Therapy isn’t working. The medication only seems to improve some of the symptoms, not the overall behaviors. The school is threatening expulsion, the police know the names of your family by heart and you are at your wits end.

Dealing with a troubled teenage boy is extremely stressful and disheartening. Just when you think progress is being made, another emergency pops up to test you all over again. What can you do?

A therapeutic boarding school is often the answer because it offers not only assistance on the academic side, but intensive therapy that addresses the core emotional causes that lead to the behaviors in the first place.

If you have been considering enrolling your son into a boarding school, here are some things you need.

A Recommendation – You want to make sure the school you choose is the best possible option for your child, so recommendations are important. Look for a school within the country that is certified and licensed by the Board of Education. Find out what other parents have experienced with their sons at the school.

A List of Goals – What is it you hope to accomplish by sending your son to a boarding school? Is it to offer a secure environment? Improve their grades? Deal with the intense emotional issues that have been impacting their lives? How long do you intense them to stay (the average stay is 12 – 18 months)? You can work with the school and your teen to come up with a set of realistic goals that can help them once they leave the boarding school and rejoin their peers.

Financial Planning – One of the biggest struggles for many families is paying for a therapeutic boarding school. Education loans are offered from most banks and credit unions and in some cases insurance could offset some of the costs if the institution chosen is listed as a residential treatment center. Most schools have payment plans and schedules as well. Board, food and education costs are included in tuition. Be sure to ask for a full breakdown before enrolling your child.

Student Records – Like any school, student records are needed at the time of enrollment. You will have to provide copies of your child’s birth certificate, immunization records, medical records and school records. In some cases they may need legal records in order to work with your child on that specific issue.

Find out more at Help Your Teen Now.