This type of camp may be ideal but there are certain factors to consider. Think about all the possibilities and weigh up the pros and the cons. You will sometimes find teens from a strong Christian family going off the rails. How can that be so? A bible-based upbringing would surely see all young people respecting their parents and living a wholesome life; if only that were true.

So the first myth you need to toss aside is that a teen from a Christian home will automatically stay out of trouble. And if your child is in trouble, then you must ask why and in what way?

Christian boot camps are like most teenage boot camps except that they obviously have a Christian-centered basis for their programs. But if your teenager is anti-authority, is clashing with you or his or her teachers, then the last place you may want to send your teen is a boot camp with another authority figure. This time it's the church and even God. Of course if the staff are professional and aware of troubled teens and the 'them and us' attitude, then a Christian boot camp might be just the ticket.

Remember troubled teens are often confused with deep seated feelings of distrust and anger. If you as a parent choose to put your teen in a Christian boot camp, you might be simply giving your child another authority figure to oppose. The secret of any boot camp, Christian or not, is to get the residents, the trouble teens to focus on themselves and to stop blaming others.

Lots of physical activity and well-planned therapy sessions both one to one and in groups, give teens the chance to have their say and to hear from their peers. The fact that the staff members are practicing Christians is a benefit but is not essential to the success of your child's stay in the camp.

Of course as a Christian parent, you want your son or daughter raised in the ways of Lord but a boot camp which enables your child to lose their anger and become responsible and caring young people is truly the name of the game. That is the best possible solution for your troubled teen.

Try and think like your troubled teen. They may see you as the parent who is trying all sorts of tricks to gain control, to continue treating them as a young child. That's not how you are thinking but persuading your teen of the truth of the matter is more than half the battle.

Think forward to the end result. You want a life-changing experience for your son or daughter. As a Christian you believe that can come through your faith. But regardless of the religious aspect of the camp, and prayer can be an empowering factor, the most important thing is the mental success of your child. You want the boot camp to help your teen lose their troubles, settle down and become a force for good. Any good boot camp can make that change happen including any good Christian boot camp.