Parental OptionsParental Options
Behavior Modification Schools
Designed to help children with behavior problems.Boot Camp Type Schools
Juvenile boot camps, teen boot camps, and boot camps for troubled teens are all terms associated with a military setting that includes uniforms, structure, and discipline.
Drug treatment programs and substance abuse treatment programs
In addition to the other types of programs and placement options discussed on this site there are other options, one of which is a drug treatment program or, specifically, a teen drug treatment program.
Frequently, there are local options for you to consider as well as choices a little further away from home. One source available in many states is Teen Anon. This type of help may be beneficial if you are dealing with a compliant and willing teen. If they are still in denial that they have a problem this option may prove to be "a waste of time."Troubled Youth Programs
Troubled youth programs, troubled teen programs, and defiant teen programs are all essentially the same. These types of placements are for children who have been expelled from school, experiencing minor legal troubles, minor substance abuse, and a myriad of other problems. The intent and hope is that there is something for a child who seems to be slipping through the cracks. The school system has limited resources to help with a defiant teen. The legal system is usually a "too little too late" type of option with placement in the juvenile system as the only recourse. A borderline adolescent put in the juvenile system will usually not fare very well. The end result is a child that comes home with disturbing new friends and better drug connections than they had when they left home. It is the goal of most parents to keep their child away from this rather than hurl them into the midst of it.
Residential Treatment CentersResidential treatment centers vary in what they offer. Many are geared to help youth and adults with some kind of psychiatric problem or substance abuse issue.
Residential Drug Treatment Centers
Specific help for substance abuse dependency or addiction.
Residential Treatment for Troubled Teens
Combination of the two categories above coupled with a structured daily schedule.
Therapeutic Boarding Schools
Residential placement for teens in need of therapy and counseling.
In seeking help for a defiant teen you will need to check with the facility you are researching to see if they are set up to deal with defiant patients. The cost for placement in a clinical setting is more than if you were to place your child in a behavior-modification program to deal with their defiant behavior. If the adolescent is reluctant to work with a counselor or therapist at home they usually will not be willing to talk to one in a residential setting either. There are advantages to paying the extra fee for a therapeutic placement for a troubled teen. If the teen should reach a point where they are willing to open up and talk about issues that may be at the core of their negative behavior, a trained person will be available to help them.
Many teens today talk about suicide. If a child has suicidal tendencies a therapeutic setting is definitely encouraged. The difficulty in placing this type of teen is to determine if they would be capable of causing harm to themselves. If an adolescent has made a serious attempt or is diagnosed as suicidal you will definitely want that child placed in a psychiatric facility or a competent residential treatment facility. This will assure that if they are suicidal they will be monitored closely. If the teen is simply using suicide as a "hot button" to get out of a difficult situation, or if they are using it to manipulate parents, a behavior modification placement may be appropriate. The best way to be sure if your teen might be in danger is to have them evaluated by a professional psychiatrist.It is not the intent of this site to provide psychiatric counseling or replace help that may be obtained from a qualified doctor. Our comments and text come from our experience in helping place teens in various types of programs and schools.
Don't Give Up. There is Hope.
We at Teen Options are here to help you find the most appropriate placement for your child; we have many schools to choose from. We also have a financial department to help you research what options will work best for you. Our programs boast in the neighborhood of an 85% success rate at helping troubled youth get straightened out. If your child has just started down the path of negative behavior, or if he or she has been on the wrong course for a long time, give us a call. Don't hesitate if your life is miserable trying to decide what to do. You are not alone. We can help.
