Schools for Trouble Teens
The parents of a troubled teen may feel unsure of where to turn in order to find help for their child. They may feel as if they have exhausted all of their options, and some days are on the verge of giving up.
But there is hope. Schools for troubled teens offer discipline, structure and in some cases, drug treatment programs that can provide important life skills, and more importantly, a fresh start.
The following is a list of the most effective types of schools for troubled teens. Not every facility is a match for every child, but by knowing the differences between them, parents can make a better educated decision about where to send their teenager.
Boarding School
When a child is unable to cope with the relative freedom of a standard day school, boarding school might be a good choice. At boarding school, the child lives onsite in a dorm setting - where almost every minute of the day is scheduled and accounted for by school administrators.
Military School
Military schools are strong on discipline and structure. They help build up a teenager by breaking down their preconceived notions about their place in the world. Military school helps enhance discipline and physical fitness. These types of institutions might not be the best choice for a teen with a drug addiction.
Treatment Centers
When a teenager has a substance abuse problem or addiction to drugs or alcohol, a residential treatment center that specializes in young people is an outstanding way to help them break the cycle of addiction. Treatment centers feature individual and group counseling to help ascertain the root causes of the drug problem and help develop the life skills needed to stay clean when the program is over.
Wilderness Programs
Designed to help improve the discipline and self-reliance of the child, wilderness programs send kids back to nature. By placing them in a foreign, and sometimes uncomfortable setting, wilderness programs hope to shake loose many of the behavioral and attitude problems of the child. Programs generally include hikes, exercise programs and team building exercises.
Boot Camps
Boot camps are the most extreme style of school for troubled teens. These facilities are modeled after actual military boot camps, where the individual must get in shape, work as part of a team, and follow a long, stringent set of rules and regulations in order to avoid disciplinary action. Like military schools, boot camps are not a productive place for a drug addicted teen to find treatment.
Newport Academy is an outstanding residential treatment center built just for teens. Newport helps treat teens with drug addictions, alcohol addictions, eating disorders and other issues that require expert, individualized care. Contact Newport Academy today for more information.
