Troubled Teens Resources

With the economy struggling like it is, finding affordable help for a troubled teen can be a difficult task.  The least expensive placement options for a troubled teen begin at $2,500 per month.   For parents that have difficulty financing such a venture there are some alternative options they can try. One good option for younger children up to about 12 or 13 years old is a scared straight type program.  It is designed to empower parents by allowing their child to watch a DVD of a drill Sergeant.  This is been successful in motivating younger people to improve their behaviors.  It can be found at http://www.bootcampvideo.com/ .

There are other options parents can try on their own prior to sending their child away.  Some parents have had success using what is referred to as a ‘home contract”.  This is just what it sounds like, a contract between the parents and their child.  The parents negotiate an agreement with their child about what time they will come home, who they will hang out with, what kind of grades they will get, and drug testing is usually in the mix.  Both parties sign it and the teen understands and agrees what will happen if he doesn’t comply with the agreement.  Some parents will use this prior to placing their teen in a program for troubled teens.

There is another great option for parents that do not want to send their teen away to receive help.  It is advertised on television and is a very effective option.  The Total Transformation program can be purchased by following this link.  The program is guaranteed to work and you can actually try the program for $19.95 risk free!  If you have a troubled or defiant teen or child and want to try something that will help; give this a try.

Boot camps of a different sort, but none the less valuable, are fitness boot camps. A fitness boot camp directed at teens can benefit in numerous ways, but for the purposes of this post, we’ll focus on the emotional and psychological issues pertaining to body image.

Teen girls are very susceptible to the absurd and unreal images of waif-like creatures that the media parades in front of them. All troubled teenagers can suffer greatly from obesity and there are no end to the stories of overweight teens who have compensated for rejection and low self-esteem with drugs. Any teen help for getting fit is extremely beneficial.

Joyce Hoffmann has put together an excellent program directed at teen girls. Inspired by her own emotional eating as a teen, she has dedicated her life to working with overweight kids. She teaches teens to take control of their body and image via exercise, nutrition, yoga and counseling.

And all of that goes a long way towards circumventing the potential for teenage drug abuse. If you feel good physically, emotionally and mentally, getting “high” will bring you down. Not to mention the value of the physical and mental discipline that comes with exercise.

” Ms. Hoffmann customized a summer weight loss program for teen girls that was equal parts boot camp, phys-ed class and Dr. Phil therapy session…

“None of the girls missed a day, and they were never a minute late…After working out, the girls and Ms. Hofmann had group counseling, where they just talked — about themselves, dieting, body image, boys, whatever was on their minds….
[…]
Many of the girls realized they were emotional eaters, meaning they made a beeline for fattening foods, whether they were happy, sad or any mood in between.”

(Source)

Teen age drug abuse never looked so good now that the current crop of young Hollywood teens are seemingly intent on spotlighting advertising their version of it. The lovely chalet, pictured here, is where those who can afford it go for “rehab” and is rumored to be where young Lindsay Lohan is.

“According to sources within the facility, the 21-year-old star arrived this weekend to begin the intense rehabilitation program that is expected to last a minimum of 30 days….upon check-in, a thorough mental and physical examination is completed. Once assessed, clients go through a traditional 12-step system and experiential therapies

The Lodge was named by Town & Country magazine to be one of the country’s top rehabs. For a price tag of $30,000 and up, the rehab offers privacy — with rooms for 16 residents at a time. The Lodge boasts spectacular views of mountain ranges and waterfalls; Jacuzzi tubs and private fireplaces, horseback riding therapy, massage therapy, hydro therapy and even a hair salon with manicures!

But that’s not all. The Lodge even owns a helicopter called “Rainbow” and arranges “heli-hiking” tours, and features gourmet meals prepared by culinary school graduates. There’s also a sound stage that was once the home of the “Donny and Marie” show, which now houses the most effective challenge ropes course in the world.

(Source)

It really doesn’t matter if it is luxurious rehabs or bare-bones boot camps, what guarantees any troubled teenagers‘ success in kicking is to bottom out, re-evaluate and recognize the severity of the problem. Without that, neither rainbow helicopters nor gourmet meals will make one bit of difference. One sincerely hopes that Miss Lohan will truly find her way home.

Joey lived in a very narrow world. His mother worked three jobs, his brother was in jail on drug charges and his father long gone. Drab was the main color, anger the incessant rhythm, and hopelessness the only expectation. Maybe that is why, when he heard the strains of Mozart from a small music store, it felt to him like his world, in one mere second, had been transformed.

You could say Mozart changed his life because the hunger it stirred in Joey compelled him to awkwardly push open the door of the shop to hear more and there he met the mentor who would guide this fledgling musician to a music scholarship years later.

Most troubled teenagers are not so fortunate. Teenagers are often chided for making poor choices. What also must be kept in mind is,for some teens at risk, their range of choices are limited. Joey chanced upon classical music by mere happenstance. That choice was not available in his home or school. Sometimes the most powerful experience for a teen are those that expose them to new and unique possibilities.

“Through the Youth Challenge program, these boys are learning how to say no to drugs and yes to art.

Fourteen-year-old Ian showcased his colorful painting of a lighthouse with a bright yellow sun in the backdrop Monday during a program and reception…

It was a celebration of what Ian and other boys in Youth Challenge have accomplished through art and community service since they began attending the program at Youth Town in Pinson. The students in Youth Challenge dress in camouflage fatigues and adhere to a military routine.”

(Source)
Image Credit:Jacksonsun.com

That is what boot camps and troubled teen boarding schools can provide. The opportunity for a teen to discover the gifts and talents that they had no opportunity to exercise before. Through such programs teens discover their flair with words or their skills with cameras, but more importantly, they learn that if they stay in the game, the choices are rich and varied and the future is theirs for the taking.