The Troubled Teenager Test - Is Your Teen Headed for Trouble?

Coed Schools

All Boys Schools

NEED A CHRISTIAN-BASED BOARDING SCHOOL THAT HELPS CONFUSED TEENS? Most boarding schools avoid kids with behavioral issues, but some specialize in working with troubled teens and pre-teens. So if you have a difficult, confused, or academically failing teen, talk to us. We will help you narrow down your search, and there is never a cost or obligation. Call 888-964-2876 or fill in the inquiry form on this site.

All Girls Schools

NEED AN ALL-GIRL CHRISTIAN-BASED BOARDING SCHOOL THAT HELPS CONFUSED OR MISBEHAVING TEENAGE GIRLS? Most boarding schools avoid kids with behavioral issues, but some specialize in working with troubled teens and pre-teens. So if you have a difficult, confused, or academically failing teen, talk to us. We will help you narrow down your search, and there is never a cost or obligation. Call 888-964-2876 or fill in the inquiry form on this site.

Troubled Teen Test

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TROUBLED TEEN ASSESSMENT

Worried about your son or daughter, but are unsure how bad their issues really are?

Take the Troubled Teen Assessment below. Mentally put a checkmark next to the sections below that describe your teen today, then add up the number of checkmarks to score the results. See if your teen may need more than you can provide yourself to turn around their behavior.

___EXPLOSIVE BEHAVIOR
Your teen reacts with volatility to even the simplest requests, often escalating to rage or outbursts that leave you and your family feeling unsafe or emotionally drained. Their unpredictable behavior has turned your home into a high-stress environment where every word feels like a trigger. You’re walking on eggshells, unsure of what will set them off next.

___DRASTIC BEHAVIORAL CHANGES
Your once-familiar teen now feels like a stranger. They may sleep excessively or barely at all, seem constantly forgetful, lack motivation, lash out with anger or retreat into sadness. Grades drop, school is skipped, and their passions disappear—replaced by apathy, anxiety, or an emotional rollercoaster that never stops. What once brought them joy now evokes resentment or indifference.

___EMOTIONAL DISCONNECTION
There’s a chilling distance growing between you and your teen. Their defiance is no longer hidden—it’s worn openly as rebellion or even hatred. They show little concern for consequences, your authority, or their own future. It’s as though they’ve shut off their emotional connection to you and the world around them.

___BLATANT DEFIANCE
Your teen dismisses your family’s values, rules, and boundaries with an attitude that swings between passive-aggressive resistance and outright hostility. Their disrespect is not just occasional—it’s a regular battle, leaving you feeling helpless and disrespected in your own home.

___SELF-DESTRUCTIVE BEHAVIORS
You’ve seen signs—threats of running away or suicide, evidence of cutting, reckless behavior, or disturbing involvement with drugs or promiscuity. It’s as if your teen is testing the edge, ignoring danger, and spiraling away from the person they used to be. Their sense of morality or self-preservation seems lost.

___DISRESPECT FOR PEOPLE AND PROPERTY
Your teen shows a startling lack of empathy—toward you, siblings, pets, or even their own belongings. They may destroy property, take what isn’t theirs, or treat others with cruelty and contempt. Items go missing, damage appears without explanation, and their regard for others’ boundaries has vanished.

___ENTITLEMENT AND DEMANDS
Your teen expects the world to revolve around them. They constantly demand more—your time, your money, your energy—while ignoring the needs, feelings, and possessions of everyone else in the family. There’s little gratitude, only expectation and entitlement.

___FAILED INTERVENTIONS
You’ve tried everything: therapy, counseling, medication, support groups—but nothing seems to reach them. Despite your efforts, their behavior continues to deteriorate, and you’re left wondering what more you can do.

___REJECTION OF FAMILY
Your teen refuses to engage in anything family-related. They isolate, reject invitations to outings or special occasions, and treat any effort at connection with coldness or contempt. Their growing hostility toward the family feels personal—and heartbreaking.

___NEGATIVE INFLUENCES
Your teen is drawn to a peer group that embodies everything you’ve tried to protect them from—drugs, rebellion, recklessness, and disrespect. They begin to adopt the language, look, and behaviors of these new friends, slipping further into a lifestyle that goes against everything your family values.

If your teen exhibits 5 or more of these signs, they should likely be placed in a therapeutic boarding school that can expertly deal with their issues while preparing them for adulthood. Once your teen is 18, they will be out of your control, so get help for them while you can.

PLEASE NOTE: Should your teen exhibit signs of suicide, fire starting (arson), deep depression, addiction, cutting, eating disorders, or other dangerous or self-destructive behavior, DO NOT WAIT to get help from a hospital, psychiatrist, or another expert. Waiting could put their life at risk.

Contrast the above list with what should be considered normal teenage behavior and attitudes:

• They show compassion and cooperation, building healthy relationships through care and empathy.

• They recognize the value of family and meaningful connections, understanding that we thrive through relationships, not isolation.

• They are motivated and determined, taking initiative to work toward their goals and prepare for a purposeful future.

• Their decisions are grounded in personal values and convictions—not swayed by peer pressure or fleeting emotions.

• They take responsibility for their own well-being, showing maturity by managing their needs without burdening others.

• They treat people, animals, and possessions with kindness and respect, showing awareness of their impact on the world around them.

• They carry a renewed sense of purpose and direction, looking ahead with excitement and hope.

• They nurture healthy relationships with family and trusted friends, staying connected even through life’s challenges.

• They embrace their true identity with confidence, resisting cultural pressure and defining themselves on their own terms.

If you need help with your teen, please call us toll-free, 24/7, at 888-964-2876. We will help guide you to the right help for your teen according to your budget or insurance coverage. Our expert service is totally free and without obligation.

A Christian boarding school for troubled teens is a residential school and program that combines academic education, faith-based guidance, and structured support to help adolescents with behavioral, emotional, or academic struggles. However, should you also need help finding international military academies or teen boarding schools, please let us know. These alternative schools provide a safe, supervised environment where students receive counseling, character development, and life skills training. By integrating faith with education and therapy, Christian boarding schools aim to restore confidence, strengthen their moral foundation, and prepare them for a positive future.