Getting Started

For every student that ends up attending Penikese, the school gets dozens of calls from distraught parents whose children never end up attending. More often than not, these parents are looking for guidance and a sympathetic ear, someone who can reassure them that help is available and has a few ideas where and how they might get started.

Even if unsure exactly how it is that we can help, we never discount the value of non-judgmental and active listening. Many parents have told us that the treatment they received from others when seeking help, no doubt fueled by the assumption that if they have bad kids then they must be bad parents, amounted to a secondary trauma that beat them up almost as badly as their experiences with their struggling child.

If you are in this same boat or anything like it, we encourage you to read the article below accompanying this page. It serves as a basic primer on developing a strategy for addressing your child’s behavior and finding services. The circumstances we encounter are endlessly variable, so perhaps not everything we suggest or have to say is appropriate to your child’s situation. In that case, we then urge you to explore this web site for more information about Penikese and adolescent behavior, or give us a call.

As it is so often said about getting our children into college, the object here is not to get your child into the best school, but to find the best school for your child. Penikese is not for all boys and indeed may not be a good fit for your son, but we are always willing to listen and offer whatever help and guidance we can. Good luck!

Beginning Strategies for Finding Help
Frequently Asked Questions for Parents
Helpful links