Going back to class after a long summer can be stressful for children and parents. Some families may have had a more difficult summer than others with kids behaving defiantly and acting out in inappropriate ways. It may have reached a stage where they contemplate possible interventions.
WATCH THE TREND LINE!
“This is a common issue families face,” says Turning Winds program director Enoch Stump. “The question is ‘When does my kid cross the line where they need additional support that I cannot provide?’ One of the ways we talk to our families about that is markers for behavior, the structure they need, and the trend line on how that’s going.”
As parents establish whether starting school and having more access to friends will help with those behavioral markers or will their children be pulled in all kinds of directions it may be appropriate to consider having them transition into a treatment program like Turning Winds and start the new school year with the structure and support they need.
“When you’re done with summer, it’s far easier to transition into a consistent process, and they can start right on time and on track with Turning Winds, as opposed to having to pull them mid-school year and then deal with classes that were never finished or half done,” Stump says. “So, you’re looking for the trend lines of what is happening and if the interventions you’re making are getting the ship back on course.”
DON’T DELAY!
“In most cases, earlier intervention is better,” says Turning Winds, chief operations officer, Carl Baisden. “It’s not once the wheels come off, you can take your time to find the right solution, if the wheels are off, they’re off.”
That also applies to age. “We get a lot of kids at 17 and a half and had we gotten them at 14 before the wheels came off, the opportunities in treatment would have been completely different,” Stump agrees. “When you intervene soon and early, that kid has not reinforced those habits through 2–3 years of adolescence. Early intervention is helpful.”
The difficult decision parents face reminds Baisden of scenarios described in renowned parenthood expert Foster Cline’s Love and Logic books. Dr. Cline, who is also the co-founder of the Love and Logic Institute, meets with Turning Winds parents on the first day of our two-day parent workshop.
“Cline teaches that the emotional investment and connection we have in our kids sometimes prevents us from making the most logical choices—choices that are intellectually sound on behalf of our kids,” explains Baisden.
MORE STRUCTURE MAY NOT BE ENOUGH
Parents need to ask themselves whether their kids respond well to any interventions, any new structure or routine they may be offering. “If the answer is ‘yes,’ by all means go ahead and try it out,” says Baisden. “But you’re really doing a disservice to yourself as a parent and to your kid if you’re not setting concrete limits to determine if it’s working. What are the markers of improvement that I’m looking for? Structure can provide some stability at best but it doesn’t actually help you change.”
Having an extra person in the classroom or a changed schedule the student has to follow doesn’t help them learn new concepts about being a healthy individual or be better equipped to deal with life. “It’s tough,” says Baisden. “I don’t envy any parent in that position this time of the year trying to decide whether or not have their kid go back to school.”
Parents need to assess whether there is a structure in place to deal with the real issues such as mental health concerns that may be behind the behavior of their child. “Routine and structure can be helpful but they are never a solution,” says Baisden. School alone is usually an incomplete solution for severe behavioral issues. “There has to be school plus services to help that kid.”
At Turning Winds, your child will thrive academically while receiving treatment services. As a residential treatment center with a strong academic program, Turning Winds offers a full continuum of care for teens with mental health issues while they also progress in their school curriculum. Our clients achieve success through a combination of therapeutic and educational approaches that provide the best possible outcomes.
A UNIQUE HYBRID MODEL
We have taken the best elements of care from wilderness therapy, therapeutic boarding schools, and inpatient treatment to create a one-of-a-kind residential treatment center.
Our goal is to make sure every student gets the education and support they need for success. We work closely with the counseling departments in every student’s previous school to fill in any remaining gaps in their current educational path. We have an incredible educational team that specializes in working with teens who need specialized support with an IEP or working with those students who need advanced curriculum.
Over the past two decades, Turning Winds has been able to help hundreds of families overcome what seemed impossible odds. Our mission is to rescue teens from crises, renew their belief in their potential, reunite them with their families, and put them on a sustainable path to success.
Contact us online for more information, or call us at 800-845-1380. If your call isn’t answered personally, one of us will get back to you as soon as we can.
