According to statistics released from the U.S. Department of Education, about 55 million students were enrolled in school across the nation in the fall of 2015. Of those, an estimated 50.1 million attended public schools, while 4.9 million opted for private school. Some private schools specifically serve the needs of struggling adolescents. The following guidelines will give you an idea of what to look for if you want to send your son to a private school for troubled teens in Utah.

A Strong Academic Program

You want a therapeutic boarding school that offers a strong academic program so that your son can make the most of his scholastic abilities and lead a productive life once he finishes school. Troubled boys often attend a private school in order to catch up on their studies. Your son might be behind in their academics, which affects his overall morale and self-worth.

Liahona Academy assumes that students will attend upper education once they complete high school. A private school needs to place a strong emphasis on academics, and all credits transfer to a public high school. One of the methods we use is small class sizes with a self-paced approach. Certified teachers help students both in class and via tutoring when necessary.

Therapy to Meet Your Son’s Needs

Instead of putting your son in a box and using the same approach on everyone, we offer personalized therapy to meet the needs of each boy, according to his individual issues. Treatment includes individual and group therapy along with a team approach that involves five staff professionals who have spent time with your son and who understand what makes him tick. Each professional brings a unique dynamic and perspective to your son’s case, and the team works together in the best interests of your child. Individual therapy affords your son privacy to address personal matters while group therapy deals with common issues that several boys might face.

Service Through Experiential Therapy

Experiential therapy, also offered through a team approach, offers hands-on involvement for boys, especially with volunteering and leadership. Experiential therapy helps in the following ways:

• Modeling communication skills
• Teaching problem-solving strategies
• Establishing integrity and
• Addressing behavioral and emotional issues.

Group participation means that no one is left out of the restoration process as the teens actively engage in the program.

Recreation Therapy and Physical Activity

Teen boys need to stay physically active in order to burn off energy. Healthy and competitive fun benefits them in many ways. Physical activity helps their bodies function better, aids in digestion, helps them burn calories and improves their sleep patterns. If they are bored, they can easily find negative distractions or influences to fill the void. Instead, in addition to chores, we offer the following activities:

• Water and snow skiing
• Camping
• Swimming
• Weightlifting
• Bowling
• Softball
• Basketball
• Hiking
• Football and
• Many more.

At the same time, we teach the boys proper nutrition and exercise so that their bodies function at the optimum level.