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Most often when it comes to helping a teen or young adult in crisis, time is of the essence. Parents can understandably become overwhelmed with questions about the right next steps for their struggling son. Where do we even start? Who do we talk to? What will we do about school? If this cannot be resolved at home, what type of setting will best equip him with the tools he needs? Let’s explore some considerations to help navigate a crisis with your child and what level of care may be appropriate.

When have we reached a breaking point? 

This is not a situation you anticipated, but this does not mean you are alone. The sheer number of treatment programs across the United States points to the dire need in helping young adults and teenagers. There are warning signs that your son may have underlying hurts that need to be addressed. Some may be more visible on the surface than others, but all could lead to a significant breaking point where something has to change. 

Your son may struggle with crippling anxiety or severe depressive episodes that leave him feeling hopeless about his future or causing him to isolate or self-harm. He may turn to abusing substances or participating in erratic / dangerous behavior. Chronic disrespect and changes to his friends, grades, and behavior at home become significant stressors that only magnify frustrations. Events like these can have a drastic impact on you and your child’s mental and emotional health.

Consistent structure is certainly a piece of the puzzle, but what setting gives your son the best opportunity to address these struggles? Therapeutic boarding schools are an option for teenagers who are showing signs of being in crisis and could potentially benefit from a change in environment. While a boarding school is certainly appropriate for some situations, we want to evaluate when this setting might not meet the needs of your child.

Boarding Schools for Troubled Teens. Is It A Good Fit?

We all want our children to succeed, but at what cost? If the issue appears to be his grades alone, then boarding school may truly be the best fit. However, we always encourage parents to evaluate what else may be impacting poor performance and/or behaviors. In our experience, there is almost always an underlying issue influencing the behaviors you see on the surface. There may come a point in time where you realize your son is not even capable of handling their day to day life, let alone their school work. If your son is overwhelmed with anxiety, experiencing severe depressive episodes, or abusing substances to avoid their emotional pain, they may be beyond the need of a more structured learning environment. They are in need of a concentrated therapy environment like a residential treatment center.

What about his education?

Some young men need the opportunity to address their struggles in a focused therapeutic environment with a trained professional. Schooling can still occur while attending residential treatment, but if your son is unable to cope with his daily struggles, addressing his mental health may need to supersede his school work. Early intervention is crucial at this stage. The sooner he addresses the underlying hurt, the sooner he starts on the path to healing.

“My teenage son is strong-willed. Nothing has worked. How will this be any different?”

A natural resistance to therapy and programs alike is normal. This resistance could be due to past unpleasant therapeutic experiences, the stigma around therapy and/or residential care, homesickness, anger at parents, or even the frustration of a new environment. To best help cope with this, we encourage the parents’ collaboration with the family’s therapist and support and encouragement of the residential program. 

Finally, if you are a clinician working with a family at a crossroads, see our blog on How Do I Know When My Client Needs a Residential Level of Care.

Capstone is a top rated residential treatment center for young men. We focus on helping young men ages 18-26 and teens ages 14-17 who struggle with self-destructive behaviors, mental health struggles, and compulsive behaviors. Get in touch today to learn more about our expert team and our approach to helping young men overcome their hurts.