Wilderness Therapy Programs for Troubled Teens in Smithtown, NY
Within the last few decades, America (including Smithtown, NY) has seen the demographic of adolescents deemed, troubled, or out of control, reach epidemic numbers. While experts aren’t sure as to why our nation’s teens increasingly turn to negative behavioral patterns, modern-day issues such as easier access to drugs and the advent of the internet, social media and other screen-based distractions (to name a few) are most likely significant contributing factors.
But with the number of troubled teens rising each year, cities like Smithtown, NY so too is the number of residential treatment centers that advertise their services to parents seeking respite and therapeutic healing for their child.
And, while many of these treatment programs are well-intentioned and run by those who truly believe in their program’s treatment model and core curriculum, parents from Smithtown, NY and elsewhere are all too often duped into sending their teenage daughter to an expensive program that at best, is ineffective in treating their child’s behavioral and emotional issues, and, at worst, exacerbates said issues even further.
Among these detrimental programs are treatment facilities that pose as wilderness therapy programs for troubled teens when in reality, they are more akin to glorified outdoor boot camps.
With the wilderness industry's increasing popularity and recent mainstream exposure, parents sometimes unwittingly send their children to programs that omit the clinical aspects of wilderness therapy.
Though technically a wilderness program, these treatment facilities omit the very foundations that make wilderness therapy effective, and instead, utilize behavioral modification and punishments to enact change within their campers.
For example, instead of providing experiential group therapy, mindfulness-based therapy, and cognitive behavior therapy, like the most reputable, adventure-based programs, these facilities merely seek to exploit the natural environment as a means to 'break' their campers, before 'building' them back up again.
These tactics are not only deceitful and misrepresent genuine wilderness therapy camps, they often aggravate the very issues campers were sent there to correct, to begin with.
Considering the average wilderness program is $500 dollars per day with a $3,000 dollar enrollment fee (not including what it would cost to transport said teen through a transport company two or more times) choosing this route of treatment is quite expensive.
Legitimate and Cost-effective Wilderness Therapy Programs for teens from the Smithtown, NY area
For moms and dads from Smithtown, NY unwilling to pay double (or potentially triple) for a wilderness program for their teenage daughter, there are cost-effective and dynamic treatment options to consider - like that of Elk Mountain Academy.
Elk Mountain Academy is a Christ-centered wilderness therapy program and residential treatment center for troubled teenage girls.
Elk Mountain Academy offers affordable, expert treatment for life-controlling issues and disorders in girls from the Smithtown, NY area, including:
- attachment disorders
- attention deficit
- eating disorders
- anxiety, depression
- self-destructive or antisocial behavior behavior
- adoption-related issues
We lead troubled girls from Smithtown, NY to seek truth and to trust in the Holy Spirit, our Holy Comforter who was given to all believers in Christ. At EMA we coach and train our students to seek, trust, and rely on the Holy Spirit, who is their comforter.
For more information regarding our treatment program, please call us today at (208) 266-1122.
Guidance for Parents of Struggling Teens from Smithtown, NY
Elk Mountain Academy is the first choice for Smithtown, NY parents wanting a leading therapeutic boarding school to give guidance to their struggling child undergoing drug abuse/addiction (including marijuana), kleptomania, or clinical depression related problems. Because working with highly resistant teenagers is challenging, most programs rely on level systems, punishments, and other behavioral techniques to manage a young student’s behavior. Here at Elk Mountain, we recognize that the circumstances of one at-risk child doesn’t always apply to all of our young students. Because of this, Elk Mountain is dedicated to the life skills development and experiential education for each girl, and we do this with professionalism and care.
The therapeutic facility at Elk Mountain is in a natural setting, providing a serene environment free of distractions. The objective here at Elk Mountain is to assist, guide, and coach parents with a vulnerable and at-risk child; through an incredibly difficult time. Elk Mountain is here to help parents and at-risk teenagers from Smithtown, NY! There is hope... and you are not alone. Elk Mountain’s vision is to facilitate transformation and peace; all while rehabilitating the emotional and mental health of adolescents from Smithtown, NY. We strive to see your at-risk child make a triumphant and full transition into an independent adult, living a life of happiness and dignity.
Elk Mountain has transformed the lives of countless struggling teenagers over the years, including many from Smithtown, NY. Our approach has improved the lives of our struggling young students, and their families. We see that at-risk adolescents can grow to be healthy adults with a desire to succeed! Elk Mountain understands that in order for our struggling young students to experience real transformation, the entire family needs to be part of the life skills development and experiential education guidance that our counselors give. Our consultants can be reached immediately at (208) 266-1122.
Additional Resources in Smithtown, NY
MENTALHEALTH.GOV: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will launch MentalHealth.gov as an online institution for those in Smithtown, NY wanting information regarding symptoms of mental health issues, how they can get guidance for these issues, and the ways in which Smithtown, NY communities can host conversations on mental health. The website will also include videos of at-risk teenagers and young women who share their stories and experiences mental health problems and their path to transformation.