When you have a teen who is dealing with behavioral and emotional issues, you might have tried numerous types of treatment, therapy and school support. If the situation is not improving, your family has likely been thrown into an upheaval as your son’s behavior is negatively affecting everyone in your home. In the meantime, you are at a loss when it comes to helping your struggling teen. You might consider the following options if you are uncertain of how to best help your son.

If you are ready to take drastic measures and to send your child away for help, you have three separate options: residential treatment, a wilderness program or a therapeutic boarding school. Each program has its advantages, but you might find therapeutic treatment at a school in Utah to be your best choice. Your son can address his behavioral issues and find the emotional support that he so desperately needs.

How a Therapeutic Boarding School Differs from Other Types of Placements

A therapeutic boarding school offers the best of residential treatment and a wilderness program without the disadvantages of either type of placement. Residential treatment isolates a specific issue and is usually a short-term plan. The facility will likely have medical professionals and clinicians on staff with a focus on the medical component instead of a therapeutic component. Wilderness therapy, also a short-term option, might not address the behavioral challenges that your son faces. Instead, he will spend from three to 12 weeks in the outdoors, learning how to survive with extremely limited resources and learning wilderness skills, such as how to start fires without matches. On the other hand, a therapeutic boarding school offers a long-term program where your son can attend school and receive the focused therapy that he needs with seasoned professionals who can help him during this stressful time. In addition, most of the programs rely heavily on parental involvement, and your input will be valued.

Addressing Co-Existing Conditions

In many cases, teens are dealing with co-existing conditions, including two or more of the following:

• Learning disabilities
• Anger
• Depression and anxiety
• Adoption
• Addiction
• Mental health issues
• Slipping grades and more.

The Role of an Educational Placement Specialist

An educational placement specialist offers his or her expertise in finding the therapeutic boarding school that’s right for you and your child. You don’t have time to wade through everything that’s online to find out if the claims on a website are true. This person is a professional who can sort through all of the hype and offer their objective opinion and provide you with specific information about each school. He or she usually has years of experience in dealing with therapeutic boarding schools and will personally visit the school and provide you with an expert recommendation about which school is best for you.