Therapeutic, Special Needs & Learning Disabilities
“Throughout my years in education and as an educational consultant, I have always had an affinity for kids who were struggling with learning, behavioral and emotional issues. I know there are ways to help get them back on track.” — JODY DOBSON
Therapeutic and Special Needs
If your child is struggling, the signs can be subtle: decline in school performance, changes in habits and friendships, difficulties with family rules and expectations. Sometimes there can be a crisis that calls for immediate action. Indicators can include drug and/or alcohol abuse or dependence; anger, defiance, or aggression; lack of self-esteem; isolation and computer overuse; anxiety and depression; family conflict; academic underachievement or school refusal; negative peer groups; the impact of grief, loss, or other trauma.
No matter where on this range your child is, there are programs that are specifically designed to address these issues. We know these programs well and can help you find the right ones for your child. Successful outcomes may require some type of residential environment. Options may include: wilderness therapeutic programs, boarding schools with therapeutic support, residential treatment centers, recovery programs, and in some cases, hospital-based assessment and treatment.
We recommend two books for additional information and guidance. The first is Where Can We Turn? A Parent's Guide for Evaluating Treatment Programs. Excerpts can be viewed or the book can be purchased at this link. The second is What Now? How Teen Therapeutic Programs Could Save Your Troubled Child by Dr. Paul Case. Written for parents and consultants, this book details the reasons for placement in wilderness therapy and provides a guide through the typical steps.
Learning Disabilities
All children learn differently! But sometimes these differences cause problems. Learning differences can be diagnosed as dyslexia, ADD and ADHD, Asperger’s Syndrome, other emotional, attentional, and even behavioral descriptions. As described by the Learning Disabilities Association of America, these are essentially neurologically-based processing problems, which can interfere with learning basic skills such as reading, writing or math – and higher-level skills such as organization, time planning and abstract reasoning, and appropriate socialization.
With the proper understanding and support, children with learning disabilities or differences can become successful students and adults. Locally and nationally, there are exceptional programs for students with learning disabilities of all kinds - schools that specialize in remediating learning disabilities, as well as more traditional schools that are inclusive and can accommodate students with learning problems. We know these schools well and can help you find the ones that best meet your child’s learning needs.
