The first verse of the hymn “Amazing Grace” concludes, “I once was lost, but now I’m found. Was blind but now I see.” “Lost” is how many of our students feel when they first come to Clearview Girls Academy. Often they have become “blind” to their self-worth. One of our many recovery goals is to help them restore their self-worth. We want them to find and reestablish a positive self-image. We want them to see the wonderful young women they are.

One of Clearview Girls Academy’s focuses is restoring our students’ identity and self-image. We do this through a process of academic achievement, various therapeutic options, and offering physical and holistic wellness activities. 

Self-image is crucial to our self-worth. When positive self-image is lost, then we too are lost. Through an individualized recovery program, we will help your daughter find herself again.

“I Once Was Lost”

In today’s tech-heavy online world, it seems easier than ever for our children to question their value. They see all of these doctored images of unhealthy beauty standards that are simply unreal. However, false as they may be, our children are comparing themselves to these online “influencers,” and this has the potential to damage their self-image immensely. This is especially true with young women.

According to a study reported in the journal BMC Women’s Health, “Adolescent girls appear more vulnerable to experiencing mental health difficulties from social media use than boys. The presence of sexualized images online is thought to contribute, through increasing body dissatisfaction among adolescent girls. Sexual objectification through images may reinforce to adolescent girls that their value is based on their appearance.” Our daughters are becoming lost in a sea of insecurity-inducing online imagery.

When an adolescent loses her positive self-image, it can be hard to see past anything else. Often, her grades suffer. She may begin to lose interest in the things she once loved. She may even begin to exhibit signs of mental health struggles. When these signs begin to surface, it may be time to intervene and consider a program of recovery.

Regaining Identity

It would not be hyperbole to state that our identity can be everything. Not because it is what we present to the outside world, though that is important. More importantly, this is how we identify with ourselves. Our identity is how we see ourselves. Who are we? Why are we here? What do we want to be? What do we want to contribute to the world?

These questions, as existential as they may seem, are critical to healthy development and maintaining a positive mindset. These questions and broad self-reflection and examination cannot take place if our identity is in tatters. This is the case with many of the students that come to Clearview Girls Academy.

Our initial goal is to help our students begin to regain their identity. We do this by allowing them the ability to “get messy” with their emotions. We encourage them to purge all that pent-up toxicity and express themselves to their fullest. Through this emotional allowance, we begin to discover what lies beneath the surface of their negative self-image. We can then start down the path of regaining their identity and restoring their self-image.

Restoring Self-Image

Here at Clearview Girls Academy, we have many unique tools and resources that we can use to help our students restore their healthy self-image. While we have many options, here we aim to highlight just a few of them.

Academic Restoration

First, we focus on restoring a sense of academic achievement to our students’ life. We often see that poor self-image and academic underachievement go hand in hand. Quite frankly, when your daughter stops caring about herself, then how can we expect her to care about her grades?

What makes us unique from other recovery centers is that we here at Clearview Girls Academy are a fully accredited middle school and high school. Our students often find that an individualized focus on academics alongside the other aspects of their recovery becomes a winning combination. 

Holistic Resources and Therapies

Second, we also focus on bringing some holistic and physical practices into our students’ lives. This includes encouraging practices of meditation, breathwork, and activities like stretching and yoga. It also includes utilizing our amazing “backyard,” which includes some of the most beautiful mountains and rivers that Montana has to offer. Discovering what they are capable of physically can go a long way in restoring our students’ confidence and self-image.

Third, we have some of the best psychological and medical professionals available on our staff. These professionals help our students rediscover themselves through therapies that include cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), equine and art therapy, as well as eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy. Utilizing these therapies in tandem with our other offerings here at Clearview Girls Academy can help get to the root causes of poor self-image and get your daughter on the right road to recovery.

“Now I’m Found”

There is a beautiful couplet in “Amazing Grace” that stands out to us. It reads, “We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise, than when we first begun.” When a child has lost their self-image, it can feel like there is no hope. It can feel like there are no positive days ahead.

But there is hope. Their future is bright. They just need to find themselves again. Self-image can be restored. It takes work, but it will happen. Let’s leave that negative self-image in the past. It’s time to begin the positive walk toward recovery.

Restoring self-image is crucial to establishing a healthy, well-balanced, and long-term recovery. When we stop viewing ourselves in a positive light, it becomes hard to maintain other positive aspects of our lives. When your daughter loses confidence in her self-image, she then may lose confidence in her worth, her scholastic ability, and her mental capacity. This domino effect can be devastating and can be both a sign of preexisting mental health issues and/or lead to mental health issues. However, the dominos don’t have to continue to fall. We are here to help restore your daughter’s self-image so she can begin to recover and grow into her positive valued self. Please contact Clearview Girls Academy at (888) 796-5484 for more information.