Girls Boarding School FAQ - The Academy at Sisters

A: Our program is based in current best practices that are evidenced based. At the Academy at Sisters, our experience over the past 10 years has shown that Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in a long-term setting is the most successful approach when working with our population of youth. The most current analysis on adolescents from a number of professionals with the National Institute of Health indicates that your teenagers’ issues stem from factors such as their current attitudes, values and beliefs, as well as poor peer associations (in that order). In order for them to gain control and change their behaviors we address these main factors. We target their thinking using a Cognitive Behavioral approach, which allows them to re-evaluate their value system. In doing this, your daughter learns to identify her irrational thinking “junk thought” and how this perpetuates the patterns that cause problems for her. Through self-awareness and the development of self-control, your daughter slowly learns to break these habitual patterns. Her actions begin to match her goals and values and her choices display her development of consequential thinking. Thus your daughter has gradually become an empowered, self-efficient, and self-confident young woman with new values and a new vision for her future.

Q: Why don't you have therapists and psychiatrists on staff for psychotherapy and getting in touch with their feelings?

A: We have therapists and psychiatrists available to run Specialty Groups on an as-needed basis or for testing, diagnosis and prescribing of necessary medication. However, the most recent meta analysis of research shows that talk therapy is not effective. Focusing primarily on feelings does NOT work. Her current “feelings” may be based on irrational thoughts, which she may use to feel like a victim or to justify her risky behavior. Our approach is to help your daughter become aware of her “junk thought” or language that causes her to feel the way she does. We steer clear of labeling, as people often tend to use labels to excuse negative behaviors even though many people with similar issues don’t use these negative behaviors. We also do not use psychobabble with your daughter; we use clear direct language that your daughter can understand. By targeting her cognitive structure, behaviors are modified; and although she is not free of problems, she has the ability to cope with her problems rationally.

Q: Do you offer drug and alcohol education to students?

A: Yes. We have recently added a Drug and Alcohol Education/Information Group, which is based on information from SAMHSA, as well as the DEA. In conjunction with our cognitive-behavioral model, this component is useful in working with the percentage of our population who has issues surrounding drugs and alcohol.

Q: Do you offer a 12-step program or allow girls with a history of substance abuse to go to AA meetings?

A: According to the National Institute of Health, 12-step programs, lectures and “scare-tactics” are all ineffective for adolescents because they are developmentally inappropriate. As research shows, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in conjunction with education on such issues is the most effective way to help struggling adolescents who are using drugs and alcohol.

Q: What is a typical student like at the Academy at Sisters? What difficulties are they facing?

A: The issues that a typical student at the Academy at Sisters may be exhibiting might include some or all of the following:

	Oppositional Defiant Disorder/Conduct Disorder			Engaging In Risky Behavior
	-opposition toward authority			-drug and alcohol use
	-out of parental control			-suggestibility with peers
	-poor family relations			-poor peer selection
				-promiscuity
				-poor relationships
	Poor Coping Skills			-poor value system
	-lack of anger management skills			-irrational thinking and behavior
	-poor decision making skills
	-history of self-harm			Other
				-low self-confidence
				-apathy and lack of motivation
	Academic Inconsistency			-mild depression
	-school truancy			-social anxiety
	-sudden change in grades			-bipolar disorder (stable on medications)

Q: Does the fact that I’m looking for placement for my daughter mean that I’ve been a bad parent?

A: Absolutely not! It actually means quite the opposite. You’re obviously either at a point where you’ve tried everything you possibly could in the best interest of your daughter, or you see that she’s headed down a road of destruction, and want to prevent things from escalating. In either case, you’re a very concerned and loving parent and only want what is best for your daughter. Despite the things that parents teach their children, they will still make their own choices. Your daughter may be at a point where she is challenging your values, trying to establish herself as independent from you and getting into trouble as a result. However, it is these qualities that can make a strong young woman who is capable of contributing to society; but first, she needs guidance in re-evaluating her belief and value system. She needs to understand how her habitual patterns negatively effect herself and others and work to change them.

Q: Do you offer any financial assistance?

A: Yes. Educational lenders are listed on our Loan Center Resource page. You may contact our Admissions Department at 1.800.910.0412 to receive detailed information on current financial assistance available.