Skills That Your Troubled Son Will Learn In A Therapeutic Boarding School

To say that the teen years can be challenging is more than an understatement. Before sending our children out into the world as well-adjusted adults, they should be equipped to deal with the challenges that life will throw at them. The teen years are often the best time for them to learn these vital skills and coping tools. However, troubled teens may struggle more than some of their peers do. Troubled teens may find that they are spending more of their time trying to overcome abuse from bullies, issues at home, or mental wellness concerns. If your teen appears to be spending more time struggling with mental health or substance abuse, you should consider getting them the right type of focused treatment. A therapeutic boarding school can offer an opportunity to refocus and learn those all-important skills your son needs in his future. Just what might those skills be? How can they benefit troubled boys as they learn more about what it means to be a young adult?

The benefits of a therapeutic boarding school

At a therapeutic boarding school, your troubled teen will be treated by trained counselors who specialize in therapeutic techniques to help troubled boys find their way back. An individualized plan will be made for every teen, focusing on equipping them with the tools needed to find success. Many teens will see their treatment plans and techniques focused on working through a struggle with mental health and addiction. However, learning life and coping skills that can stand them in good as they embark on their future can be priceless. Without learning these life skills and learning how to best implement them, many teens can fall victim to peer pressure, a lack of confidence, and learning on negative coping skills. With a positive focus, the counselors working with your teen will help them to learn the skills that they need to thrive as they approach adulthood. Each teen will learn valuable skills and responsibilities through individual counseling, group counseling, or other activities.

Effective communication skills

Communication skills are incredibly useful. They go so much further than just being able to speak with those around us. Effective communication allows us to connect better and to work through concerns in healthy ways. By engaging in team-building exercises and activities, your troubled teen will learn how to communicate better. These effective communication skills can reduce conflicts that are sure to arise within peer group settings and improve the overall interpersonal relationships teens have with each other and adults. Effective communication can also help troubled teens to see an improvement in family relationships, boosted school performance, and help them to demonstrate empathy.

Using their voice

As a parent who may have been on the receiving end of some angry words from your troubled boy, you may think that they have no problem finding and using their voice. It is important to remember that your child is more likely to use their voice with some choice words when it is someone that they know is a safe space for them. Outside of the family bubble and safe space, your troubled teen may be struggling to be seen, heard, and understood. Many may also be facing issues with bullies. Through individual and group therapy, along with other activities, your teen can find his voice and learn to express himself in healthy ways.

Learning to be a team player

There is nothing wrong with being an introverted lone wolf. For many of us, that alone time is an important part of unwinding and relaxing. That said, learning how to be a team player is an incredibly valuable life skill for a troubled teen to learn. This is where those newfound communication skills can prove to be useful. Whether through team-building exercises or other activities that encourage working together, your troubled boy can learn how to work well with others. He may even start to find his leadership skills breaking to the surface.

Following the rules, having a positive attitude

It’s almost expected that teens will rebel against at least some of the rules set by their parents and by others. However, learning the importance of rules and why they are there can help your troubled teen recognize why he needs to abide by them. Having a free spirit and being an independent thinker can be an incredible gift for any one of us. These are qualities that will help your young adult to succeed in life. Learning how to use their independent thinking within the confines of important rules can be hugely beneficial. In the structured environment of a therapeutic boarding school, teens learn the rules and learn just why they need to comply with them. Surly attitudes and aggression are addressed through therapy that helps them to understand why they are feeling this way.

Hygiene, chores, and more

It can seem like good personal hygiene should be something that comes naturally to most of us. That’s not always true for some, particularly for troubled boys struggling with their mental wellness. They may also lack the skills needed to keep their surroundings neat and tidy. Teens can often have messy and cluttered bedrooms. Parents quite often know that’s just a part of living with an adolescent. However, those who live with depression, ADHD, and other conditions can have a complete disregard for their personal hygiene and the tidiness of their space. In a therapeutic boarding school, troubled teens learn how to take better care of their personal hygiene and learn how to keep things tidy. Chores that are for their benefit and the benefit of others can also be encouraged.

Emotional regulation

It’s challenging for even adults to learn how to control and regulate our emotions. This can be incredibly difficult for teens, particularly if they have mental health concerns or perhaps issues with drug or alcohol abuse. With the guidance of their counselors, teens can learn how to understand, process, and regulate how they are feeling. Learning how to handle emotional fluctuations can help to prevent a spiral that could result in anxiety, depression, angry outbursts, and negative coping mechanisms. Help your troubled son learn those all-important life skills with the help of professionals who will offer targeted treatment programs designed with his needs in mind. Reach out to Liahona Treatment Center to learn more about connecting with the therapeutic boarding school resources to help your teen.