Troubled Teen Help Directory

Home > Boot Camps

Find out if boot camp, military school, or other residential treatment programs are right for your teen. Children with behavior issues, academic problems or emotional concerns may prosper in a structured environment and learn to control their anger, deal with their moods, and respect others.

Categories

• Boot Camp Alternatives
• Boot Camps by State
• Research on Boot Camps

Links

• Boot Camps Info

  Juvenile boot camps rose in popularity during the 1990s, but these prison-type environments might not be the best choice for teens who may have emotional or behavioral problems.

• At Risk Youth

  At Risk Youth strives to provide troubled adolescents and their parents with valuable information pertaining to issues that face todays youth. This site includes information about adolescents and the issues that they may be struggling with, including substance abuse, defiance, violence, weight management, learning disabilities, eating disorders, and other behavioral and emotional issues. At Risk Youth strives to provide parents with advice about effective treatment options.

• Boot Camps Don't Work - Does Wilderness Therapy?

  A study out of the University of Idaho has shown these types of wilderness therapy interventions to be highly effective, even at a 1-year follow-up. Evaluate the full report of this independent study for more information about the effectiveness of outdoor therapy.

• How Can I Send My Child Away?

  Many parents struggle with the decision of sending their child away to get help. Sometimes you might start to second-guess yourself, feeling guilty or fearful that you're just trying to get rid of the problem temporarily and that your child might hate you for it. Most parents feel that sending their child away to get treatment is an extreme move and usually don't come to make such a decision until after all other alternatives have failed.

• Information About Overseas Programs

  In almost every region of the world, there are facilities for the treatment of minor children with drug/alcohol and/or discipline problems. These private and state-owned overseas treatment centers can often be characterized as "Behavior Modification Facilities" and are not regulated by the U.S. Department of State.

• National Youth Network

  Since 1990 the National Youth Network (initially known as the Western Youth Network) has been helping parents and professionals alike in providing education and information regarding programs and services for underachieving youth. Their wide range of services include self help online information, assessments, directories, and telephonic assessments with a masters level clinician. They hope that you find the right program for your child.

• What's A Boot Camp?

  Boot camps are short-term versions of military-style programs, usually largely physical in nature with very little if any therapy. Many boot camps have earned bad reputations because of harsh physical requirements.

• Wilderness Programs Info

  Wilderness Programs, also known as Outdoor Therapy Programs, emphasize therapy and positive behavioral change over discipline. While students must follow strict guidelines to ensure the safety of all participants, nature serves as the ultimate teacher. Troubled teens are particularly impacted by the realization that the wilderness cannot be manipulated by them. These programs have proven to be highly effective in dealing with issues such as oppositional defiant disorder, ADHD-related behavioral struggles, and substance abuse problems.