What Does a Typical Resident Look Like at Pine Mountain Boys Academy?
Boys who come to our residential program at Pine Mountain Boys Academy mostly come from loving and caring families who have exhausted every option in their search for help for their sons. Parents have usually tried counseling, medication, location changes at school and at home, mental health approaches, and social service interventions. When a parent has exhausted all other options, they call for help to a therapeutic residential program like Pine Mountain Academy.
Our students consistently have had a history of being bright and talented young men; however, destructive choices have compromised all of these beautiful attributes. Where there were once excelling grades, there were failing grades. Where there were once athletic, artistic, or musical abilities, there is a loss of interest. The young man that always looked to his parents for direction, love, approval, and acceptance now looks to his peers to fulfill those needs and is willing to follow them down the wrong path. Destructive choices are often associated with a negative peer group.
Some of the precipitating factors of such a change in a teenager’s heart may include:
- Death of a parent or loved one
- Early abuse (apparent or hidden)
- Family split
- An absent or abusive parent
- Blended family
- Bullying
- Change in economic status or move to a new home and school
- Chronic illness of a loved one
- Gang membership
- Excessive exposure to pornography
- Negative peer influences
Students who enter our program exhibit issues and behaviors such as:
- Low Self-Esteem
- Rebellion/Anger/Defiance
- Depression/Suicidal thoughts
- Deceitfulness/Cheating/Theft
- Manipulation
- Promiscuity
- Self-Harm or Very Risky Behaviors
- Uncaring About their Future
- Minor Substance Abuse
- Academic Failure or Expulsion
