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...

  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...

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...

HELP! My teen needs help, but will they hate me if I send them away? Your teen will likely be scared of the new situation and may also promise to “ do better at home” if you've discussed the possibility of going to a therapeutic boarding school or residential treatment center . We never recommend parents threaten their child with this option, since choosing residential therapy is such an amazing opportunity for your teen to develop coping skills they may be lacking, improve self-esteem to make better choices, learn anger and stress management skills and most of all - improve their overall mental wellness .  Most of these programs' strengths are targeted at emotional growth and wellness - academics are typically secondary, but  are important. Keep in mind, without emotional wellness - nothing will work in life. In our experience, your child will likely grow from fear and anger they already have -- to love and understanding that this decision was made with their best inter...

Teen depression and anxiety is on the rise. Sadly, we are seeing suicide as the second leading cause of death for young people ages 10-24. With today's digital lives there could be so many reasons. Are they missing the routine of a real-life social life?  Are they being harassed online ?  Or are they watching their friends on social media have a blast while they believe their life is boring or they are simply missing out? What was true a generation ago is still true today, teens are unpredictable and still difficult to figure out. However depression is a very real emotion. Adolescence can be a very turbulent and difficult time, even for the most well-adjusted child. Depression strikes teenagers and adults alike, and can have far-reaching implications when kids suffer from emotional difficulties that they aren’t sure how to manage. After noticing the signs of depression in your teen and helping him to get the treatment he needs, understanding the root of his depre...

Do you have a good teen making bad choices? Have they changed their peer group? Withdrawn from family activities? Underachieving in school? Dropping out of their favorite sport groups or clubs? Are they obsessed or addicted to their devices ? Do you suspect drug use ? Have you exhausted your local resources, therapy isn't working - have you tried a hospital stay, they won't take the medication. Out-patient therapy failed..... Residential therapy has been very successful for many family's - but it can be very scary if you are online reading the haunting stories that some former students (with a chip on their shoulder) or otherwise have written. I frequently educate parents - that they need to do their due diligence - the 'teen-help' industry is a big business, you need to know who you're talking to and what's their motivation. Since 2001, we've helped educate parents on this industry. I was that parent that was scammed and duped by 'sale...

Parent Universal Resources is a service to parents and families to assist them with Parent Awareness regarding Therapeutic Boarding Schools, Residential Treatment Centers and Teen Help Programs for troubled teens on the East Coast. This industry is extremely competitive and can be very confusing. The “ desperate parent " is at high risk of making wrong decisions that may be detrimental to you and your child. Since we were once in that position, we want you to take comfort in the fact that you are not alone and give you the opportunity to learn from our experiences and more importantly, gain from our knowledge.  Researching can be time consuming and tedious, yet very important. How do you know if a program or school is right for your child or if they really are who they claim to be? We speak from our hearts and our experiences to give you a feeling of ease. Restricting your search to a geographical area limits your chances of finding the right placement for your child. ...

As I share with parents,  deciding on sending your child to a therapeutic boarding school  is a major decision not to be taken lightly.  It’s not about teaching your child a lesson, it’s not about punishing your teen or scaring them straight — residential therapy is a huge financial and emotional decision that is made after you have exhausted all your local resources. Residential therapy is a choice made out of love to give your child a second chance at a bright future. Usually a parent has reached their  wit’s end ; they have been to local therapy, some have even tried having their teen stay with a relative.  Some have been through extensive out-patient programs but it isn’t until you remove (residential therapy) the teen from their environment that they will be able to heal and gain an  objective  view on what is the root of the issues. In the majority of families that contact us, these are  not  bad kids, these are kids tha...

It is the time of year when many parents will contact us and ask about  summer programs . Depending on your teenager, sometimes a good summer program can be the answer you are looking for, but let’s talk about some things to consider. If your teen has been making these bad choices for a while, chances are good it will take longer than 6-9 weeks to undo this negative behavior.  Remember, first the program need to fit the root of them issues – then work through them and help your teen start to make the better choices. Many youths when they reach this point are usually failing or on the edge of failing in school.  Most summer programs, especially Wilderness, don’t offer a grade recovery program.  Finding a sound residential therapy or summer grade recovery program with emotional growth might be a better option.  There are exceptions if you are dealing with a teen that is an addict, has an eating disorder or a mental disorder that is more serious. Summer ...

Have you been struggling to make a decision for treatment with your teenager?  It can be one of the most difficult ones a parent makes.  Especially since it doesn't seem natural to send a child to residential therapy - we give birth to a bubbly happy baby - only to find ourselves facing these stressful decisions. Now, a new study is released on drug treatment programs. If you are considering residential therapy for your teenager, visit www.helpyourteens.com .

The holidays are over, school is back in session and your teen is still driving you mad! So many parents hope and pray, with each day - week - month - maybe after the holidays, after this or after that, things will get better.... Sometimes they do - however most of the time, the behavior seems to escalate. As a parent you will go back to trying local therapy, if you can convince your teen to attend - maybe find peer support groups.  Then maybe out-patient, in-patient - maybe they think a few meds will do the trick..... Yes, I am being a bit facetious.  I am not someone that is against medication when it is needed, but I see too often that teens are given mood stabilizers or anti-depressants so quickly.  (This happened with my own child) - when in reality we are dealing with kids today that have spoiled rotten brats - entitlement issues - and teens today that simple act-out when they don't get their own way? After parents have exhausted all their local resources,...