therapeutic boarding school
Residential educational facility combining academic instruction with intensive mental health treatment for adolescents.
Full Definition
A therapeutic boarding school is a specialized residential treatment facility that integrates academic education with comprehensive mental health services for adolescents with emotional, behavioral, or psychiatric disorders. These programs typically serve students who cannot be successful in traditional educational settings due to their mental health needs. Services include individual and group therapy, family therapy, psychiatric medication management, specialized academic programming, and life skills training. Students live on campus year-round with structured supervision and therapeutic milieu. These schools are often used when students require more intensive intervention than day programs but need educational continuity during treatment.
Usage
Usage note: Distinguish from traditional boarding schools by emphasizing the therapeutic component.
In Context
- "The family chose a therapeutic boarding school to address their daughter's eating disorder and academic difficulties." — Treatment planning documentation
- "Therapeutic boarding schools must maintain both educational accreditation and mental health licensing." — Regulatory compliance manual