What do you think of when you think of a disciplinary school? You may picture harsh methods of discipline, rigid rules, and children who are afraid to break those strict rules. While this may have been the case in the past, today, a disciplinary school typically takes a different approach.

The primary goal of any disciplinary school is to ensure the student’s well-being, no matter why they attend this type of school.

Learning more about what a disciplinary school is and how its goals may align with yours for your teenager may help you to make the right decision for your family.

The foundations of a disciplinary school

Try as you might to discipline your teen; you may find yourself with a rebellious and argumentative young person living under your roof. They may be struggling at school or skipping school altogether.

They may be angry, aggressive, running away, using and abusing drugs or alcohol, and the list could go on. They could be at risk of being expelled from school or getting in trouble with the law.

At this point, changing your approach to disciplining your teen can make a world of difference. That’s where a disciplinary school can come in. While you may picture something similar to a military school or boot camp, the reality is different.

The focus of a disciplinary school will often include the following.

• The safety of the child or teen at all times.
• A structured environment where the teen knows what to expect and what is expected of them.
• Therapy and other healing treatments to help teens break from those rebellious mindsets and return to one that is more productive and healthier for them.
• Support learning how to cope with stress and societal concerns in healthy ways once they return home.

The school may offer a range of programs and treatment solutions that can be used to help teens who may have lost their way a bit.

The benefits of a disciplinary school

One of the most important benefits to consider is that a new school and a new environment can offer a struggling teen a fresh start. Your teen may be unable to break free from his current mindset and those negative influences. They will still be there when he goes home, but after learning effective and healthy coping strategies, your teen will be better positioned to handle them.

Another consideration is that your teen may be struggling with a mental health concern that needs more treatment and care than they can get in outpatient therapy. Outpatient therapy is incredibly beneficial and strongly encouraged once teens return home.

But in some cases, teens can see better results from more focused therapy while they are in a new environment that’s free from the stressors they may have been struggling with.

What can a disciplinary school help with?

When you have struggled with your teen, you may feel very alone. Your family and friends may not face the same challenges with their teens, which could make you feel further isolated. A disciplinary school will connect you with professionals who understand what you’re struggling with and how your teen is struggling.

Some of the concerns that a disciplinary school can address include the following.

• Academic concerns may include attendance problems, grades that have slipped, or poor behavior in the classroom and on campus.
• Substance abuse, which could include alcohol or drugs.
• Problems with anger and angry outbursts.
• Deceptive behavioral problems.
• Behavioral disorders, which may include oppositional defiance disorder and ADHD.

This is, of course, a partial list of the concerns that a disciplinary school can help you and your teen work through.

What approaches do disciplinary schools take?

Disciplinary schools don’t take a militaristic approach to their students despite their names. They will ensure that structure is there for teens who aren’t perhaps the best at sticking with boundaries and household rules.

This structure may include ensuring that they take ownership of things like taking care of their bedroom, making their bed, doing their laundry, and perhaps even preparing their meals with others.

Other approaches may include the following.

• Therapeutic solutions that include individual therapy sessions, group sessions with other students, and family therapy. Involving the family is an integral part of treatment so everyone can learn the best ways to communicate and live together with healthy strategies.
• Educational focus. Many teens who could benefit from attending a disciplinary school have fallen behind at school. This could be for any number of reasons related or unrelated to their behavior. They’ll be offered the time they need to catch up at a disciplinary school and possibly even get ahead.
• Teambuilding and leadership skills. These critical skills can stand anyone in good stead as they go out into the world. Each teen’s strengths will be encouraged to shine at a disciplinary school. This can also help build some of the confidence your teen may have been struggling to find.
• Recovery programs. Teens using and abusing drugs and alcohol can get the proper treatment and recovery program to meet their needs. This may include peer recovery groups so they can get support from other teens.

Structure, security, and concern for your teen’s mental, physical, and emotional well-being will always be at the forefront of the professionals caring for your teen at a disciplinary school. It’s not an easy decision to send your teen to a new school, particularly when they won’t be living under your roof for much of the school year.

While disciplinary schools are not suitable for every family, they offer incredible benefits and results for teens and families who have been facing struggles and are in crisis.

At HelpYourTeenNow, we can pair parents and troubled teens with the resources that they need when they need it the most. Getting the correct type of help is crucial to ensuring that your teen can get their life back on track.