If you’re like many parents we speak with, you’re probably wondering “what is a therapeutic boarding school, and should I consider one for my child?”
Therapeutic boarding schools are alternative schools that specialize in educating and helping troubled teens and adolescents with a wide range of behavioral, emotional, and cognitive challenges not addressed in traditional schools. In addition to offering classes, therapeutic boarding schools typically provide several psychological and therapeutic counseling services designed to help your child tackle their deeper issues and open their eyes and minds to a more positive, pleasant way of living and dealing with life problems.
With 1 in 5 adolescents suffering from at least one mental health disorder, therapeutic boarding schools are quickly proving to be the most effective alternative schooling of choice for many troubled or struggling teens.
Comparing Behavioral Boarding Schools and Military Schools
Until recently it was widely accepted that the best place for troubled youth was a military school. This, however, is not the case for a number of reasons. Military schools follow a highly selective enrollment process, accepting only the most determined, willing, and able individuals. These individuals are focused, competitive, and extremely driven individuals seeking a rigorous education not offered by traditional public or private institutions. What’s more, military schools don’t accept individuals with mental health issues, and those who get in who do have behavioral issues are often expelled for violating even the smallest of behavioral codes of conduct.
Therapeutic boarding schools, on the other hand, center their entire mission around addressing each student’s cognitive, emotional, or behavioral health issues through specialized academic programs and therapies shown to be the most successful among troubled teens. These therapies include individual, group, and family sessions, cognitive behavioral therapy, equine therapy, and more.
How to Know Who Should Attend a Therapeutic Boarding School
Students often attend therapeutic boarding schools to work on their psychological, substance abuse, emotional, or behavioral issues. While residential programs are an option, therapeutic boarding schools help eliminate the negative environment that played a part in your teens dangerous or unhealthy lifestyle, whether it be drugs, abuse, or negative influences. Therapeutic boarding schools are a great option for students in need of structure in a safe, comforting environment where they can positively work through their problems.
The ideal candidates for a therapeutic boarding school are teens faced with any number of mental, emotional, or behavioral issues, including, but not limited to:
Depression
Anxiety
Anger Problems
Substance abuse
Academic struggles
ADHD
Conduct Disorder
Lying or Deception
Criminal Behavior
Eating Disorders
Choosing a Therapeutic Boarding School
Over the last decade, many new adolescent therapeutic programs have been created to meet the needs of struggling youth. From therapeutic boarding schools for boys, therapeutic boarding high schools for teens with learning disabilities, and even religion-based and non-denominational therapeutic schools, some of these institutions will fit the needs of your son or daughter better than others. For this reason, there are several important questions to consider before sending your child off to a therapeutic boarding school.
Questions to Consider When Choosing A Therapeutic Boarding School
Where is the school located? Can you drive, or will you need to fly?
Is the school co-ed or single-sex? (Would your child thrive in a therapeutic boarding school for girls, boys, or a co-ed therapeutic high school?)
What is the cost of tuition?
Is the school accredited? (Wwill a college accept a diploma from this school?)
What is the quality of education? (Is there a larger focus on education over therapy? Vice Versa?)
What types of therapy will your child be exposed to?
How Morgan Guidance Can Help
Whether you’re a parent with an early concern that something isn’t right or a pressing concern regarding your child’s safety, health, and wellbeing, the trained educational consultants at Morgan Guidance are here to help you find the best solution for your family. We’ll work with you to create a clear and defined path for your son or daughter’s treatment, and with our therapeutic and educational services, you’ll find the support your family needs to conquer these difficult times for a healthy, positive future for your child.
Contact us today to learn more about how our services can help put your child on the path they deserve.
