Parenting Newsletter Aspen Education Group

In this issue:
Treating Teen Anxiety with Wilderness Therapy

Skills That Help Girls Better Navigate Adolescence

What Not to Say When Talking to a Child about Weight

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Call (866) 845-1391 to learn more about Aspen's programs for children, teens, and young adults.

SunHawk Recovery Center

SunHawk's substance abuse program offers intense treatment for teens experiencing emotional and alcohol or drug related problems in their lives. The 12-step based program is designed to provide a holistic approach to treatment. The ultimate goal of the long term, structured program is to teach adolescents and their families the tools to live an addiction-free, happy, healthy life. Call (866) 845-1391 to learn more about SunHawk Adolescent Recovery Center.

Island View is a licensed residential treatment center for children 12 to 18 years of age. The program at Island View ensures a safe, predictable, organized and supportive environment where residents are taught and encouraged to overcome maladaptive and self-defeating behaviors and are challenged to acquire and practice pro-social behaviors. By taking a complete approach to healing, Island View has a proven track record of building and reshaping the lives of troubled youth.

New Leaf Academy offers girls between the ages of 10 and 14 both a superior education and a supportive environment in which struggling girls can improve their academic performance, develop a healthy sense of personal responsibility, overcome problems related to defiance and anger control, and increase their ability to establish and maintain healthy relationships. New Leaf has campuses in Oregon and North Carolina.

Winter is a great time to enroll your teen in a wilderness program!

Phoenix Outdoor is a licensed wilderness-based substance abuse and chemical dependency treatment program for teenagers ages 13-17.

SUWS of the Carolinas is a therapeutic wilderness program that uses the outdoors as an alternative to conventional treatment environments, while engaging students using traditional therapeutic methods.

Wilderness Programs for Teens

Aspen Achievement Academy is a flexible length of stay program for adolescents 13-17, with over two decades of history in providing high impact treatment to teens and their families. As a clinically based program, Aspen Achievement Academy is contracted with a number of insurance companies and EAPs to provide treatment for mental health and substance abuse.

Treating Teen Anxiety with Wilderness Therapy

Your teens' constant worries, nervousness and fear are preventing them from enjoying the best of their teenage years. You suspect they are suffering from an anxiety disorder. You want to help, but which type of treatment is best? Medication, therapy, relaxation techniques?

Mother and Daughters

One of the most effective forms of teen anxiety treatment may be one you haven’t even thought of: wilderness therapy.

Aspen Achievement Academy, one of the oldest and most reputable wilderness therapy programs in the country, frequently treats teens with anxiety by using a blend of therapeutic techniques, hands-on learning and the transformative power of nature. In the wilderness, the focus is on both preventing anxiety attacks and intervening when a student’s anxiety becomes overwhelming.

Learning New Coping Skills

In an effort to prevent anxiety from taking hold, the field staff and therapists at Aspen Achievement Academy teach teens the following:

Relaxation techniques
Coping skills that keep them grounded, calm, and connected to their bodies and minds
Mindfulness skills (connecting to their own thoughts and emotions)
Emotional regulation and expression
Cognitive restructuring (changing thinking patterns in order to change behaviors)

For teens with anxiety disorders, prevention is helpful but insufficient on its own. Intervention is also critical so that teens can develop healthy coping skills to help them manage their symptoms.

The focus of treatment for teen anxiety at Aspen Achievement Academy is on identifying unhealthy coping mechanisms and learning new coping skills. Using Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and other approaches, the adolescent specialists at the academy help teens recognize negative thought patterns and more effectively manage their stress.

Learn more about treating teen anxiety with wilderness therapy >>

5 Skills That Help Teen Girls Better Navigate Adolescence

Teenage girls are prone to experiencing a rollercoaster of emotions, insecurities and self-doubts as they navigate their high school years. For girls who are also dealing with such issues as substance abuse, depression, a dysfunctional family or similar issues, attempting to survive high school can be challenging and overwhelming.

The staff at Bromley Brook, an all-girls boarding school in Vermont, has identified five skills that girls can work on to help regulate their emotions, solve problems and more effectively communicate so they can better handle all that the teenage years throw at them:

Mindfulness

With increased mindfulness of their feelings, emotions and behaviors, girls can decrease confusion about who they are, establish boundaries about what they'll tolerate and dispel any emptiness they are experiencing. Increasing mindfulness can mean observing a situation or participating in it while not jumping to conclusions. It also requires girls to stay in the present, remain focused and address the issue at hand.

Distress Tolerance

A high tolerance for distress can result in fewer impulsive behaviors and suicidal thoughts. This type of tolerance can be gained by putting things into perspective, directing energy elsewhere (such as a hobby or sport), and understanding what can and can't be controlled in a situation. This skill can be strengthened through positive self-image and the encouragement and support of peers and adults.

Read three more important skills that will help your daughter successfully navigate adolescence >>

What Not to Say When Talking to a Child about Weight

Childhood obesity has reached epidemic proportions in the United States. It is estimated that nearly 20 percent of young people are overweight or obese, and studies have found that 70 percent of overweight teenagers become overweight adults.

According to the Mayo Clinic, overweight and obesity are associated with myriad health issues, including diabetes, asthma, high blood pressure and sleep disorders.

Because the health and emotional risks of being overweight and obese are so serious, helping your children control their weight is important. If weight is an issue with your children, you'll need to talk to them.

But how you talk to your children about weight is just as important as what you tell them. Here are some of the things you should never do when talking to your children about their weight:

Don't Make Accusations

While finger pointing or assigning blame for your child's weight may be motivated by your desire to correct unhealthy behavior, it rarely works. You may be tempted to blame your child for spending too much time in front of the TV, or your spouse for letting the kids eat too much junk food. Even if you're right, such a negative approach will only put your child on the defensive.

What else should you avoid saying to your child about their weight? Continue reading to find out >>

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