The Blog of P.U.R.E. and Sue Scheff

  It is one of the biggest decisions a parent can make, does your troubled teen need a therapeutic boarding school? Searching for schools for troubled teens is no small task. Did you know one internet search for “ schools for troubled teens ” yields nearly  9 million  results? How do you decide what is best for your struggling teenager? It is typically the first time you are considering these types of  behavioral boarding schools  after  exhausting your local resources , and not aware of what is available. The terminology can be confusing, such as should you choose a  therapeutic boarding school or a residential treatment center ? Does your teen need a  same gender program  or would coed more beneficial for them? Maybe you are considering a ranch program or a program with a  spiritual component . Do you have a young adult — curious about what  life-skills programs  can offer them and how they can enhance their future? Since 200...

This is  big decision, take your time! Are you confused yet? Looking for teen help and realizing this is a BIG BUSINESS? So, your teen is driving your crazy.  You are at your wit's end . You have finally decided you need outside help. You have exhausted all your local resources.  Local therapy doesn't help, heck, you can't even get your teen to attend.  Your teen is failing in school, he/she is very smart yet doesn't want to attend school and believe they know it all.  Many say, " typical teen ", but as a parent, we know it is more than that. Where did our good kid go?  Good kids making bad choices - and they don't need to be placed in an environment that will make them worse in my opinion - learn from what happened to me! As a victim of the WWASPS organization - I am often called or receive many emails about our (my daughter and I) experiences with them.  Obviously not pleasant.  Though I am happy to say the program she wa...

Who do you believe online? You have resolved yourself to the fact that you can no longer control your teen's behavior as they are spiraling out-of-control.  Where did that cute little child go? Actually, they are still there, but deeply buried under the layers of peer pressure, society, technology, divorces, and life in general.  Life is not perfect, however with teens (although they believe they are nearly adults) they are not mature enough to understand that divorce isn't their fault, a parent losing a job isn't their fault, a death is not their fault, being bullied isn't their fault - and before you know it, they have baggage that would outweigh even adults. Now you get online - where can I find help!  I am at my wit's end!!!! You start to see all these websites, clearing houses, marketing arms, toll free numbers etc... Then just when you think you found a program that can help, you find some very harsh website of disgruntled parents and other kids that ...

With the recent closing of Magnolia Christian School , which was formerly Carolina Springs Academy , it seems that World Wide Association of Specialty Programs and Schools (WWASPS) is slowly decreasing in size.  Is it the economy or the fact that there are many disturbing stories out there, as well as successful lawsuits such as mine .  Currently I believe Red River Academy is their East Coast/Central States main program as Horizon Academy and Cross Creek are on the West Coast. Are you considering residential therapy ?  Are you are your wit's end with your teenager?  Researching these programs and schools can be a daunting experience.  Glowing websites and slick sales reps at many toll free numbers - how do you know who to trust? I can't answer that except to say to remember, your child is not for sale. You will know in your gut if someone is being sincere or simply doing their job. I am considered a disgruntled parent by WWASPS, and I will accept th...