This Teen Challenge Girls Academy is a non-profit Christian boarding school located near Columbus, Georgia, providing an affordable safe haven for teen girls in Thomaston, Georgia and from around the country; girls who have sought to fill a void in their lives through misbehavior, self-harm or negative peer influences.

After trying every option in their quest to help their girl, families in Thomaston, 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 counselors that it would be a good idea for their girl to get away from the negative influences in her life and away from home for awhile. That is when they seek the help of a therapeutic boarding school, like the Teen Challenge Columbus Girls Academy.

The typical girl who is enrolled from Thomaston, Georgia was once moving toward a bright future; however, because of poor choices or an uncaring attitude, her future has been compromised. Where there was once excelling grades, there is academic failure. Where there were once athletic, artistic or musical abilities, there is disdain for what she held dear. The young girl who once looked to her parents for direction, love, approval and acceptance, now has sifted to her peers to fulfill those needs; she is willing to allow them to lead her down a dark path in life.

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

• Death of a parent or loved one
• Childhood abuse (known or hidden)
• Family split
• An absent or abusive parent
• Bullying from others/Loss of friends
• Loss of economic status or a move 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, young women from Thomaston, Georgia who enroll in our the Teen Challenge program typically 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

Often, prior to choosing CGA, families in Thomaston, Georgia have sought help from psychiatry and the use of medication. While such medications can help reduce the symptoms of problems, we have achieved high success in weening girls off of them once and for all. All but the most severe mental issues are generally precipitated by deeper emotional issues, which must be addressed and solved with a clear mind. Psychotropic drugs are reduced over time with the supervision of our physician and the girl’s psychiatrist.

Some students who come to CGA in Columbus, Georgia, from Thomaston, Georgia have been previously diagnosed with behavioral disorders like:

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

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

When a girl enrolls in 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 student begins to experience some regret for the consequences of her previous behavior. Essentially, she is “sorry” for being caught in her behavior, but she has yet to experience a turning away from that behavior. This may be very similar to the roller coaster that the family has experienced at home — pledges to be different, periods of peace, that cycle back to repeat and crisis. Sorrow does not change behavior, repentance does.

Often, teens have been spared or delayed the trouble of the entire consequences for their negative decisions; sometimes by well-intending adults. So, as a result, adolescents are not always confident of the need for a different way of living. However, the parent is convinced of the need for intervention, because their teenager is obviously headed for lifelong trouble if such actions persist. The Teen Challenge Columbus Girls Academy is an intervention program, hopefully intervening in troubled adolescents’ lives before they go on with life habitually demonstrating a dysfunctional lifestyle.

Please call at (334)855-3695 or contact us using the online inquiry form to learn girls from Thomaston, Georgia year-round.

Therapeutic boarding school near Columbus, Georgia, a Teen Challenge academy for teenage girls in Thomaston, Georgia and from around the country who are troubled by life-controlling issues. Visit the remainder of this website to learn more about Teen Challenge.

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