Helpful Articles for Families, Adults & Teens

August 23, 2022 By Lakeside Academy

How Do I Help My Son Believe in God?

God can be one of the greatest sources of comfort as we journey through life. Yet when it comes to teenagers, they may not be as devout in their faith.

Whether he’s rejecting his faith or curious about learning more, there are ways to help your teen son believe in God. Here we’ve laid out some simple, holistic approaches to support your teen son in his journey.

4 Ways to Help Your Teen Son Believe in God

1. Offer to Worship & Learn Together

You and your teen son may have hobbies or activities you enjoy doing together. Worship can be one of these activities. Whether it’s dinnertime prayers or attending a Sunday service, this can be a cooperative way to strengthen each other’s faith. [Read more…]

August 10, 2022 By Lakeside Academy

How to Sign Your Teen Son Up for Residential Treatment

As a parent, you want to do what’s best for your teen son. If he’s suffering from substance abuse or a mental health disorder, you might feel afraid and lost about how to help him.

Residential treatment programs can provide your teen son with individualized services to help him heal and grow. If you’re considering this option, we know figuring it out can be overwhelming. To help you with this process, here are the important steps to take.

5 Steps to Sign Your Teen Son Up for Residential Treatment

1. Assess the Situation

If you’re not sure whether your teen son needs treatment, take some time to research warning signs of his behavior. See what experts and other parents say and compare it to your own situation.

Keep a log of his behavior and symptoms to see how long the warning signs persist. Determine the obstacles you’re facing so you’ll know what type of residential treatment to seek out.

2. Research Residential Treatment Facilities

If your son is currently seeing a medical professional, ask them for residential treatment recommendations or referrals. You can also get in touch with his school counselor, social worker or nurse and ask for suggestions.

When researching facilities online, here are some things to consider: [Read more…]

July 26, 2022 By Lakeside Academy

How Behavioral Health Treatment Works

Mental health is a frequently-discussed issue, but did you know it’s only one part of the picture? When people struggle with mental health disorders or substance abuse, they often need help in multiple areas of their lives. That’s where behavioral health treatment comes in.

Behavioral health treatment programs take a holistic approach that treats the whole person and is an effective method of recovery. Let’s discover how it all works so you know what to expect.

What Is Behavioral Health?

Mental health and behavioral health are sometimes used interchangeably, but behavioral health treatment isn’t limited to mental health services. [Read more…]

July 14, 2022 By Lakeside Academy

Warning Signs That Your Son Is Hanging With the Wrong Crowd

Teens are often hyper-focused on finding acceptance and belonging, which means they’re more susceptible to peer pressure and can easily fall into toxic friendships.

If you’re suspicious of changes in your son’s behavior, it could be a sign that your son is hanging out with the wrong crowd. Here are some warning signs to help you detect negative influences, as well as positive steps you can take to navigate this tricky situation.

5 Warning Signs That Your Son Has Toxic Friends

He’s having trouble at school: Your son may have sudden disciplinary problems, unexplained absences or poor grades. He may leave homework assignments uncompleted and neglect to prepare for tests.

He ignores his responsibilities: Is your son late for curfew? Is he confrontational about household rules? If your son is suddenly ignoring all his responsibilities and giving you a disrespectful attitude, this could be a warning sign of unhealthy influences.

His hobbies have drastically changed: Many teens fixate on being likable to new friends. They’ll drop their once-beloved hobbies and adopt the activities of their new friends to impress them.

You can’t meet his new friends (or their parents): Be wary if your son has constant excuses as to why you can’t meet his new social group or refuses to let you call the parents of his new friends. It may be a sign that he’s trying to hide something from you.

He shows suspicious behavior: You may notice fishy behavior, such as sneaking behind your back or staying out past curfew. If there is tangible evidence, such as lighters in his backpack or alcohol on his breath, your son could be abusing substances with his new friends.

How to Guide Your Teen Son Away From the Wrong Crowd

If you witness any warning signs from your teen son, don’t panic. There are positive steps you can take to help him make better decisions about his social life. [Read more…]

June 29, 2022 By Lakeside Academy

What to Expect When Your Son Is Enrolled at Lakeside Academy

Many parents ask us, “What can I expect when my son’s enrolled at Lakeside?” Here we lay out our holistic programming and what you can anticipate when your son attends Lakeside Academy.

Academics and Project-Based Learning

No matter the reason for your son’s enrollment, he’ll receive an academic education and the opportunity to participate in project-based learning.

Lakeside partners with the Southwest Metro School District so all boys can continue their academic education. We have two licensed teachers at our facility every single day and additional tutors for individualized support. If your son has a 504 or IEP, those accommodations are included in his personalized curriculum.

Each of our boys can work at their own pace. The curriculum is designed to work with their therapeutic programming while still holding them to educational state standards. Many of our teens graduate high school during their treatment and can even participate in online college classes.

We also offer students access to vocational training, such as welding, woodworking and vehicle maintenance. These Minnesota-accredited programs prepare students for college, future employment or an apprenticeship.

Community and Behavioral Health

Each of the boys is instilled with the knowledge that they’re valued and cared about. We help them build their self-esteem through our powerful community of professionals and help them find positive bonding techniques with their peers. Throughout their stay, they learn they’re unconditionally loved and in a safe place for healing. [Read more…]