When I first heard of residential treatment and wilderness programs for teens the first thought that came to my head was abuse and the horror stories you see and read in the media today. I have now learned there are treatment centers for teens that are residential and actually care about your teen in a loving environment and have positive interventions in place to help with their care if they are struggling. They are not there to punish our teens but to help them learn that negative actions cause not so good consequences. I was not the best at following through with consequences, especially with a troubled teen.
Most teens that are sent to treatment centers are hurting due in part to some life experience. It is from this pain they have gone off track and learned negative ways of getting attention trying to numb the pain. This is where some may be confused in thinking their teen needs a “Juvenile Boot Camp” to set them straight. This is also how I have come to the conclusion that most teens are not “bad” but are in need of guidance and help, which our society does not do well, they only punish.
Lon Woodbury at StrugglingTeens.com has written a great essay A Juvenile Boot Camp Does Not Work. Even after I sent my son away, I would continue to read stories on the internet and have nightmares about him being abused or mistreated. As time has gone on, I have learned their is a difference and it is important to find “loving residential treatment” that will teach these youths in a positive environment and by example about the consequences of their negative actions. Amazingly it does work.
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Right said by Russell.. Wilderness therapy programs are one of those kind of programs that are very beneficial for turning a struggling teen to a normal teen. So it should be not misjudged or taken similar to as boot camp.
Therapeutic outdoor programs or therapeutic wilderness programs should not be confused with teen boot camps either. Wilderness programs are a great step toward getting teens ready for the next phase of treatment. Unplugging a teen from society and focusing those energies on oneself creates a positive environment for teens to deal with their issues. Wilderness therapy can be truly transformational when using the right program. When to choose/use a program can be a difficult decision for a family.