Juvenile Cognitive Intervention Program (Choices and Changes)

Juvenile Cognitive Intervention Program is a tool that is used in many of the treatment areas at the Wyalusing Academy, however, the program with primary emphasis in this area is designed to address the adolescent with the more serious cognitive distortions, or "errors in thinking". This program utilizes daily group therapy, treatment assignments, and programmatic structure to assist the youth in developing alternative patterns of thinking and problem solving.

Juvenile Cognitive Intervention Program is a specialized program for adolescents with out of control, anti-social or delinquent conduct. The programs purpose is to bring about progressive lifestyle changes through choices that allow individuals to change irresponsible thinking patterns and reconstruct responsible thinking patterns.

Who will benefit from the Juvenile Cognitive Intervention Program ?
The program is designed for adolescents who have demonstrated delinquent behavior patterns, lack accountability for their actions, and present cognitive distortions.

The cognitive distortions can take the form of:
• Entitlement thinking
• Victim stance
• Minimizes responsibility
• Devalues others, to increase appearance of own value
• Intentional inattentiveness
• Use of power to control
• Places external blame
• Lies by omission
• Distorting the truth
• Excessive arguing
• Superiority thinking