Key Point Academy - Therapy
Therapy Program for Troubled and Struggling Teens
Therapy at Key Point Academy consists of the following components:
Treatment Team
Our treatment team consists of our program director, clinical director, therapists, teachers, supervisor(s), case manager and most importantly - You, the parent/guardian of your teen. Each week, they come together to discuss each student’s progress, his/her level, and upcoming interventions. This weekly meeting provides information on how a student is doing in every area. Every student’s Master Treatment Plan is also reviewed and discussed to ensure that he/she is accomplishing his/her treatment goals.
Individual Therapy
Individual Therapy is a regularly scheduled formalized therapeutic session held at least once per week. Each student receives 60 minutes or more of individual therapy a week. This 60 minute session is typically done in a single session, but can be broken into more than one session. Individual therapy focuses on improving the overall level of adaptive functioning in the areas of reality testing, behavior, emotional expression, and interpersonal relationships. In addition, individual therapy takes on significant value in the resolution of issues and concerns that a student who feels ill-prepared to take to a group session or that are of such a private nature that discussion in a group format would be clinically contraindicated.
Group Therapy
Our regular group therapy sessions are held each weekday for up to 1-2 hours a session. Key Point Academy’s group therapy sessions utilize a Positive Peer Culture format, which is a formal psychotherapeutic session held in a small group format five times per week, while therapist driven process and problem solving groups are held weekly. Reasons for increased group therapy over individual therapy are based on the clinical literature that shows that group therapy is often more effective with adolescents than individual therapy. This model assists students in realizing the goals and objectives set by treatment team members, students and families. In the group, residents encourage each other’s positive behaviors and confront negative and self-defeating ones. Such peer feedback can often be far more powerful than the expert opinion of a professional, well-meaning parent or other well-meaning adult.
Family Therapy
Family Therapy at Key Point Academy is provided by the student’s therapist and is an integral part of the student’s comprehensive treatment. The road leading to residential placement of a teenager is often paved with pain, disappointment, fear, guilt and feelings of helplessness. For that reason, residential treatment does not only involve the child but his / her family in the process of change. Thus, all students and their families are involved in monthly family therapy either at the Academy, via conference telephone calls, or coordinated by the Academy in the student’s home community. Family therapy can be done over the phone, but can also be done in person. Monthly sessions provide the opportunity for families to work together. These family therapy sessions are based upon the progress the student makes in the program.
Art Therapy
Art therapy is a creative kind of treatment. At Key Point Academy, teen girls & boys use different art media and various images to produce art through the creative process. The teens then reflect on their work. The artwork gives the teens a chance to think about different aspects of their lives, specific issues that can be expressed through art. Art therapy is used with all populations and has been found to help clients work on dealing with their emotions, building social skills, and developing behavior management and self awareness. The art also helps people to solve problems, reduce stress and anxiety, and increase self esteem. Many students in Key Point Academy working through recovery like to use art therapy as a time to create pieces of art that express their journey from struggles to triumphs. A lot of adolescents claim, "I can't draw or paint." They find out soon enough, however, that everyone can self-express through art. Most even find that they really enjoy it.