Therapeutic consultants (also known as therapeutic educational consultants) are professionals who specialize in guiding families struggling with finding the most suitable options for mental health, behavioral, or educational support for children, adolescents, and young adults.
Key areas where they provide support:
Qualifications and Expertise:
Why families choose to work with a therapeutic consultant:
Important Note: Therapeutic consultants work independent of treatment programs or schools. This ensures they provide unbiased recommendations guided by the best interests of the individual and their family.
An Independent Educational Consultant (IEC) is an independent consultant who helps parents and students plan their education. They typically are self-employed and can be hired by a parent to help identify the best educational options for a child, depending on their specific needs and challenges.
Many have become “interventionists” (a behavioral health consultants who specialize in guiding families through crisis situations) and therapeutic consultants who specialize in mental health or behavioral health treatment.
Some offer assistance to parents seeking substance abuse treatment centers, residential treatment program placement, and finding the right therapeutic school and managing the enrollment process for teens struggling with behavior or mental health issues.
As an IEC specializing in working with parents of teenagers facing behavioral or emotional difficulties, I am your advocate, coach and partner throughout this difficult time.
Many parents who turn to Google for help are unaware of the support a therapeutic ed consultants can provide. You can rely on me during the selection and enrollment process of a therapeutic program, and even after your teen returns home, I will continue to be there for you.
An Independent Educational Consultant is a family’s resource and advocate, a sounding board, a virtual assistant and a coach that guides you through the placement process. She helps families investigate, evaluate and secure placement and or enrollment into a teen therapeutic program, residential treatment center or boarding school that is a good fit for your child’s specific needs.
She will complete a full assessment of your specific situation by conducting in-depth interviews, and then help you understand the best options for your child.
She will provide options and answer questions about various programs and the associated costs, including payment and financing options. She can arrange an intervention, answer questions or help you arrange transportation, put you in touch with other parents to get first hand testimonials. She will be your partner through the entire teen placement process; some IECs also provide parenting coaching and ongoing support.
Fees vary widely, they are based on their experience and the specific services offered. From hourly consulting fees to specific consulting packages which depend on the services you choose.
Hourly Consultation Fees: Some offer hourly consultations for targeted advice on specific aspects of the programs or process.
Comprehensive Packages: Bundled services or packages should include needs assessment, program research, recommendations, application assistance, and ongoing support, coaching and advocacy. These packages can range from a few thousand dollars to several thousand, depending on complexity and the length of service.
Understanding the Value
While there’s a cost involved, working with a therapeutic consultant offers significant benefits:
Objectivity is Key
Remember, your therapeutic consultant is your child’s advocate. They work with a wide range of schools and programs to find the best match for your child’s unique needs. School admissions counselors work for their specific program, which can influence their recommendations.
Think of it as an investment in your child’s future. The cost of the right consultant is far outweighed by the long-term benefits of a successful placement.
Finding the right therapeutic program is crucial for your child’s success. Here are some risks of going it alone:
Choosing the wrong program: Without expert guidance, you might choose a school that’s not a good fit, potentially wasting valuable time and money, or worse, delaying your child’s progress.
Overlooking important factors: There are many nuances to consider, like therapy modalities, accreditation, and aftercare planning. A consultant helps you assess these critical elements.
Feeling overwhelmed: The sheer number of programs and the emotional aspect of the search can be overwhelming. A therapeutic consultant provides support and clarity throughout the process.
Finding a therapeutic school on your own is doable, but the risks of finding the wrong fit for your teen are extremely high. The therapeutic consultant is your advocate and has an extensive portfolio of accredited programs that are vetted and have excellent outcomes.
Interventionist
Therapeutic Consultant (also known as Therapeutic Educational Consultant)
Educational Consultant (Traditional Focus)
Important Notes:
There’s an overlap between these roles, especially with therapeutic consultants. Many, like me, started as traditional educational consultants and evolved to specialize in more complex cases with therapeutic needs.
Because the roles and services are different, ask questions about a consultant’s experience and their areas of focus.
A boarding school provides an academic program for those students who live on the premises, with boarding referring to room and board.
About boarding schools
Many boarding schools offer continued education, including single-gender, co-ed, long-term and short-term, therapeutic, and rehabilitation programs.
There are preparatory schools with stringent admission requirements, specialty schools that offer pre-professional programs, schools that specialize in learning disabilities and work with children with behavioral problems, and strict preparatory schools like most military schools in the US.
Therapeutic Boarding Schools are a unique type of residential therapeutic program. They provide a comprehensive approach to education, combining structure, supervision, social, academics, sports, behavioral, and emotional development. This holistic approach is particularly beneficial for children who may be struggling with emotional or behavioral issues.
Some provide ongoing religious or spiritual nurturing and support for addiction recovery, including vaping, video gaming, internet or technology overuse, and other social behaviors.
A therapeutic boarding school is licensed by the state and should be accredited. A child should be able to transfer all credits to a public school.
Teen therapeutic boarding schools aim to promote growth and learning in a long-term model. The earliest known therapeutic boarding school in the United States dates to 1920; it was intended explicitly to help troubled adolescents.
Military Schools are preparatory educational institutions for those interested in a military career or planning to attend an elite university. They maintain rigorous admission standards to cultivate future military leaders. Many students planning to attend an elite university also choose a military school.
Boot Camps are short-term programs modeled after military boot camps. Their goal is to “break down” your child’s will and short-term behavioral change, the effects often fade once the program ends and the child has been home for a few weeks.
While boot camps promise a short-term solution for teenagers, their approach is a lot like the” Scared Straight” model, which has been but has been proven to increase, instead of decrease, delinquent behavior.
Juvenile awareness programs, such as Scared Straight, remain in use despite the finding that these programs provoke rather than prevent delinquency. -According to a study about Scared Straight and other juvenile awareness programs
The long-term success rate of boot camps remains unproven. After graduation, teens become more rebellious and defiant. This uncertainty should make you, as a parent, consider the potential risks. If you choose a boot camp for your teenager, ensure it is accredited and has proper oversight.
Speak to parents whose children have attended similar programs.
On the other hand, long-term therapeutic programs offer a comprehensive approach. They delve beyond a single issue and strive to help your child develop new coping skills and confidence, fostering personal growth. This holistic approach, with its focus on long-term development, can provide a beacon of hope for parents of struggling teens.
A reputable therapeutic program combines discipline, compassionate care and individual and group therapy, academics, other behavioral therapies. Addressing a wide range of issues, including substance misuse, behavioral problems and emotional difficulties.
Many of these programs are intended to provide a less restrictive alternative to incarceration or hospitalization.
Which program is best suited for your child? Choosing the right program for your troubled teen is a confusing and complex process. Parents are often frustrated and overwhelmed when researching options online.
Don’t go it alone! I can guide you through the process of finding the perfect program for your teen and family. After completing an assessment, I will leverage my comprehensive portfolio of therapeutic programs to recommend the ideal fit based on your child’s specific needs.
Short-term residential treatment programs for adolescents usually focus on a single behavioral issue like substance addiction or mental health, like depression, eating disorders, or suicidal tendencies, typically 30-60 days.
While there are many differences among programs, long-term therapeutic programs go beyond a single issue and aim to help the child develop new coping skills and confidence-building, resulting in personal growth. A reputable therapeutic program often offers strict discipline, compassionate care and psychological counseling, academics, and support groups and other behavioral therapies to address a variety of issues, including addiction, behavioral, and emotional problems.
Many of these programs are intended to provide a less-restrictive alternative to incarceration or hospitalization. These programs go by a
It depends on your child’s specific needs. How long has she been exhibiting the behaviors? One month, two months, eighteen months? Short-term programs can sometimes be an option for intervention or stabilization for a child out of control. A short-term program usually lasts four to twelve weeks.
Long-term programs are nine to twelve months and have a higher success ratio. In my experience, by the time a parent starts to consider sending their child to a program seriously, the situation is severe enough that it requires not just an intervention but a long-term plan to ensure sustainable long-term change.
Therapeutic services for troubled teens vary by program and should be personalized to your teen’s specific needs. Troubled Teen Programs offer:
There are many financial options for parents such as Home Equity Line of Credit, borrowing from 401k or utilizing 529 college plan funds. There are some options for health related loans and in some school districts there are alternative options for partial reimbursement.
To understand all of your options, we recommend you speak to an Independent Educational Consultant like Mary Warren about your specific situation.
Parents choose a school or a program based on the information available when the decision is made. Even the most diligent parent will find it impossible to be sure unless they’ve carefully researched or had inside knowledge of the type of schools available throughout the country.
There are hundreds of therapeutic boarding schools on the West Coast alone and many more throughout the country. Some schools have been around for years, while others pop up and close within a few years. Unfortunately, the troubled teen industry has been known to have difficulties since state regulations and licensing requirements are different in every state.
Making this choice for your family is difficult enough but doing it alone without the guidance of an expert is like throwing dice and hoping for the best.
In today’s environment, where so much information is available online, many people work with experts when buying a home or making an investment. This decision is life-altering for your child and your family. I urge you to work with an expert to ensure the best outcome.
Independent Educational Consultants are the experts in this field with inside knowledge, experience, and access that is not readily available to others. Most placements that fail do so because the program was not the right fit.
Holidays and school breaks are tough for parents who have a teen in crisis. Sending your child away to a residential therapeutic program any time of the year is a big decision. Before holidays or big family plans, it seems even more difficult. Often, we think, “Well… if I do this with him during —– (fill in the blank), it will be better”. The answer is almost always, don’t wait.
Think about the past holidays or the last time you made big family plans that included your teenager…were they fun? Did your child create drama and frustration for you and other family members? Did they even appreciate Christmas for the spirit of the holiday, or were they demanding and entitled?
Also, think of this phrase, “natural consequences.” If your child weren’t making poor choices, they would be home for that special family occasion. This is a great opportunity to teach them that her choices cause her positive and negative consequences.
This is not a punishment but the beginning of healing the entire family. The sooner you start, the sooner the healing begins, and a new route develops for her life’s path. They can share many more family trips and holidays with the family; with more respect, confidence, and love.
Equine Therapy involves supervised activities and interactions between a patient, a mental health professional, and a horse handler.
Activities include grooming, feeding, haltering and leading a horse, mounting, and riding.
Equine Therapy has high success ratios with teenagers, especially teens with learning disabilities, ADHD, Depression, and other emotional issues. Some therapeutic programs with outdoor components like Wilderness Programs often offer Equine Therapy as part of a comprehensive rehabilitation program.
Equine Therapy helps develop accountability, responsibility, self-confidence, problem-solving skills, and self-control. Some studies report increases in assertiveness, emotional awareness, empathy, improvement in social relationships, and social responsibility.
There are many benefits attributed to equine Therapy. Horses are non-judgmental, have no preconceived expectations or motives, and are highly effective at mirroring attitudes and behaviors. Children with autism and teens suffering from depression often benefit from this Therapy.
Many parents struggle with this question. If your child is sneaking out, breaking the law, using drugs or alcohol, has low self-esteem, has recently changed friends, is difficult to live with at home, defiant and disrespectful and the behavior has been ongoing or getting worse over time then they are exhibiting high-risk behaviors that are not just normal teenage rebellion.
Health insurance does not typically pay for therapeutic boarding school tuition.
HOWEVER,
The short answer is that as of 2020, it depends. Here’s what you need to know:
Medical Necessity: Most health insurance plans primarily cover services deemed medically necessary. Therapeutic interventions may be covered if they are directly treating a diagnosed mental health disorder (such as depression, anxiety, or substance abuse).
Residential Treatment Programs: These programs offer intensive treatment in a residential setting. If the program is appropriately licensed and accredited, insurance may cover some of the costs associated with mental health treatment (like therapy, medication management), and in some cases they cover inpatient treatment.
Wilderness Programs: These programs combine therapy with outdoor experiences. Insurance coverage will depend on whether the program has sufficient medical and mental health components to be considered medically necessary.
Review your policy to understand your benefits, contact your insurance provider and work with the program’s insurance specialists.
There are other options to help you pay for therapeutic boarding school, you can discuss these options with your ed consultant.
I always say, when you know, you know… deep inside your subconscious, you know that everything you have tried has not worked. If you are like most parents I work with, you’ve tried therapy, medication, changing schools, taking everything away, negotiating, and sending her to stay with other family members.
You find yourself at the point where there is nothing left to do. You feel defeated and exhausted. You are terrified for your child, and deep inside, you know this is the only option left.
Working together, you and I will examine all the options and work through the emotions. We will navigate the complicated and confusing information to make the best choice for your family.
Not all residential treatment programs offer academic programs that can be transferred to your local school or that count towards a high school diploma. While many programs offer educational options, sometimes it becomes necessary to work with your teenager on behavioral issues before focusing on academic education.
When considering a residential treatment program, you should ask if their academic program is accredited and transferrable. Some programs only offer self-study, online education, or even distance education. In contrast, some have fully accredited schools and licensed, certified teachers.
If you are searching for a program without the aid of an Independent Educational Consultant, I recommend you ask the admissions coordinator about their academic program and accreditation.
If you are searching for a program without the aid of an Independent Educational Consultant, I recommend you ask the admissions coordinator about their academic program and accreditation.
Many of these programs are found in some states but not all because of child consent vs. parent consent. In some states, your child has to agree to attend and to stay. While in other states, you, as the parent, make the decision.
Moreover, it has been proven that a child does better when removed from peer influences and familiar environments. The distance from home allows the teenager to let their guard down and work on themselves without distractions. An excellent therapeutic school or program will want family involvement even at a distance. Technology today makes it easier than ever to have face-to-face communication.
The process is different for every family, and it depends on your specific situation. In case of a crisis requiring intervention, like when a child is in danger, or a court order is pending, the situation necessitates a fast or expedited process that could take 24-72 hours.
For non-crisis situations, it depends on your sense of urgency. There is a discovery and assessment process that requires phone consultations with parents, a therapist, and or other professionals who are treating or have treated your child recently. We will need access to medical and academic records. Typically, the process takes a week to two weeks depending on how quickly we can get all the necessary documents and secure travel arrangements.
Parents can expect a period of adjustment with limited communication as teens settle into the program. During this time, staff will focus on building trust and rapport with the teen, establishing routines, and starting the therapeutic process. Parents will usually receive updates and participate in scheduled calls or meetings to discuss their child’s progress and any immediate concerns.
