Corrective Thinking

Sky Ranch For Boys uses a treatment approach called Corrective Thinking. It is integrated into every aspect of each boy’s life at the Ranch. This formalized cognitive-behavioral approach is based on research done by Samenow and Yochelson regarding criminal personality and thinking.
           
Since most of our residents  have a history of conflict with community, family and school, we strive to identify each boy’s individual attitude and belief system in order to help him modify his thinking patterns and ultimately his behavioral patterns. This is a slow process and at times difficult.

This approach helps each boy correct criminal thinking, as well as, thinking that results in conflict with peers, adults and the community. Corrective Thinking requires a commitment each day, including the time spent during school hours. It focuses on treating others with respect and observing their rights.

If an incident occurs wherein the boy’s behavior finds him in conflict with any rule or directive of staff and results in infringement on others or on property, he is required to identify what he was thinking just prior to that behavior and commit to a more appropriate response.

Then he is required to identify and  discuss a thinking pattern, which would “correct” that error. He is also required to write a thought log explaining his feelings and then have it approved  by the supervising staff member.

Consequences for behavior resulting in conflict range from thought logs, where he identifies thinking and behavior and their correctives, to restriction of privilege and more individualized, intensive counseling to help him with that process.

If a boy’s behavior has negatively impacted another person(s), he is required to apologize to the person(s) involved to resolve any negative feelings surrounding the incident. Sky Ranch For Boys has found this approach to be very affective in helping each child deal with emotional, behavioral, learning and social adaptation problems.