It’s hard for parents having to deal with troubled teens. It takes a lot of effort to help a troubled teen, and finding a school that can address your needs can drastically change your life. A good example is finding a therapeutic school that offers therapy and an academic program that is designed to help with behavior modification and other needs. Most of these therapeutic schools are located in the countryside, away from the bustle of the city. Most of its activities cannot be experienced in ordinary schools. These are just some examples.

Many therapeutic boarding schools live outdoors for a time at camp that gives teens a different set of challenges than they are used to. They are also introduced to responsibilities and introduced to concepts and situations that teach them how important personal responsibility and self-advocacy are. They also learn to do something constructive with their time and not waste it on TV, the Internet, video games, or hanging out with their friends.

Nature is a huge aspect in what makes such schools effective. There is something in nature that soothes the soul and puts things in perspective. In nature, you realize that all your basic needs can be met if you do your part. Nature is a good teacher of consequences and the value of work. If you don’t set up your tent, you get wet when it rains or you get cold when night falls. If you don’t make a fire, you can’t cook. Throwing a tantrum won’t stop the rain, but you can decide to cope and get over it.

These schools have activities that help young people find inner peace. They live in an environment where it is safe to embrace this peace and accept the kindness, love, and support of the people around them. Troubled teens see that other teens struggle, too, and that overcoming these challenges is not impossible. Most therapeutic schools also use animal therapy to help young people discover the satisfaction of caring for another creature.

Behavior modification therapy may also be part of the programs at these schools. In such therapies, each adolescent’s behavior is examined and adolescents learn through activities what consequences they face for their behaviors.

Beyond the daily academic demands of these schools, what sets them apart is the individual therapy that each one undergoes, according to their needs. There is no clear program that can be applied to all people. Each person is unique and has unique needs. In response to this, therapeutic schools strive to offer individualized treatment programs for each student, as well as group therapy sessions to harness the positive power of socialization. These schools definitely provide something that conventional education cannot, with the current education system as it is. Of course, not every teen is a good fit for a therapeutic boarding school, but for most troubled teens, boarding schools are good stepping stones to reintegration into high school or college.