KC Girls Academy

Kansas City Girls Academy

Therapeutic Care and Guidance for
Girls With Emotional Issues

Kansas City Girls Academy is a smaller, more intimate program that provides care and support for girls aged 12-17 who are facing emotional challenges stemming from adoption, trauma, abuse, negative peer influences, or family conflict. Through its proven Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI) approach, we help young women improve their behavior, emotional well-being, and outlook on life. In addition, we place a strong emphasis on enhancing each girl’s academic performance. For over 60 years, the successful Teen Challenge program has been transforming the lives of teenagers across the nation. This is an opportunity to give your daughter a renewed sense of purpose, joy, and direction that can last a lifetime!

KC Girls Academy is a program for girls struggling in life. It is designed to help girls identify problem behaviors and build inner strength to overcome challenges. Effective communication skills are developed, and positive coping strategies are learned. KC Girls Academy uses a multi-therapeutic model.  

If your daughter is adopted, struggling emotionally, falling behind in school, or diagnosed with ADHD or Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD), this school is uniquely designed to support her needs.

Our Trauma Informed Care

As a result of trauma, adolescents tend to react in a cycle of hyper-alertness and hyper-avoidance to perceived threats. They may act out by being aggressive or by taking risks. They can also “act in” by giving up control to a peer group.  Our Trauma-Informed Care recognizes the full spectrum of responses to trauma and creates an environment where teens feel safe to recover. 

Trauma-informed care is a consistent form of care that is therapeutic in nature. The techniques we use help address the girl’s threat bias.  We prioritize building healthy relationships with each student —” connection before correction”— where girls can feel emotionally safe.  They feel reassured that they belong, have significance, and are being heard. 

Specific Therapeutic Approaches Include:

Group Therapy – This consists of multiple small group sessions weekly, led by our counselors and staff. These groups include substance abuse, problem-solving, positive peer culture, emotional management, safe dates, and specialty groups designed for specific treatment needs. All group processes foster emotional growth in a safe and confidential setting.

Individual Therapy – is provided to each student with a minimum of one session every other week. Sessions help students gain insights into their individual behaviors and establishes a trusting relationship with their counselor. In this setting, students process issues too sensitive for them to share with a group.

Family Therapy – is provided via weekly teleconference. Parents contribute to treatment as an integral part of the program. KC Girls Academy encourages families to visit during planned family weekends. Family and students meet with their primary counselor for therapy. Parents and children also participate in parent support groups,  parent-teacher conferences, workshops, and graduation ceremonies.

Equine Therapy – We offer each girl equine therapy. During activities with horses, girls learn alternative ways of responding to difficult situations rather than reacting. They begin to find hope for their challenging life issues as they ‘experience’ relational changes with their horse and begin to explore their God-created uniqueness and destiny.  Horses are powerful and effective in helping people, whether child, youth or adult. They have much to teach us about our patterns of behavior, communication, and relationships. Horses are excellent “teachers,” coupled with trained facilitators certified in personal and social development, interaction with horses can often provide invaluable assistance in addressing challenging life issues in a fun, action-oriented, non-threatening learning environment.

Equine Therapy is a favorite part of the KCGA program.  It is both enjoyable and informative.  Girls often begin with reservation and end with confidence, knowing that they have earned the trust of their horse and learned a lot about themselves along the way. 

KCGA EDUCATIONAL MISSION

We believe that quality education serves as a stepping stone to discovering one’s own God-given purpose and identity which is vitally important to a teen’s healthy psychological development. Academic knowledge partnered with character development improves emotional intelligence and empowers KCGA students to become problem solvers, leaders, and healthy members of their own families who make meaningful contributions to society. We recognize the parent’s sacred responsibility to have input into their own child’s academic development.

KCGA tuition is a fraction of the cost of typical therapeutic boarding schools. Take the next step to learn more. Call 816-720-5661 or fill in the confidential inquiry form below.

All information is kept confidential. Indicate when would be the best time for us to be in contact with you.

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