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

  The Teen Gaming Addiction and Getting Help Video games have become famous with people of all ages engaging in them. They are also a massive part of the economy. Video gaming is now a multi-billion-dollar industry churning in more money than movies and DVDs.  Since everyone is willing to pay for video games, the industry has seen a remarkable improvement with realistic and sophisticated features added to the games. Players can connect to the internet while playing and interact with each other. The impact of video games has been dissected and discussed by many. But how are they affecting students – especially college students? Let’s find out. The Good Side of Video Games for Teens With all the noise about the effects of video games on children – school-going children – there are those who argue the positive side of things. It may not be great to have a student sitting on a computer playing games all day, but it is great for a student to play some games sometimes. Here are some advantag

 How will Screen Time Effect Your Teen's Mental Health? Teenagers today could probably be known as the “iPhone generation”. They never knew a world without technology at their fingertips, and they’ve grown up with screens and digital devices at every turn. So, smartphones, tablets, and computer screens are part of everyday life for most teenagers.   But, is that a good thing?   Parents and scientists alike have shown great interest in the effects of screen time on a teenager’s health. Some studies have argued that too much of it can cause physical health issues.  On the other hand, many teens use technology as a way to stay connected. Taking it away could impact their mental health.   So, what’s the answer? As a parent, that’s up to you. But, it’s important to know what screen time can really do to your teen – especially when it comes to their mental health. Common Mental Health Concerns It’s estimated that teenagers spend over seven hours looking at their phones each da

Summer Camps to Help Digital Addiction Will a therapeutic summer camp help your teen's digital addiction? Many teens today have been experiencing depression , anxiety, under-performing in school if not completely failing classes -- we've even witnessed a rise in truancy and youth that were once excelling that are now barely passing.    Internet and cellphone addiction has been a major contributing factor to young people's mental wellness. This can lead to extreme defiance, rage and explosive behavior. How can summer options help: There are therapeutic summer programs that are designed to give families a good foundation of what they are facing with their child’s behavior.  It can offer immediate support and typically continues with a Psychiatric Evaluation with medication recommendations (if needed); an Educational Plan with specific goals and course recommendations (residents will have the option to recover essential grade credits, prepare for the SAT’s, gain organiz

Entitled Teenagers: The Spoiled Brat Generation The current generation of teenagers feel like the world owes them everything and parents exist to please and meet their teenagers every desire and whim.  These entitled teenagers are resistant to parental authority, demanding, and often unable to manage failure or disappointment. The very process of adolescence means teens are always prone to adopt an entitled view of the world.  Are you frustrated with your teenager’s attitude? Is it all demands and no appreciation? If you’re wondering  how to deal with an entitled teenager , you’re not alone!  Despite the years of teaching them how to say thank you, you can still end up battling entitlement. Even so, don’t give up hope!  It’s not too late to turn around an ungrateful teenager. 5 Signs Your Teen is Entitled: They can’t handle being told “no.”  They melt down, pout, or put a battle every time you turn down a request. An immediate “yes” is the only way to avoid a battle. Th

  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 twisting - it's time to move

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 harms may help them to

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 as medica