Troubled Teens - Help Your Teens https://helpyourteens.com Sun, 26 May 2024 12:45:34 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.4 https://helpyourteens.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/cropped-PURE-logo-32x32.png Troubled Teens - Help Your Teens https://helpyourteens.com 32 32 Where Are the Best Therapeutic Boarding Schools? https://helpyourteens.com/where-are-the-best-therapeutic-boarding-schools/ Tue, 21 May 2024 13:08:57 +0000 https://helpyourteens.com/?p=45449 Parenting difficult teenagers has become an epidemic today. Are you searching for the best therapeutic boarding school for your troubled teen and feel overwhelmed by the online confusion, flashy websites and shocking tuitions? A simple online search of “therapeutic boarding schools“ yields over 3 million results! Since 2001 we’ve been helping parents navigate this troubled teen industry and find safe and qualified therapeutic […]

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Parenting difficult teenagers has become an epidemic today. Are you searching for the best therapeutic boarding school for your troubled teen and feel overwhelmed by the online confusion, flashy websites and shocking tuitions?

A simple online search of “therapeutic boarding schools yields over 3 million results! Since 2001 we’ve been helping parents navigate this troubled teen industry and find safe and qualified therapeutic boarding schools for teens struggling with depression, anxiety, self-harm, cell-phone addiction, suicide ideation and more. We are now facing a mental health crisis with adolescents — this is beyond typical teenage behavior.

Choosing the best therapeutic boarding school for your teenager shouldn’t not be based on location, it should be in accordance to your child’s emotional needs and what the school offers.

Most parents search for therapeutic boarding schools close to home, without realizing that it may not be the best fit for their teen’s needs — if especially if their child is a flight risk, it causing them to constantly be tempted to elope from the program rather than focus on recovery and healing.

Where are the best therapeutic boarding schools for my teenager?

We have educated parents since 2001 about using the A.C.E. factor to determine the best therapeutic boarding school for their child. This is not about location, as it is about what is going to be most beneficial for their emotional and academic needs.

A.  Accredited academics.  Whatever school/program you are interviewing, be sure they are accredited academically. Many of these teens entering these programs are typically very smart students yet underachieving in school. It’s important they continue their education. Although we share with parents that their emotional growth is priority in these schools, academics is still important. You can ask to see a copy of their accreditation.

C. Credentialed clinical team.  Teenage mental health is a priority. Placing a distressed young teenager into a therapeutic boarding school is hard for the entire family, although therapy typically didn’t work at home, when placed into a new environment, removed from the stressors and triggers of home (as well as peer influences and devices) — the student is able to focus on themselves through both individual and group therapy. Check the credentials of the clinical team, this is also imperative if you are using your insurance. If they are not credentialed, insurance likely won’t cover it.

E. Enrichment programs. These programs are so important to help troubled teens. Enrichment programs are designed to stimulate your child in a positive direction, build self-worth to make better choices and develop coping skills. All of these extra behavior therapy programs can help teens that struggle with anger, rage, depression, anxiety and stress.

Examples of enrichment programs:

Art Therapy
Animal Assisted Therapy
Sports Therapy
Horticultural (Gardening) Therapy
Music Therapy

Finally, when you did your online search you may have stumbled on sites and reviews that gave you pause. You thought you found a program — until you read some troubling reviews or fearmongering websites about the troubled teen industry. Take a moment to learn how to analyze the troubled teen industry negative reviews

There are safe therapeutic boarding schools to help your troubled teen. Don’t allow a few bad apples to prevent your teen from getting the help they need.

Also read:

How to Interview Schools and Programs

How to Interview Parent References

What Happens When Your Teen Graduates a Therapeutic Program

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How Are Schools for Troubled Teens Successful? https://helpyourteens.com/how-are-schools-for-troubled-teens-successful/ Tue, 23 Apr 2024 18:16:30 +0000 https://helpyourteens.com/?p=45295 Are schools for troubled teens successful? Will a therapeutic boarding school be effective for your difficult teenager? One online search for “schools for troubled teens” will yield you over 5 million results. Are therapeutic boarding schools effective for your troubled teen and how do you know which ones are safe? There are literally thousands of places to send troubled teens, […]

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Are schools for troubled teens successful? Will a therapeutic boarding school be effective for your difficult teenager?

One online search for “schools for troubled teens” will yield you over 5 million results. Are therapeutic boarding schools effective for your troubled teen and how do you know which ones are safe?

There are literally thousands of places to send troubled teens, but finding the one that is successful for your teen takes time, research and diligence.

What does your teen and family require:

-Quality care (safe and positive environment), credentialed staff
-Education, accredited academics
-Enrichment programs, extra-curriculum designed to encourage change
-Parent involvement, workshops and family therapy

Successful therapeutic boarding schools for troubled teens can be a safe haven where teens can learn to cope with difficult emotions and behaviors; away from the influences of devices as well as negative peers.

Is your teen:

Addicted to their cell-phone, video gaming?
-Defiant, rage, or explosive (especially if you remove their devices)?
-Failing in school, yet capable of passing? Skipping classes or school refusal?
-Entitled, disrespectful, nasty attitude – more than typical teenage behavior?
Vaping, smoking marijuana, using drugs or drinking?
-Stealing, shoplifting or other legal issues?

You’re not alone and these are some of the reasons why parents have reached out for help for troubled teens — it’s after they have tried therapy at home, outpatient treatment has failed, the school setting is not working and a short hospital stay was not successful.

3 Reasons Why Schools for Troubled Teens Can Be Successful

Not all therapeutic boarding schools are designed the same or are equal, it is why we encourage parents to do their diligence in selecting what school/program is the right boarding school for their individual needs. As with all businesses, there will always be a few bad apples.

1. Fresh start.

There’s no doubt, the first few weeks, if not your first month of a therapeutic boarding school might be bumpy, but your teenager will soon realize they are now being given an opportunity for a fresh start. 

No one enjoys feeling defiant, angry, and even full of rage — many of these teens not only had these feelings, but some were also destructive at home. Most of these young people enter the program extremely upset that their parents have removed them from what they believed was their comfort zone such as their so-called friends and of course, their devices (cellphone and/or video-gaming).

By starting fresh they can remove the masks of the emotional baggage they have been carrying and start tearing down the walls of hurt while in a safe place of non-judgement. This is why therapeutic boarding schools can be more beneficial than the one-hour once a week therapy sessions at-home.

Your teen is now in an environment that is designed to encourage change through a consistent, safe, and positive atmosphere. This replaces the toxic headspace your teen has likely been in for the past year. Constantly checking their text messages, feeling pressured by their peers, scrolling their social feeds, always comparing themselves to others online — feeling inadequate. 

Many parents are worried their teen will meet up with kids that are worse than their own teen. It is important to understand, there are many families walking this journey with you. If you are doing your diligence in finding the right therapeutic boarding school for your teenager, it’s likely you will find similar students — and your son or daughter will soon be surrounded with a positive peer culture that will only help influence them as they move through the program.

2. Develop self-worth.

Why is my good teen making these bad choices? It is usually because they don’t think highly of themselves and are easily influenced by their peers — or a negative peer group.

A successful therapeutic boarding school removes your teen from the stressors and triggers of home and school pressure and replaces it with activities and treatment such enrichment programs that build self-worth. This can include art therapy, sports, music therapygardeninganimal therapy and more.

Academically, a therapeutic boarding school that is effective, can provide your teen with the support they need to thrive! Most students arriving in residential treatment can do their schoolwork however due to their behavioral issues, have been failing or underachieving. By getting their grades back in place, this is yet another direction to building back their self-confidence.

When you have self-worth and feel good about yourself, you are less likely to make bad choices and are not easily influenced by your peers. Schools for troubled teens that are successful provide the environment to help your teen feel good about themselves — through emotional growth, clinical support (both individual and group therapy), and positive role models with their staff.

3. Family reunification. 

Bringing families back together, that is the goal of a successful troubled teen school — in healthy and happy setting. Although there will likely never be perfection (life isn’t perfect), you and your teen will learn the skills needed to have a much calmer and productive household.

A successful troubled teen school doesn’t only affect your teenager, but it also effects the entire family.  This includes siblings and if there are stepparents involved, it is everyone.

Family therapy is ongoing throughout your child’s stay at the school, and typically the parents will have counseling with and without their teen. In most of the therapeutic boarding schools they offer parenting workshops to give you skills and techniques to provide you with tools for effective parenting — understanding that whatever was happening before your teen entered the program wasn’t working. Especially as the program progresses to the transitional phrase of home visits, you and your teen will have time to discuss what is expected from both sides, respectfully.

Through treatment and transition, with the guidance of professionals, parents and their teen can achieve peace and confidence through rebuilding their relationship with the help of an effective therapeutic boarding school.

Also read:

5 Benefits of Therapeutic Boarding Schools

Where to Send Your Troubled Teens

What Causes Teen Mental Health Issues

The post How Are Schools for Troubled Teens Successful? first appeared on Help Your Teens.

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5 Benefits of Boarding Schools for Troubled Teens https://helpyourteens.com/5-benefits-of-boarding-schools-for-troubled-teens/ Wed, 20 Mar 2024 20:16:00 +0000 https://helpyourteens.com/?p=27074 Are you at your wit’s end with your troubled teen? Asking yourself, “Can I kick my teenager out?”  Have you reached a point where you feel like your entire family is being held hostage to your teen’s behavior — at any moment they could explode or do you fear for their own life or your […]

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Are you at your wit’s end with your troubled teen? Asking yourself, “Can I kick my teenager out?” 

Have you reached a point where you feel like your entire family is being held hostage to your teen’s behavior — at any moment they could explode or do you fear for their own life or your families?

PexelTeenGirl4Is your teen:

Addicted to their smartphone? Video-gaming?
Entitlement, rude, defiant, disrespectful?
-Failing in school, but capable of passing?
-ADHD, OCD, RAD, Bipolar
-Teenager doing drugs? Vaping? Drinking?
Sneaking-out? Running away?
Withdrawn? Stays in their room?
-Refusing to go school? Skipping class?
-Suspended, facing expulsion?
-Depression, anxiety?
-Rage, anger, destructive?
Negative peer group?

Whether you’re experiencing all or a few of these behavior patterns, you can feel like a hostage in your own home.  When parents start facing the reality that their once good teenager is making some bad choices that are getting worse, it can be extremely disheartening. There is no longer the “typical teenager” excuse.

No one ever wants to believe they will have to decide on a therapeutic boarding school for a troubled teen — especially their own teenager.  This is a major decision both emotionally and financially, and one not to be taken lightly. It is well after you have exhausted all your local resources. 

Usually the has teenager shutdown in therapy, the school setting wasn’t working, outpatient treatment failed and possibly a short-term hospital stay was unsuccessful, since it doesn’t provide long lasting behavioral changes.

Searching for boarding schools for troubled teens is not easy, on the contrary, as a consumer, you need to be an educated parent to sift through the sites and reviews and learn how to evaluate truth — from — fiction — from — opinion online. 

One simple online search for “boarding schools for troubled teens” yields over 1.5 million results!

What are the benefits of boarding schools for troubled teens?

5 Benefits of Boarding Schools for Troubled Teens

Boarding schools for troubled teens are designed to stop the negative behavior patterns of your teen and change the course to a positive and upward one.

1. Decompress.  Removing your teenager from their home environment, including their peers and especially their devices into a slowed down manageable pace, helps them to start focusing on themselves to improve their mental health. They are now in a setting with trained staff, activities (enrichment programs) and therapy that is designed to encourage change and build self-worth.

By decompressing and disconnecting from the negativity of their old lives (as well as their devices), it will give your teen an opportunity for the kind of true and deep change required to turn their life around.

PexelTeenSchool2. Stability. A positive, safe, and consistent environment replaces the toxic environment they’re leaving. They won’t have access to drugs or alcohol – or their social media or devices.

The negative peer influences are now cut-off. If they have been struggling academically, often this new environment is where they will begin to thrive again – in many cases your teen will be able to catch up academically and some even surpass where they would be traditionally.

Once your teen gets on a healthy schedule, they will start feeling good about themselves and will bring this back home with them.

3. Calmness. In many situations, the teen is coming from a home where there was family discord and dysfunction. The destructive cycles (whether it was between parents or siblings) has now stopped and is deliberately slowed down to include mediated conversations, letter exchanges, and intermittent visits — as well are family workshops.

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.

The truth is, no one enjoys living in a home that feels like a battleground. As both parties start experiencing this new calmness, the goal is to have it continue for the future — as everyone works together for the same purpose.

4. Enhances change. A quality therapeutic boarding school for troubled teens is designed to enhance likelihood and speed of change.   These schools help 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.

The foundation of boarding schools are environments based on the creation of a safe, relationally warm place where the teen is protected from self-destructive behavior, unburdened from the stresses of life, and immersed in relational climate that invites introspection.

5. Family workshops. Parent education and involvement in the treatment process is priceless. It’s very easy to point the finger at the teenager but remember just sending your teen away and not addressing issues as a family won’t resolve anything if everyone isn’t on board.

Being involved in your teen’s program at home is imperative. From reading the books that are assigned to you, to making plans to attend the workshops — your teen needs to know you are dedicated to the school and your teen’s success in recovery and healing.

Parent workshops benefit the entire family. From helping you with communication skills with not only your troubled teen, but also with other family members, these workshops will also help you design and create house rules and consequences. 

We help you find safe therapeutic boarding schools.

Also read:

Teen Help for 17+ Year Olds

Will My Teen Hate Me If We Send Them to A Boarding School

How Behavior Modification Helps Troubled Teens

Purpose of Therapeutic Boarding Schools

Are Therapeutic Boarding Schools Effective?

What is the Success Rate of Therapeutic Boarding Schools?

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Are you considering a boarding school for your troubled teen? Contact us for a free consultation to learn more about finding the right therapeutic boarding school for your teen.

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How to Find An Alternative Boarding School for My Troubled Teen https://helpyourteens.com/how-to-find-an-alternative-boarding-school-for-my-troubled-teen/ Thu, 29 Feb 2024 18:46:54 +0000 https://helpyourteens.com/?p=44642 How to find the right alternative boarding school for my troubled teen can be challenging. Parenting difficult teenagers is climbing, while adolescents are becoming more out-of-control. Since 2020 teen depression and anxiety has doubled. Experts are pointing to excess screen-time as part of the cause. If a parent attempts to remove their child’s device, they can experience teenage […]

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How to find the right alternative boarding school for my troubled teen can be challenging. Parenting difficult teenagers is climbing, while adolescents are becoming more out-of-control.

Since 2020 teen depression and anxiety has doubled. Experts are pointing to excess screen-time as part of the cause. If a parent attempts to remove their child’s device, they can experience teenage rage and explosive behavior — in some cases holes will be punched into the walls.

Are you facing:

-Cell-phone addiction, video gaming obsession
-Failing in school, capable of passing
-Skipping classes, school refusal
-Teen defiance, rage, rebellious
Teen depression, anxiety, stress
-Teen OCD, RAD, ADHD
-Drifted from your family values
-Teenage substance use, drinking, vaping
-Withdrawn, isolation – not participating in family functions
-Changing peer groups
-Self-harm, suicide ideation
Stealing, lying, manipulating
-Property destruction, explosive behavior

If you are experiencing a few of these behavior issues, it can be extremely challenging and you can feel like you’re being held hostage in your home by a defiant and entitled teenager. Are you searching for alternative boarding schools?

Since 2001 P.U.R.E.™ has been educating parents and communities about help for troubled teens programs and schools. This industry is extremely competitive and can be very confusing to the desperate parent. Without the right knowledge, sifting through the internet for the right therapeutic boarding school for your teen can be daunting.

We were once in that position, we understand the stress and apprehension you are feeling and  want you to know you are not alone and give you the opportunity to learn from our experiences and more importantly, gain from our knowledge.

If you are visiting our website, it’s likely your teen or young adult is struggling and you are considering alternative options. You may not be familiar with how to research these specialty boarding schools and programs. You are probably thinking, “Does my teen really need to be sent away?” Or some parents want to know, “Will my teen hate me if we send them away?” One big question is, “How will we get them there, they don’t want to go.”

We can help you make this big decision.

We believe in finding a positive and encouraging setting for your teen. Placing a negative child into a punitive or primitive environment can usually build anger and resentment. Most of these young people are typically suffering with low-self worth – it’s time to find placement that enhances their self-esteem and starts building them back up to make better choices.

Although many parents believe that finding a school or program near their home is a priority, we help you understand that this is only a snapshot of their entire life. Yet one of the most important parts of their life that will have a major impact on both their emotional and educational future. It’s imperative you select a program that best fits their needs and not your geographical convenience.

Whether you’re considering a wilderness program, therapeutic boarding school or residential treatment center, this is a major emotional and financial decision. We help families make the right choice for their individual needs.

Also read:

5 Benefits of Boarding Schools for Troubled Teens

Why Residential Treatment Can Work When Home Therapy Fails

The post How to Find An Alternative Boarding School for My Troubled Teen first appeared on Help Your Teens.

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7 Questions Parents Ask About Therapeutic Schools https://helpyourteens.com/7-questions-parents-ask-about-therapeutic-schools/ Wed, 28 Feb 2024 23:36:00 +0000 https://helpyourteens.com/?p=36348 Struggling with a good teen making bad choices can be frustrating especially when it escalates beyond typical teen behavior — you find you have lost control and authority over your teenager. After exhausting local resources, you find yourself online searching for schools for troubled teens and realize you have so many questions — there are […]

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Struggling with a good teen making bad choices can be frustrating especially when it escalates beyond typical teen behavior — you find you have lost control and authority over your teenager. After exhausting local resources, you find yourself online searching for schools for troubled teens and realize you have so many questions — there are 7 common questions parents typically ask about therapeutic schools.

PexelsQuestAnswers

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 7 most frequestly asked questions and answers by parents.

7 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?”

PexelTutorGirl

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.

6. 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.

7. 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.

PixabayFamilyPizza

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.

Also read:

How to Interview Schools for Troubled Teens.

5 Benefits to a Therapeutic Boarding School.

What Is a Christian Therapeutic Boarding School?

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 7 Questions Parents Ask About Therapeutic Schools first appeared on Help Your Teens.

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How Behavior Modification Programs Help Troubled Teens https://helpyourteens.com/how-behavior-modification-programs-help-troubled-teens/ Wed, 28 Feb 2024 23:26:00 +0000 https://helpyourteens.com/?p=27250 Will a behavior modification program help your troubled teen? You have come to a place at home where your teen is out-of-control and have exhausted your local resources. Your teen has refused therapy or have stopped engaging with their therapist, outpatient treatment has failed, the school setting is not working and a short-term hospital stay […]

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Will a behavior modification program help your troubled teen? You have come to a place at home where your teen is out-of-control and have exhausted your local resources.

Your teen has refused therapy or have stopped engaging with their therapist, outpatient treatment has failed, the school setting is not working and a short-term hospital stay was not successful. How does a behavior modification programs help troubled teens?

PexelFrustratedMomIn many situations we are not dealing with teenagers that are addicts, although possibly addicted to their devices, we are struggling with youth that have behavioral issues.

Entitled, the spoiled brat syndrome?
-Is your teen doing drugs? Vaping? Drinking? (Recreationally)
Suspended or facing expulsion from school?
-Withdrawing from friends and family, or changing peer groups?
Disrespect you and your family values?
-Struggling with depression, sadness, anxiety?
-Do they have outbursts of anger, rage or rebellion?
-Is your teenager explosive? Do they your destroy property?
-Is your teen stealing? Maybe your car or other personal property (money)?
-Are they constantly seeking negative attention? Fighting with their siblings?
-Trouble managing ADHD, ODD, RAD or Bipolar?

These negative behavioral issues (unlike youth that are struggling with drug or alcohol addiction, which you would likely be seeking a 12-step rehab), these concerns can be treated with behavior modification therapy (BMT).  Also known as behavioral modification treatment which is part of a behavior modification program for troubled teens that has many benefits.

What is Behavior Modification Treatment?

Behavior modification is a method used to replace negative behavior patterns with desired behaviors or promote behavior change. Using a system of positive or negative consequences, the individual learns the correct set of responses for any given event.

Behavior modification treatment is found in most therapeutic boarding schools and residential treatment centers. They are often referred to as behavior modification programs since they are designed to encourage positive change and build self-worth through a controlled and consistent encouraging environment.

Understanding treating only the behavior issues and not its underlying causes — skips important teachable moments, such as connecting with teens on a deeper level, teaching empathy, values and other life lessons. In most cases, these strategies work best when paired with techniques to change the mind (negative and dark thoughts) as well as the behavior. Having a credentialed and quality clinical team with behavioral therapy is always recommended.

Why behavior modification programs can work:

Unlike a teen that is spiraling out-of-control with while using alcohol or drugs that needs a detox center, behavior modification helps the typical defiant teenager that has taken over your home — when you feel like you are walking on eggshells constantly, although they might be vaping or smoking marijuana recreationally, the truth is, their behavior is unruly and belligerent.

Some parents feel like they are living in a warzone, at any moment their teen will explode at the drop of a dime. They break curfew without any remorse, refuse to do their chores and completely disrespect family rules. We are living in a world of entitled teenagers — where many parents truly fear discipling their own child. Many parents have had their teen contact the authorities on them with erroneous stories out of spite, or maybe they wanted their smartphone back.

A well-designed behavior modification program 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:

PexelTeenTherapy

  • A full and balanced daily life structure and schedule;
  • Clinical support through individual, behavioral therapy 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:

Goals Of A Therapeutic Boarding School

Will My Teen Hate Me If I Send Them Away?

Where to Send A Troubled Teen?

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Contact us today for a free consultation and learn about the right therapeutic boarding schools for your troubled teen.

The post How Behavior Modification Programs Help Troubled Teens first appeared on Help Your Teens.

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How to Find Successful Therapeutic Boarding Schools for Troubled Teens https://helpyourteens.com/how-to-find-successful-therapeutic-boarding-schools-for-troubled-teens/ Tue, 20 Feb 2024 19:20:21 +0000 https://helpyourteens.com/?p=44573 Are therapeutic boarding schools successful for troubled teens? Are they effective for changing negative behavior? Schools for troubled teens are designed to help students that are having difficulties in their home and school setting. 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? […]

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Are therapeutic boarding schools successful for troubled teens? Are they effective for changing negative behavior? Schools for troubled teens are designed to help students that are having difficulties in their home and school setting.

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 searching for a successful therapeutic boarding school for your troubled teen?

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?

DefiantTeen

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 suicide ideation.

Your teen has refused to see a therapist, outpatient treatment failed, the school setting is not working and maybe you 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?

The fact 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 Find 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

The post How to Find Successful Therapeutic Boarding Schools for Troubled Teens first appeared on Help Your Teens.

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How Dog Therapy Can Help My Troubled Teen https://helpyourteens.com/how-dog-therapy-can-help-my-troubled-teen/ Wed, 07 Feb 2024 13:18:40 +0000 https://helpyourteens.com/?p=44467 In a time where teenage mental health is a growing concern, more parents are learning about the success of animal therapy for troubled teens. Dog therapy (also known as canine therapy) has been proven to help with teen issues and improve overall psychological well-being. Do you have a teenager that is suffering with anxiety, trauma […]

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In a time where teenage mental health is a growing concern, more parents are learning about the success of animal therapy for troubled teens. Dog therapy (also known as canine therapy) has been proven to help with teen issues and improve overall psychological well-being.

Do you have a teenager that is suffering with anxiety, trauma (PTSD), mood disorder, or using substances to self-medicate? Studies have proven that dog therapy (and most animal therapies) is a beneficial tool in treating adolescents struggling with mental health concerns as well as substance abuse disorders.

Since 2001 we have assisted and educated parents in finding the right schools for troubled teens, specifically for their unique child.

Parenting a difficult teenager is stressful, however after experiencing your child being engaged in animal therapy you will gradually start to see positive changes.

3 Benefits of Dog Therapy with Troubled Teens

  1. Reduces anxiety and stress.  Research has shown when troubled teens work with dogs, horses, and/or most animals, especially if they are involved with training a dog, it can help reduce a person’s anxiety as well as help those suffering with PTSD.
  2. Helps with depression. When working with animals, specifically therapy dogs, they are trained to be attentive to a person’s needs and offer unconditional love. This can often help stabilize intense emotions and allows your teen to express themselves without fear of judgment.
  3. Eases loneliness. Yes, teens are lonely. Research has uncovered that many teens suffer from isolation and loneliness. Caring for a dog or an animal gives you purpose, makes you feel needed as well as helps decrease depression.

Success of Animal Therapy with Teens

“Our 16-year-old daughter just graduated from her therapeutic program two months ago. I am not sure you remember us, but you answered the phone when we were panicking about placing our daughter when we were in a crisis. Your information was priceless. Our daughter loved animals, yet we didn’t realize through these difficult times that this could help us. We were so focused on finding therapeutic schools near me that we were lost in seeing what was best for her. Thankfully you guided us to learn more about programs with animal therapy and it changed all of our lives. We have our family back together now, thank you for your time and support.” – Vivian and Jack

“The dog therapy my son experienced at his program changed his life. He still has his Labrador today. It has taught him responsibility and accountability. He has empathy, respect, and most importantly self-worth. He even started a dog-walking and sitting business in our neighborhood. I can’t thank you enough for sharing your knowledge of animal therapy programs with us.” – Kathleen

“Horsemanship was important to our daughter at one time, but once she started down her dark road, I never thought she would want to ride again. You were the first person to ask me ‘what my daughter’s passions were (before hitting this dark road)‘. After you told us about therapeutic boarding schools with equine therapy, we finally felt like there was hope again. I’m so thrilled to tell you that she’s been home for a few months, she’s emotionally healthy and back to riding regularly! Thank you so much for your knowledge and help when we needed it most.” – Colleen and Mark

“My ADHD son was so angry, full of rage and completely out-of-control when I called your office. You suggested animal therapy and told me to research more about how it can help troubled teenagers. Although I wasn’t sure how my son would relate to dogs or horses, I’m writing to tell you that the journey was incredible! He was apprehensive at first but soon he became calm, loving and so caring. While he was in the program, anytime he would talk about his dog you could see his face light-up, his whole demeanor would change. Of course, we brought the dog home. I’m happy to report that both my son and his new friend are doing wonderful.” – Marlene

Do you want to learn more about animal therapy boarding schools? Contact us for a free consultation.

Also read:

Do Therapeutic Schools Work?

How to Interview Therapeutic Schools

Safe Schools for Teens

The post How Dog Therapy Can Help My Troubled Teen first appeared on Help Your Teens.

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Teen Transport Service to Boarding Schools https://helpyourteens.com/best-teen-transport-service-for-boarding-schools/ Wed, 03 Jan 2024 21:54:00 +0000 https://www.helpyourteens.com/?p=16772 Why use a teen transport service? Professional assistance in transporting your teen to a therapeutic boarding school or residential treatment center is the most common method of transportation that families use. Why use a teen transport service? Transport services, also known as escort services or assisted admissions, are usually a last resort (yet most frequently […]

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Why use a teen transport service? Professional assistance in transporting your teen to a therapeutic boarding school or residential treatment center is the most common method of transportation that families use.

Why use a teen transport service?

Plane flying away 1Transport services, also known as escort services or assisted admissions, are usually a last resort (yet most frequently used) by parents to safely bring their teen to programs.

Being a last resort doesn’t mean it is a negative choice. Using a qualified professional can be a good experience for a teen.

Some teens are willing to get help; yet the majority of young people completely refuse; this is when there is need for assisted admissions into a school or program.

Since transporting your teen can be a difficult decision, it is very important to choose qualified and credentialed professionals.

The transport service should be licensed and insured to transport teens and also have various degrees and/or background in education, psychology, behavioral science, mental health, or other related fields.

These are professionals!

Don’t think twice to ask them to email you their licenses and credentials. Also ask for parent references from parents with teens of the same age and gender of your child — call them and get a sense of comfort before you make your decision.

Are you concerned about getting your teen to their program safely?

Assisted transports can be a very good experience with the right professional.

Quality Teen Service

We only recommend transport services we would choose to use for our own family and friends. 

GUARDIAN VOYAGE – Crisis Intervention/Transport

GuardianVoyNewGuardian Voyage is a team of caring and compassion trained professionals to safely transport your teen to their destination. They will be in constant contact with you and always put your child first.

Call Jack Del-Giudice for a free consultation and an estimate: 407-398-4318 (call/text) or email him at guardianvoyagetransport@gmail.com.

ADVANCED ADOLESCENT Services

AdvAdoServices

Advanced Adolescent Services is a leader in child transport services  They have been working with troubled teens for more than 18 years.

Advanced Adolescent Services has successfully transported over 700  adolescents to more than 50 various programs nationwide. They have come highly recommended from families and programs over the past two decades.

Contact them at 702-220-8013 for more information or email tommockett@aol.com.

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Also read:

Will my child hate me, which is often a concern from parents.

Contact us for more information on transport services to safe therapeutic boarding schools.

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How to Help My Good Teen Making Bad Choices https://helpyourteens.com/how-to-help-my-good-teen-making-bad-choices/ Thu, 21 Dec 2023 10:40:04 +0000 https://helpyourteens.com/?p=44056 Do you have a good teen making bad choices, are they smart yet not working up to their academic potential? This can be extremely frustrating but has become very common with many teenagers. Since 2020 teen depression and anxiety has doubled. Experts are pointing to excess screen-time as part of the cause. Does this sound familiar: -Teen depression, anxiety, stress-Teen […]

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Do you have a good teen making bad choices, are they smart yet not working up to their academic potential? This can be extremely frustrating but has become very common with many teenagers.

Since 2020 teen depression and anxiety has doubled. Experts are pointing to excess screen-time as part of the cause.

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Does this sound familiar:

-Teen depression, anxiety, stress
-Teen defiance, rage, rebellious
-Internet addiction (cell-phone or video gaming)
-Teen OCD, RAD, ADHD
-Drifted from your family values
-Teenage substance use, drinking, vaping
-Withdrawn, isolation – not participating in family functions
-Changing peer groups
-Self-harm, suicide ideation
Stealing, lying, manipulating
-Property destruction, explosive behavior

If you are experiencing a few of these behavior issues, it can be extremely challenging and you can feel like you’re being held hostage in your home by a defiant and entitled teenager. Have you exhausted your local resources?

Maybe you have tried therapy or the school counselor — your teen refused to attend or wasn’t engaging. Outpatient treatment has failed. School setting is not working, you may have tried a short-term hospital stay that was unsuccessful. Now it’s time consider outside resources to find help for your troubled teen.

Are you searching for schools for troubled teens? You jump online only to be overwhelmed by the confusion of the teen help world — the terminology, glorified websites, slick marketing and marketing arms, that you become paralyzed in how to move forward.

The fact is, you have a good teen making bad choices, it’s imperative you don’t place them out of their element where these bad choices become worse.

Since 2001 P.U.R.E.™ has been educating parents and communities about help for troubled teens programs and schools. This industry is extremely competitive and can be very confusing to the desperate parent. Without the right knowledge, sifting through the internet for the right therapeutic boarding school for your teen can be daunting.

We were once in that position, we understand the stress and apprehension you are feeling and  want you to know you are not alone and give you the opportunity to learn from our experiences and more importantly, gain from our knowledge.

If you are visiting our website, it’s likely your teen or young adult is struggling and you are considering alternative options. You may not be familiar with how to research these specialty boarding schools and programs. You are probably thinking, “Does my teen really need to be sent away?” Or some parents want to know, “Will my teen hate me if we send them away?” One big question is, “How will we get them there, they don’t want to go.”

We can help you make this big decision.

We believe in finding a positive and encouraging setting for your teen. Placing a negative child into a punitive or primitive environment can usually build anger and resentment. Most of these young people are typically suffering with low-self worth – it’s time to find placement that enhances their self-esteem and starts building them back up to make better choices.

Although many parents believe that finding a school or program near their home is a priority, we help you understand that this is only a snapshot of their entire life. Yet one of the most important parts of their life that will have a major impact on both their emotional and educational future. It’s imperative you select a program that best fits their needs and not your geographical convenience.

Whether you’re considering a wilderness program, therapeutic boarding school or residential treatment center, this is a major emotional and financial decision. We help families make the right choice for their individual needs.

Also read:

 5 Benefits of Boarding Schools for Troubled Teens.

Why Residential Treatment Can Work When Home Therapy Fails.

The post How to Help My Good Teen Making Bad Choices first appeared on Help Your Teens.

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