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Where to Turn for Your Out-of-Control Teen

With all the stresses that teenagers face in their lives today, sometimes parents need help with managing their adolescent’s behavior. Parents need to understand their options when considering how to cope with their teenager’s anger, hostility as well as defiant, obstinate and other inappropriate behaviors. It’s so confusing when selecting a method that might work best for a particular boy. Perhaps working with animals in controlled environments as horse arenas and riding arenas during equine therapy will be effective for reaching some teenagers while others will require a more structured and disciplined approach offered at juvenile boot camps and military schools. Whatever the case, families with teenagers who have chronic behavioral or emotional problems should not delay in reviewing the intervention options available.

Juvenile boot camps, military schools, and boys’ ranches have become widely accepted in the last 20 years or so. Originally created as an alternative to detention and incarceration, juvenile boot camps were programs run by the state however, most teens go there at the request of families instead of courts, so most facilities are now privately run.

The main goal of military schools is to provide a specialized education for those preparing for military life as adults in the future. However, it is fairly common for parents to send their problem teenagers so they may learn discipline along with their academics.

At working ranches, regular training and working with animals is a requisite part of therapy. Ample opportunities are provided for hard work and chores in addition to rigorous academics. In addition, they offer psychological care and counseling by professional clinical therapists during group and individual therapy sessions.
It is believed that these methods work better in an environment different from home because the everyday situations that trigger bad behavior are removed. Each environment creates an optimum setting to catch up on academics and learn structure and discipline which are usually absent from their lives previously. When the boy is removed from a familiar setting where he basically manipulates others by using inappropriate behavior, he is no longer comfortable and this allows for change and new learning to occur.

Discipline and responsibility are taught at juvenile boot camps and military schools utilizing a potentially degrading approach. Consequences that result from not cooperating with others are also taught, especially when participating in tasks where member of a team depend on each other. However, it’s important to realize that many of the methods used, such as embarrassing or scolding, can have a negative effect on certain individuals who suffer from behavioral problems including abuse, anxiety, depression and low self-esteem.

In contrast, a boys’ ranch is has a better understanding that everyone’s psychological needs are somewhat unique and they are willing to treat each boy as a distinct individual while designing a course of treatment suited for each boy. What is unique at about the ranch experience is that every boy is responsible for his own stallion or mare and that responsibility allows the circumstances in which personality attributes and responsibilities that otherwise might not have been addressable, can be taught.

Through hands-on experience, equine therapy teaches boys that some things aren’t able to be controlled until they are able to manage their own emotions and frustrations. It effectively and permanently modifies behavior, builds self-esteem and self-confidence which are vital qualities everyone needs to meet life’s challenges and for lifelong success.

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