Our Therapeutic Environment

The Family Foundation School offers a true "therapeutic milieu" for troubled teens: a safe, structured environment where strong role models, positive peer support, and consistent expectations help our students deal with their emotional struggles and effectively eliminate their destructive behaviors.

The environment is both a wall and a mirror for our students.  Unable to access their usual escapes (alcohol, drugs, anger, defiance, etc.), they are encouraged to reflect on their past behaviors and look at themselves in new ways.  A close, working alliance among counselors, House leaders, teachers, administrators, advisory staff, parents, and the students themselves helps maintain the positive, productive environment that promotes healing and recovery.

Since we believe the primary job of teenagers, regardless of their emotional struggles, is to get an education, academics is a crucial part of our therapeutic environment.  A rigorous curriculum and a faculty that is sensitive and responsive to the therapeutic needs of the students reinforces our mission:  to help teens through the difficulties of adolescence to responsible adulthood.