As adopted adolescents deal with the dramatic changes brought on by teenage years, they can turn into troubled teens.
Adopted troubled teens will need parental guidance, therapy, and even other methods of treatment like residential treatment. If your adopted teen is showing signs of emotional turmoil, you may be wondering, “How can I help my adopted child?” There are many things you can do, but putting them through residential treatment may be the best option for both your teen and your entire family unit.
Rapid physical and hormonal growth brought on by puberty will cause emotional trials and tribulations for any teen, but these can be worse for adopted adolescents. Most girls start sexual development between the ages of 8 and 13, and have a growth spurt between 10 and 14. Boys go through these changes between 10 and 13, and grow until they are around 16.
Many adolescents may look like young adults in their mid-teen years; however, teenagers still need consistent guidance and supervision. In addition to physical changes, the parts of the brain that involve critical thinking, social interaction, and empathy also develop. Chemical changes brought on by the shifting levels of dopamine in the developing brain push youth to test the boundaries and seek out challenges. Add in the fact that many adopted adolescents have identity issues and other emotional problems that can make these changes difficult, and it’s clear that teens need guidance and opportunities for healthy activities, as well as a chance to learn from experiences.
All teenagers feel the need to separate emotionally from their family units and the adults around them. This can be a period of both excitement and anxiety. Teens often waver between wanting autonomy and wanting the safety and protection that is offered by a family. Some react by acting more mature, or acting “tough” to cope with their fears and these emotional changes.
Adopted adolescents who have experienced previous neglect or trauma tend to need extra encouragement and extra time to adapt to independence and to learn responsible life skills. This is where residential treatment comes into play.
Residential treatment centers for out-of-control adopted children, like Three Points Center, have been designed to provide support to the entire family. Three Points Center, for example, caters to only adopted youth and their families. This ensures a dedicated focus that goes unmatched somewhere else. The provided treatment plans are specific to your adopted teen and to your family, rather than just being a catch-all, cookie-cutter plan for all clients. To this end, the guidance and support provided will bring about a harmony within your family unit that is desperately needed.
If your adopted adolescent is getting out of control, residential treatment may be the best way to help them.
Three Points Center is a unique program that serves only adopted children and their families. We specialize in the many different aspects of emotional unrest that adopted children have been known to face, and the therapy and treatment needed to overcome those issues. Call us today at (435) 635-0636.