August 18, 2021
A Parent’s Perspective of Sending Her Teen to the Ranch
At Turn-About Ranch, we take traditional treatment models to help troubled youth. It is our goal to help develop our students into effective individuals and positively impact their lives and the lives of their families. Over the years, we have stayed committed to our mission and due to our high standards, we’ve been set apart from other adolescent programs across the country. However, don’t just take our word for it. In the testimonial below, you’ll hear from Jen, a mother of a graduated student from Turn-About Ranch. In the video, Jen talks about her experience and the changes the ranch has made in her and her son’s life.
Jen’s Story
Jen is a caring mother who only wants the best for her son. After having some problems at home, she involved her son in various programs to try and get him the help he needed. From individual therapy to other facilities, nothing seemed to be working. Eventually, things progressed and Jen sent her son to a new facility in hopes things would get better. Unfortunately, that facility didn’t seem to be focused on really helping her son.
Why Did You Choose Turn-About Ranch?
Jen knew she had to take her son out of the facility he was in previously and get him into one that focused on his mental health. A friend of hers, who works in the mental health industry, suggested Turn-About Ranch. That is when we got the call from Jen and answered all of her questions. She had many! Ultimately, we wanted her son to go to the best program for him, whether it was with us or not. After reviewing his profile, we determined that we could provide him with the treatment that was best for him.
“Within the first two days, he realized that he was exactly where he needed to be, and he has never looked back. He knows, and we know, that he’s alive today because of the time that he was at Turn-About Ranch”
At Turn-About Ranch, our philosophy is: “Real Ranch. Real Values. Real Change.”
We put a great emphasis on providing authentic experiences through which our students can learn and grow. We want students to feel encouraged to develop real values that can lead them to a successful future. Real change happens after students experience the power of cooperating and develop senses of accountability, respect, and compassion.
What Was Your Impression of Our Environment, Safety, and Staff?
“We felt very confident that what we were bringing to our son and bringing our son to was in congruence with our values and with his safety.”
Jen had no concerns about whether he would be safe there or not because she asked questions and we were completely open and honest about our treatments and our day-to-day routines. Before students are admitted to the ranch, we allow parents to do a tour of the facility. During this tour, parents are allowed to talk to both staff and students to get a feel for Turn-About Ranch. Your child’s safety is of the utmost importance. We strictly adhere to a set of safety guidelines to ensure that every student who comes to our facility is safe and taken care of.
“We didn’t question whether he would be put in an unsafe situation, because we saw the facility, we met the people at the ranch, and we felt very confident that they would take good care of our son and they did.”
What Aspect of Our Program Helped Both Your Teen & You as a Parent?
One of the things that helped Jen’s son the most was the work we have in place and the fact that he felt a part of the community. In the letters that he would send home, he made it clear that he was forming new connections with the staff and other students. Before Turn-About Ranch, Jen’s son had a hard time connecting with others, especially with kids his age. These new connections he was making gave him a sense of pride about who he was and gave him the ability to trust himself.
“He knew that he was a part of the community…He felt like he was a part of the Turn-About Ranch family, probably within the first 48 hours that he was there.”
When students come to our facility, they participate in a rotating schedule of activities before and after lunch. Your child’s schedule is dependent on their needs. However, therapy is integrated into everything we do. We understand the role therapy plays when it comes to helping troubled youth and believe that it helps your child establish strong relationships.
What was Your Family’s Experience with Our Therapists?
Jen felt that our therapists were thorough and were good at updating her about her son’s progress. We feel that it is important to keep parents informed. We would update Jen about what he was doing well and what he was struggling with. Jen also appreciated the suggestions we had for her about what she could do at home and what books may be helpful in her situation.
“I loved that we were given homework. We were asked to read books and to do the work that was in these books—to make the considerations we were asked to make; to create a home team; things like where we felt like we were involved from the beginning.”
As well as individual and group therapy, we also offer family therapy. Research has shown that one of the biggest predictors of a teen’s success after completing a program is how much their family is involved afterward. Here, parents will participate in weekly sessions with their child’s therapist to help identify parenting strengths and weaknesses.
How was Our Facility Different from Others Your Teen Went To?
“The fact that Turn-About Ranch was very “let’s get back to the basics and help you understand that things like movies and music are privileges and not rights” was really helpful.”
Before Turn-About Ranch, Jen struggled with other facilities because they often let her son do whatever he wanted. He would be allowed to watch any movie or listen to any music regardless of his age. Our rules are set in place to help our students understand personal responsibility and that those types of activities are privileges. Jen also felt that the outdoor setting and caring for the animals at the ranch were very helpful for her son. He loved taking care of the animals and even had favorites while he was with us.
What Advice Would You Give to Parents Considering Turn-About Ranch?
“What you decide today is going to determine the type of future that your kid has and the relationship you’ll have together.”
Jen felt what many parents feel when sending their children off to a facility—that they aren’t good enough to help their children. However, after sending her son to Turn-About Ranch, she realized that she was helping him and that she was doing something for her son. She made sacrifices to help her son get the help he needed. Today, Jen and her son have a very strong relationship and at one point she didn’t believe that could happen. Like many parents we’ve seen, she feared that her son would hate her. Yet, when it came time for his midterm visit, he gave her the biggest hug and told her how much he loved her. That is when she realized that she had her son back!
“If I were to give any advice, it would be don’t fault yourself. Yes, you have a relationship and it is a back and forth relationship where you affect your child and your child affects you and that happens. But regardless of what has happened in the past, you’re in the present. Right now, you’re in the moment that you’re in.”
The Turn-About Ranch Difference
Here at Turn-About Ranch, we are committed to helping you and your teen. We have created a facility where our students can grow and work on their issues in a safe environment. If you believe that we are a good fit for your child, contact us and our admissions team will be in touch with you as soon as possible