What Does a Typical Resident Look Like at Prayer Mountain Boys Academy?

Young men who are enrolled in our 15-month residential program at Prayer Mountain Boys Academy mostly come from loving and caring families whom have exhausted every option in their search for help for their son. 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 that is when they make the call for help to a therapeutic residential program, like Prayer Mountain Academy.

Our students consistently have had a history of being bright and talented young men; however, as a result of destructive choices all of these wonderful attributes have been compromised. Where there was once excelling grades, there are 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

Many times, prior to choosing a Christian therapeutic residential program, parents have sought help from psychiatry and the use of medication. Some students who come to our program have been previously diagnosed with behavioral or psychological disorders such as:

• ADHD
• ADD
• Oppositional Defiance Disorder(ODD)
• Bipolar
• Reactive Attachment Disorder(RAD)
• Depression