Understanding Therapeutic Programs and Schools
March 25, 2010 at 4:40 pm 6 comments
What really happens in a therapeutic school or program, and what kinds of kids go there? And how does one know which program will be right for a particular child/student’s needs? Getting the answer to those questions was the focus of my most recent trip to Utah where I saw 31 programs in just 10 days. There is so much to report on that I will break it up into smaller postings. Even if you have a dream child and think this isn’t for you, maybe you have a relative, or a friend’s child, who needs help and support. Feel free to share this information with them, or have them contact me.
There are therapeutic schools and programs throughout the United States, but the biggest concentration of them is in the West, and Utah has over 100 of them. So on March 14, I set off with two other educational consultants and friends of mine, May Peach and Louise Slater, of Columbia, South Carolina, to see as much as we could from north to south, east to west in the state of Utah. We undertook this venture because we refer kids to these programs, and there is nothing like a site visit to get a clearer understanding of what each one has to offer that is unique. Some of the places we visited run awesome programs, while others will not be places we refer to any time soon.
What kinds of kids are served? I often hear parents tell me “I don’t want my kid with THOSE kids.” But “THOSE” kids are just like any other – they need to be loved, accepted, and healed of the emotional distress that has caused them to “act out” or “turn inward”. These emotional and/or behavioral issues have caused them, their families, and their friends a lot of pain. The symptoms of distress may be school failure or avoidance, risky behavior, disrespect, oppositional defiance, experimenting with drugs and alcohol, anger management, or a whole host of other manifestations. Some kids turn inward and don’t act out, and those issues are also alarming. Depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, eating disorders, etc, are also symptoms of inner turmoil but may be better hidden if the child withdraws and is not aggressive. Many of these kids are also coping with trauma and attachment issues, or need help to understand how to form close, loving, healthy, and positive relationships.
The good news is that there are many skilled professionals (clinical psychologists, social workers, psychiatrists, therapists, etc.) who understand and dedicate their lives to these young people. Through therapy, they help kids confront their issues, accept responsibility for their actions, learn healthy coping mechanisms, and build skills for emotional well-being for the rest of their lives. In short, they help these young people to get their lives back. Each program has a slightly different niche of student they work with, so it’s important for me as a consultant to understand how to best match the child with the therapeutic
The dog and pony show at a therapeutic school
In my next postings, I will talk about the difference between types of programs, and let you hear from incredibly courageous kids about what they’ve learned along their own journeys. Stay tuned!
Entry filed under: Struggling teens, Uncategorized. Tags: drug and alcohol addiction, educational consultants, international educational consultants, residential treatment centers, Struggling teens, therapeutic boarding school, therapeutic programs, therapeutic schools, troubled teens, wilderness.
1.
Judy | March 25, 2010 at 4:57 pm
Is there any reason why there are so many of these schools in the West and Utah in particular? Is that because there’s a local need?
2.
beckygrappo | March 25, 2010 at 5:30 pm
I think there are several reasons, and other readers may also want to comment. First of all, there is more land out west and many of these programs integrate outdoor and recreational activities into the therapeutic process. These kids are not locked up all day, every day – they often go out hiking, skiing, snowboarding, rock climbing, etc, or work with horses in equine therapy on ranches. When they are out and about with therapists, every moment has the potential to teach a life lesson when led by someone trained in outdoor or recreational therapy.
This is entirely anecdotal, but from all the people I have talked to, it seems there is a strong tradition of social work and helping others in western communities, too. The foundation of a good program is about healthy relationships, so the communities the therapists themselves come from seem to reinforce that. And then I think a culture of therapeutic schools and programs has arisen, and many new programs are started by people who have worked in other programs and dreamed of doing something on their own one day. So they already have roots in the west. Those are my theories. Anyone else have any ideas?
3.
beckygrappo | March 25, 2010 at 6:58 pm
Lon, I was hoping you would jump in here! Thanks so much!
4.
Lon Woodbury | March 25, 2010 at 6:49 pm
Another theory I’ve often heard is that these western rural states have an orientation toward parent rights and responsibilities, as opposed to some states which have developed extensive children rights that interferes with parents exercising their responsibilities. One example is in the state of Washington, a child cannot be placed in a program without their permission after the age of 13. This can have tragic consequences when a child lacks any sense of responsibility or consequences.
Lon
5.
Claire Law | March 26, 2010 at 1:59 am
Hey Becky
wonderful to hear you visited special needs programs in UT. I always enjoy visiting the UT mountains – they are the healing site for many teens. All the best, Claire
6.
Louise Slater | April 9, 2010 at 6:21 pm
There is something healing about getting “unplugged” from ipods, cell phones, and computers (here we are on a bog!) and quieting one’s mind to listen to one’s own internal dialog. One of the western schools we refer to told us that some adolescents are so closely aligned and defined by their peer group that if you ask a young person, how are you doing?, he or she will tell you, “I don’t know, let me check in with my peers to see.” Part of the beauty of the wide expanses of the west and some of the remnants of native american cultures is a respect for solitude, slowing down, and focusing inward, rather than outward. Many of our troubled young people really do have difficulty telling you anything at all about who they are. They have taken little time to reflect and be in the present and cannot tell you much at all about what they are like or where they are going. The beautiful, breath-taking scenery is a feast for eyes and is certainly a change of pace for most kids.
May and I had a great time getting to know Becky better on this long, grueling, but fun tour of Utah. We all share a love for helping kids and finding out what makes them special.