Ozark Trails Academy Treats Students Suffering from PTSD
Parents looking for effective therapy methods to help a struggling teen boy or girl can learn about how we treat Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder at our therapeutic boarding school in Missouri.
Ozark Trails understands that parents want to send a child to a safe, monitored environment where their teen boy or girl receives personal care, and individual therapies that help heal emotional and mental disorders–whether brought on by trauma, foster care, adoption or family genetics.
And while the young teen boy or girl enrolls our therapeutic boarding school for counseling, treatment, and improving academic/life skills, Ozark Trails also helps students struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder improve their mental and physical health.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Children and Teens
“Many people will experience traumatic events in their lives, including children and teens. Some researchers estimate that as many as 40% of children and adolescents will experience at least one traumatic event in their lifetime. While most people are able to “bounce back” from the event after a few days, weeks, or months, others struggle to cope with the experience and the memory of the trauma. These people, including children and teens, can develop what is known as PTSD, or Post-traumatic stress disorder.”
“Traumatic events often include physical violence, an accident, a natural disaster, war, or sexual abuse. Children or teens may have experienced these events themselves, or they may have witnessed them happen to someone else.”
Common PTSD Symptoms in Children and Teens
- Avoiding situations that make them recall the traumatic event
- Experiencing nightmares or flashbacks about the trauma
- Playing in a way that repeats or recalls the trauma
- Acting impulsively or aggressively
- Feeling nervous or anxious frequently
- Experiencing emotional numbness
- Having trouble focusing at school
Treating PTSD in Children and Teens
Here are some common treatment options for children and teens with Post-traumatic stress disorder.
Cognitive behavioral therapy – A trauma-focused CBT therapist helps a child identity and correct irrational or illogical thoughts they might have about the trauma itself or people and situations they encounter in everyday life. CBT also typically includes psycho-education about relaxation and coping techniques for stress.
Play therapy – This type of therapy can work especially well for younger children who struggle to communicate their reactions to the trauma and understanding of what happened. Play therapists use art therapy, games, and other interventions to help a child process a trauma and cope resiliently with life.
Eye moment desensitization and reprocessing – EMDR is a technique that incorporates guided eye movement exercises while a child recalls the traumatic event and works through cognitions and emotional responses they have about it.
Medication – There is no medication that “cures” PTSD, but sometimes antidepressants and anti-anxiety medication can help relieve symptoms in some children while they are also seeing a therapist.
“PTSD symptoms frequently co-occur with other types of mental illness or lead to other issues with children and teens, including substance use, risky behaviors, and self-injury. These issues may need to be addressed in treatment as well to protect your child and help them achieve a full recovery.”
Ozark Trails Gives Teens Healthy Ways to Heal PTSD
That’s why Ozark Trails treats students suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Therapists address your child’s mental and behavioral issues, and create an individual treatment plan to follow at school, including therapy. We also provide nutritious meals, and healthy exercise and activities. We want each student to experience effective counseling and treatment, as well as improve daily life at school, and back home with family.
A Place of Hope, Healing and Purpose for Troubled Teens.
Ozark Trails is an affordable residential treatment center that provides outstanding clinical therapy, incredible academic learning, and amazing outdoor responsibility and adventure for teen girls and boys, ages 13-19. Our program is family focused, and students receive individual treatment care by licensed clinical therapists. Ozark Trails rests on 750 acres near Willow Springs, MO.
Daily life and therapy here includes horses, chickens, farming, rafting, spelunking, rock climbing, hiking, wilderness learning, and so much more. With an unlimited access to spring rivers, caves, hiking, equine, and biking trails, we have the perfect balance of nature, inclusive of a large, comfortable facility to let our students feel safe in a home environment.
Again, if your teen boy or girl needs help recovering from PTSD, please call us at (417) 278-6868. We want to help him or her find new positive ways to manage life’s obstacles and traumas, and discover a true change of heart.
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