blueFire Wilderness, an innovative and comprehensive wilderness and adventure-based program for children aged 11-28, is excited to showcase their two Milieu Therapists. Milieu Therapists are a vital part of the therapy program at blueFire Wilderness as they create a safe and structured environment for students to work on their mental health. Milieu Therapy uses four main pillars: Structure, Validation, Involvement, and Containment, to create a safe, functioning, and constructive therapeutic environment.

Angela Heider, LCP, and Liz Santone, LCP, are Milieu Therapists with blueFire Wilderness. They work with the clients, the clinical team, and the field instructor to help guide changes in the lives of children.

Angela has joined blueFire to further her career in Wilderness Therapy. She received her Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of the Cumberlands after completing an internship focused on the inpatient treatment of clients with substance use disorders. Angela loves joining adventures with clients at blueFire and being part of a team that is making a difference in the lives of families.

Liz earned her B.A. in Psychology from Duquesne University, and her Master’s in Counselor Education from the Pennsylvania State University. Currently, she is a Ph.D. candidate at Duquesne University. Liz is writing her dissertation on Social Information Processing of Aggressive Youth and has published work on this subject for academic journals. As a Licensed Professional Counselor, Liz’s enthusiasm for her work comes from the immense gratitude she has for a career that allows her to make meaningful connections with others, instill hope in the lives of children and families, and the constant learning opportunities presented to her through this special work. It has been a long-held dream of Liz to work in Wilderness Therapy, as it joins her career and academic interests with the healing power of nature.

With the valuable assistance of these two Milieu Therapists working in their program, blueFire Wilderness continues to provide the best care for its students and giving them the support they need to be successful in life.

To learn more about blueFire Wilderness, please visit https://bluefirewilderness.com or call (844) 413-1999 for more information.

About blueFire

BlueFire Wilderness is a wilderness therapy program based just outside of Boise, Idaho that offers teens ages 11-17 a comprehensive adventure experience. BlueFire Wilderness combines clinical expertise, academic assessments, and a family systems approach to help teens struggling with emotional, behavioral and social challenges.