Educational Consulting: Choosing a Therapeutic Boarding School or Program for Your Child

What Are Therapeutic Boarding Schools?

Therapeutic boarding schools are combination boarding schools/treatment centers that combine college-prep academics, sophisticated therapy, and extracurricular activities for troubled teenagers. These schools provide superb support for teenagers dealing with:

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Behavioral issues
• Emotional/psychological disorders
• Substance abuse
• Maladaptive or negative behaviors
• Self-destructive behaviors
• Learning disabilities (including severe ADD/ADHD)
• Sexual identity confusion
• Eating disorders
• Family relationship issues
• Runaway patterns
• School failure, suspensions, or expulsions

Therapeutic boarding schools provide an environment where students feel safe and supported – and the time they need to make positive changes in their life.  Therapy (individual, group, family, and experiential) takes place within the school setting, integrated into the day with academics and extracurriculars. This highly structured, healthy environment promotes healing as well as academic achievement. Therapeutic boarding schools operate year-round and enroll students throughout the school year. To learn more about these specialized schools, please reach out to our education consultants today.

The Benefits of Therapeutic Boarding Schools

If you have considered a residential treatment center for your troubled adolescent, but would like to find a placement that combines treatment with college-prep academics, a therapeutic boarding school might be an excellent option.

Students will receive:

• Personalized therapy plans
• Help from licensed professionals
• Individual, group, family, and experiential therapy
• Small, discussion-oriented classes

These boarding schools ensure student safety 24/7 in a supportive, holistic environment where distressed teens can heal while forming healthy emotional and behavioral patterns.

Although it may feel counterintuitive to send a teenager away when they’re struggling, therapeutic boarding schools provide the treatment needed to turn things around. In fact, many troubled teens who attend therapeutic boarding schools, or other therapeutic programs such as wilderness therapy, do not require intensive treatment in the future.

Additionally, therapeutic boarding schools provide a fully accredited college-prep education combining core and elective classes. taught by experienced teachers. You don’t need to worry about your child falling behind or missing out on crucial courses.

How to Find a Therapeutic Boarding School for Your Child

Before selecting a therapeutic boarding school, speak with a mental health professional or educational consultant to determine what your teenager needs. There’s a lot to consider, and you need to rest assured that you’re making the right choice for your family’s situation.

At JRA Educational Consulting, we’ve helped families throughout the world find therapeutic boarding schools and programs for their troubled teens. Our consultants recommend only schools they have visited or have a professional relationship with; they will guide you by:

• Assessing your child’s specific therapeutic and academic needs 
• Providing a list of best-fit therapeutic boarding schools and programs
• Speaking about your child (with your written permission, of course!)with admissions and clinical directors at each school
• Guiding you through your own evaluation process and application 
• Following your child’s progress throughout the term of placement

In addition, our JRA consultants will answer any questions you may have about therapeutic boarding schools and your child’s academic future. We’ve worked with parents and adolescents in all kinds of circumstances, and we’re here to put you on the right path.

To learn more about therapeutic boarding schools, please contact our consultants directly. We’re more than happy to discuss all of the options with you.

FAQs About Therapeutic Boarding Schools

1. How long will my child be enrolled in the school?

The length of your child’s attendance at a therapeutic boarding school depends heavily on his or her needs. Most students will stay for one school year and then continue their education in a traditional school setting.

If your teenager attends a therapeutic boarding school as a senior, they can graduate from the school with a college-prep diploma and continue on to college.

2. What is included in therapeutic boarding school programs?

Most importantly, therapeutic boarding schools offer specialized services to help teens who are in trouble – whether it be academically, emotionally/psychologically, or legally. These programs tend to operate similarly to like traditional boarding schools and also include:

• Room and board
• Academics 
• Individual, group, family, and experiential therapy
• Extracurricular opportunities
• Volunteer activities
• Next-step planning

3. What are the fees of therapeutic boarding school programs?

The cost of a therapeutic boarding school varies depending on the level of required care. On average, most families can expect to pay monthly tuition of several thousand dollars. At JRA Educational Consulting, we don’t just help parents find the right boarding schools for their children. We also help them seek financial assistance in the form of tuition discounts, loans, and insurance reimbursement.  Call us for more information about the fees of therapeutic boarding schools.

That’s where the specialty services of our owners, Judi and Jason Robinovitz, along with therapeutic educational consultant Marcy Salenieks , LCSW, play a pivotal role.