Oakley believes in students and families reconnecting. We are not a school that isolates the child from the family. Instead, we encourage healthy interaction. Oakley is committed to providing a wide variety of programs and events designed to assist the parents and the family in creating positive changes in the patterns and behaviors that may have contributed to their student’s current struggle and placement at Oakley. We provide the following methods to keep in contact with our parents:
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Initial orientation meeting at enrollment with the entire team of Directors, the therapist assigned to your student, and the house coach to discuss expectations, answer questions, and start the relationship between the family and staff.
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Bi-weekly student and family therapy sessions via phone unless the family is in town.
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Consistent weekly communication between parents and house coaches, therapist, educators, module instructors, and administrators.
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On-campus family workshops offered three times a year from Thursday afternoon through Saturday afternoon.
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On-campus specialty workshops focusing on specific clinical issues, such as adoption, depression, and computer addiction.
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Therapeutically driven home and local visits with students and parents.
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Website courses and online status reports of student progress.
We invite families to visit as much as possible, attend family workshops, fully participate in the family therapy required, and support students in taking meaningful, healthy risks. The Oakley staff is available to facilitate communication and to provide information as needed.
Parents are also invited to join in the many educational, recreational, and social activities offered to students. Parents can schedule visits during the weekends and participate in experiential education modules. Local, regional, and international service projects coordinated through the Oakley School give parents a rare opportunity to serve alongside their sons and daughters as they make a difference in the world.
Parents must work in partnership with Oakley for a student to be successful. It is virtually impossible for a student to succeed at the Oakley School without the benefit and support of parents who have certain parenting qualities and mindsets.. Successful students have parents who consistently send the message “we love you,” “we care for you,” and “we trust you to solve the problems you may have created for yourself.” Please take a look at a few of the most common barriers to a student’s success at Oakley.
Click here for definition of splitting and triangulation >>
From a graduating Oakley mom to her son’s therapist:
“Your offer to lend a pair of your shoes to my son to wear to prom – the classic right of passage for high school graduates – is the best way for our journey to pause. You invited my son to walk with you. He accepted the invitation. You’ve given him a map to new places, lead him to new vantage points and taught him how to find himself in every day experiences.
You taught me how to listen. You taught me how to accept what my son feels and wants. You helped me experience who he is. With gentle expertise, you encouraged us to separate and connect….a very difficult dance to learn.“
– C.F. mother of a Oakley Graduate ’07
Stay connected – follow your child’s progress through Parent Checkin
While your child attends the Oakley School, you can follow his or her progress through our secure ParentCheckin website. We update this site regularly with photographs and other information about your child as well as provide resources to parents of students enrolled at Oakley. If you would like to learn more about ParentCheckin, please ask an Admissions Counselor to show you a demo of the site.
435-783-5001
