Learning to Take Responsibility for Actions

One of the hardest things many troubled teens have to learn is how to take responsibility for their actions. They also need to be accountable for the consequences of those actions. Equine therapy has been found to help teens with various problems learn responsibility and accountability. It alos helps with anger, relationship , self-confidence issues.


Part of the reason equine or horse therapy works is because a horse doesn't care what a person has done in the past or will do in the future, they only care about what is done now. When a troubled teen is paired with a horse, the first thing the teen has to learn is how to read the horse's body language well enough to know what the horse's reaction is to what the teen is doing. This helps the teen gain the animal's trust and form a bond with it. In the process, the teen learns as much about him or herself as about the horse they are developing a relationship with.


During the time the teen spends with the horse each day, he or she is responsible for grooming, exercising and caring for the horse. This teaches responsibility and the teen is held accountable if the horse is not properly cared for, often by the horse itself. Horses can be stubborn and if some part of their care is not handled properly, they can be reluctant to cooperate with the person they hold responsible for it.


The bond that forms between the teen and the horse has a calming effect that helps teens handle anger management and stress issues. This makes other therapy used in conjunction with equine therapy more effective as the teen is calmer and often less defensive. Working with a horse, the troubled teen learns to be part of a team in achieving a common goal, whether it is backing the horse into a stall or riding to complete a certain course or trail. Over the course of therapy, the teen learns to translate these skills to daily life.


By the end of the course of therapy, teens have learned to relate better with people because of the relationship they have developed with the horse. It may take several course of therapy for some teens but the overall success rate of this type of therapy is high. Pinnacle Schools Elk River campus offers equine therapy for troubled teens. No matter what issues a teen may be dealing with, horse therapy is worth looking into.

A Helpful Solution for Teens

Emotional problems are common in many teens. Anger and aggression can all be part of typical teenage angst. Then there are times that concerns become troubling and a responsible parent needs to intervene. This includes depression, psychological problems, drugs and eating disorders.

While counseling may provide some help for struggling teens, there may be times when they need more help than the parent can offer. In these cases, a school for struggling teens may be a better choice.

In the schools providing troubled teen help, the students are in an environment that allows them to receive the help they need and find growth. Some of these programs include time in the wilderness while others are more along the lines of a boarding school that provides therapeutic sessions during the course of the day and provides help for struggling teens by giving them easy access to counselors while they live in a trusting environment.

Parents who need trouble teen help and approach these facilities shouldn’t feel as thought they failed. Beyond parenting, there are chemical imbalances and outside influences that can cause a good child to become a troubled teen. Having them attend the schools designed to provide help for struggling teens allows them to get the help they need and is a responsible choice for parents.

There are also some important things as a parent you should do before enrolling your child into any of these schools.

•     Ask questions, no matter have trivial, to ensure you fully understand the school and the program your child will be attending.
•     Check into the credentials of the school and pay close attention to any problems in the school’s past.
•     Verify the specialties of the school and determine if your teen’s needs are an ideal match. You can also check to see if the problems of your teen are similar to the average student in the school.
•     Find out the course of treatment your child will be expected to undertake. Boot camp themed schools are not the best choice for all students.
•     Take a tour of the campus and get a feeling for the environment. Do what you can to interact with teachers and staff to get a feeling for those who will have daily contact with your teen.

With a little effort, you will be able to get your child into an environment that will help them get their life back on track. While it might seem a little difficult at first, you will find it really is one of the best options for them and it could give them the push they need to live up to their full potential.

Elk River Treatment Program Details

If you have a teen dealing with more than the normal issues of teenage angst, the Elk River Treatment Program or ERTP is a great intervention program for teenagers between from 12-18. Base camp is a stable environment where your teen will be offered a complete series of services including assessment, education, diagnostic and proper treatment. This is not your typical wilderness experience program; in fact, ERTP utilizes a full treatment team and employs cognitive therapy modification in a group setting to deal with adverse behaviors.

It is true that many of the Elk River programs are centered on outdoor activities but there are many indoor facilities as well. In addition to cabins and a large schoolhouse for the more advanced students there is a cafeteria, commercial kitchen, shower houses, gymnasium and laundry facilities.

Each student admitted to the program are given all the tools required for successful completion of the program. Included in the equipment list is appropriate footwear, clothing, rain gear, hat and sleeping bag. At the completion of the program, each student is allowed to take the equipment with them.

Parents are also a big part of the treatment team at ERTP; in fact, they work closely with the treatment team so that they completely understand how their teen is progressing. Each week the team will send progress reports.

We address the needs of many students. Common issues include:

• Attention deficit disorder/ with or without hyperactivity
• Bipolar Disorder
• Conduct Disorder
• Defiance issues
• Depression
• Worry/ anxiety
• No respect for elders
• Dual Diagnosis
• Abandonment/ adoption issues
• Drug and/or alcohol abuse
• Self-esteem issues
• Mood Disorders
• Obesity
• Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD)
• Peer Relationship problems
• Reactive Attachment Disorder
• Truancy/Poor School Performance

Despite being a successful treatment center, there are some students they cannot accept. Teens who suffer with predatory behavior, severe learning difficulties or unstable eating disorders are not treated at ERTP. Students at Elk River are dealing with a lot of social, emotional and psychological issues, but they must still be able to exercise with risk from serious physical or medical problems.

An environment of acceptance, challenge and respect is the mission of Pinnacle Schools, which ERTP supports fully. Students learn to be self-directed, confident, educated and contributing members of the world.

Have Wonderful Thanksgiving

Have a great Thanksgiving weekend. Enjoy your family and loved ones!

Valuable Information

Valuable information from Dr. Bert Pitts & Associates in Birmingham.
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Dealing with Teen Issues with Drugs and Alcohol

Drugs and alcohol have long been dangerous temptations for teens. Teenagers feel that nothing can hurt them and these temptations are readily available today, which the combination often leads to trouble. Today, it is imperative that parents address these adolescent temptations in a constructive manner.

Parents have a tendency to be more passive than necessary, and hoping their teen will reach out to them with their concerns and questions. However, this often happens far too late.

Be Proactive

Grab every moment you can to teach your teenagers. Adolescents learn through repetitive actions. They also follow according to examples set at home. It is very much a tragic event, when a teen suffers serious injuries from a car accident caused by drunk driving or with he or she overdoses on some type of drug. These types of events are things teenagers have an understanding of today.

You should set a policy of zero tolerance on alcohol and drug from the start. It is dangerous even to okay occasional use of alcohol or drugs. Teenagers are extremely impulsive and highly influenced by peers. Just one beer could turn into the teen downing a six-pack.

Explain to your teen that you know situations will arise, where their peers will be consuming alcohol and possibly using drugs. Tell him or her that you expect him or her to use wise judgment during these times and just say no.

Closely Listen to Your Teenager

Teens have very selective hearing. The things you say may not penetrate into their brains. When your teen decides to tune into what you are saying make sure also to listen closely to what he or she has to say.

At times, it is quite difficult for teens to think effectively about sensitive issues. Spend enough time listening to your teen, when he or she is trying to talk about a subject.

Define a Struggling Teen

Many people do not know how to define the phrase struggling teen. There are parents who know that their teen is struggling in some way, but they don’t know how to approach the subject. Normally, there are a few signs that will ultimately make them talk to their teen about what is going on.

How can you tell if your teen is having problems? The phrase struggling teen usually says that the parent sees signs that something is terribly wrong with their teen.

If your teen starts to withdraw from the world and becomes isolated, then this is a red flag that something is wrong. This really holds water if your teen was once a vibrant person. His behavior may change and he does not feel like he can discuss his problems with you. He might not feel like he can get things done anymore or cannot deal with various areas of life. If this happens, he will withdraw and spend less time with the family. He will probably shrug all forms of social interaction, even the friendliest kinds.

Going against or questioning authority is another sign. Teens are normally very unruly and rebellious individuals, but when this gets out of hand, it can become a huge problem. They have problems with all types of authority, no matter how little it might be. For example, they refuse to do their homework correctly or pass notes in class. Any teen that does things like this just once may have difficulties making good decisions once he gets older.