Therapeutic boarding schools and residential treatment centers are facilities that provide housing and specialized therapy for teens struggling with severe behavioral issues. These programs offer a supportive and immersive environment away from the daily triggers and temptations teens deal with at home. With the help of counselors and therapists trained in adolescent psychology, teens are able to identify the core of their issues and learn the tools they need in order to manage them in a healthy and productive way. Such facilities are usually a last resort for parents whose teens have been unable or unwilling to respond to outpatient efforts by the authority figures in their lives.
What Will My Troubled Boy Learn At A Therapeutic Boarding School?
Although the actual curriculum varies depending on the facility, most offer some combination of individual, group and family therapy in addition to more hands on experiences like music, recreational or culinary therapy. Such options have a better chance of engaging teens on a more personal level. The primary goal of full time residential facilities is to help teens heal and gain the skills they need for long term success. Some of the things you can expect your teen to experience at an effective program are:
Individualized Plan of Care – Your teen and his challenges are unique. He will be evaluated individually in order to establish a baseline for his needs and goals and for the staff to create a personalized treatment plan.
Academics – Many facilities offer an academic curriculum that allows teens to get the extra help they need and keep up with their classes at home. Make sure you select a school that has a nationally accredited program so you don’t have to worry about his credits transferring.
Safety – Each state has different rules and regulations overseeing their teen help programs. Carefully check the facilities in the states you are considering to make sure they are up to your standards. Utah currently has the most comprehensive laws in the country and is particularly popular among parents seeking both safety and experience.
One-On-One Interaction – Each troubled teen should get regular attention from his therapists and counselors in order to establish goals and healthy bonds with authority figures. As he works his way through the program, he will get personal encouragement by staff that is familiar with his challenges and learning style.
Respite – In addition to helping teens, full time programs also offer physical and emotional respite for exhausted parents. This recovery time is important for caregivers that need to be at their best in order to help their teen maintain all of his hard work once he returns home.
Sundance Canyon Academy is a residential treatment center located in northern Utah. We are dedicated to helping troubled boys overcome their behavioral issues through a unique relationship based therapy system that encourages them to address the root of the problem, rather than simply the symptoms as so many behavior modification programs do. Please contact us today for a consultation at 1-866-678-2425.