Parenting a severely troubled teen can leave you looking for answers other than outpatient solutions. There are a variety of treatment options and therapeutic facilities available to help your troubled teen turn his life around, but it can be difficult to know which one is going to be the most effective. As you begin the research process, you will likely find a lot of information on behavior modification therapy. Behavior modification is basically a method focused in the idea that our actions reflect our environment. The goal is to eliminate unwanted behaviors through a consequence system while encouraging good behavior with rewards. While the theory itself is basically sound, and is familiar to anyone who has had to raise a child, behavior modification therapy may not actually be the best solution for your troubled son. While it does focus on correcting poor behavior, it doesn’t address the underlying issues that led to problems in the first place.
What Else Should I Consider?
Another option you should consider is holistic or relationship based therapy. This approach involves more parental involvement during the healing process, unlike behavior modification programs where parents are largely absent while their child makes changes. Relationship based therapy includes regular family therapy sessions in order to identify the root of the issue in order to learn how to manage or correct poor behavior together.
How Does It Work?
Therapeutic intervention is largely provided through individual, group and family therapy, which involves a strength based approach to healing and skill development. Although students may face similar issues, their treatment technique is going to be unique based on their existing strengths and weaknesses. Because of this, holistic programs offer a variety of therapy modalities in addition to academics and life skills opportunities. Outdoor recreation, music, talk and experiential therapies are all additional methods used to effectively engage troubled teens on a personal level.
What Are The Benefits?
Although teen behavior modification programs do achieve some success in teaching troubled boys how to curb specific behavior, it does not take care of the deeper issues or prepare them for day to day life. Holistic programs take a wide approach in terms of healing and preparation in order to help teens gain the tools and self-confidence they need to succeed in the real world. By offering extensive hands-on experience, rather than just instruction, in areas like responsibility, teamwork, accountability and communication, teens are able to approach old problems from a new perspective. This method also helps them to identify changes they need to make within themselves in order to become motivated by their own challenges. The primary goal of a holistic program is to encourage students to gain the tools they need to develop self-respect and make positive choices.
Sundance Canyon Academy is a residential facility dedicated to helping troubled teens turn their lives around and prepare to live an emotionally successful life. Through a proven holistic therapy model, we are dedicated to helping troubled teen boys overcome their challenges and learn to cope in healthy ways. For more information about our program or a free consultation, please contact us at (866) 640-1899.