Troubled Teens Resources

Which boarding school or residential treatment program or wilderness therapy that you choose for your troubled teenager is predicated on many factors. Not the least of which is correctly assessing how deeply troubled your teen actually is. There is quite a bit of difference in temperament and severity between the rebellious, moody, bored teen who perhaps only needs guidance and esteem builders and the depressed, angry, substance abusing teenager.

Residential treatment programs are tailored for the teenager that has an addiction, is in a deep depression, suffering an eating disorder or other serious behavior problems. Some treatment programs will allow the teenager to remain at home in the community and with more severely troubled teens, a hospital environment may be necessary.

Therapeutic-based boarding schools “offer social, emotional, physical, and spiritual guidance, in addition to educational enrichment for troubled teens. While scholastics play a significant role in their curriculums, emotional growth boarding schools are designed for the student with a history of under performance, both personal and academic, whose acting out behavior is compounded by issues including poor self-esteem and a negative self-concept.”

Wilderness programs typically are directed towards teenagers who are not considered high risk and many such programs are designed to serve as “a rite of passage”, bringing a less confident youngster into the realm of their own powers and skills.

It is terribly difficult to choose which boarding scool or treatment is appropriate for your troubled teen but after some initial investigation you will be equipped to better decide which program best meets your teen’s psychological and emotional state.

National Youth Networks is a site that can help you distinguish between the various boarding schools, wilderness schools and treatment programs and guide you in your preliminary investigations.