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

  Searching for  schools for troubled teens online  can be tedious and confusing. If this is your first time searching for therapeutic boarding schools for your troubled teenager, learning the terminology will be one of your first lessons. 5 Tips to Untangle the Troubled Teen Industry Terminology “ My teen needs a Military school to teach them a lesson!”  WRONG. Military schools  are a privilege and honor to attend, they are not for defiant, drug-using, depressed, or other behavioral issues students. They do   not   provide mental health services – and if your teen is using drugs, drinking, or vaping now – by attending an open campus, it is likely s/he will consider the use again. However, this time when he is caught (typically three strike you are out) and the parents will forfeit their tuition. This is the same for any of the behavioral issues they are asked to leave or expelled for – you will be risking your tuition as well as  setting your ch...

  Are you at your wit’s end with your defiant teenager? Find yourself online   searching for places to send troubled teens   and realize you have so many questions?   First you are bombarded with  websites, marketing and new terminology  that can be  confusing and overwhelming  especially when you are stressed out and exhausted by your teen’s behavior. After decades of helping families that are searching for the  right behavioral boarding school  for their struggling teen or young adult, we complied the top  5 most asked questions  and  answers  by parents. 5 Questions Parents Ask About Placing Their Teen in Troubled Youth Programs: 1. “Should our teen help us choose the therapeutic boarding program?” Absolutely, positively  not . Up until this point of their life, they have not been making the best choices, what would convince you that they would make the  right  one now? Again, with decades of ex...

Teenage mental health is a growing concern, since 2020 studies have revealed that adolescent depression and anxiety has doubled. This is also causing the rise of suicide ideation and   self-harm   as well as youth self-medicating.  Since 2001 we have helped  educate  parents regarding  mental health options   for troubled teens in addition to  therapeutic boarding schools . This is not a decision that is made lightly. Has your teenager’s behavior been  escalating  for  more than a year ? Are they becoming more withdrawn? Depressed or isolated? More common is the following: -Defiance (ADHD, ODD) -Anger, rage -Cell-phone addiction (self-destructs when the phone is removed) -School refusal (skipping classes) -Lacks motivation -Changing peer groups -Substance use (self-medicating) -Self-harm (relieves anxiety) -Change in eating habits -Poor hygiene   Your teenager may be suffering with mental health issues that need to be addressed...

  Finding out your smart teen has failing grades and may not be passing can be extremely stressful and frustrating. Failed classes lead to a lower GPA as well as may delay them graduating from high school on time. If your teen has a first-choice college that requires a higher GPA, lagging behind in school can also effect this. Once your teen starts falling behind, catching up can be difficult — when grades begin to plummet, many teens give up.   If your teen is  failing a class —or they’ve already failed the entire semester— take action . There are several things you can do to address the issue.   Why is my teen failing?   Once you realize your teen is failing a class or in  danger of not passing , it’s time to sit down and  discuss the problem .  Ask your teen for help uncovering the they are not passing.   Some students who start out strong get distracted, while others just aren’t motivated to stay on track. Maybe your teen gets involved in...

  Talking to Teens About Tragedy   Many of us remember Columbine as if it was yesterday. Since then the number of shootings, including school tragedies is overwhelming. It never gets easier to hear about, but what's more concerning is the impact that it's having on our young people. News is a 24-hour cycle these days not to mention your teen's social media feeds. Any news event about at tragedy will be played and replayed as details emerge. Chances are they will hear about a tragedy before their parents thanks to the internet.   Peers talk, televisions are left on for snippets to be overheard, and social media is a constant source of news. More often than not those facts your child receives about a tragedy won’t be accurate and can fuel anxiety. Teens need hear the facts , and you are  their best source.     How do we talk to our teens about these tragedies?   It's time to turn to the experts.   Dr. Michele Borba, a leading educational psycholo...

Years ago, generations earlier, school was never an option. We were expected to finish high school without even a consideration of dropping out or quitting. We all had road bumps, rough spots, as teens do — however dropping out simply wasn’t an option. Kids that left school to get a GED were typically facing legal issues.  Today more and more young people are not only thinking about leaving high school, they are avoiding school ( skipping classes  in higher numbers than prior generations) and don’t seem to value the importance of education.   No parent wants to hear their teen wants to drop out of high school, but it is something that about 1 in every 10 people do. This is troubling for parents because statistically speaking, kids who do not graduate from high school are limited in their job potential and make less money than those who do graduate. This is disheartening for a parent, and can cause an emotional reaction that may not be best for either of you.   F...