Help For Troubled Teens

Every public school in the United States should have a guidance counselor that a teenager can turn to without fear of repercussion. Most private and religious schools will have a counselor as well. This may not be a natural first choice, however, since a teen might fear that word will spread among his peers.

Finding Options for Troubled Teens

The most popular choice for those who seek help is a call to a toll-free hotline. These phone centers are anonymous, staffed with trained professionals, and are free. These hotlines will generally be specific to an issue such as pregnancy, alcohol/drug abuse, domestic violence or depression, but most should be able to refer a caller to a specialist if they are not trained in a particular field.

Private programs can be very expensive, depending on the nature of counseling and treatment. Many will offer financial aid, however. And most of these programs will want to work directly with parents to discover a teenager's problem and help stop it from recurring.

Public programs are free but will carry much greater caseloads. If this is a parent's only option, though, they should take it. Many of these programs have extremely dedicated counselors who will do everything they can for a troubled teen.

Getting Away from the Sources

Most military and boot camp programs are also free, though a small handful are private. They approach teen problems as a disciplinary issue. It is strongly advised that parents consider all options before settling on one. Wilderness programs, like military and boot camp programs, seek to remove the troubled teen from his environment but will tend towards more nurturing, less disciplinary activities.