Therapeutic Boarding Schools for Troubled Teens

Therapeutic boarding schools focus on helping troubled teens by providing therapy and support to treat emotional, behavioral and learning problems that are interfering with their ability to succeed academically. This is a residential learning environment coupled with therapeutic support for teens whose struggles are causing poor school performance.

Therapeutic Boarding Schools for Teens Explained

The goal of therapeutic boarding schools is to directly address the problems that impair academic performance based on the belief that when these problems are addressed teens will achieve better academic results.

Individual, group and family therapy are provided within an academic environment to change acting out behavior and bring about personal growth in teens. These are highly supervised and structured programs with established times for classes, meals, therapy, recreational activities, homework, bedtime etc. In addition to teaching academics there is a therapeutic focus on teaching decision-making, social, problem solving and communication skills. As one school puts it, “students are constantly learning and acquiring important life tools.”

What You Need to Know About Therapeutic Boarding Schools

Therapeutic boarding schools deal with troubled teens by providing a curriculum that teaches academics while also addressing emotional and behavioral issues. They do so by providing services to include:
• Starting the program at any time of the year
• Completing a psychological evaluation in order to set up an individualized curriculum
• Teaching academic skills such as organizational and study skills
• Helping students get caught up with credits
• Providing a long term stay, typically 1-2 years
• Encouraging a positive peer culture
• Offering career planning assistance as appropriate

How Therapeutic Boarding Schools Differ from Residential Treatment Centers 

The differences between these two types of programs can be confusing. Basically - therapeutic boarding schools are best suited to offer supportive educational services within a therapeutic setting. The focus is primarily on academic achievement. In contrast, RTC programs focus primarily on therapeutic interventions and academic performance is secondary.

Additional Considerations
Therapeutic boarding schools are a good choice for troubled teens with a range of problems that are holding them back academically. This type of program should be considered when problems are long standing or when your teen hasn’t benefited from outpatient or shorter-term treatment options.
The specific programs vary considerably in terms of what they have to offer including the level of structure provided and the philosophy and approach they embrace. Make certain the program you choose offers a high level of family participation in order to help your teen successfully integrate back into the family after completing the program.