Sonia Shankman Orthogenic School

For a residential center of it's kind it's above average. The students are generally treated well, and more as kids than as patients. Many other schools maintain a much more clinical environment. The senior staff (Michelle, Pete, Diana) are mostly great. The educational program is good for a school of this type. There isn't enough evidence based therapy (I know many graduates that have benefited from DBT and CBT and wished it had been provided there rather than psychoanalytic style therapies), and the length of stay can be longer than necessary. It can be difficult for students to gain privileges. Many students graduate and are dealing with the same issues they arrived with- I know one graduate in a nursing home for a mental illness, another that is homeless, and another that is in and out of treatment centers constantly. I also know some that have succeeded in college or gone on to careers. Like most RTC's the outcomes aren't great, but if your child must be in a long term facility then this is pretty much as good as it gets. Just don't expect a cure, and know that statistically kids do better if RTC's are avoided entirely.

The 'O' School is a school for children and adolescents with behavioral and psychological difficulties. Students are mostly residential with two counselers in each dorm room, regular administrative and counseling staff, as well as nursing. The school is well organized, well run, and also affiliated with the U of Chicago.

this school is a excellent for your children to have a save learning experience! this school also has a some very special classes such as infectious tee's which is run by the students
—Submitted by a parent