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...

  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...

  UPDATE - February 21, 2021 Wood Creek Academy Wood Creek Academy  sent me a Cease and Desist letter to remove this blog.... so I will edit it - since they believe it was defamatory. The letter is below. I can't believe it's been over  17 years since my nightmare  with WWASPS.  WWWASP as officially disbanded now. Sadly I still receive emails (in 2021) from students struggling to overcome the emotional trauma they endured during their time at a WWASPS facility, as well as many simply looking for help in seeking academic credits. Neither which I can help them with, however it never ceases to amaze me that there are so many victims that have been effected by these people. The blessing is that many parents are doing their due diligence and learning how to educate themselves before placing their child into a residential therapy school or program.   They are asking the right questions, and digging deeper into the past of the program.  If your gut is tw...

Teen Drug Use How do I know if my teen is using drugs? In today's society, kids have access to many different substances that can be addictive and damaging. Drug testing is helpful, but not always accurate.   Teen substance abuse can escalate to addiction.   P.U.R.E.™ receives many phone calls from parents who say that their child is only smoking pot. Unfortunately in most cases, marijuana can lead to more severe drugs and, with the exception of a few states, it is an illegal drug.  Smoking marijuana is damaging to the child's body, brain, and behavior. Even though marijuana is not considered a narcotic, teens may become hooked. Many teens who are on prescribed medications such as Ritalin, Adderall , Strattera, Concerta, Zoloft, Prozac and other prescription drugs -  are more at risk when mixing these medications with street drugs.   It is critical you speak with your child about this and learn all the side effects. Educating your child on potential h...

This has been an extremely difficult time. Since March 2020 there has been a rise in teen depression, anxiety, stress and suicide ideation. Parents are concerned and struggling for answers. Teen Depression Teen depression  is a serious mental health problem that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest in activities. It affects how your teenager thinks, feels and behaves, and it can cause emotional, functional and physical problems. Although depression can occur at any time in life, symptoms may be different between teens and adults. Issues such as  peer pressure , academic expectations and changing bodies can bring a lot of ups and downs for teens. But for some teens, the lows are more than just temporary feelings — they’re a symptom of depression. Teen depression isn’t a weakness or something that can be overcome with willpower — it can have serious consequences and requires long-term treatment. For most teens, depression symptoms ease with treatment such ...