For many parents, discovering that their teen is experimenting with alcohol, cannabis, or other substances can feel like the ground has shifted. It’s natural to worry about where this might lead—Is my child addicted? Did I miss something? How do I respond? For many teens, substance use rarely exists on its own. It often occurs […]
Parenting teenagers often feels like a tug-of-war: one moment, your child is declaring their independence with a slammed bedroom door, and the next, they’re asking for a ride, money, or help with homework. The paradox is summed up perfectly in Anthony E. Wolf’s book Get Out of My Life, But First Could You Drive Me […]
Christina Buttons, Speaking Out to Help Change the Narrative about Teen Residential Treatment Christina Buttons is an investigative reporter at the Manhattan Institute. Her work focuses on a range of social issues, including youth mental health treatment. Her data driven reporting offers a well researched counter to the oft reported “negative narratives” about residential treatment. […]
Trust: The Hardest and Most Important Work When Your Child Is in Residential Treatment When your child is in residential treatment for mental health challenges, the concept of trust can feel complicated, fragile, and sometimes, painfully out of reach. You may trust the therapists and staff, but feel unsure about your child’s honesty. You may […]
For many parents, school refusal can feel like a baffling and frustrating challenge. One morning, your teen simply can’t—or won’t—get out the door. What starts as a day or two of missed classes can quickly snowball into weeks of missed learning, mounting anxiety, and concern for their future. At Summit Achievement, we’ve worked with many […]
As a professional or fellow parent with a struggling teenager, the question comes up often – “how do I help my teen find their motivation?” Parenting a teenager—especially one who’s struggling—often feels like walking a tightrope. You want to guide them, encourage them, and sometimes even pull them forward when they seem stuck. But when […]
Let’s face it, parenting has never been easy—but in today’s world, it can feel more overwhelming than ever. The pressures of social media, academic demands, shifting cultural expectations, and rising mental health concerns have created a parenting landscape that is both unfamiliar and intense. Parenting a child who struggles with mental health challenges is deeply […]
When your teen is in residential treatment, it’s natural to feel a sense of urgency—urgency to see progress, to right past wrongs, to get everything “back on track.” As a parent, you may find yourself focusing on what needs to change: the behaviors, the attitudes, the choices. But there’s a vital principle that can transform […]
When your teen is making progress in their mental health journey, every step forward can feel like a victory. But then, seemingly out of nowhere, they slip back into old patterns—maybe isolating themselves again, struggling with school, or lashing out emotionally. As parents and caregivers, this experience, called regression, can be discouraging. Yet, it’s a […]
Adolescence is a time of rapid growth, identity exploration, and emotional development. For teens with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), this period can be particularly complex. While ASD itself is not a mental illness, it profoundly affects how individuals perceive the world, interact socially, and manage emotions — all of which can significantly influence mental health. […]