Parenting a severely troubled teen can be overwhelming and isolating. It can be just as painful to accept that you need outside intervention in order to help your child heal and move forward. Challenges such as anger, defiance, depression, anxiety or substance abuse can interfere with a teen’s healthy development and ability to form healthy relationships. While the idea of sending your child away from home is difficult, some troubled teens need the intensive, full time monitoring and therapeutic guidance that residential treatment centers can provide. While such programs are considered a last resort for teens who have not responded to outpatient treatment options, they remain an extremely successful solution.
How Do They Work?
Residential treatment centers provide housing and round the clock monitoring for troubled teens, where they are immersed in a supportive, healing environment designed to help them gain the tools they need for success. The constant therapeutic approach helps each resident identify his underlying issues and treat the problem rather than just the symptoms. This approach to healing from the inside out has a greater history of success with troubled teens than any other kind of program.
These programs encourage change through multiple kinds of therapy; including individual, group and family. When combined with a healthy balance of recreational activities and life skills practice, each teen has the opportunity to practice better communication and teamwork. Many facilities also offer academic programs in order to help their residents get back on track with their education or maintain their place in school for their return home.
Effective programs will consider the whole family when creating a treatment plan. Without the right help and guidance, teens can lose some of the valuable skills they gained once they return home to the usual routine and day to day challenges. Parents are often coached on their own communication skills as well as prepared for their teen’s transition back home. The small group setting found in many residential treatment programs is intended to help mimic the home environment where troubled teens can practice boundaries and proper interaction.
If you have exhausted all other treatment options for your teen, know that you do not have to do this alone. Consider a program with professionals that will actively work toward ensuring his successful emotional future.
Sundance Canyon Academy is a residential treatment center located in northern Utah. We specialize in helping troubled teen boys from throughout the country with our unique relationship based program that avoids typical behavior modification techniques. If you have questions about our program or would like a consultation regarding the needs of your son, please call us today at 866-678-2425.