Chapter 9 of 16

📖 12 min read

Home The Complete Parent’s Guide to Therapeutic Boarding Schools Expert Resources Your Due Diligence Checklist for Vetting Schools

FOUNDATION: Finding the The Right Fit for Your Teen

Your Due Diligence Checklist
for Vetting Schools

The Vetting Process for Therapeutic Boarding Schools

"I didn't know what I didn't know."

That’s what one dad told me after pulling his son out of a school that looked amazing on paper. The brochure had testimonials. The website showed smiling teens and serene landscapes. It checked all the boxes… until it didn’t.

Within weeks, he realized the therapy was thin, the communication was patchy, and the staff seemed reactive rather than proactive. But by then? They were already emotionally and financially invested. Starting over was hard—and it could have been avoided.

Your Investigation Checklist - Vetting Therapeutic Schools

💡 Expert Insight:

Before you even schedule a call:

Before enrollment:

Verify current licensing and accreditation claims

Check state licensing websites directly
Confirm academic accreditation with the named organizations
Look up any disciplinary actions or violations

Research the leadership and clinical team

How long have key staff been there?
What are their qualifications and backgrounds?
Any concerning histories or license issues?

Read between the lines of their website

Do testimonials include full names and contact information?
Are photos recent and genuine (not stock photos)?
How long have they been in operation?

Check third-party sources

Better Business Bureau ratings and complaints
State licensing board records
News articles or legal issues
Parent forums and review sites (with grain of salt)

The Initial Admissions Call: Good Signs vs. Red Flags

When you first speak with admissions, pay attention to:

Good signs:

They ask detailed questions about your teen’s specific needs
They’re honest about what they can and can’t provide
They encourage you to speak with other families
They’re transparent about costs and policies
They acknowledge this is a difficult decision

Red flags:

High-pressure tactics or artificial urgency
Unwillingness to provide references
Vague answers about staff qualifications
Over-promising rapid transformation
Reluctance to discuss their approach to discipline or crisis management

Visiting the Campus: What to Look For

If possible, visit in person. If not, request a virtual tour that includes:

Observe the environment:

How do staff and students interact in unscripted moments?
Do students seem engaged or just compliant?
Is the atmosphere warm and purposeful, or tense and controlled?
How are conflicts or disruptions handled?

Ask for specifics:

Can you sit in on a group therapy session or academic class?
Can you eat a meal with students?
Will they let you speak privately with current students?
Can you walk the campus without a “handler”?

Pay attention to:

Condition of facilities (safe, clean, but not necessarily fancy)
Student-to-staff ratios in real-time
How staff respond to students’ needs or requests
Whether students make eye contact and seem comfortable

Beyond the Brochure: Speaking with Alumni Families

The Parent-to-Parent Call: Your Most Important Research

Don’t just accept the three glowing references they provide. Ask for:

A range of perspectives:

Families whose teens graduated successfully
Families whose teens left early or struggled
Families with teens similar to yours (age, gender, issues)
Families from different time periods (recent and 2+ years ago)

Questions to ask references:

“What surprised you most about the program?”
“If you had to do it again, would you choose the same school?”
“What was the hardest part of the experience for your family?”
“How was communication during the program?”
“What did aftercare planning look like?”
“Any advice you wish someone had given you?”

The Deep Dive Questions

Once you’re seriously considering a school, dig deeper:

About their therapeutic approach:

“Walk me through a typical treatment plan for a teen like mine.”
“How do you measure therapeutic progress?”
“What happens when standard approaches aren’t working?”
“How do you handle teens who have trauma histories?”

About crisis management:

“Describe your protocols for mental health emergencies.”
“How often do you involve outside emergency services?”
“What’s your relationship with local hospitals?”
“How do you communicate with parents during a crisis?”

About academics:

“Show me sample transcripts from recent graduates.”
“What percentage of your graduates go on to college?”
“How do you handle students who are significantly behind academically?”
“Can you guarantee credit transfer to our home school?”

About discharge and aftercare:

“What’s your average length of stay?”
“Who makes the decision about when a student is ready to leave?”
“How do you prepare families for reintegration?”
“What ongoing support do you provide after graduation?”

Red Flags That Should End Your Consideration

Refusal to provide references or references that can’t be verified
Defensive responses to reasonable questions
Inconsistent information between different staff members
High staff turnover in key positions
Recent licensing violations or ongoing investigations
Financial irregularities or sudden policy changes
Pressure to decide without adequate time for research
Non-disparagement clauses that prevent honest feedback

Trust Your Gut, But Verify Everything

I’ve seen parents make decisions based purely on emotion—both good and bad. Your intuition matters, but it should be supported by facts.

If something feels “off” during your research, don’t ignore it. Keep digging. Ask harder questions. Get more references.

If something feels “right,” that’s wonderful—but still do your homework. Even good schools might not be the right fit for your specific child.

The Decision Framework

Before you decide, make sure you can answer:

Does this school match my teen’s specific therapeutic needs?
Can they provide the academic support my child requires?
Does the peer group seem like a good fit?
Am I confident in the quality and stability of the staff?
Do I understand and accept the financial commitment?
Have I spoken with multiple reference families?
Does my gut feel good about the culture and approach?

❤️ The Hard Truth:
Remember: You’re not just choosing a program. You’re choosing the people who will hold your child through their hardest moments.

Take the time to make sure they’re worthy of that trust.