Activities for Troubled Teens

All teens can have their moments, when they do not listen and they argue with everything said, but some teens can become more challenging than others, reports MayoClinic.com. When your teen begins to engage in troubling and unwanted behaviors, it may be time for you to take action: Get her involved in positive, confidence-building activities.

About this Author

Alia Butler holds a Masters of Social Work from Washington University, St. Louis, concentrating in mental health × Mental health
Mental health is “a state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community.”1 It is estimated that only about 17% of U.S adults are considered to be in a state of optimal mental health. The mental health in teenage boys and girls is a crucial issue and concern for parents. Teens, for a variety of reasons, tend to struggle with mental health more than adults or children who have not yet reached their teens. This is because of the turbulent time that comes with adolescence and the individual teen's inability to cope with said turbulence. Parents of troubled teens who struggle with mental health issues, actually have a plethora of treatment options to choose from. The type of treatment option that best fits the individual teen, greatly depends on the individual teens mental health issues.
, and a Master of Arts in Social-Organizational Psychology from Columbia University. Currently, Butler is a freelance writer, penning articles focusing on mental health, healthy living and issues surrounding work-life balance. She is the principle/owner of ALIA Living, LLC providing residential interior design services, professional organizing and life coaching × Life coaching
Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines life coach as : A person who counsels or motivates others in the achievement of personal objectives such as choosing or changing careers, improving relationships, setting goals, and determining priorities. Troubled teenage boys and girls who display negative behaviors such as, failing grades in school, disrespect towards parents and other authority figures, and/ or suffer from harmful addictions, can all greatly benefit from the therapeutic assistance from life coaching. Life Coaching in Treatment Centers for Troubled Teens: Life coaching is a critical and integral part of treatment centers for troubled teen boys and girls. THerapeutic professionals and clinical staff offer their life coaching practices to troubled teens, in hopes of correcting the individual teens' negative behavioral patterns.
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General routine exercise can be great for teens who demonstrate unwanted behaviors. According to HelpGuide.org, routine exercise will elevate a teen’s endorphin levels in the brain, thus inducing a more positive mood. Also, exercise will allow your teen to gain confidence in herself and feel good about what she has accomplished.

Sports

Sports, can be a great way for troubled teens × Troubled Teens
Troubled Teens /trou.bled/ /teens/ n. Noun A troubled teen is defined as a person that is between the age 13-19 that is beset by problems or conflict. Every Teenager faces problems that they must encounter in their life.  Problems arise in every person’s life both big and small yet sometimes we allow even the most insignificant of problems affect our lives.  Sometimes with teenagers they allow trials in their life greatly affect them in negative ways.  Typically when a person (typically teenagers) face problems in their lives, the ability to cope with the problem does not exist.  When teenagers turn to other things to cope with the feelings of the problems that they usually face  things such as drugs and alcohol, pornography, criminal activity, etc. It is important to find help for troubled teens as soon as possible.  There are many different programs that are available to help troubled teens with the problems that they face each with a different approach and nature to the program.
to become involved and refocus her negative energies. The sport, whether individual or team, will help to keep your teen safe and busy, reports the U.S. Substance Abuse × Substance Abuse
Substance Abuse /sub.stance/ /a.buse/ Substance abuse is defined as the use of a chemical substance that has an effect on humans or animals improperly or in a negative view or purpose. Substances involve different types of drugs and also alcohol.  The misuse of a chemical substance can be very dangerous and can be the cause of many different types of problems such as impairment and also distress. Along with physical problems that can come from recurrent substance abuse, there are many  other problems that can occur.  A lack of interest in schooling and work can lead to failure fulfillment of roles and obligations in different settings of life.  Also, a poor performance in daily actions can be a cause. Substance abuse is a problem that is important to deal with in an appropriate manner.  There are many different programs that are available to help fix these types of problems to rehabilitate someone’s life. More information about substance abuse in the US The national institute on drug abuse characterize substance abuse as, "as a chronic, relapsing brain disease that is characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use, despite harmful consequences. It is considered a brain disease because drugs change the brain; they change its structure and how it works. These brain changes can be long lasting and can lead to many harmful, often self-destructive, behaviors.' When pertaining to the adolescent brain and psyche, substance abuse and addiction is one of the most dangerous and common negative behaviors in troubled youth. Teenagers who participate in drug abuse are either not aware of the potential permanent damage they are causing themselves, or simply don't care. It is because of this reason that parents of substance abusing teens need to seek immediate treatment for their son or daughter. Fortunately for parents, there is a multitude and increasing number of options to choose from in terms of rehabilitation. Furthermore, parents of substance abusing teens need to seek treatment for their teens promptly.
and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Helping your teen participate in sports can help her gain self-esteem and confidence, which may redirect some of her unwanted behaviors. Also, involvement with a team sport, such as volleyball or soccer, will help your teen gain a close group of positive friends.

Chores

Create household chores that your teen needs to accomplish. According to MayoClinic.com, chores need to be ones that will not be accomplished unless they are completed by your teen. The benefit of the chore comes from the individual success and sense of pride from completing the task. Therefore, the chores must be relatively easy to begin with and can get more difficult as your teen achieves success, reports the MayoClinic.com.

Ropes Course

Another skill-building and confidence-building exercise is a ropes course. In these courses, your teen will be pushed, by trained instructors, to participate in physically challenging activities that force him to trust others in order to complete. Ropes courses can help your troubled teen extend his comfort zone while gaining confidence in himself and trust in others.

Giving Back

Troubled teens can benefit from helping others and giving back to those in need. Teens who demonstrate behavior problems will benefit from the responsibility and respect it takes to help others, reports SAMHSA. Allowing your teen to positively impact the lives of others can help him grow and learn life lessons he might never have a chance to learn otherwise. If you would like to find your troubled teen a volunteer opportunity, Volunteers of America and Volunteer Match are good resources, reports SAMHSA.

Aggression Replacement Training

According to The United States Center for Aggression Replacement Training (USCART), this 10-week intervention program focuses on trouble teens who display aggressive and impulsive behaviors. In the aggression replacement training, teens learn how to respect the rights of others and use the anger management skills they learned. Research has shown that ART programs improve anger management and social skills, while also reducing the incidence of teens who have been arrested returning to jail, reports USCART.