Programs for troubled youth exist to help these young people deal with the issues they are facing in life, and to help parents learn about how to best help their children through a turbulent phase. Finding the right program depends on what your child’s needs are, and finding a troubled youth program that will meet those needs.
Here is an example of a list of troubled youth programs that you may want to look into:
- Turning Winds Academy – A private therapeutic boarding school for troubled teens. Has a strong academic program to go with their therapeutic programs. Turning Winds Academy employs a credentialled and experienced clinical staff, with regular one-on-one therapy and counseling sessions. The program only admits a small group of teens to ensure that the student to staff ratio is low, and to ensure that each child receives more attention and focus. A highly-recommended institute that has a great balanced program for troubled young people. More information about their program here.
- Alpine Academy – This is a youth residential treatment center for girls aged 12-17. Treatment program uses a cognitive-behavioral approach and a different kinds of experiential therapy interventions.
- Aspen Institute – A residential treatment center open to both boys and girls. The typical duration of programs in the Aspen Institute is 4-6 weeks. The institute uses psychological and classroom assessments and psychiatric sessions to help teens. Families are also involved through following a roadmap through stages of treatment.
- Cedar Ridge – A therapeutic school specializing in young people who have depression, trauma, anxiety, ADD/ADHD, etc. The school is open for both girls and boys, with programs that run from 10-16 months.
- Center for Change – An inpatient and residential treatment center for girls only. The center only accepts up to 28 inpatients and 30 residents into their programs. Focuses mostly on teens with eating disorders.
- Family Foundation School – A coeducational therapeutic boarding school for children ages 12 to 18. Deals mostly with children who have problems with sexual promiscuity, ADHD, ODD, depression, trauma, and more.
- Family Life Center – A coeducational residential treatment center for students grades 7 to 12. Their program usually runs from 12 to 24 months and only admits up to 56 students at a time. Program includes family, group, and individual counseling. Therapy programs include arts therapy, wilderness therapy, and others.
- Wellspring Academy – a Coeducational specialized boarding school. Enrollment capacity is 70 students at a time, with programs starting from three months long and more. This specialized boarding school deals mostly with children who have weight problems.
It would be helpful to consult a counselor and ask about the needs of your child. You can ask how would be the best recommended length of stay for your child. If your child is diagnosed with a disorder such as ADD, BPD, ODD, and the likes, it’s best if you found out if the troubled youth program you want to sign up your child in has facilities and credentialled staff qualified to handle such cases.