A New Perspective on Identity

For many years, the Birdseye RTC has successfully provided specialized clinical services to youth with sexual issues. The initial program was designed in 1989 by leaders in the field who developed the standards for most treatment programs in use throughout the U.S. today. Experience with hundreds of youth has resulted in enhancements in the BRTC clinical program and has reinforced a framework that has stood the test of time. Within this framework, individual treatment plans are created for each young man based on his unique situation. Treatment plans are reviewed weekly, and modifications are made according to the youth’s progress.

Treatment Focus

Healing

Encouraging the youth first to examine the beliefs, feelings, and experiences that resulted in his problematic behavior, and, secondly, to resolve issues so that therapy can build on a solid foundation.

Self-awareness

Enhancing the youth’s ability to discuss and monitor the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that contributed to a pattern of harmful sexual behaviors. Bringing issues to light increases the youth’s ability to decrease and resist harmful sexual urges.

Accountability

Empowering the youth to overcome denial and accept responsibility for his behavior.

Clarification

Assisting the youth in understanding the impact of his sexual behavior on others and clarifying his responsibility to those affected by his poor choices. Some youth engage in a process of restoration, which may include joint therapy sessions with victims.

Empathy development

Increasing and enhancing awareness, sensitivity, and caring toward others, especially toward victims.

Personal enrichment

Developing relationship boundaries, clarifying values, enhancing maturity, understanding human sexuality, managing anger, understanding grief, resolving substance abuse issues, and improving social and relationship skills.

Relapse prevention planning

Developing techniques and coping strategies for managing harmful sexual impulses so that the youth is prepared to function safely and effectively in the BRTC community and in a future, less structured community.

Family involvement and support cultivation

Two family therapy sessions each month promote the healing process. These sessions are crucial to maintaining the youth’s progress during his stay at the RTC and after he leaves it. (Therapists and other staff are available evenings, weekends, and holidays for families who do not have a reasonable commute to the RTC).

Clinical Team

All members of the clinical team are licensed psychotherapists with extensive experience with youth and extensive training in adolescent development and, specifically, in issues of sexuality and problematic sexual behavior. Each youth is assigned a psychotherapist and also benefits from a male and female team of therapists during group sessions.