Daily Skills Practice

True change comes with time and consistent practice.

At the Academy we empower teens to chart their own course through the program by creating an individualized treatment plan in collaboration with their parents and treatment team. This treatment plan outlines long-term and short-term goals to address reasons for placement.

Students translate short-term goals into daily goals by identifying specific skills to practice on their daily goal-cards. They practice these skills every day to earn money, fun activities, and other positive consequences. Practicing skills daily empowers students to be positively reinforced for behaviors that are healthy but still challenging because they are new.

Consistency is key for creating change!

Many of the goals students put on their goal-cards are:

  • Distress tolerance skills
  • Emotional regulation skills
  • Cognitive reframes
  • Mindfulness skills
  • Communication techniques
  • Boundary-setting
  • Self-care practices