Homes for Troubled Teens: Therapeutic and Residential
For troubled teens who are struggling with drug abuse,
depression or other serious issues, residential treatment
centers that offer therapy-based solutions might be the best
option. Residential treatment centers usually have a complete
psychiatric staff available to monitor each troubled teen
closely and provide therapy in addition to a curriculum of
academics, exercise and personal development. Programs, which
provide 24-hour supervision, structure and treatment, usually
last from three to six months, although teens can attend for a
longer period of time if necessary. These programs also work
with families to identify issues in the home and address them so
that teens have a supportive, structured home to return to after
treatment.
There are three main types of residential treatment centers:
therapeutic treatment programs, residential drug treatment
centers, and combination residential-treatment programs. Each is
geared toward helping troubled teens address and conquer a
specific problem or multiple problems. Therapeutic treatment
programs assist teens with psychiatric issues or suicidal
tendencies, residential drug treatment centers offer specific
help for substance abuse or addiction, and combination
residential treatment programs address both psychiatric and drug
abuse issues.
Although residential treatment centers generally have a high
success rate in comparison to other programs, the biggest
drawback to this type of placement is usually the cost. They can
start at $3,000-$4,000 per month go as high as $8,000 per month,
depending on the services offered. Unlike most programs,
however, some insurance companies will pay partial tuition for
residential treatment centers, although they usually must be
accredited programs.
For parents who are interested in a residential treatment center
for their troubled teen, there are several things to look for,
including a program's verifiable statistics showing success
rates, aftercare services once the teen leaves the center,
therapy provided to address a teen's specific issues. Other
concerns include verifying that a program is licensed; this may
affect whether an insurance companies will assist with the cost
of tuition. Finally, confirm whether the staff is properly
licensed and trained and whether there are medical doctors on
staff.
A teen in crisis has a dramatic and negative impact on the whole
family, but parents who act proactively to seek the appropriate
treatment for their troubled teen will realize that lasting
solutions are available and can salvage and even strengthen the
relationship between parent and teen.