Abuse & Neglect Treatment for Teen Boys
Teen Challenge Adventure Ranch is a Christ-centered residential treatment facility for teen boys ages 14-17. We help teens process trauma and heal from childhood abuse or neglect. Our trauma-informed care approach blends clinical therapy with personal and spiritual development for sustainable, long-term recovery.
Therapy for Abused or Neglected Teens
Physical abuse and neglect are common causes of childhood trauma. While the abuse may be isolated to a specific incident or period of time, the emotional impact of the abuse can continue to impact victims throughout their adolescence and into adulthood.
Abuse or neglect can come from:
● A Parent
● A Caregiver or Babysitter
● A Family Friend
● A Neighbor
● A Friend or Peer
While it can be difficult to understand, physical abuse or neglect often comes from someone we trust to care for, nurture or spend time with a child. The betrayed trust in these relationships can make it difficult for the child to form and maintain relationships. It may also negatively impact self-perception and emotional development.
Trauma-based therapies can provide an effective treatment option for teens struggling with the aftermath of childhood abuse or neglect. Through therapy, teens with a history of abuse or neglect can experience emotional safety and build trust so that they can process what happened, develop healthy coping mechanisms, and improve how they see themselves and the world around them.
Understanding How Abuse and Neglect Impact Teen Behavior
Unhealed trauma, like that caused by childhood abuse or neglect, can impact development in many different ways. Are you exhausted by your teen’s irresponsible behavior? Do you feel like you are constantly lecturing him about responsibility over and over again and yet it feels like you are talking to a wall?
Maybe you have noticed a sudden decline in academic performance. Your once A-student is now failing multiple classes and you’re not sure why he isn’t applying himself. He has anger issues or is extremely promiscuous and you’re worried.
If your son has experienced abuse or neglect, these behaviors might all be part of a trauma response. Every individual is unique. What they experience and how they experience it, physically and mentally, is unique. However, some common ways that physical or verbal abuse or neglect shows up in teen boys include:
● Delayed Emotional Development
● Depression
● Generalized Anxiety
● Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
● Learning Difficulties
● Impaired Problem-Solving Skills
● Low Self-Esteem
● Aggressive Behavior or Outbursts
● Promiscuity
● Substance Abuse
● Perpetrating Violence
While the effects of abuse or neglect can be traumatic, leading to negative coping mechanisms that show up as mental health diagnoses, behavioral problems, or addictions, therapeutic treatment can be effective.
When is Residential Therapeutic Treatment Appropriate for Abuse or Neglect Survivors?
Therapy comes in many different forms. The appropriate level of care and type of intervention depend on the situation and the individual. A teenager struggling with anxiety and depression as a result of abuse or neglect might benefit from seeing a therapist on a weekly basis.
Another teen who is having trouble bonding with an outpatient therapist and seems to be escalating behavior, might benefit from an intensive therapeutic placement. Residential therapeutic treatment is often considered when lower levels of care have failed or there is an immediate threat to personal safety for the teen or those around him.
Your family should work with a licensed mental healthcare provider to determine the appropriate level of care for your situation.
Why Choose Teen Challenge Adventure Ranch?
We provide holistic therapeutic interventions designed to stabilize behaviors, engage teens in therapeutic treatment, address root cause mental health issues, and build decisions-making and academic skills for long-term success. We only work with teenage boys.
Our approach to treating teens with trauma from abuse or neglect involves a period of therapy-intensive stabilization followed by an immersive routine management and skill-building boarding school environment. At the completion of the residential program, teens receive an additional six months of aftercare support to aid in their recovery transition.
Effective, evidence-based treatment with a holistic approach designed to change lives and renew families.
Healthy habits. Healthy relationships. Healthy recovery.
Speak to our admissions team today and learn more about how we can help your teen heal from childhood abuse or neglect.
