Solstice RTC, a nationally recognized treatment center for adolescent girls aged 13-18, sets the standard in integrating adventure programming with inpatient care. Designed to complement the program’s comprehensive approach to healing trauma, loss, and attachment issues, Solstice's immersive outdoor experiences provide adolescents and their families with opportunities to grow, reconnect, and find hope.

According to Michael Sanders, Director of Adventure Programming, a core aspect of the adventure programming is designed to help clients build deep connections with themselves and their families. “There’s a concept called the red thread,” Sanders explains. “It’s an invisible thread that connects us to the people we care most about. Over time, it stretches or shortens depending on how we connect. Our adventure programming focuses on shortening those threads, helping families feel close again, even after years of struggle.”

A Holistic, Therapeutic Framework
Interdepartmental staff at Solstice are in constant communication about their students' therapeutic goals and progress. Adventure staff members Michael Sanders and Caitlin Belcher carefully evaluate each student’s needs and objectives, tailoring activities to incorporate therapeutic processes and support individual growth. Grounded in evidence-based approaches like Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Somatic Experiencing, and DBT, expeditions are designed to support emotional and behavioral challenges. Weekly activities, overnight trips, and cultural experiences help students practice patience and teamwork while applying therapeutic lessons to real-world situations.

“Adventure activities like rock climbing and hiking have a way of mirroring life’s challenges,” Sanders says. “When you face fear on the rock wall or uncertainty on a hike, you're learning skills you can apply in everyday life, whether overcoming self-doubt or trusting others. It’s about finding strength in moments of vulnerability.”

A Focus on Family Reconnection
A key feature of Solstice’s adventure programming is its parent/student expeditions. These carefully planned trips, such as the recent four-day adventure in Moab, Utah, focus on creating new, positive experiences for families. Activities like rock climbing, rappelling, and hiking encourage teamwork and allow families to see each other in new roles.

“One of the most powerful moments during our recent trip was watching a mother cheer on her daughter as she climbed a rock wall for the first time,” Sanders recalls. “That inspiration carried over as the mother, though frightened, climbed the wall herself. It was a beautiful example of how shared challenges bring families closer.”

Proven Impact and Personal Growth
At the core of Solstice’s therapeutic model are measurable outcomes and real-life transformations. Graduate families have credited the program with saving lives and restoring relationships. One former parent shares, “Solstice saved our daughter’s life and gave us back our family. We never thought we'd feel this connected again.”

Students also report significant personal growth through these experiences, including overcoming self-doubt and building confidence. “On the rock wall, we ask, ‘Who felt scared today? Who wanted to give up? And who relied on someone else?’” Sanders explains. “Every hand goes up. That’s how we know we’re creating lasting change. They’re learning to face challenges head-on, together.”

Utah’s Natural Wonders: A Key Part of Solstice RTC Recreation
Utah’s spectacular natural landscape provides the perfect setting for Solstice’s adventure programming. Students participate in activities such as alpine skiing, mountain biking, hiking in Arches and Zion National Parks, and whitewater rafting. Overnight trips offer more immersive experiences with the added fun of getting students off campus.

Solstice RTC's diverse recreation offerings help students discover healthy outlets, practice therapeutic skills, and build interests supporting their well-being long after treatment ends.

Take the First Step Toward Healing
With its powerful integration of adventure therapy with comprehensive clinical support, Solstice offers a space where families can heal and reconnect on a deeper level. “I love watching families discover that healing is possible and that hope isn’t lost,” Sanders says. “Every family trip shows us the power of stepping outside comfort zones and toward each other.”

About Solstice RTC:

Solstice RTC is a residential treatment center for teen girls and teens assigned female at birth that has helped hundreds of struggling families on their journey to solving issues like trauma, depression, anxiety, and mood disorders. Solstice RTC, located in Layton, Utah, offers a specialized, clinically intensive program based on the specific needs of each student. At Solstice RTC, teens discover their full potential. For additional information on Solstice, please visit solsticertc.com or call 866-278-3345.