Dealing with a troubled teen can take all of your ingenuity and emotional resources. When you are not sure where else to turn, full time facilities such as boarding schools and residential treatment centers can make a big impact on your son. While selecting a facility that is both safe and effective for your son can be intimidating, most have developed specialized plans to help your teen turn his life around and learn to make better choices. The round the clock immersive environment of therapeutic facilities offers boys the opportunity to focus on making changes without the distraction of old triggers and temptations.
What Kind of Care Is Provided?
Although the treatment plan differs depending on the facility, many of them involve a combination of therapy types including; individual, group and family as well as recreational and academic options. There are several things you can expect from a school that caters to troubled teens:
- Individualized Plan of Care – Your son will be among peers that are struggling with similar issues, but there is no single plan of care that caters to everyone. It is important that your troubled teen boy attend a facility that will create a program that is specific to his needs. He should get a personal assessment by a qualified therapist upon arrival, in order to allow the staff to target his medical, behavioral and social needs.
- One-On-One Coaching – Full time therapy programs often offer small class sizes in order to allow each resident to receive more personal coaching and guidance from the counselors and therapists. This kind of consistent attention is valuable for when your son’s plan of care needs amended as he works his way through the program.
- Academics – Most teens who attend residential facilities for behavioral issues are also struggling with their school work. Whether your son needs help repairing his grades, or you want him to stay on track with his class at home, you should look for a facility with an accredited academic program so he can transfer any credits that he earns. Keep in mind that each state has different requirements when it comes to educational programs and it is important to double check the laws for the state you are considering.
- Better Communication – Schools with a smaller class size will offer your son a better chance to practice healthy boundaries and effective communication with peers and authority figures. Such interaction helps set the stage for when he transitions home. .
Liahona Academy is a residential treatment facility located in southern Utah. We specialize in helping troubled teen boys gain the tools and skills they need to turn their lives around and start on the path to successful adulthood. Please contact us today for questions about our program or for a free consultation (855-587-1416).
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