Therapeutic and Emotional Growth Placements

Emotional and behavioral issues cloud the lives of some students. Adolescents may suffer from such psychological issues as anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, oppositional defiance, low self-esteem, grief issues, eating disorders, substance abuse, and neurological disorders affecting behavior. Troubled teens may demonstrate their inner turmoil through anger, defiance, school failure, withdrawal or use of substances. Such behaviors may occur in students after trouble-free childhoods or in children who have always had difficulties. These adolescents disrupt the lives of their family members and exhaust their teachers. They are not intellectually available to learn.

When they have not improved through the use of outpatient counseling, these students may find the psychological support that they need at residential programs known as therapeutic boarding schools, residential treatment centers, and emotional growth schools. Such schools rely on a combination of encouragement, therapy, structured programs, academics and physical activity to restore young people to emotional health. Students work with mental health and educational professionals to become more accountable for their own actions and to acquire more resources for dealing with frustration and setbacks.

Long-term placements are often preceded by wilderness experiences. With a small group of fellow campers and field staff, in outdoor environments, adolescents evaluate their lives, gain insights about their behaviors, and build self-esteem. In group and individual counseling sessions they begin the journey to emotional health that will be continued in a therapeutic boarding school.

Christie Woodfin visits wilderness and therapeutic programs regularly to access the quality of the programs, the varying therapeutic approaches, and the types of students best served.

Ms Woodfin's training as a licensed psychological counselor equips her with the clinical expertise to understand issues confronting youth.  Her knowledge of therapeutic programs enables her to make wise recommendations.  The respect she elicits from the programs makes her a credible voice that a student is an appropriate applicant. 

But most importantly, with understanding and compassion Christie Woodfin helps direct families whose children are in distress.  She believes that residential placement is not a punishment, but rather an opportunity for teens to learn the strategies and establish the mental health that will stand them in good stead as adults.  She provides direction in selecting programs, and remains supportively involved throughout the student's placements.