teen’s life around can finally start to happen.

A consistent and positive environment replaces the toxic environment they are leaving. They will not have access to drugs or alcohol – or their social media or devices. The peer influences are now cut-off. If they’ve been struggling academically, often this new and unique environment is where they will begin to thrive again.

If there was family discord, the destructive cycles with siblings and/or parents are now stopped and communication is deliberately slowed down to include mediated conversations, letter exchanges, and intermittent visits.

This completely changes the dynamic and stops parents and teens from engaging in the same ineffective communication patterns used before. It is as if a pause button is pushed, and teens eventually are able to move away from their rigid perspectives and look at their relationships from a new and clear vantage point.

They begin to gain perspective on life events that may have created trauma, or on their contribution to the “mess” their lives have become. They learn about their own unique emotional and cognitive make up and their problems or limitations as a starting point for the journey forward.

What can a quality therapeutic setting will offer your teen?

A well-designed residential treatment program (therapeutic boarding school) accelerates the environment to enhance the likelihood and speed of change. The foundation of such environments is the creation of a safe, relationally warm place where the teen is protected from self-destructive behavior, unburdened from the “overwhelm” of life, and immersed in relational climate that invites introspection.

Such places enable young people to look at their choices, their personal limitations, and the outcomes of the strategies they are using, and to recognize their own contributions to their problems and unhappiness. From a basic, high-level vantage point, effective treatment programs share common elements:

• A full and balanced daily life structure and schedule.
• Clinical support through individual and group therapy.
• Constant exposure to positive role models and coaching from staff.
• A positive peer culture in which teens who have progressed influence other teens in positive ways.
• Clear and constant expectations and rules.
• Experiential and recreational activities.
• Methods for defining and recognizing progress.
• Academic programming and support.
• Parent education and involvement in the treatment process.

Also read:

What is the Goal of Residential Treatment?

Where can I send my troubled teenager?

 5 Benefits of Therapeutic Boarding Schools

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Contact us today for a free consultation – we help you find the right therapeutic boarding school for your troubled teen.

The post Why Residential Treatment Works When Home Therapy Fails? first appeared on Help Your Teens.

Many are afflicted with emotional, social and/or behavioral issues which can also cause poor academic performance.  What is the actual success rate of therapeutic boarding schools?

Are therapeutic boarding schools successful?

Have you reached a point where you are considering a therapeutic boarding school for your teenager, however completely confused if it will be the right decision?

Has your house become a battleground? You fear your teen will explode at any time?  Are they spending more time online, isolated in their room — failing in school, vaping or doing drugs? Maybe they are suffering with depression, anxiety — that has led to self-harm or possibly suicide ideation.

Your teen has refused to see a therapist, outpatient treatment failed, the school setting is not working and maybe you even tried having them live with a relative. A short-term hospital stay was not successful.

Choosing the right therapeutic boarding school for your teen’s needs can be tedious work, however you are your child’s best advocate. 

If you are like most parents, you jumped online to be bombarded with many websites that only made this task more confusing — there are literally millions of places to send troubled teens — according to the internet, but how do you know what is right for your teen and family? Most importantly, how do you know if these schools are successful or effective?

A simple internet search for “places to send troubled teens” yields nearly 10 million results!

Read: Where Can I Send My Troubled Teenager

What is the Success Rate of Therapeutic Boarding Schools?

Reality is, we have yet to see any third-party research or independent study that is not funded by a school, program or organization that is not part of this industry. Another words, a study that would not have reason to be bias.

For example, although the wilderness therapy industry (OBH – Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare) has tried for several decades to fill research gaps to bolster its case of effectiveness and reduce the need for legislative intervention, science still does not support wilderness therapy. Therapeutic wilderness programs have no outcome data to support the effectiveness of these programs, and particularly the long-term effects of these interventions.

In 2019 OBH did its own research to say that wilderness therapy was effective and less expensive than traditional treatment such as short-term hospital stay or out-patient services. Although in this research the results claim it to be effective — it does not mean it’s the solution, and as the research revealed, the average cost of the wilderness treatment is $27,426 (which is likely higher now) — not including the cost of equipment.

Interestingly this study was partially funded by National Association for Therapeutic Schools and Programs (NATSAP), which collects fees for membership from wilderness programs, as well as other teen help schools that want their logo on their websites and partially funded by Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare Council (OBHC).

3 Ways to Success in a Therapeutic Boarding School

There can be success in therapeutic boarding schools and there absolutely has been happy endings. This starts with a parent being diligent in doing their research and understanding they do have choices. Keep in mind, what may have failed for one family, could have been successful for another family.

The one absolute fact is that home life is not working, you have exhausted your local resources and typically when a parent decides it’s time for residential treatment, it’s when they realize they are out of options – as well as their teen is literally crying for help by their negative behavior, and it is important to keep them safe. In many cases, it’s not only the safety of the teen that is in crisis, but also the safety of the family.

1. Longevity. Although you might be starting this journey, therapeutic boarding schools have been around for a long time. Not only do you want a school that has a good reputation, when you find one that has had years (decades) of experience — and bonus points for low staff turn-over, this could be a good contender.

Have you selected a program that has been around awhile, however started reading some frightening websites, horror stories of the troubled teen industry or negative reviews?  It’s time to learn about deciphering the misinformation online.

2. Parents. You are not alone! If there is a therapeutic boarding school, residential treatment center or any type of program you are considering for your child, and they will not give you *parent references — this is a red flag. 

Parents and parent references are the heart and soul of programs. You (mom and dad) need just as much support as your teen does. This experience is overwhelming. Only those that have walked in your shoes can understand and support you.

Prior selecting or enrolling in a program, ask the admissions director for parents to speak with — here are some questions to ask parents to give you more insights about the school/program:

-Why did they have to send their teen to a program?
-Are they happy with the program?
-What was their trigger moment that made their decision?
-How long did their child attend the program?
-Why did they choose that program?
-What was their deciding factor on this program?
-Did they visit the program before placing their teen?
-How is their teen doing today? Do they consider it successful?
-How was the communication with the program?
-Did they provide transitional support after their teen graduated?
-Would they recommend the program to a friend or family?
-More parent questions.

A key question parents should ask is, if they could change one thing about the program to improve it, what would that be? It gives you room to find out a bit of negative. Usually not enough to change your mind but helps you to go in — eyes wide open.

* Programs may have you complete an application or a short version of an application before giving you parent references. This assures them that you are a fit for their school and are considering placement. It does not mean you’re going to enroll in the program; however, it provides security for everyone involved when giving out personal information of families.

For programs that will use the excuse that it violates their HIPPAA policy, it’s just that, an excuse. With HIPPAA, you can have exception with the parent’s permission to be a reference.  Most all of these programs you are interviewing operate in accordance to HIPPA — again, get parent references and if they don’t want to give them, it might be best to move on.

Bonus tip: Always ask for parents references with the same gender and age of your teen, and you can take it a step further by asking for families in your same geographical region.

3. People. Who is the owner, director, staff — people working with your teen? It’s the people that make the therapeutic boarding school a success. It is typically why when parents ask about programs that are owned by corporations — we pause, or shy away. When you are considering a program that is corporately owned, it can be more of a struggle to have things changed to meet your child’s needs. Whereas when working with privately owned programs — it only must be approved through the owner/director. You are usually a text message or email away.

All quality programs (privately owned or corporately owned) should be licensed and accredited – so you are not sacrificing by choosing a privately owned program.

It’s important to review their credentials, accreditations –– and ask about background checks of their staff. Again, about staff turn-over.

BEST SUCCESS of a Therapeutic Boarding School

Finally, determining the success of a therapeutic boarding school has so many factors, but most importantly is THE FAMILY.  If you’re not planning to jump on board and be part of the program, then do not waste your time or money.

Therapeutic boarding schools and programs are not only about the teenager – it is about bringing the entire family back on a healthy path again. The family is broken right now. We are not here to point fingers, we’re here to heal — get on a road to recovery.

There will be books to read, family therapy (virtual) and workshops to attend. Never doubt, this can be successful – it is not easy, but it’s worth it!

Also read:

What is the Goal of Residential Treatment

The Purpose of A Therapeutic Boarding School

Questions and Answers Parents Ask About Therapeutic Schools

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If you’re considering a therapeutic boarding school for your difficult teenager, contact us for a free consultation.

The post What Is the Success Rate of Therapeutic Boarding Schools first appeared on Help Your Teens.

It’s important to better understand why your troubled teen is reluctant to speak with a therapist. There can be several reasons, including the stigma of needing help for mental wellness.

Other reasons teens might refuse therapy is:

• They don’t think they need it; they believe they are fine the way they are.
• They believe the therapist or counselor will make them take medicine.
• They don’t believe therapy or medicine will work.
• They may have tried it when they were younger, and didn’t like it.
• They are feeling hopeless, and simply don’t want to try.

5 Ways to Help Your Troubled Teen Without Talk Therapy

1. Certified Teen Life Coach: As parents grow more desperate to get help for their troubled teenagers, Certified Teen Life Coaches have been able to fill a void as an option for some families. The mental health crisis is not diminishing anytime soon, it’s time to learn about all resources available to us to get adolescents the treatment they need. 

Marissa Terron, founder of Families in Need of Direction – Therapeutic Life Coaching, (F.I.N.D.-TLC) and a Certified Teen Life Coach, works with many adolescents (tweens and teens) and shares that although most have refused to attend counseling sessions, some simply preferred the style of a life coach for emotional support.

Teen Life Coaching also requires the parent(s) to be involved privately or as a whole to learn new strategies that will help them continue supporting their teen as they work through their issues, set and achieve goals and move toward a brighter and productive future.

2. Animal Therapy: Animal therapy has been proven beneficial for youth struggling with trauma (PTSD) and develop coping skills for anger and stress management. Research has shown when troubled teens work with dogs, horses, and/or most animals, especially if they are involved with training a pet, it can help reduce a person’s anxiety as well as help those suffering with PTSD and reactive attachment disorder (RAD).

When working with animals, specifically therapy dogs, they are trained to be attentive to a person’s needs and offer unconditional love therefore helping with teen depression. This can often help stabilize intense emotions and allows your teen to express themselves without fear of judgment.

3. Art Therapy: Studies suggest that art therapy can be very valuable in treating issues such as depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTDS) and even some phobias. It is a great way to express your emotions without words, process complex feelings and find relief.

Clinical art therapy can be effective for adolescents who usually see it as a nonthreatening form of treatment. The art that the adolescent produces can help the therapist gain some idea of the youth’s concerns and life circumstances, especially those situations that are too risky to reveal or too personally embarrassing to relate. This awareness better equips the therapist in efforts to protect and support the adolescent during this turbulent time of life.

4. Gardening (Horticulture) Therapy: Gardening can make you feel more peaceful and content. Focusing your attention on the immediate tasks and details of gardening can reduce negative thoughts and feelings and can make you feel better in the moment. Just spending time around plants eases stress for many people.

Self-esteem is how much you value and feel positively about yourself. Helping a plant grow is a big feat. When you see your work pay off with healthy plants, your sense of pride gets a boost. By building self-confidence, your teen will make better choices.

5. Music Therapy: Research shares that music therapy has had the power to help teens overcome chronic depression music therapy increases communication, socialization and memory in children and teens. Because music therapy bridges the gap between art and science, and the artistic nature of the therapy allows teenagers to open up and explore their feelings. It also helps them cope with their mental health issues.

Music therapy provides teens with a positive, creative, and fun outlet. They can build a strong identity of themselves focused on who they can become versus their past choices. Teens involved in music therapy will also be discovering new interests and perhaps even a greater talent that needs to be nurtured.

Animal, art, horticulture and music therapy are typically offered in residential treatment in addition to talk therapy. These therapies are excellent alternatives to help reach your teenager that is refusing talk therapy at home.

Also read:

How to Convince Your Teen to Attend Therapy

How Boxing Helps Teenage Mental Health

The post How to Help My Teen Without Talk Therapy? first appeared on Help Your Teens.

First you are bombarded with websites, marketing and new terminology that can be confusing and overwhelming especially when you are stressed out and exhausted by your teen’s behavior.

After decades of helping families that are searching for the right behavioral boarding school for their struggling teen or young adult, we complied the top 5 most asked questions and answers by parents.

5 Questions Parents Ask About Placing Their Teen in Troubled Youth Programs:

1. “Should our teen help us choose the therapeutic boarding program?”

Absolutely, positively not. Up until this point of their life, they have not been making the best choices, what would convince you that they would make the right one now?

Again, with decades of experience, parents have attempted to work with their teens in hopes they would be excited about a school or a program, getting a new start – or possibly the animals or sports that the program offers, however what happens next can be anything but excitement.

Your child will start doing their own research online, telling their friends, and realizing they will not be able to take their phones, talk to friends, they will be on a schedule and life will not be the rainbows and unicorns they have been used to. In some situations, they might even miss holidays or birthdays.

If your teen is a flight risk, you are giving them time to better map out their surroundings by telling them where they will be going – or even where you are considering sending them. It is never wise for a parent to threaten a child that they will be sent away, this only starts the program off with a sense of negativity.

It is the child’s behavior that has prompted you to make this decision, no parent simply wants to send a child to residential for no reason. Every parent has their child’s wellness in the forefront.

This is a time for parents to be the parents, make the adult decision for the child that needs help. If you are placing a young adult, it is different. At 18+ years old they do have to be willing to attend. In most of these young adults’ programs your child can speak with the director and other students and get a full understanding of the program. Some young adults know they need this extra boost.

2. “My teen won’t attend a program; how do we get him/her there?”

This is probably one of the most common questions parents ask and are concerned about. Assisted transport is how most parents have successfully and safely brought their teen to residential treatment.

It is especially important to choose qualified and credentialed professionals. The transport service should be licensed and insured to transport teens and have various degrees and/or background in education, psychology, behavioral science, mental health, or other related fields.

It is natural for parents to be apprehensive about this, however after speaking with other parents that have taken this road, you will realize that many of these teens ended up becoming friends with their transports and it is not the nightmare they are imagining. They may initially be angry, but deep down your teen understands they do need help.

3. “I fear my teen will hate me forever if I send them to a therapeutic boarding school.”

Again, another quite common concern of parents, especially parents of adopted children that fear that they will exasperate abandonment issues, is will their teen hate them forever if they are sent to a therapeutic boarding school?

Initially your teen may enter the program and not like you very much (it may feel like hate to you and them) but — they will grow from their fear and anger.

Your teen will likely fear the new situation and may also promise to “do better at home” however you know that you have already heard all these promises and spent a long time trying. It is time to be the adult, be the parent and do what is best for your child.

It is at this time that talking to other parents can be incredibly supportive for you — parents that have taken this journey before you, maybe from the same program you have selected for your teen.

As the program progresses, family therapy and workshops continue to reunite all of you and work through the conflict that tore you apart. Eventually your teen will be able to understand and have gratitude for this experience.

4. “My teen is very smart; will he/she fall behind academically?”

When these teens enter boarding schools for troubled teens, most of them were A, B students and are now underachieving or barely attending classes. Many parents were dealing with school refusal, the simple act of getting out of bed to attend school was impossible.

Therapeutic settings first and foremost get your teen back on track emotionally, but they will also be working on your teenager’s academics.

Now that your teen is in a structured and consistence environment, they become more focused and start feeling good about themselves, which helps them to improve academically – either to get caught up or surpass where they were at their school at home.

5. “Don’t these programs have bad kids; my child isn’t that bad?”

 If no one had troubled teens or young adults, there would not be any need residential treatment facilities. Most schools for troubled teens are enrolled with good kids that come from good families, possibly had a good foundation, however, took a wrong turn.

The increase of technology has not helped this generation, screen-addiction, social media – they are not only facing peer pressure at school, but it is also in the palm of their hands 24/7/365.

Doing your due diligence in researching boarding schools helps you to be sure you are placing your teen in the most appropriate setting. Your teen will be with kids like themselves – and their families are like you, begging for help to get their child back to happiness and a functioning adult.

Read: 5 Components to Your Teen’s Aftercare Plan.

Read: 5 Benefits to a Therapeutic Boarding School.

Read: What Is a Christian Therapeutic Boarding School?

Read: What Is the Cost of Therapeutic Boarding Schools?

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Do you have more questions? Are you considering a therapeutic boarding school for your teenager? Contact us for a free consultation. Since 2001 we have been helping parents find the right schools for their family.

The post Help for Troubled Teens Parent Questions and Answers first appeared on Help Your Teens.

For many, these are (were) good teens, smart, athletic, outgoing – now they are underachieving, depressed, changing friends, defiant, withdrawn, vaping, using drugs/drinking, dropping out of their favorite activities – some are refusing to attend school.  Facing an entitled and tech-addicted teen? Dealing with ADHD, ODD or RAD?

Some parents are struggling with their child self-harming and having dark thoughts (suicide ideation) that can be very frightening.

In most cases, they are good kids making bad choices – although parents are hoping this is a phase, it will pass, sadly it has not.

It has escalated to more than typical teenage behavior, the parent has lost control and authority over their teen – they have exhausted their local resources and now need behavioral boarding schools.

Studies tell us that parents are not imagining this spike in negative behavior and teenage mental health concerns:

• Since 2019 youth depression and anxiety has doubled – JAMA Network
• Since 2020 More students are missing school due to anxiety – ACAMH
• Since 2020 Teen drug overdose rose sharply (experts blaming fentanyl laced pills) – JAMA Network
• Since 2019 study reveals rise in adolescent suicide attempts – CDC
• Since 2020 Cyberbullying has increased 40% — teens that are harassed online are twice as likely to self-harm and attempt suicide – Science Daily

Boarding Therapeutic Schools for Troubled Teens

It is time to decide what type of therapeutic boarding school your troubled teen needs. Most parents will turn to the internet to search for schools for troubled teens. Although it can seem confusing and daunting, our tips can help your navigate online searches to find the right treatment for your teen.

Christian Boarding Schools can be beneficial for families that are searching for a spiritual foundation, however it is imperative you consider a Christian therapeutic boarding school with a spiritual foundation in order to have qualified clinical staff and accredited academics.

Residential Treatment Centers (and sometimes considered rehabs), provide a more intense therapy for substance abuse, mental illness, as well as other behavioral problems.

Therapeutic Boarding Schools offers emotional, clinical, and academic support to teenagers with both behavioral issues and mental health problems.

With these choices, there are very slight differences and typically your teenager should be able to succeed in what you decide is best for them. Unless your teen has been diagnosed with a serious mental illness that requires a psychiatric hospital or more intense clinical setting, all these choices should be able to help your troubled teen.

What’s important is to find that school or program that has enrichment programs that will stimulate your teenager in a positive direction, such as:

• Sports therapy
• Gardening therapy
• Animal therapy (equine, canine, ranching)
• Art therapy
• Music therapy

Have you narrowed it down to a couple of good choices for your teenager? We have questions to help you interview the schools and programs to give you more insights on what is the right decision for your family.

Making the decision to enroll your teen into a therapeutic boarding school is a major emotional and financial step.

There are many excellent troubled youth programs in our country — with time and diligence you will be able to find the right school for your child’s individual needs.

Read: Where to Send My Troubled Teen.

Read: 5 Benefits of Therapeutic Boarding Schools.

Read: Are Therapeutic Boarding Schools Effective?

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If you’re having difficulties finding the right treatment for your troubled teen, contact us for a free consultation. Since 2001 we have educated parent about behavioral boarding schools.

The post Treatment for Teen Behavioral Issues first appeared on Help Your Teens.