Sunset Bay Academy presents a transition program for troubled teens, both boys and girls. Transition programming is the process of applying the newly learned therapeutic skills into the “real world”. In a “therapeutic environment” or “treatment center” everyone practices the new skills he or she is taught, and they work. They work because most everyone practices them, and those that do experience a reward (acceptance, approval, stability, support).
Unfortunately, all to often with many troubled teen programs, the new emotional and behavioral skills learned in treatment do not transition well into the real world. When this happens the result is disasterous; the student goes home and fails. The teen is disillusioned and gives up, throwing out all that he or she has learned. It is like starting all over again, but this time the youth no longer trusts “the therapeutic process”.
When the student attempts to use the skills developed in treatment “outside the program” they either work, or they don’t. Many times the skills learned in treatment do not transition into the real world unless there is a transitional training phase. Therefore, to be an effect treatment program all the skills learned in treatment must transition well into the real world. At Sunset Bay Academy we ensure that our students are able to use ALL the skills he or she has learned, regardless of where they are using them.
Transitional Phase – Preparing for Life at Home
The transitional phase of our program focuses on reinforcing important skills learned in therapy. We help the teen be more successful in applying his/her newly learned coping skills before they leave the safety of the academy. Once our students near the end of their program the individual therapeutic goals change. He or she becomes focused on the transition home, and the ability to use his or her new skills at home, in school, and in the community. This process is called “life coaching”, where students are guided and supported to become totally responsible
During the transitional phase the focus of the student’s program and psychotherapy is to prepare the student for life outside the program, utilizing coping skills learned through his or her overall experience at Sunset Bay. During this phase the Sunset Bay Academy team of professionals evaluate the student’s level of motivation, behavior, and overall attitude as it pertains to “success at home”.
This phase can be brief, and it consists of two or three individual sessions in which student and therapist reinforce the skills learned throughout the program. Moreover, theses skills are practiced with the professional staff and in the student community. Feedback is given, evaluations are presented, and adjustments to the goals are made depending upon the student’s progress. Students learn to take total responsibility of the use of their new skills.
At Sunset Bay Academy we are very confident that your teen will get the most out of personalized treatment. Its benefits will stay with the teens long after they complete the program. The goal is to help the student to be effective with coping in high risk situations, learning and apply strategies to maintain a sober lifestyle.
This stage of Sunset Bay Academy’s program marks the end of our intensive residential treatment, and everyone is comfortable knowing that the teen is ready to return home. When your teen reaches this stage of the program, he or she would have learned and mastered:
Mastery of Skills
- How to identify high risk situations related to drugs and how to avoid them.
- Use and perfect tools to resolve in an assertive manner conflictive.
- Use of skills in compromising situations that in the past led them to drug consumption.
- How to control cravings.
- How to use coping abilities that will ensure better chances of maintaining sobriety.
- How to manage inner impulses and channel them into healthy behavior and activities.
- How to resist peer pressure.
Also, your teen is prepared and motivated to start a sober life, having gained:
- Hope and confidence in their complete recovery.
- A higher self-esteem.
- A desire to have healthy relationships with family and friends.
- Regained mental, emotional and physical balance.
- A more assertive personality.
- Determination and motivation to stay sober.
- A better knowledge of their inner strengths and unique talents.
- Personal goals to accomplish.
- How to manage emotional and physical stress.
- A healthier way to view life and manage its challenges.
- Interpersonal problem-solving skills.
