Why families use professional transport
Families often find that their child is resistant to the idea of treatment, and it is common for parents to bear the brunt of that resistance. Treatment centers, wilderness programs and therapeutic boarding schools around the country recommend that adolescents be professionally transported, for three reasons:
- Safety. A teen who is at risk is safer with trained, experienced professionals than on a long, emotional drive with family. Risk looks like refusing school, intimidating parents, belligerence, drug use in the home, breaking curfew, running away, refusing drug tests or medication, and disregard for household rules.
- A strained relationship. The decision to get a loved one help is emotionally charged, and the trip can make it worse. We are not the program and we are not mom or dad. A neutral intermediary lets your teen voice fears and reservations to professionals, and arrive ready to engage in treatment.
- Honesty. If the only way you can imagine getting your child to treatment is by telling them they are going somewhere else, professional transport is the less deceptive option. We tell every client, honestly, where they are going.
The NTT method
Every transport begins before we arrive at your house. An initial set of calls covers a thorough assessment of your teen, your family and the transport itself: time of arrival, who will be in the house, and which agents will relate best to your child. We plan each detail, book all related travel, and take on the stress of getting your child physically to treatment.
We work from a de-escalation standpoint. Our agents are trained as transport interventionists and recovery coaches, and many have walked their own path through treatment and recovery. We aim to connect before we give any directive, build rapport the moment we arrive, and never rely on intimidation. Every transport is performed by multiple trained agents.
What pickup day looks like
- Early morning. We typically arrive early, both because early transports succeed more often and to reduce costs.
- Introductions. Your teen meets the team, can ask about the program they are going to, and can voice reservations to professionals rather than to their parents.
- Updates every half hour. Once your child is picked up, you hear from us at every stop and change of plan.
- A calm trip. On the way, clients can relax, eat, talk with their team, sleep, watch movies and listen to music, whatever makes them most comfortable.
- A smooth handoff. We work with the admitting program before and during the transport, stay through intake, and confirm arrival with you.
Program-to-program transitions
After the first transport, families often use us again for a second placement: a therapeutic boarding school, extended care, a transitional program or sober living. Those moves can be just as delicate as the first trip, and we handle them the same way.
Related services
If your teen is missing, see runaway recovery. For a teen in a mental health crisis, see psychiatric transport. Our training and standards are on the safety and credentials page, and common questions are in the FAQ.