Toquerville, UT -- (SBWIRE) -- 01/09/2015 -- Campaign for Youth Justice, in April 2012, reported juvenile courts in the United States handled approximately 1.7 million cases involving a delinquency offense, the equivalent of 4.600 cases each day. Although the number of juveniles arrested for this type of crime declined significantly between the period of 1999 and 2008, an astounding 15.7 percent decline, the number of court cases dropped by only four percent. Parents worried about their child and the life they are currently living often turn to outside facilities for help, and Lava Heights Academy has earned a top spot in this field, offering art therapy for troubled teens.

"Talk therapy fails to help many children, and parents often believe they are running out of options. Lava Heights Academy offers an alternative approach, one which involves comprehensive art therapy programs covering drama, dance/movement, art and music therapies. With the use of these therapies, professionals find they can reach adolescents who failed to respond to other treatment options, as the arts allow students to communicate complex struggles, fears, and feelings they are coping with when words aren't enough," Millie Anderson, spokesperson for Lava Heights Academy, explains.

Creative professionals work alongside therapists to assist adolescents. Teens who take part in the program find they learn to accept themselves and others who have different ideas about the world and how it operates. Children learn to accept praise and feedback in a healthy way, and all participants are provided the opportunity to create and perform in one or more art forms. Participants explore the unique skills and talents they have been given, and one doesn't need an artistic background to take part in this therapy.

Therapists work to promote dialogue between participants, while addressing social skills development, Anderson goes on to say. Empathy and cooperative play are emphasized and groups are continuously formed to meet the needs of all students. Parents find the program benefits their child in numerous ways and communication among family members improves. Many find it is the solution they have been searching for to help their child.

Adolescents participating in the program attend school and take part in other therapy sessions. A treatment team works with each patient to determine which therapies will be of most help to them, and this team consists of nurses, therapists, a case manager, department directors, the program director, and a psychiatrist. Artistic and/or academic teachers and direct care shift supervisors also offer input into the treatment of each patient.

"Lava Height Academy strives to provide a holistic, integrated, multi-faceted approach to treatment of adolescents. Troubled teens learn to come to a healthy and acceptable resolution with regards to their identity. In addition, they obtain the tools needed to deal with conflicts, both internal and external, which arise when one tries to hide their true identity. Students learn to connect with others in a healthy way, while remaining true to themselves, and the results are amazing," Anderson declares.

About Lava Heights Academy
Lava Heights Academy takes its inspiration from the spirit of Tuscan artistry, and students live in a contained environment which works to nurture their soul. Safety and health remain top priorities at all times and students spend the majority of their time in secure dorms, rehearsal rooms, classrooms, and more. The beauty of the campus and its functionality combine to provide a safe environment where children can grow and thrive, while healing through the arts.