ISO therapeutic boarding school Recommendations

[Anonymous]

DD is in high school, struggles with anxiety, ADHD, is on the spectrum and has a learning disability. Despite a comprehensive IEP, school is very challenging and IEP doesn't seem to be meeting her needs. She also has been vaping which has been impossible to control because she is getting this from friends at school. DD is difficult to help, refuses therapy, or intensive outpatient program. It's been impossible to get her to therapy and when in therapy will not engage with the therapist. She's taking meds. We've tried different therapists. Out of the blue this week, she mentioned boarding school. I was surprised to hear that. This is the first time she has suggested anything. Would love to get feedback and recommendation for therapeutic boarding schools. DD loves animals so a place with animals would be ideal.

[Anonymous]

where are you? I would try KTS or something similar before boarding school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:where are you? I would try KTS or something similar before boarding school.

We are located in Northern VA. What is KTS?

[Anonymous]

Katherine Thomas School

[Anonymous]

Are you able to pay for it or do you need state/IEP/insurance support?

[Anonymous]

Hi there. Honestly, especially if she raised it, a therapeutic or supportive boarding program could be great for her. Expensive, just to warn you. You might want to talk to an educational consultant, like Tom Harvey at School Counseling Group. I don't know for girls, but maybe something like Alpine Academy or a regular supportive boarding school. Or a treatment program like Ascend followed by a boarding school. Or a good outdoor therapy program (often called "wilderness" therapy).

[Anonymous]

PP here: there are a variety with animals, by the way. For outdoor therapy, BlueFire is one example.

[Anonymous]

You could also talk to a parent coaching group like The Ruben Group or like Finding You Therapy Programs.

[Anonymous]

We looked at The Grove School and Glenholme. I liked both but we ended up needing a higher level of care so didn’t pursue.

[Anonymous]

There's a facebook group you can join called something like parents of kids in residential treatment.

[Anonymous]

The FB group is private to avoid trolls and haters. You need an invite. There is WTRS which is wilderness therapy and residential search support. There is also PKRT which is Parents with Kids in residential treatment.

Getting an invite means having an ‘in’.

Having Tom Harvey or another person skilled at these placements would be wise. She may just need a supportive environment not a therapeutic environment. My child went to wilderness for anxiety and depress Is was game changing.

[Anonymous]

Be very cautious of wilderness programs. Most have very unqualified staff and limited mental health professionals. As a psychologist, I would never recommend. If a child needs that level of care, I’d recommend residential programs with robust medical and mental health supports (e.g., avoiding most therapeutic boarding schools).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Be very cautious of wilderness programs. Most have very unqualified staff and limited mental health professionals. As a psychologist, I would never recommend. If a child needs that level of care, I’d recommend residential programs with robust medical and mental health supports (e.g., avoiding most therapeutic boarding schools).

What are some reputable (in your opinion) specific residential programs you recommend?

[Anonymous]

I am not PP, and if PP is a pschychologist, many don't have close contact with the different schools and programs and don't know them well.

It is really hard to say without knowing more about your DD. How bad is the vaping? Does she need substance treatment first? How is her behavior? A supportive (vs therapeutic or RTC) boarding school isn't going to have a one and done throw them out policy if caught vaping, but drugs would be more easily available, and if she kept with it, she would get thrown out. You could look at something like Hyde school or Grove, or maybe Vermont Academy or Mountain Springs.

Some teens grow up to hate wilderness and therapeutic programs they were sent to, even if they were good and benefitted them. Some value them. Some go through different phases of feelings about them. Even if not perfect, you have to think about the alternative, and how bad that is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Be very cautious of wilderness programs. Most have very unqualified staff and limited mental health professionals. As a psychologist, I would never recommend. If a child needs that level of care, I’d recommend residential programs with robust medical and mental health supports (e.g., avoiding most therapeutic boarding schools).

What are some reputable (in your opinion) specific residential programs you recommend?

In general, I’d recommend RCTs associated with reputable mental health outpatient and inpatient programs. In this area, Shepard Pratt comes to mind. McLean in Boston is another good one.