Located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Georgia, Blue Ridge Therapeutic Wilderness is an outdoor treatment program providing holistic, individualized treatment for early adolescents and pre-teens 12-14, adolescents ages 13-18, young adults ages 18-29, and their families. Round the clock supervision, comprehensive clinical support, and the strategic implementation of skills and tools within a safe yet stimulating environment create a unique avenue for driving change that is unparalleled in alternative therapeutic settings.
To deliver highly effective and personalized therapy in an outdoor setting, Blue Ridge Therapeutic Wilderness conducts thorough assessments at the outset of each student's program. This approach ensures a comprehensive understanding of the case, enabling tailored treatment plans and specific goals for discharge planning. Within days of a student's arrival, Blue Ridge’s expert treatment team synthesizes observations and clinical assessments gathered from various specialized roles within the organization, crafting a precise assessment and treatment roadmap for the duration of the program and beyond.
Blue Ridge prioritizes thorough assessment and personalized treatment for each student through the collaboration between multiple teams throughout students' entire enrollment. What is observed in the first several days after arrival is critical in determining a student’s approach to challenges and provides a baseline assessment to help monitor growth. Field Instructors collect observations and spend extensive time with each student's Primary Therapist to determine how they are orienting to the program.
Psychiatrist Dr. Mark Braunstein also conducts initial consultations with students and families within the first week of enrollment. This enables him to delve into the student's background and medical history, offering insights that inform a comprehensive intake and psychiatric assessment, particularly from a pharmacological standpoint. Dr. Braunstein's careful consideration of each student's unique profile establishes a solid foundation for tailored treatment, including medication management where necessary, fostering trust, especially with students resistant to treatment.
Dr. Lorena Bradley, a Licensed Clinical Psychologist, undertakes a detailed clinical intake assessment within the first two weeks of a student's arrival. Her assessment serves as an invaluable supplement to the initial consultation, providing additional insights to the Primary Therapist and the wider treatment team. With Dr. Bradley's thorough evaluation, the Primary Therapist can craft a more nuanced Master Treatment Plan, taking into account diagnostic considerations, risk areas, and potential trauma history. Moreover, Dr. Bradley extends her support to young adults in the Emerald Arrow program, offering skills and personality assessments alongside personalized feedback sessions to aid self-awareness and growth. Dr. Bradley's extensive collaboration with Blue Ridge ensures a holistic approach to student care. Her expertise in wilderness psychological testing, spanning over a decade, enriches clinical discussions and supports treatment planning. Additionally, she offers guidance to parents and Educational Consultants, elucidating cognitive and personality functioning and suggesting avenues for maintaining therapeutic progress post-program.
The immersive wilderness environment provided by Blue Ridge and Emerald Arrow proves invaluable for assessment and subsequent tailored treatment. This unique setting, coupled with multidisciplinary evaluation, facilitates a comprehensive understanding of each student's needs, guiding their treatment process and informing future steps towards sustained wellness. B
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 as well as 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 reach out to admissions@blueridgewilderness.com.