What to Do With Troubled Teens

It may be a cliché, but parenting is rarely easy. That doesn’t mean we don’t love our children unconditionally. From the moment they are born, children change our lives and how we face our world.

The teen years seem to arrive right when we feel like we’ve finally got a handle on parenting. Only to bring with them a host of concerns and the potential for troubled teens.

The teenage brain goes through so many rapid changes and developments. Many of these can be baffling for parents now seeing their once well-mannered child turn into an angry and aggressive teen constantly getting into trouble or making poor decisions. Your teen may even have turned to drugs and alcohol.

What now? How can you help your troubled teen? What can you do with your teen now? We’ve got a few tips that just may help.

How to deal with today’s troubled teens

Today’s teens face a world quite different from the one we grew up in. Social media alone, while sometimes helpful and fun, can contribute to the mental health struggles a teen is faced with. With all of your teen's added potential complications and triggers, we also benefit today from a more profound and broader knowledge of mental health. That means there are many resources for parents and teens to lean into in times of crisis.

Before you lean into these resources, there are a few things that you can do at home to try and help your troubled teen.

• Speak with them openly and honestly about what might be going on with them. This may not always be a successful conversation if your teen is defensive. But it’s vital to communicate continually.
• Minimize screen time, where possible. You may get a bit of pushback on this, but your teen may just find he truly benefits from the breathing room that can happen when minimizing screen time.
• Talk to others in his life who may be an insight into his behavioral changes. Teachers, guidance counselors, coaches, and family members could help you form a complete picture.

We live in a world that offers easy access to materials that can impact his self-esteem and decision-making. But more than that, we have better access to help for troubled teens.

Where can I send my out-of-control teenager?

Sending your teen to time out in his bedroom is not going to help him as much as it helped when he was a toddler. An out-of-control teenager often needs much more intervention than what can be provided at home.

Outpatient counseling can prove beneficial but may not be enough when your teen is genuinely out-of-control. It is an excellent place to start, however. The mental health professionals treating your troubled teen may recommend that you seek out further and more extensive treatment for your teen.

What might this look like? There are several options that you may be able to consider.

• Boot camps for troubled teens
• Residential treatment centers
• Therapeutic boarding schools

Sometimes the solution for some troubled teens is to allow them to live with another relative or family friend. Particularly if life at home isn’t entirely stable or if there are influences in the area contributing to his poor decision-making and behavior.

What kind of peer intervention is least likely to be helpful to troubled teens?

Peer support and counseling can be so helpful for a troubled teen. Teens often find it difficult to open up entirely to the adults in their lives. Chatting with peers who may understand what they’re going through can be hugely beneficial.

Not all peer intervention and counseling will be suitable for your teen. In some cases, if the other teens have little to no knowledge of your teen's problems, it can be less than helpful.

In other cases, if the peer support and counseling teens have experience and knowledge, they must also be getting treatment. If they aren’t getting treatment and ongoing guidance, they may not be in a good position to offer help and advice to a troubled teen.

Where in Utah to send troubled teens

Finding the right treatment environment is crucial in helping your troubled teen find his way back from his struggles. Utah has many options for troubled teens, which can get overwhelming.

When doing your research, ensure that the facilities you’re considering have the right treatment plans to meet your teen's needs. While there is nothing wrong with some approaches, they won’t all be right for your troubled teen.

When you reach out to each of the places on your shortlist, be sure they are communicating well and open about the certifications and licenses they carry. The suitable types of facilities will always happily disclose this information.

At Liahona Academy, we pride ourselves on providing a secure, safe, and supportive environment for troubled teens.

Whether your teen is facing a mental health crisis or requires another type of intervention, we offer treatment programs tailored to meet the needs of the individual. Call to find out how we can help your teen and your family through the challenges that you are facing.