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.
[..]

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

Troubled teenagers are soon going to have more time on their hands to cause trouble. For a parent surveying the summer ahead there is a certain amount of dread. Alcohol continues to be the most widely abused substance amongst teens and summer months seem to amplify the problem. Statistics and consequences are unforgiving in the picture that they paint.

“The prevalence of alcohol use among teens mixed with the effects of alcohol — a tendency toward risky and violent behavior, impaired judgment and slowed reaction time — help explain why alcohol is a major factor in teen motor vehicle crashes, homicides, suicides and drowning.

Its use is also linked to early sexual intercourse, date and acquaintance rapes, unplanned pregnancies, sexually transmitted diseases, fights and community property damage. In addition, many young people also die from alcohol poisoning.”
(Source)

One study asserts that over 4 million teens get drunk in any given month. A recent survey revealed that a quarter of the eight graders, almost half of all 10th graders and over half of the seniors got ripped the month before taking the survey.

Almost 80% say they drink because it feels good and almost half because they have nothing else to do. It is appalling to think of the damage that is done because of such inane excuses and reasons. In the richest country in the world, teens can think of no other way to “feel good” but to become stumbling, puking spectacles. Wow. What do you do with that?

If you have an at risk teen, a teen that just will not listen, consider finding a boot camp, a wilderness therapy program or a troubled teen boarding school. Find a program that can present a fresh perspective, that helps the teen to experience life lived with purpose, using the gifts that they were born with. If they know how to do that, they’ll never be bored again.