Treatment Abuse, Behavior Modification, Thought Reform > The Troubled Teen Industry
AA Abundant Life Academy
Deborah:
***Sure Deb - what you say is true often enough to be valid; However, there are plenty of kids, who for no apparent reason, and with perfectly good parents, fall off the deep end. Deep end, defined as possibly a serious drug problem; the sor that leads to theft, lying and violence...***
Are you defending ALA? If so, it was my impression that ALA doesn't take the kind of teens you described. Or do they indeed take violent theives with serious drug problems?
They say:
To us, the troubled teen that we refer to throughout our web site is really an ?entitled? kid from a good family, a kid who appreciates nothing, disrespects his/her parents, refuses to take responsibility for his/her actions, blames others for his/her own poor choices, academically unmotivated, but motivated to do anything to gain acceptance by his/her negative peer group. More specifically, today?s troubled teen is a monster at home, often yelling and screaming at parents and defying parental authority at every turn, but a great kid outside of the home. Yes, outside of the home the troubled teen is polite, respectful, and looks and acts like a normal kid.
To us, a troubled teen is not a thug, a thief, a gangster, a criminal, violent, defiant toward all authority, or any other description that describes someone with a mental disorder. When we use the term troubled teen we really mean to describe a ?spoiled brat?. We mean to describe a kid who has every possible resource available to make something out of him/herself, yet all they want to do is hang out with negative friends and ?run their own show?. We are referring to kids that have been blessed, gifted, and very talented but are wasting their God-given potential trying to emulate the latest rapper. This kid is only interested in how he/she is viewed by his/her friends, and cares nothing of their parents and how they feel.
The troubled teen that we serve comes from middle and upper middle-class Christian families who have good morals, good work ethic, principled, and are integral. These families have raised their children in good Christian homes, attending church regularly. But, about the age of 12 their child began to change. First came the rap music, then the clothes, and the hip language. Pretty soon all that used to matter is gone, and it has been replaced with defiance, anger, and rebellion toward parents. Today?s troubled teen acts 8, and demands to be treated as if they were 30.
****
And this was interesting:
God is calling parents of this nation to drawn a line in the sand, and begin to repent from our mistakes and allow Him to restore our children.
-The director is apparently speaking for "god", suggesting that "god" would like good christian parents to repent by enrolling their teens in his program. What a line of BS.
We need to get down on our knees and ask for forgiveness and cry out to God for wisdom.
-The wisdom to select the right warehouse- (ALA)?
We have to surrender, and get ready to make some sacrifices.
-Huh? Financial?
True prosperity will come to those who seek the Kingdom of God and His righteousness first.
-No doubt, prosperity usually does come to those who say they know what "god" wants you to do.
We need to teach our children by example, and the first thing we can do is to hold ourselves accountable. Take responsibility.
-Guess we all have different definitions of what being accountable and taking responsibility looks like. Who wants to model for their teen that the way to deal with difficulty is to eliminate a person from our life?
Here at Abundant Life Academy we are dedicated to overcoming ?entitlementitis?, and we will do it by teaching good old fashion values, insisting upon living by longstanding proven principles, and demonstrating the unconditional love of God.
-Uh, that's the parents job. Why aren't these parents seeking help for themselves? Sounds like they are the problem and the teen is the scape goat.
Anonymous:
~~~~~~~~~~
Hi Deb - you have covered a lot of ground and there is much I?d like to say, but I?m going to try and be brief. I think most of your thoughts about the statements you?ve gleaned are the result of misunderstanding. It might help if you read over other pages of the web site; or it might not.
Like here:
God is calling parents of this nation to drawn a line in the sand, and begin to repent from our mistakes and allow Him to restore our children.
-The director is apparently speaking for "god", suggesting that "god" would like good Christian parents to repent by enrolling their teens in his program. What a line of BS.
If that were what was being said you?d be right; but its not. You?ve inferred this b/c of your natural inclination to suspect any program?s intentions; and an unfamiliarity with a lot of Christian thought. In this case, There is much about Christian thought, living , service and sacrifice that is ment to explain ALA philosophy; not talk anyone into anything.
And you say:
Guess we all have different definitions of what being accountable and taking responsibility looks like. Who wants to model for their teen that the way to deal with difficulty is to eliminate a person from our life?
No kid at ALA is out of the family?s life. This is not that kind of program. The argument can be made that placing a child in a program appropriate to their needs IS being responsible when the parents know they aren?t able to meet them.
And this:
Uh, that's the parents job. Why aren't these parents seeking help for themselves? Sounds like they are the problem and the teen is the scape goat.
You again are assuming things based on your inclinations; natural as they are after your experainces, it doesn?t make them always so.
You mentioned the kind of kid I spoke of not being the kind of kid described by the web site. ALA would not be the right program for a son or daughter with serious mental illness. Its not lock down and they are not equipped to deal with the kind of behaviors found in the deeply disturbed mentally ill. However, for the young drug abuser; the mildly depressed; the committed underachiever; they are ideal. These kids might be somewhat violent at home; but not at all so when elsewhere. But what I was thinking of, was the violence they as a young drug abuser might be subjected to by others.
As for the ALA definition of a troubled kid not including all the other things that go hand in hand with drug abuse; I think that is more a refusal to label these kids as such; b/c apart from the drugs, they are none of these things.
But again, this would not be the right spot for the kid who is really bent on a criminal career.
I think you?d find yourself in agreement with much of ALA?s philosophy with regard to helping these kids apart from pushing pills on them.
If you disagree with what ALA?s answer is; then at least you can agree it isn?t prozac.
Anonymous:
It blows my mind that parents pay strangers to traumatize their kids by first, hiring somebody to kidnap them and second, paying somebody to brainwash them. Talk about leading the lamb to slaughter.
Also, if ALA is not a locked program, then what is to prevent these kids from packing their bags and getting the hell outta Dodge? I'll tell you what: THE PARENTS aka the CO-CONSPIRATORS.
:roll:
Anonymous:
Speaking of transporters ...
http://strugglingteens.com/archives/200 ... gmyth.html
Well, some of these outfits may be more kind, more gentle, more respectful but kids are still being awakened in the middle of the night and forced into institutionalized-style programs so Mom and Dad don't have to do the dirty deed, themselves.
:roll:
Deborah:
***If that were what was being said you?d be right; but its not.***
With all due respect for your personal opinions,
The man said, "God is calling parents of this nation to drawn a line in the sand, and begin to repent from our mistakes and allow Him to restore our children."
I didn't infer anything. I hear him supporting his program by 'infering' that "god" has sanctioned it.
Of course I'm "assuming" things based on my inclination, as we all do. When the child is removed from the home for problems created by ineffective parenting... that to me is the child being scapegoated for the parents problems.
***ALA would not be the right program for a son or daughter with serious mental illness. Its not lock down and they are not equipped to deal with the kind of behaviors found in the deeply disturbed mentally ill. However, for the young drug abuser; the mildly depressed; the committed underachiever; they are ideal. ***
You're changing your mind? That is not what you said in your first response, I quote, "However, there are plenty of kids, who for no apparent reason, and with perfectly good parents, fall off the deep end. Deep end, defined as possibly a serious drug problem; the sort that leads to theft, lying and violence.."
Your words.
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