Blue Ridge Therapeutic Wilderness, a North Georgia-based outdoor therapeutic program for adolescents ages 12-18 and young adults ages 18-29, is honored to welcome Primary Therapist Sarah James, LCMHC, LCAS to the clinical team. A former Blue Ridge field instructor and wilderness therapist for three years, Sarah returns to the Blue Ridge community with a deep understanding of the wilderness process and a discerning mind for complex students. As Primary Therapist, Sarah will work with adolescent female students ages 14-18.
With an approach grounded in attachment theory, trauma-informed care, and family systems, Sarah offers students and their families a framework for healing and growth. Through cultivating curiosity and fostering a culture of safety, she empowers adolescents to confront their struggles and reevaluate their choices, guiding them and their families toward collaborative problem-solving and mutual understanding.
Recognizing the unique challenges they face in today's society, Sarah enjoys working with neurodiverse individuals, those struggling with low self-esteem, anxiety, depression, identity, and trauma. Drawing from her extensive background in wilderness therapy, residential treatment, and crisis intervention, Sarah brings a wealth of experience and compassion to her practice. Her approach, characterized by "fierce love," combines empathy with accountability, instilling in her clients the belief in their inherent resilience and authenticity.
Sarah shares, "My approach to working with parents and caregivers parallels my work with their teens; my goal is to help families exit cyclical power struggles and reimagine themselves as a team facing common goals and challenges... I lead with compassion while holding others accountable to the belief that they are capable of resiliency, integrity, and authenticity."
Sarah is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and addictions specialist. She is certified in Attachment-Based Family Therapy and is currently pursuing advanced certifications in Adoption Competency.
About Blue Ridge Therapeutic Wilderness
Blue Ridge Therapeutic Wilderness offers clinically driven wilderness therapy programs encompassing advanced therapeutic skills, a highly flexible nomadic wilderness therapy model, licensed wilderness therapy assessment, and multiple treatment options for struggling teens ages 13-18 and young adults ages 18-29 in the Emerald Arrow program. Blue Ridge’s individualized approach, family support, and commitment to service translate to an unparalleled experience and better outcomes for adolescents and families. To learn more about Blue Ridge Therapeutic Wilderness, visit www.blueridgewilderness.com or contact admissions@blueridgewilderness.com.