Therapeutic Boarding Schools and Residential Treatment Programs for Teens with ADD, ADHD, Alcohol and/or Drug Abuse, Aspergers, Behavioral Problems, Bipolar Disorder, OCD
When you are a parent who has become emotional and frustrated by your teens academic performance and behavior, therapeutic boarding schools can address both issues and help your adolescent achieve her or his full potential and make a bright future indeed possible.
For parents of students with special educational challenges, issues or needs, as well as behavior challenges and issues, the United States has a range of therapeutic boarding schools that address learning disabilities, learning issues, and learning styles for adolescents along with a therapeutic component.
These schools have created a niche in the spectrum of residential programs. These schools specifically work with adolescents who have issues such as Asperger's, autism, attention deficit disorder (ADD), attention deficit hyperactive disorders (ADHD), dyslexia, short and long term memory issues, speech/language problems, or general under-achievement as well a behavior issues such as dealing with adoption, conduct disorder, depression, drug and alcohol abuse, manipulative behavior, or lack of responsibility.
In most cases, the behavior issues must be first addressed before true academic success can occur. For a variety of reasons such as basic underachievement, large class settings, undiagnosed disabilities, or unstructured home environments, these students have often not received the individual attention that will teach them compensatory academic and study skills so that they may achieve more immediate success.
When educational needs are not addressed, these students often become frustrated and lose their self-confidence and self-esteem. Others may even become discipline problems or find themselves in the wrong crowd seeking gratification and esteem from others.
At that point, the family may need to seek help with an alternate solution such as a therapeutic boarding school environment that specializes in helping students enhance their potential.
Since the parent has often had to be the disciplinarian, task master and tutor, a therapeutic boarding school provides a more neutral setting in which the parent can return to her and his more traditional role.
The structured lifestyle of a therapeutic boarding school with its emphasis on accountability, organization, and the ordering of priorities provide a consistent and stable educational and therapeutic environment. With the focus on the individual, the faculty is able to pay attention to individuals.
Small classes that emphasize interaction between student and teacher prevent students from getting lost in the crowd. It is important to note that each therapeutic boarding school will have its unique mission and philosophy in dealing with learning disabilities and behavior issues.
Some schools are for minor learning disabilities and behaviors while others are for more severe disabilities and behaviors.
An Educational Consultant can assist you in quickly deciding which setting is best for your child.
Not all therapeutic boarding schools will be appropriate for every student.
Students usually have individual educational plans that include both personal and academic goals.
The whole-school / whole-child approach makes it easier to challenge and educate each student according to their individual goals and strengths.
Therapeutic boarding schools may also require special sessions with parents during the time at school so that the transition back to home or school can be made as smoothly as possible. Students completing these programs often have discharge plans which provide insight and guidelines as to future needs.
Parents need to always keep in mind that education is not an exact science with all of the various variable involved, especially when it comes to helping students with special needs and behavior issues.
Schools cannot guarantee success; however, they can provide learning environments that are conducive to success. Making this decision alone can be overwhelming. We can help.
Helpful Hints when searching for a Therapeutic Boarding School (TBS) or Residential Treatment Center (RTC)
We recommend NEVER sending your adolescent out of the country. Laws are different and they may not protect your child out of the country. Many parents are misled by the lower tuitions that are offered.
Please do not make this a consideration when looking to get help for your child. We recommend keeping your adolescent in the United States.
We recommend that you ALWAYS ask for the staff's education, experience and training. Credentials of those working with your adolescent are vital.
Ask if they have background checks on all employees. We highly recommend this with all programs we recommend for our clients.
Prior to enrolling a minor child in such overseas "Behavior Modification Facilities," the Department of State strongly recommends parents/guardians visit the facility and thoroughly inform themselves about both the facility and the host country's rules governing it and its employees. The Department of State also encourages parents/guardians and facility administrators to ensure that all U.S. citizen enrollees are registered with the nearest U.S. Embassy/Consulate in case emergency consular services are needed.
