Trails Carolina as an Option for Oppositionally Defiant Teens
Oppositional defiant disorder is characterized by a recurring patterns of disobedient, defiant and negative behaviors directed towards parents and other authority figures. Individuals with oppositional defiant disorder display behaviors such as stubbornness, verbal and physical aggression, insubordination and temper tantrums.
This behavior must be present for six months before being formally diagnosed as oppositional defiant disorder. Behavioral issues expressed by children and adolescents with ODD primarily occur at home, and with people the individual is close to.
Oppositional defiant disorder can be developed as a result of the anxiety and frustration that comes with divorce and family disorder. ODD needs to be recognized and treated early because the negative behavior which comes along with it may become ingrained in the individual.
At Trails Carolina, teens are taken out of their familiar environment and transported into the wilderness. There, through a clinically proven therapeutic model, teens learn to overcome oppositional defiant disorder and other behavioral and emotional issues.
Trails utilizes a combined treatment of wilderness therapy, clinical theory and evidence-based psychotherapies, which also includes an academic and residential base camp. The program emphasizes the importance of integrating the whole family into the program so families can learn skills in order to create positive transformations throughout the entire family system. Teens with oppositional defiant disorder need to work with their families in order to successfully transition back together into healthier, happier relationships.
In a study surveying 9,282 individuals, a full 92.4% of the respondents with lifetime Oppositional Defiant Disorder met criteria for at least one other lifetime disorder. The survey also found that the estimated lifetime prevalence of oppositional defiant disorder is 10.2%. ODD persists, according to the study, significantly longer for males and for those with early onset ODD. The presence of other disorders, such as ADHD and depression, also predicts greater persistence of ODD.
An article in the New Zealand Herald discussed how hard it is for parents of children ODD to discipline their children. It reinforced the idea of communication as a way to help deal with ODD. One parent said her daughter had the disorder from birth, even though a psychiatrist said that was improbable.
Our Groups
At Trails Carolina, we provide a safe, healthy environment for a variety of age groups to receive treatment. We offer wilderness therapy programs for preteen boys (10-13), preteen girls (10-13), teen girls (14-17), and teen boys (14-17).
Wilderness Therapy for Boys 10-13
Wilderness Therapy for Girls 10-13
Wilderness Therapy for Girls 14-17
Wilderness Therapy for Boys 14-17
We believe that segmenting groups by age and gender allows our team of mental health professionals, wilderness and adventure camp field instructors, and accredited education consultants to provide more focused and effective personalized care to each student. Additionally, evidence shows that using segmented peer groups helps students learn to build positive relationships among their own peers. This makes the transition back to traditional school settings easier for young people. And it helps our students learn how to interact and build healthy connections for life.
Get started today
Contact us today to learn how Trails Carolina can help your family
Trails saved my daughter’s life. Amanda is an amazing human and a brilliant therapist. I am so grateful to her, Science Steve, and the other wonderful people who could reach my daughter at a time when I could not.
Margot Lowman August 2022
Great life changing experience for our son. After becoming addicted to gaming during covid he was very depressed. At Trails he experienced the wilderness, Science Steve, learning survival skills and top notch therapy and support etc… I highly recommend! This gave our son and our family a renewed family bond full of love and excitement about his bright future.
Winnifred Wilson July 2022
Outstanding clinical work and superb staff! There’s a great culture at this company and it shows with how they engage with families/clients.
Kristin Brace June 2022