Ozark Trails Academy Helps Teens Suffering with Separation Anxiety Disorder
Parents looking for effective therapy methods to help a struggling teen boy or girl can learn about how we treat Separation Anxiety 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 enrolls at our therapeutic boarding school for counseling, treatment, and improving academic/life skills, Ozark Trails also helps students struggling with Separation Anxiety Disorder improve their mental and physical health.
What Is Separation Anxiety Disorder?
Separation anxiety disorder (SAD) is a condition in which a child becomes fearful and nervous when away from home or separated from a loved one — usually a parent or other caregiver — to whom the child is attached. Some children also develop physical symptoms, such as headaches or stomachaches, at the thought of being separated. The fear of separation causes great distress to the child and may interfere with their normal activities, like going to school or playing with other children.
Separation anxiety is normal in very young children (those between 8 and 14 months old). Kids often go through a phase when they’re “clingy” and afraid of unfamiliar people and places. When this fear affects a child over age 6 years, is heavy, or lasts longer than 4 weeks, the child may have separation anxiety disorder. Separation anxiety affects approximately 4%-5% of children in the U.S. ages 7 to 11 years. It is less common in teenagers, affecting about 1.3% of American teens. It affects boys and girls equally.
Symptoms of Separation Anxiety Disorder:
- An unrealistic and lasting worry that something bad will happen to the parent or caregiver if the child leaves
- An unrealistic and lasting worry that something bad will happen to the child if they leave the caregiver
- Refusal to go to school in order to stay with the caregiver
- Refusal to go to sleep without the caregiver being nearby or to sleep away from home
- Fear of being alone
- Nightmares about being separated
- Bed-wetting
- Complaints of physical symptoms, such as headaches and stomachaches
- Repeated temper tantrums or pleading
- Intense fear or guilt
Ozark Trails Teaches Students Healthier Ways to Deal with Separation Anxiety
That’s why Ozark Trails Academy treats Separation Anxiety Disorder. Therapists address physical symptoms, identify anxious thoughts, help your teen develop coping strategies, and foster problem solving. Professional treatment for separation anxiety disorder may include:
Talk therapy. Talk therapy provides a safe place for your teen to express their feelings. Having someone to listen empathetically and guide your child toward understanding their anxiety can be powerful treatment.
Play therapy. The therapeutic use of play is a common and effective way to get kids talking about their feelings.
Counseling for the family. Family counseling can help your teen counteract the thoughts that fuel their anxiety, while you as the parent can help your child learn coping skills.
School-based counseling. This can help your teen with separation anxiety disorder explore the social, behavioral, and academic demands of school.
Another goal of the therapy is to teach a student healthier ways of dealing with future situations. And we understand that it takes time to improve a student’s thoughts and actions. We want each student to experience effective counseling and treatment, as well as improve daily life at school, and back home with family.
Ozark Trails—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 12-17. 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 Separation Anxiety Disorder, please call us at (417) 278-6868 now. 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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