Transforming the School Bully: How Therapeutic Boarding Schools Can Help

It takes more than a stern warning or slap on the wrist to convince most teen bullies to stop tormenting their peers. Often, their behaviors are rooted in underlying emotional or behavioral issues, such as oppositional defiant disorder or personality disorders, or problems at home.

For these teens, therapy or more intensive interventions like a therapeutic boarding school can bring about the necessary changes in attitude and behavior. These specialized boarding schools help teen bullies through:

24-Hour Supervision – Teens don’t have the same opportunity to bully other students because they are under 24-hour supervision by adolescent specialists.

Individual & Group Therapy – Master’s level therapists and other specialists work with adolescents to understand the source of their aggression and negativity. With an individualized treatment plan in place, teen bullies are able to identify their issues and develop the communication skills to express themselves in positive ways. Group therapy can be particularly effective as teen bullies receive open, honest feedback from their peers in a safe, structured setting.

Recreational Activities – Therapeutic boarding schools offer an extensive variety of recreational activities, including team sports, music, art, horseback riding, and adventure activities like rock climbing and whitewater rafting. With endless opportunities to find new interests, teen bullies are sure to find something that ignites their passion.

Positive Peer Environment – The social experience at a therapeutic boarding school is highly structured and extremely positive. All staff members, including residential staff, therapists and teachers, work together to monitor student behavior and help teens resolve conflicts in productive, respectful ways. With practice and guidance, teen bullies can learn how to interact with their peers in a way that meets the needs of all involved.

Equine Therapy – Many therapeutic boarding schools offer equine therapy, which is a uniquely effective way to reach troubled teens who are defiant and aggressive. If a teen struggles in their relationships with other people, working with a horse can help them understand how their aggressive approach affects others and adopt a calmer, more patient approach.

Family Therapy – Family conflict or a history of abuse or trauma can lead to a pattern of abusive, violent behavior in teens. Family therapy and workshops for parents help ensure that both the adolescent and their parents are learning new skills and working to improve their relationship.

At the same time, therapeutic boarding schools are able to get troubled teens caught up in school and on track for college. With college-prep courses, individualized academic plans, college and career planning, and other services, bullies can get the treatment they need while preserving their futures.