Our Patients

Each year, about 400 families from over 40 states and other countries bring their children to Meridell Achievement Center. The majority of our patients have a history of treatment failure. Most have been patients at:

• Partial hospital and intensive outpatient programs
• Psychiatric hospitals
• Residential therapeutic schools
• Wilderness programs
• Residential treatment programs

They often have multiple diagnoses, including:

• Bipolar Disorder
• Depression
• Anxiety Disorder
• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
• Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD)
• Conduct Disorder
• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• Intermittent Explosive Disorder
• Cerebral Dysrhythmia
• Impulse Control Disorder
• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
• Personality Disorder Traits
• Tourettes Syndrome and other neurological disorders

Parents struggle with their childrens behavior:

Refuses treatment:
“Alan wont take his meds and refuses to talk with his therapist. Hes already been in the hospital three times.”

Poor social skills:
“Joan has always had a difficult time making and keeping friends.”

Self-medication:
“Sam says he uses pot to dull his feelings. When he cant, he steals my prescription meds.”

Self-harm:
“Sarah cuts herself and runs away.”

Impulsive and explosive:
“Were constantly walking on eggshells, not knowing when Suzie will have another ⁄meltdown.”
“Justin does okay at school, but when hes at home, Kaboom!”

Physical aggression:
“Dan kicked me and threatened me with a kitchenknife. Hes only eight.”
“Jennifer tried to hurt her baby brother.”
“When Johnny doesnt get his way he kicks holes in walls and throws furniture.”

Multiple admissions:
“We take Tom to counseling weekly and hes been hospitalized twice. Something else has to be going on.”

Key behaviors

Manipulation
Relentlessly avoiding responsibilities. Seeking dangerous, unacceptable pursuits

Social Anxiety, Isolation
Inability to function successfully at home and/or in school

High Risk
Threatening or carrying out self-harm or harm to others, out of control

Impulsive Aggression
Acting out suddenly and unpredictably either verbally and/or physically, with no plan in mind, out of control

Geographic distribution

Patients reside nationwide and internationally:

• Texas: 51%
• 40 other states/D.C.: 45%
  • Eastern Time Zone: 29%
  • Central Time Zone: 21%
  • Mountain Time Zone: 27%
  • Pacific Time Zone: 23%
• Canada, Europe, Asia, Central & South America: 4%