Teen Brat Camps

Brat camps were introduced in the last few years as an alternative to schools, camps, and programs for troubled boys and troubled girls.  Dr. Phil first made brat camps popular through his television program. It was on Dr. Phil’s TV program where the "Brat Camp" option was highlighted, explained, and exposed. Essentially, it was presented that Brat Camps were designed to “treat” spoiled teenagers.  The national TV exposure of Brat Camps brought a great deal of awareness of the troubled teen school/program industry, boosting the enrollment of many existing programs and camps that catered to the families of rebellious kids.  Abundant Life Academy, the operator of two outstanding Christian boarding schools, one for troubled girls and one for troubled boys, is the Christian alternative to the Brat Camp.

Abundant Life Academy is the Christ-centered version of the brat camp, focusing on the development of emotional and spiritual maturity.  Most troubled teens are emotionally immature teenagers who act entitled, spoiled, over-indulged, ungrateful, and unappreciative.  Teens with entitlement issues have much different needs than those with mental health programs.  Many therapeutic boarding schools, military boarding schools, boot camps and various programs for troubled teens are comparable to the brat camps.  Residential treatment centers are designed to serve children with mental health problems, such as depression, bipolar, ODD, ADD/ADHD, etc. and are not geared to serve emotionally immature “brats”.  Brat camps are much different in design and function, focusing only on behavioral issues stemming from emotional immaturity.

Abundant Life Academy Serving Emotionally Immature Troubled Teens, Both Boys and Girls

Brat camps are programs for troubled teens and are the alternative option to wilderness therapy programs, boot camps, and military schools. These programs are designed to deal with teenage boys and girls who may be experimenting with drugs and alcohol, skipping school, sexually active, hanging out with the wrong crowd, and general display of rebellion toward all authority. These programs are not traditional programs, and are uniquely developed to enhance the accountability and maturity of the participant.

Therapeutic boarding schools, and Military boarding schools for struggling youth are educationally-based, and are not known for providing “treatment” to combat entitlement, emotional immaturity, or behavioral issues related to the typical rebellious spoiled brat.

Brat camps are not good option for troubled teens that have serious mental problems, such as bipolar, clinical depression, eating disorders, OCD, or psychiatric issues.  All too often the brat camps are used to treat these kinds of issues. These camps should only be used as early intervention programs for spoiled kids, the earlier the better.

For more information about Abundant Life Academy please contact 888-305-6729.