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Writer's pictureSundance Canyon Academy

How to Help Your Troubled Teen Son Prepare for Success



Sundance Canyon Academy offers life-changing solutions to help your child achieve success.


You have discussed rules, limits, and consequences with your teen-aged son, yet the reckless behavior and anxieties still manifest, many times unexpectedly. As a concerned parent, you want only the best for your child, so you strive diligently to guide them to a successful, productive life. At times it can seem impossible. But you’re not alone and there are proven, life-changing ways to help him.


  • Nearly 20% of children and young people ages 3-17 in the United States have a mental, emotional, developmental, or behavioral disorder. National Library of Medicine.


  • Globally, one in seven 10-19-year-olds experiences a mental disorder, accounting for 13% of the global burden of disease in this age group.


Many parents who share problems brought about by teen-age boys suffering with issues from anxiety to depression, substance abuse to academic and developmental difficulties and more have found life-altering success with Sundance Canyon Academy.

 

Sundance Canyon Academy is a licensed, residential treatment program that utilizes a highly specialized, therapeutic approach in treating young men, ages 13-17 years old, whose lives are jeopardized by emotional and behavioral issues.

Our therapeutic and educational approach is unique and innovative in addressing numerous issues that face today’s young men. 




Life Skills: An Essential Part of Our Program 


Life Skills allows students to engage daily in a healthy routine including school, therapy, recreation and service. They advance in the program through a Relationship Management System in which they are accountable for the following:


  • Compliance

  • Attitude

  • Personal Hygiene (self and surroundings)

  • Interactions

  • Group Participation

  • Academics

  • Personal Chores

  • Responsibility

Student’s accountability will be congruent with the therapy levels and progress within the program. We provide a consistent and effective balance of therapy and self-management. Each phase of the Life Skills program addresses the following topics:


Communication

Effective verbal and written communication skills are essential from the earliest age. Whether speaking or written, being able to effectively express oneself will lead to greater achievements.


At Sundance Canyon Academy, our students learn how to speak publicly, express their ideas to their peers, and learn presentation skills that bolster their ideas in a winning way. To become successful in communication, it’s vital to learn the art of active listening with empathy and understanding.


Leadership


Understanding the basis of leadership involves being able to take the initiative and responsibility without intimidating others. The concept of good leadership is to produce more leaders, not more followers, so the ability to inspire and motivate others is a lifelong attribute that leads to greater success. We teach our Sundance students how to problem-solve and how to embrace decision-making even if there is an element of risk.


Time Management and Organization


Learning to prioritize tasks is a first step in time management. Secondly comes managing deadlines. It takes a certain skill to organize tasks in such a way that the 

efficient use of time becomes intuitive, a natural way of working. These skills enhance the ability to plan ahead, sitting goals that are relevant and achievable. For the most part, these are learned skills and when students understand the value of the process from an early age, the easier it is to internalize.


Building Character and Confidence


Two characteristics that are found in successful people are without question, self-awareness and self-esteem. Getting in touch with these two valuable attributes means that a person understands their personal strengths and weaknesses. Despite both, they work through the process of developing a positive self-image.



Resilience and Grit


Life would not be life without challenges. They are the obstacles that test our mettle. When we get in touch with our own ‘grit’, we develop instinctive ways to manage setbacks. Successful people know that setbacks and challenges are only temporary. It’s the power of perseverance and determination, the ‘never give up’ attitude that sets successful people apart from the average.


Ethics and Integrity


Perhaps more than ever, the genuine value of ethics and integrity are needed. When a person of any age understands moral principles, they intuitively act with honesty and integrity. When children see the ethical and moral implications of their actions, they are pressed to see right from wrong. Without this moral compass, true success is fleeting.


Preparing for Academic and Professional Success


Effective study strategies develop study skills that enhance academic excellence.

Students learn the value of test preparation which increases performance. Academic 

goal-setting helps to identify career interests so students can develop the professional skills they will need to succeed. Collaborating, networking, and building relationships along the way broadens students’ perspectives.


The Benefits of the Sundance Canyon Academy Program


Sundance Canyon Academy licensed professionals take an individual interest in each student. Small class sizes enable more individualized support with dedicated mentors and advisors.


Our state-of-the-art facilities include modern classrooms, dormitories, and learning spaces with access to the latest technology.


Another unique feature of Sundance is the expedition program which provides boys with opportunities that challenge them within safe, non-threatening limits. Our outdoor experts are skilled not only in outdoor sports, but in creating experiences that intentionally foster growth. 


Weekend activities and extended trips include rock climbing, mountain biking, backpacking, skiing, snowboarding and river running. Each adventure is carefully designed, offering a mix of personal therapeutic opportunities and activities that build connection and cooperation


Schools, Colleges & Universities Where Our Students Have Been Accepted


American University

Arizona State University

University of California-Berkeley

University of West Virginia

Loyola University

University of Utah

University of Pugent Sound

University of South Carolina

University of Nevada Las Vegas

Culinary Institute-Florida

Le Cordon Bleu

Pomona College

Fullerton and Cerritos Junior Colleges

New Mexico Military Institute

Art Institute-Atlanta

Broadview University

Eastern Michigan University

United States Army and Navy


If you're looking for a supportive, trusted environment where your child can grow, heal, and learn to succeed, Sundance Canyon Academy is the best option. Our individualized approach, focus on life skills, and commitment to helping your child succeed is a positive step forward. Contact us for a free consultation at 866-241-3234 or go here for our application.


The Sundance Canyon Academy motto reflects our commitment to each and every student:  Live. Learn. Lead

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