Treatment Resources for RAD, Autism, & Mental Health Issues

This page provides resources for parents, social workers, and adults in need to treatment options for their children with mental health issues, attachment disorder, autism, eating disorders, and other needs.

Please note, this listing does not imply a recommendation of these services.

RAD (Reactive Attachment Disorder) Parenting Resources

Here is helpful information for parenting a child or teen with RAD.

Can a Child Heal from RAD? – Answers to questions parents most often ask about attachment disorder.

5 Strategies to Discipline a Child with RAD – Helpful techniques for parents, foster parents, and teachers.

RAD Treatment Centers – List of treatment programs for attachment disorder, listed by state.

Click here to learn about the most effective prescription medications used for children with attachment disorder.

Click here for what foster parents need to know about RAD.

Click here for what teachers need to know about RAD.

RAD Checklist – Does My Child Have RAD? – Warning signs and common behaviors of children with attachment issues or attachment disorder.

Top 10 Treatments for RAD – The best treatment options to help a child heal from attachment issues.

Autism Parenting Resources

Here are helpful resources for parenting an autistic child.

5 Strategies to Calm a Screaming Child – help your autistic child calm down.

What To Do When Your Autistic Child Won’t Stop Talking – support and boundaries for this common problem.

How Can I Get My Autistic Child to Stop Hitting? – How to help an autistic child with physical aggression and outbursts.

Can my Autistic Child Become Normal? – Can an autistic child become normal with therapy or other interventions? Read to find out.

9 Activities to Do with Your Autistic Child – Ways to keep your child busy, connect, and support their special interests.

Ways to Get an Autistic Child to Sleep – How to help your child calm and go to sleep.

Autism & Picky Eaters – How to help an autistic child expand their diet.

Stimming – What Parents Need to Know – Helpful information for parents about autism stims.

ADHD vs Autism – What is the difference?

What is Autism Spinning? – What to do when your child wants to spin himself or spin objects.

Is Autism a Disability? – Written by an autistic adult.

Group Homes for Autism – Questions to Ask – Questions to ask when visiting a group home.

Signs of Autism at Age 1 – Signs of autism in babies.

Signs of Autism at Age 2 – What are the signs of autism in toddlers?

Signs of Autism at Age 3 – What are the signs of autism in pre-schoolers?

Eating Disorders and Autism – What you need to know.

What is the Best Diet for My Autistic Child? – should your autistic child be gluten-free, dairy-free or keto? Read here to find out.

What NOT to Do with an Autistic Child – 8 things parents, grandparents, and teachers need to know.

Autism and Aggression: 5 Strategies for Parents – Steps to take when your autistic child is violent or aggressive.

Why Do Autistic People Rock Back and Forth? – Why a child or adult with autism rocks as a stim and what to do about it.

5 Tips to Recognize Autism Meltdown Triggers – Learn the warning signs that your child is about to meltdown and how to prevent it, plus the difference between an autistic meltdown and a tantrum.

How to discipline an autistic child – Strategies that work and those to avoid for kids who are neurotypical.

What is Vocal Stimming? – How to manage if your child uses the autism stim of humming, making noises or talking.

What is Autism Masking? – Autism masking is when autistic people attempt to hide their true selves because their autism is not accepted. This leads to autism burnout.

What is Autism Burnout? – Autism burnout is different from depression and occurs from the felt need of autistic people to hide their autism in order to fit in with society. This leads to extreme exhaustion.

What is Autism Scripting? – A type of masking, scripting is when autistic people mimic sections of speech in order to appear “normal” and be accepted.

What Does Autism Spectrum Mean? – Autism is typically defined on a spectrum of mild to severe, or high-functioning to low-functioning, but this is not an accurate understanding. Autism is better defined with a circle. Read to find out why.

Nonverbal Autism: 3 Ways to Communicate with a Non-speaking Child: Even if your child isn’t verbal, they still desire to communicate with you. Here are ways to do it.

Should you get a service dog for your autistic child? – Read to learn how to get a service dog, funding options, and if it’s the right step for your child.

ODD (Oppositional Defiant Disorder) Parenting Resources

10 Parenting Strategies for Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) – Helpful techniques for parents and teachers of kids with ODD.

Best Residential Treatment for ODD – Facilities that work with kids with defiance disorder.

Therapists and Consultants

Available Online

Rad Consultancy – Aaron Lederer works with parents to walk them through managing and healing children with attachment disorder. Methods proven to work quickly and effectively.

Aliya Agins – Therapist available for therapy via zoom for ABA therapy, trauma, RAD, ODD. Contact – [email protected].

Nancy Thomas Attachment Therapists Listing – A list of attachment therapists by state in the United States and a few International listings.

Attachment Focused Treatment Therapists – Listing of therapists in many states and around the world.

RAD Advocates – Provides membership, support, and individual consulting to parents who need help with services and treatment for a child with attachment disorder.

Scott at Best Choice Admissions – A free service to help you find the best boarding school for your child.

Educational Advocates, Consultants, and Attorneys Who Specialize in Residential Treatment and Boarding Schools

Click here for information about consultants and advocates who specialize in helping you place your child in residential treatment or boarding school placement, along with a listing of advocates recommended by fellow parents.

Treatment Programs

Treatment Programs for RAD and Attachment Disorders

Top 10 Treatments and Therapies for Reactive Attachment Disorder – The best treatments and therapies available for healing RAD and attachment issues.

Nancy Thomas at Attach.org – A pioneer in the treatment of children with RAD, Nancy provides webinars, 1:1 consulting by phone, attachment camps and in-person training events.

Bryan Post and Post Institute – Bryan offers books, courses, and in-person and online events for how to parent children with trauma, attachment issues, ODD, and difficult behavior issues.

Empowered to Connect – In-person and online events, books and resources for parenting children who have experience trauma.

Center 4 Family Development – New York & New Jersey, Dr. Arthur-Becker Weidman offers therapy and intensive interventions for children with attachment disorder.

Treatment Programs for Autistic Children

Click here for a list of treatment programs for autism, both residential and in-home, for children on the autism spectrum.

Group Homes

Click here to learn more about finding a group home near you for autistic children, teens, and adults.

Here is a list of questions to ask when visiting an autism group home.

Inpatient Treatment Programs

Inpatient programs are typically meant for a short-term (less than 30 days and often a week or less) in order to stabilize a crisis situation. The exception to this is that some hospital eating disorder and substance abuse inpatient programs are longer.

To find inpatient treatment programs for children and teens near you, visit or call your local emergency room, ask your therapist or pediatrician, or contact your location Department of Mental Health.

Does My Child Need Inpatient Treatment? – Overview of what inpatient treatment is used for, what a day of treatment is like, and how to get treatment for your child or teen.

When A Child Needs Inpatient Treatment for Mental Health – This article explains inpatient hospitalization for children, youth, and teens.

What Inpatient Parent-Child Visits are Like for Mental Health Care – Here’s a description of what parent visits are like when your child is in an inpatient program.

Residential Treatment Programs

How to Find Residential Treatment for Youth and Teens – Here are the steps to get a child or teen into residential treatment.

Residential Treatment Programs for RAD – A listing of out-of-home treatment programs for attachment disorder.

How We Got Residential Treatment (and Funding) for Our Son – Here’s a detailed explanation of how we got our son into residential treatment.

Treatment Programs for Teens with Eating Disorders

Eating Disorder Treatment for Children and Teens – Information about how to treat a child with disordered eating.

NEDA – National Eating Disorders Association – Offers a listing of therapy options, a toll-free number and online chat to assist with finding services.

Psychology Today Treatment Programs Listing – Listing of treatment programs near me for treat eating disorders.

Therapeutic Boarding Schools

Therapeutic Boarding Schools are private, paid programs where children live at the facility where they attend school, while also receiving a structured program to meet their behavior needs.

Programs that Accept Younger Children (Ages 5-12 Years Old)

Click here for a listing by state of programs that accept elementary school children (ages five to twelve years old).

Free Boarding Schools

While there are not very many, there are a few boarding schools in the United States that do not charge tuition. Click here for the listing of free boarding schools.

Low Cost Boarding Schools

We recommend Life Quest Girls Academy because it’s a lower cost, affordable non-therapeutic boarding school option.

Military Schools

Military schools are typically private preparatory schools modeled on the U.S. military colleges, such as West Point. Teens typical attend military school because they need the highly structed program or because they plan to enlist in the military when they become an adult.

Military Boarding Schools by State – Click for a complete listing of military treatment and behavior schools for youth.

Military Schools for Girls – Bootcamp and army school programs that are coed and accept girls.

Wilderness Therapy Programs

Wilderness Therapeutic Programs teach teens and young adults to overcome behavior challenges in a nature setting. Most programs are short-term of 8-12 weeks in duration but some offer longer options. Most require self-payment but there are non-profit programs that offer scholarships and affordable options for those in need.

Click here to learn about Wilderness Therapy and get a list of programs by state.

Children with Sexual Behavior Problems

Treatment for Children with Sexualized Behavior – Many children who have behavior and mental health issues exhibit inappropriate sexual behavior. Here’s how to find treatment.

Treatment Programs for Problematic Sexualized Behavior – Listing by state.

Job Corps

Job Corps is the largest free residential education and job training program for young adults ages 16-24 in the United States.

Job Corps is a government-led program and free for students to attend. Students must prove financial need in order to qualify. While at Job Corps, housing and education are provided while youth attend job training programs.

Visit Job Corp website for more information.

Parent Reviews of RAD Treatment Programs

Click here for parent reviews of residential treatment programs, boarding schools, and inpatient services for RAD.

Books

Top 50 Books About Foster Care, Adoption, and Trauma – A helpful listing of books about treatment for children with mental health and behavior challenges.

Treatment Programs for Adults

While our website focuses on treatment for children, we often receive requests for help for adults. Here are some helpful resources.

Treatment for Adults with RAD

Tips for Adult RAD – Strategies if you are in a relationship with an adult who has attachment issues.

Bridges to Recovery – Provides mental health services, including adults with attachment issues.

Dr. Gil Winkelman – Naturopathic doctor who treats a wide variety of conditions, including adults with RAD.

These resources will help you find the care and support you need for a child with mental health or behavior issues.

Do you have a recommendation for another service or a request for a type of treatment you need for your child? Share it in the comments below or contact us.

Group Homes for Autistic Adults

Click here for more information on group home placement for neuro-diverse adults.

Infographic – Types of Residential Treatment for Kids

Click here for more information about the programs available for children who need out of-of-home placement, plus a free PDF printable of this information.

More Helpful Treatment Resources For You:

List of Residential Treatment for Autism in United States

Funding Options for Residential Treatment Programs

Find Youth Residential Treatment Centers {Ultimate Guide}