If you’ve come to the end of your rope with your teenager’s behavior, you might be asking, “Would a therapeutic program for my teen really work?” After struggling for so long, you may have doubts that even the professionals would be able to really change your teen’s mode of behavior and way of thinking. You’ve done everything you know how to do and it seems like things are getting worse, not better. But, therapeutic programs, like residential homes or trouble teen schools, can make a huge difference.
You might be asking “Should I really send my teen away to a therapeutic program?” It’s a big move and you wonder if your teen really needs that intensive level of professional help. But, these troubled teenager programs are also life-altering. Here are some very common reasons teens enter the programs:
ADD / ADHD
Addiction
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Addiction
The American Society of Addiction Medicine defines addiction as “Addiction is characterized by inability to consistently abstain, impairment in behavioral control, craving, diminished recognition of significant problems with one’s behaviors and interpersonal relationships, and a dysfunctional emotional response.”
Similar to other chronic diseases, addiction may involve cycles of relapse and a mental state of remission. If untreated, or serious attempts of recovery, the progression of addiction can easily result in dire, sometimes fatal, consequences.
Addiction can take many forms, from eating disorders to drug addiction and even gambling. Whatever the affliction, or choice of addiction, the teenage psyche and overall well being is at greater risk than that of a fully developed adult. Teens who don’t receive adequate rehabilitation for their addiction are almost certain to carry their addictive qualities into adulthood.
Parents of a teenage boy or girl suffering from addiction should seek viable treatment options immediately before the addiction progresses further.
/Chemical Dependency
Autism
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Autism
Merriam – Webster’s Dictionary defines autism A pervasive developmental disorder characterized by severe deficits in social interaction and communication, by an extremely limited range of activities and interests, and often by the presence of repetitive, stereotyped behaviors.
At-Risk Youth/Risky Behaviors
Body Image Issues
Cutting & Self-Harm
Divorce Conflict
Depression
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Depression
Depression
/de·pres·sion/
Depression is defined as a mental condition characterized by feelings of severe despondency and dejection, typically also with feelings of inadequacy and guilt, often accompanied by lack of energy and disturbance of appetite and sleep.
Statistics has shown that diagnosis of depression is growing at a very dangerous rate. Globally, depression affects over 350 million people of all ages. Depression has been linked to other negative health outcomes, such as obesity, heart disease, and stroke. Compared to those not affected by depression those who face it are more likely to be unemployed and have a higher chance of divorce.
Most people that suffer from depression do not seek care or attention. Since this is a global issue, many efforts are made to help those who are suffering depression. It is important for those that face depression to find help so that they can overcome this plague that millions of people face.
Substance Abuse
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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.
Nonverbal Learning Disorder (NLD)
Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD)
Personality disorders
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Suicide Ideation
Dual Diagnosis
Eating Disorders (that don’t require medical intervention)
Female Identity Empowerment
Failing College
Lack of Motivation
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Motivation
/mo·ti·va·tion/
n.Noun
Motivation is defined as the reason or reasons that initiates and guides someone to act, behave or strive to do something that in a particular way.
Motivation can come from anywhere and usually consists of being something inspirational and often time’s goal oriented.
In everyday living motivation is described as the reason someone does something. It is what guides and leads us through our lives. It determines why we act and behave towards activities.
If we can find the right motivation in a way we have the ability to do whatever it is the motivation is directed towards.
Motivation is determined by both internal and external factors that stimulate a certain desire and energy in a person.
Motivation comes from: the intensity of a need or desire, the reward or incentive of an action, and also can come from the expectations a person has on their self or from those that surround them.
Learning Disabilities
Mood Disorders
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Mood Disorders
Mood disorders
/mood/ /dis·or·der/
n. Noun
A temporary state of mind, emotion or feeling involved with the disruption of normal, physical or mental functions: a disease or abnormal condition.
Mood disorders are the disturbances in a person’s mood. Commonly included are symptoms such as a decreased or loss of interest in almost all activities, a loss of self-confidence including the feeling of worthlessness, experience alternating emotions and tendencies.
There is a lot of misunderstandings concerned with mood disorders, however, are likely the cause of a chemical imbalance in the brain known as neurotransmitters. Mood disorders can occur in anyone at any age, but usually the cause of mood disorders can be related to a medical condition, from substance abuse, through life events or other causes.
Mood disorders can occur in anyone at any age. They may seem uncontrollable but can be helped and sometimes controlled through the involved meant with treatment centers.
Relational Issues
Risky/Harmful Sexual Behaviors
School Avoidance or Failure
Self-Esteem Issues
Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI)
Troubled Youth
Gender Identity Struggles
Behavior Issues
Adoption issues
Anger Issues
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Anger issues
Anger issues
/ an·ger/ / is·sue/
Anger issues can be classified as either a personal problem or also an emotional disorder through a strong feeling of annoyance, displeasure or hostility.
Anger can be the cause of many different situations and events. Feeling anger is a normal emotion that people feel in many ways. However, there comes a point where the feeling of anger in a person can become a problem. When anger becomes uncontrollable or is very frequent, it can cause different problems.
In the process of trying to correct anger disorders, a person can become involved in other problems as well. Problems such as eating disorders, depression, and risky behavior like refusing to go to school, becoming isolated, harming others or even substance abuse. These things may seem to remove focus from the anger issues but are greater issues in themselves.
It is important that as you discover signs of anger issues that you find the right help immediately through the help of counseling, therapy, or other related treatment programs.
Anxiety
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Anxiety
anx·i·ety
n.noun
Merriam- Webster dictionary defines anxiety as: : an abnormal and overwhelming sense of apprehension and fear often marked by physiological signs (as sweating, tension, and increased pulse), by doubt concerning the reality and nature of the threat, and by self-doubt about one’s capacity to cope with it
Anxiety is a very common ailment that almost everyone experiences on an almost daily basis. However, anxiety effects some more than others and can cause severe emotional distress that is too much for an individual to handle.
When anxiety plagues an individual so severely that it becomes a disorder, it is crucial that this individual receives therapeutic and emotional restoration in the form of psychological and therapeutic assistance.
Teens who experience abnormal amounts of anxiety, tend to self medicate with intoxicants such as drugs and alcohol. When negative, self medication takes place, teens are at great risk of developing harmful coping mechanisms that may be life-long lasting.
Anxiety
/anx.i.e.ty/
n.Noun
Anxiety is defined as the state of uneasiness or tension caused by the feeling of worry or nervousness caused by apprehension of possibilities of the future.
Anxiety is a common emotional trait that many people face. It affects our actions and can prevent us from making decisions. Usually anxiety holds us back from the types of things that are outgoing or out of our comfort zone and it brings fear.
Anxiety is a normal experience for most people and is a normal part of life. However, when the anxiety reaches the level of a disorder then it can be dangerous. This would include an intense, extensive, excessive and persistent worry or fear. Another factor that is caused by an anxiety disorder can be anxiety, fear, or terror attacks when the intensity of anxiety becomes very high. Types of anxiety disorders can include: social anxiety, separation anxiety and many different phobias etc.
There are several reasons therapeutic programs help teens change their thinking and behavior. Here are some of the top reasons.
Sometimes your child gets into a behavior rut. Maybe they are having a personal conflict with you and are struggling to alter their responses. Maybe your teen is surrounded by friends and peers
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Peers
Peers
/peer/
Peers are the people of which a person associates.
Peers have a strong influence on person’s thoughts, actions, and will also play a key part in how a person develops and will determine who a person will become. Peers always have an influence but occur especially in a person’s youth.
Parents should make it a priority to inform children of how important their peer group is on them. Discussions about this topic can help to prevent children from choosing friends that could lead them down dangerous paths.
Peers who involve themselves in negative behaviors will begin to oppose school and parents and can also influence others in the peer group to do the same. It is important to support the finding of positively influential peers for children.
However, peers can also help uplift others to strive to become better and want success. Those are the peers you should surround yourself with and also your children.
that are egging the behavior on. Whatever it is, removing them entirely from their norm often results in a kind of fresh start.
Your teen will be able to almost look at his or her life with an outside perspective. Once they start to recognize the serious and harmful behaviors, they settle in and are able to truly examine their life choices before coming to the program.
They aren’t just surrounded by parents, teachers and mentors, but mental professionals. Of course, the adults in your teen’s life care deeply for them right now, but they probably aren’t trained to handle the problematic thinking or manipulation that can occur with troubled teens
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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.
. Our professionals have pretty much seen it all.
With expert help and guidance, they will be able to learn how to control their problematic behaviors. Whether they are hurting others or hurting themselves right now, they will be able to see their destructive behaviors for what they are and make the changes needed to live a healthy life.
At home, there are so many distractions. Even if you do already have your teen in therapy
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Therapy
n.noun
ther·a·py
Therapy is a treatment intended to relieve or heal a disorder or disease. Therapy generally consists of two kinds: medical and psychotherapy. Medical therapies treat diseases of the human body such as cancer. Psychotherapies treat the mind of therapeutically or emotionally damaged individuals.
Different Types of Psychotherapy:
– Psychoanalytic Therapy
– Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy
– Group Therapy
– Behavior modification
– Biofeedback
– Collaborative therapy
– Family therapy
– Marriage counseling
– Music therapy
– Parent management training
– Relationship counseling
– Social Therapy
– Systemic therapy
– Therapeutic community
– Twelve-step programs
– Wilderness therapy
Therapy for troubled teens has become an increasingly popular opportunity for troubled adolescents today. Therapies are offered at many services for troubled teens such as, wilderness therapy programs, residential treatment programs and boarding schools for troubled youth. The most effective type of therapy greatly depends on the individual teen and what psychological and emotional issues the particular adolescent struggles with.
, seeing a professional once or twice a week just isn’t cutting it at this point. You need continual care and support
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Support
Support
/ sup·port/
n. Noun
Support is defined as the act or instance of supporting; serve as a foundation for something else.
Support can be given to many different ways. Through the encouragement to perform and progress and also through being there for someone who needs help. Support is usually shown through family and peers but can come from anywhere from support centers, rehab centers, and treatment centers.
Without a support, confidence would be very difficult to find. Support is key to getting through trials and problems. The ability to have someone that is supporting you and encouraging you to move forward and progress is important to growth and change. Especially with youth, that as they are trying to find out who they are that they feel supported in all of their doings. This is important because as support and encouragement is shown the youth feel confident to become the best they can be.
for your teen until they are able to start doing the work on their own. The daily, focused work is going to give them the intensive shift they need to alter their current path.
Your teen didn’t get into this place overnight. It is going to take time and focused learning to change how they are approaching life. The teams at behavioral health facilities all work together to provide your teen with an ongoing treatment program that covers all its bases. This is simply impossible to achieve in normal life and requires a major overhaul.
If your child is a danger to themselves or others with their behavior, it’s crucial they have monitoring until that behavior stops. With a residential program, teens are often monitored according to their need and behavior severity. Some kids end up on 24-7 lockdown until they are no longer a serious suicide threat to themselves. Other kids have almost complete autonomy and privacy as they work through the upper levels of the behavioral programs.
From cameras all over the facility to guards to enforce violations, many programs are highly equipped to stop a teen. They are equipped to make your kid follow the rules and work through the program. They are trained to stop runaways, fights or teens trying to self-harm. At home, you simply can’t monitor 24-7 to ensure the safety of your teen.
You might be concerned that being surrounded by other troubled teens could make it harder for your teen to change. However, it’s quite the opposite. Your teen may feel isolated by peers who “have it all together,” pushing him or her toward the outliers and troubled kids. When your teen is in a therapeutic program, the teens they are surrounded with are all at different points of recognizing their troubled behavior and working through it.
Your teen will be able to make connections with teens that are in similar places of getting help. This means your teen will be able to see the step-by-step changes it takes to get to a healthier and more responsible place in life. It is often very helpful for kids to be in this place and realize they aren’t the only ones struggling.
You will be a big part of ensuring the therapeutic program is a success. Support your child through treatment:
Show Up
Commit to the Program
Stick with the Program Duration
Look for Opportunities to Join Sessions
Stay Consistent
Follow Professional Recommendations
Listen to Your Teen
Always consider the treatment and ask the professionals what they would advise for your teen. The length of time, cost, level of support and intensity of the program are all going to affect your choice and what would be best for your teen. There are a lot of different options for therapeutic programs out there to fit different needs. Here at Zion Educational Systems, we can help you make a decision if you want to talk to one of our experts.
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