There's a big difference between discipline and punishment. The ideal situation for any parent with a teen who is engaged in deviant behavior is often to make a clean break. Stuck in the same environment with fights and silences and general ill-feeling, only makes a bad situation worse. Getting away from that bad vibe can be the necessary circuit-breaker. The parent can sleep easily not worrying where their troubled teen might or what they are doing. And the teen is away from the trouble they seem to always be in at home.

But discipline of itself may be of little value. You see the best reaction to teenage behavior is self-imposed discipline, is self-discipline. And that's where a good boot camp is worth its weight in gold.

But there are different stages in the self-discipline scenario. There's the self discipline where the troubled teen thinks they won't do something because they want to avoid being punished. And the second form is where the teen wants a positive outcome in their life; they want the good things life can offer and so turn away from bad behavior and refuse to behave in a naughty or irresponsible way. Every parent would be thrilled to have their teen impose self-discipline and turn out a helpful, successful and caring person.

That's where a good boot camp comes into its own. Firstly there is little if any time to sit around and get into trouble. The timetable is packed full of physical activities and more besides. Hiking, camping and fishing are just some of the outdoor activities. They offer a challenge to troubled teens. They burn off excess energy, then eat nutritious meals and take part in vigorous therapy and group discussion sessions. Troubled teens find they have a voice and hear what others just like them can say.

And any teen with a known disorder such as ADD, ODD or depression finds that the set routines of a boot camp give them security and support. Things may chop and change at home or at school but at boot camp things run like clockwork. Troubled teens get to appreciate a set routine. They like to know what will happen and when.

One major aim of the boot camp is to show the residents how to accept responsibility for their own actions. Teens learn how to plan their future and strive to reach their goals. This is getting very close to that form of self-discipline where a teen does or doesn't do the wrong thing simply because they want a better life. Discipline from parents is not required. Maybe guidance, advice and a helping hand are needed but now that their son or daughter is keen to do the right thing and prosper, they are now singing from the same page as their parents.

And all of this can result from a stint in a good boot camp. Remember there are many boot camps and your job is to find the one which best caters for the needs of your troubled teen. Get that right and your worries could well be over.