Columbus Girls Academy is a therapeutic boarding school located near Columbus, Georgia, providing a safe haven for teen girls in Lithonia, Georgia and from around the country; girls who have sought to fill a void in their hearts through negative peer influences, self-destructive habits, or risky activities.

After trying every option in their quest to help their daughter, families in Lithonia, Georgia are happy to find the Teen Challenge Girls Academy near Columbus, Georgia. They have usually tried counseling, medication, relocation, mental health approaches, and social service interventions, all without success. Some have been told by loved ones that it would be best for their girl to get away from the negative influences in her life and away from home for awhile. So, they make the call for the help of a therapeutic boarding school, like the Teen Challenge Columbus Girls Academy.

The typical prospective resident from Lithonia, Georgia was once moving toward a bright future; however, because of poor choices or an uncaring attitude, her life may end up far different from what everyone hoped for. Where there was once excelling grades, there are failing grades. Where there were once athletic, artistic or musical abilities, there is disdain for what she held dear. The young woman who once sought her parents’ direction, love, approval and acceptance, now looks to her peers to fulfill those needs; she is willing to allow them to lead her down a negative path in life.

While changes usually happen in the attitudes of girls going through early adolescence, some precipitating factors can leave a void in a girl’s life and cause extremely self-destructive and angry behaviors. These factors include:

• Loss of a parent or loved one
• Childhood abuse (known or hidden)
• Family split
• A difficult or especially critical parent
• Bullying from others/Loss of friends
• Change in economic status or a change to a new home or school
• Chronic illness of a loved one
• Physical invasion or mental intimidation
• Gang membership
• Excessive interest in pornography
• Negative peer influences

As a result of such factors, girls from Lithonia, Georgia who enroll in our boarding school generally exhibit issues and behaviors including:

• Low self-esteem
• Rebellion/Anger/Defiance
• Self Injurious Behaviors or Thoughts
• Deceitfulness/Cheating/Theft
• Manipulation of family and parents
• Promiscuity
• Dangerous Behavior
• Self-Hatred

Many times, prior to selecting CGA, families in Lithonia, Georgia have sought help from psychiatry and the prescription of medication. While psychotropic medications can help alleviate the symptoms of deeper issues, we have found significant success in helping girls get off of them once and for all. All but the most severe psychological issues are generally triggered by deeper emotional issues, which must be dealt with having a clear mind. Psychotropic drugs are eliminated over time with the supervision of our physician and the prescribing psychiatrist.

Some students who come to CGA in Columbus, Georgia, from Lithonia, Georgia have been previously diagnosed with behavioral disorders such as:

• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
• ADD
• Being oppositional and defiant
• Mood disturbances
• Issues from adoption
• Sadness or Over Exuberance

Progression of a typical Teen Challenge resident from Lithonia, Georgia:

When a girl comes to Columbus Girls Academy it is typical for her to exhibit blame-shifting, avoidance of responsibility, and sometimes complete denial of wrongdoing. Soon after enrollment, the girl begins to experience some sorrow for the consequences of her prior actions. Essentially, she is “sorry” for being caught in her actions, but she has yet to begin a turning away from that behavior. This may be very similar to the roller coaster that parents have been living with at home — promises to change, periods of peace, that cycle back to repeat and crisis. Regret does not change individuals, repentance does.

Many times, teens have been spared or delayed the heartache of the full-blown consequences for their bad decisions; sometimes by well-intending parents. For these reasons, teenagers are not always convinced of the need for change in their lives. However, the parent is certain of the need for intervention, because their teenager is obviously headed for disaster if such actions persist. The Teen Challenge Columbus Girls Academy is an intervention program, hopefully helping make a change in troubled teenagers’ lives before they become an adult habitually living in a dysfunctional lifestyle.

Please call at (334)855-3695 or contact us using the online inquiry form to discover more. We enroll girls from Lithonia, Georgia year-round.

Therapeutic boarding school near Columbus, Georgia, a Teen Challenge academy for young girls in Lithonia, Georgia and from around the country who are struggling with life-controlling issues. Call us now to learn more about Teen Challenge.

The Columbus Girls Academy Teen Challenge program isn’t in Lithonia, Georgia, but it accepts girls from Lithonia, Georgia.