Teenage Behavior

What’s Really Happening With Your Teen?

Teen behavior can be difficult to interpret. What prompted the emotional meltdown before school this morning? Why the slammed doors or the sudden decline in grades?

When these behaviors become more intense and drawn out over an extended period of time, parents can be left wondering what happened to their child. While some issues may be as fleeting as an argument with a friend or a disappointing grade on a test, others may be indicative of an underlying emotional or behavioral problem that requires treatment.

Fortunately, there are experts who specialize in assessing, diagnosing and treating problematic teen behavior. At SUWS, one of the longest running and most reputable wilderness therapy programs in the country, an onsite clinical testing psychologist gives parents a complete picture of the issues affecting their child.

Some of the benefits of having a clinical testing psychologist onsite include:

SUWS is able to offer a full spectrum of tests and assessments, including IQ and achievement tests, psychological testing, and drug and alcohol abuse assessments, which allows the clinical team to tailor treatment to each teen’s specific needs.

If a teen is struggling or an issue begins to emerge, he or she can be assessed right away – as the issue is unfolding – rather than waiting for an off-site psychologist to arrive.

A team approach allows the therapists, field instructors and psychologist to have a clear picture of the issues facing each teen, and to seamlessly develop effective treatment plans and transition plans.
The psychologist meets with the teens in the field, which allows him to build relationships based on mutual trust and respect.

Through assessments and testing, parents gain clear insights into the issues affecting their teen while their child is still in treatment and the issues can be addressed by knowledgeable adolescent specialists.
Even if an adolescent has seen a therapist in the past, there may be issues that have gone undetected or undiagnosed. For example, what appears to be a behavioral problem may actually be a cognitive or intellectual issue. Once a teen is accurately assessed and diagnosed, he or she is often able to make progress much more quickly.

Pre-existing evaluation(s) are reviewed by the onsite psychologist to ensure thorough and accurate assessment as it relates to developing the individualized treatment plan at SUWS.

While many teens come to SUWS with a diagnosis of oppositional defiant disorder, bipolar disorder or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), the diagnosis is often more complex than it first appears.

The experience that the clinical testing psychologist brings allows the treatment team to fully understand all of the issues affecting a teen, as well as the complex interplay among conditions.
Under the direction of an onsite clinical testing psychologist, the entire clinical team at SUWS has become more knowledgeable, talented and diverse.

In just four to six weeks, the clinical team at SUWS is able to assess an adolescent, diagnose any emotional, behavioral, learning or family issues, and make appropriate recommendations for treatment.

With the addition of an onsite clinical testing psychologist, SUWS has the ability to help you understand what’s really happening with your teen. Once you understand the root causes of your teen’s troubles, your teen can receive the treatment he or she needs to get back on track in school and nurture trusting bonds at home.