PTSD Treatment for Teen Boys
Teen Challenge Adventure Ranch is a Christ-centered residential treatment facility for teen boys struggling with substance abuse, poor mental health, and maladaptive behaviors. For many, difficult and defiant behaviors are rooted in trauma and can be healed with help.
What is PTSD and How is it Treated in Teen Boys?
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that occurs after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event, such as abuse, violence, natural disasters, or severe accidents. For teens, PTSD often disrupts their ability to process emotions, maintain relationships, and feel safe in the world.
Teens struggling with PTSD may become avoidant or withdrawn, expderience emotional outbursts or engage in reckless or self-destructive behaviors. Substance abuse, changes in mood, and physical symptoms like headaches or stomaches can severely impair day-to-day functioning.
A trauma-informed therapeutic approach can help teens identify root causes, resolve past trauma, and develop healthy coping mechanisms for sustainable recovery and future success.
We can provide a safe, therapy-intensive intervention designed to stabilize behavior, treat underlying conditions and equip teens for success.
Individual, Family, and Group Therapy Sessions Led by Licensed, Christian Therapists
Psychiatric Evaluation, Medication Management & 24-Hour Skilled Nursing
Individualized Academics with Support for Behavior-Driven Learning Needs
Immersive, Christ-Centered Environment Fostering Personal & Spiritual Growth
Understanding Behaviors Associated with PTSD in Teen Boys
Behavior is often the first thing that parents notice. Many may not even be aware of past traumatic events that are impacting their son’s emotional well-being. Instances of bullying at school or individual reactions to shared experiences that differ from other family members can cause hidden trauma.
To parents, PTSD can look like a pattern of substance abuse, risk-seeking behaviors, irritability, aggression, or depression. When confronted, teens become defensive, confused, angry, and defiant because they too do not understand the PTSD at the root of their behavior.
What PTSD Looks Like in Teen Boys:
Frequent Anger Outbursts
Edginess or Hypervigilence
Reckless or Risk-Seeking Behaviors
Difficulty Trusting Others
Defiance or Oppositional Behavior
Emotional Numbness
Depression or Persistent Sadness
Sleeping Problems
Substance Abuse
When Is a Residential Treatment the Right Choice?
Residential treatment can be the right choice for teens with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) when their behaviors and emotional challenges are so severe that they cannot be safely or effectively addressed at home or in outpatient therapy.
Are behaviors severely impacting daily life?
When incidents begin to severely impact social, academic, or occupational functioning, treatment can help. The process typically begins with outpatient therapy, but if behaviors do not improve, residential treatment can provide a more immersive treatment experience.
Does the teen have more than one co-occurring diagnosis?
When more than one diagnosis is co-occuring, treatment becomes increasingly complex. These individuals often benefit from an immersive, residential treatment program that can tailor services to meet their unique needs. For example, if impulsive behaviors stem from past childhood trauma, a residential placement can support both root-cause interventions and the development of healthier coping strategies to stabilize behaviors.
Have outpatient treatment options previously failed?
For many, outpatient therapy provides enough support to overcome self-harming behaviors. However, if a teens who have previously failed with outpatient services or who have had multiple short-term placements, often benefit from longer-term treatment like a residential program.
Is there an immediate risk of danger?
If behaviors pose an immediate risk to the individual or those around them, placement in a residential treatment program can help keep everyone safe.
Have Previous Treatment Options Failed?
Residential treatment is often most appropriate for individuals who have not seen sustained success with outpatient or short-term treatment options. The immersive, long-term approach of a residential treatment center can provide enhanced structure and support to facilitate an intense focus on recovery.
Why Choose Teen Challenge Adventure Ranch?
Teen Challenge Adventure Ranch is a dual-diagnosis mental health treatment facility with a Christ-centered, trauma-based approach. We help boys with complex mental health struggles resulting from past trauma.
Our program provides stabilization, skill-building, and transition support so that your son can work on identifying and resolving past trauma, improve emotional regulation and coping strategies, and build strong systems of support.
Our six core areas of healing include:
- Clinical Therapy
- Individualized Academics
- Outdoor Adventure
- Equine Therapy
- Family Involvement
- Spiritual Growth
