Troubled Teens Resources

Brat camp, wilderness therapy program, boot camps all strive to “jar” the troubled teen into rethinking their lives, to examining new paradigms. This is achieved by a variety of methods, and yes, there have been those various villains who ran a shoddy show and thus have muddied the waters for those legitimate programs that benefit teens immensely.

In many cases a teens at risk that would have been likely candidates for a troubled teen boarding school can be diverted from a self-destructive path when attending a “condensed” educational and behavioral program lasting several weeks. With summer upon us, it maybe something that you will want to investigate if you have an out-of-control teen.

Having personal experience observing a local program, I can attest to how powerfully it can work in an open and willing teen’s life. Here is an excerpt from their website. The principles enunciated here are universal in their efficacy in empowering a teen towards redirecting their life. Check your community to see if a similar program is available.

“The YES program consists of a six-day residential course and a supportive coach/mentor for each student for duration of the academic school year. The program is produced in three stages: the Development stage, the Intensive Course, and the nine-month long Follow-Through Program.
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The Intensive Course is held over a 6 day period in a rural camp-like setting. Approximately 50 youth participate in group discussion/therapy type sessions and physical challenge activities (including a ropes course experience). Under the guidance of the program leaders, their volunteer coaches (called Committed Partners), YOU staff and volunteers, the youth begin to break through their feelings of fear and resignation. For the first time in their lives, they get in touch with their innermost feelings. They become willing to hear a conversation based on the YOU Four Cornerstones: RESPONSIBILITY, COMMITMENT, CHOICE and POSSIBILITY.”

Youth Opportunities United