Looking for a Teen Treatment Facility? 7 Questions to Ask Admissions

If you’re a parent of a troubled teen and have exhausted other intervention options, it might be time to find a teen treatment facility. We understand how difficult this decision can be and how important it is that you find the right facility for your teen. Before enrolling your teen into a residential treatment program, ask these questions to help determine if the program is appropriate for your teen.

1. How Long is the Program?

The length of a program depends on a number of factors. It can vary based on teen diagnosis, programs available, and the overall needs of your teen. Residential teen treatment programs can last anywhere from one month to a year.

At Turn-About Ranch, our program lasts around 120 days. While we do consider your teen’s needs, we have found the length of our program to be effective. There are many programs out there where teens stay for months or even a year. This can take away critical time with your teen. When looking into the length of a program, we recommend considering shorter programs first to see if your teen’s needs are met.

2. How Can Your Program Help My Teen’s Specific Issues?

Arguably, this is one of the most important questions you can ask. When searching for a teen residential treatment facility, you’ll want to get as many details as possible so you can better understand the process and decide if it is the right program for your teen.

Our Residential Treatment Program is a high-impact program for struggling teenagers between the ages of 13 and 17. We have experience in treatment for a number of different diagnoses and behaviors. We understand that you’re looking for the right answers for your teen and that’s why we strive to provide you with the best resources to understand the different situations and conditions that could be impacting your teen.

3. What Types of Therapy Do You Offer?

Therapy plays an important part in the overall change of a teen. This is where they can learn life-long coping skills. When asking this question, see if your teen will be participating in individual, group, or family therapy. You’ll also want to find out how often the sessions are and who will be conducting them.

Here at Turn-About Ranch, we offer individual and group therapy, as well as family therapy. It is our goal to help teens recognize that therapists are not the enemy and that the therapeutic process can be helpful in achieving positive lasting change.

4. What Type of Training & Licensing Do Your Therapists Have?

This is crucial to know because you want to be sure that the people treating your teen are qualified to do so. To help facilitate our therapy process, our clinical team is made up of Master’s level (and higher) therapists who are either licensed or in the process of becoming licensed in the areas of clinical social work.

Our experienced and dedicated team members are responsible for conducting individual, group, and family therapy sessions in addition to planning the treatment and charting the progress of each student. Throughout the students’ stay at Turn-About, the clinical team will also maintain contact with parents on a weekly basis and conduct mid-term and graduation visits with families.

To help support the work of our clinical team, all of our additional staff members are trained and experienced in therapeutic techniques as well as the art of effective communication to help provide our students with the optimum environment for their positive development.

5. Can My Teen Earn School Credit?

For a longer program, you’ll want to ensure that your teen doesn’t fall behind in their academics. Some programs may offer only self-study or distance education. In addition, some programs may offer academic credits that will transfer to your teen’s current school and count toward a high school diploma.

Turn-About Ranch’s academic program consists of both a functioning middle and high school, each of which is fully accredited through the Northwest Accreditation Commission, AdvancED, and the Northwest Association. Our academy program offers academic credit in the following areas:

• Science
• English
• Social Studies
• Math
• Physical Education

In addition to providing all necessary educational requirements through our academic program, we also foster a unique environment allowing your teen to reach their full potential by getting hands-on with their learning through an assortment of different techniques.

6. Can I Speak to the Parents of Someone Who Has Graduated Recently?

When doing research, you’ll want to go beyond online reviews. Reviews can be tricky because anyone can leave them and they may not fully represent a teen’s or parent’s experience. That is why we always recommend asking to directly talk to parents whose teens have recently graduated, preferably within the last nine months. This will give you a better idea of what your teen will experience and what you can expect as a parent.

7. What Type of Support Do You Offer Parents After Teens Graduate?

After a teen graduate from a residential program, the hope is that there will start to be some improvement. However, this isn’t always the case. Regression is a possibility and it’s important to know the support you’ll receive upon graduating.

We understand many parents may feel a little nervous about their teen’s transition from a therapeutic environment to being back home in the “real world”. That is why we offer a guarantee where, if needed, your teenager can return to the ranch for a free 30-Day refresher course.

We’re Here to Help You

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. Throughout the years, we have had the privilege of impacting the lives of families and teens. If you feel that our program would be a good fit for your teen, contact us for more information.