Parents who think they can pinpoint when their teen’s life went off the rails are often surprised to learn how wrong they are. Venture Academy therapist and clinical director Connie Buckle says parents will often point to a teen’s drug use or criminal behaviour as the problem when in fact it is merely a symptom…
Technology that has driven a wedge between parent and teen has at the same time provided parents with tools they can use to keep tabs on their troubled teens. Today’s parent, whether worried about their teen’s well being or just plain nosy, can use software to track their child’s every move, keystroke, and Facebook post.…
Nick was a troubled teen who could justify just about anything from staying out all night to talking back to his mom. That was before a stay at Venture Academy for troubled teens, where he realized he and his mom deserved better. “I was sneaking out and stuff and my mom would call me and tell me…
Several hundred participants battled the elements today in West Kelowna for the Mudd, Sweat and Tears obstacle course. The six or 12k obstacle course mud run was set at Crystal Mountain and promised participants a chance to reconnect with nature, climb heartbreaking slopes, be covered in tons of mud, climb obstacles and push their limits. One…
TORONTO — Media outlets around the world have been captivated by Canadian pop star Justin Bieber’s latest tussle with the law, but a much wider audience finds itself engrossed by the singer’s struggles with himself. Bieber’s increasingly erratic public behaviour, escalating bouts of temper and brazen use of both legal and illegal substances are an…
After 12 years of keeping a low profile in Kelowna, the Venture Academy residential program for struggling teens spoke up this month. “We’ve helped thousands of families at our Kelowna location, and we just want the community to know about the good work that we are doing and that the academy is a big economic…
The man, whose name can’t be published because it would identify his 14-year-old daughter, said she is making progress at Venture Academy in Barrie, but the province won’t help with the fee … because he didn’t follow its guidelines to get funding for out-of-province treatment.
It’s not always easy raising kids. I thought the first couple of years were tough. Then my wonderful children developed into teenagers. Let the games begin! Well the games began. As a parent who thought he was in control as well as in touch with his children, I was fooled. Our day-to-day lives are comparatively…
Four years ago, Laurianne McCarville and her husband were beyond frustrated. Their son, Steven, who had a learning disability, was floundering in Grade 9. His grades had dropped, he was defiant and angry, and he was getting into trouble.
The McCarvilles were terrified of what might happen if their son continued on that path. So Ms. McCarville went on the Internet, typing in searches for “son who won’t listen,” desperate to find any information that might help……
There are many educators who believe that children with special needs deserve options. When the regular school curriculum fails them – or it doesn’t take them to their full potential – there is a growing number of private schools with programs specifically designed to help fill the gaps. These schools offer something far removed from…