Director of Adventure Programming Michael Sanders and Recreational Therapist Caitlyn Belcher, TRS, CTRS, recently facilitated an exciting hiking series for students at Solstice in the rocky mountains of the Wasatch Front. As a team, they are redefining how students experience nature and personal growth with their unique perspectives and approaches to Adventure and Recreation Therapy. Michael and Caitlyn's teaching methods emphasize the opportunities available when students step out of their comfort zone with curiosity and embrace new challenges in the safety of a supportive environment.
Partaking in a series of adventures—such as climbing or hiking—allows students to tap into the activity on different days and experience the variances in their moods, energy levels, and degree of interest in that activity. For some students, hiking was not initially their preferred adventure. Still, they developed an appreciation for the diversity of landscapes, animal sightings, beautiful views, and the impact that hiking has on their emotional well-being. One of the students who particularly enjoyed the series after initial uncertainty chose to share her perspective in a short narrative. She highlighted the positive impact of the hikes on her mood and mindset and even noted a desire to plan longer hikes for interested students.
Michael commented, “For me, the greatest thing about watching our young students learn in Adventure and Recreation Therapy is when they discover the secret of what I call the ‘upside-down life’. The upside-down life is when you find that just going out, working, and putting forth effort doesn’t drain energy; it creates energy! When you don’t really want to do something but go out and do it anyway, when you jump in and engage with a whole heart, something magical happens. Sometimes, we don’t always know why we like what we like or don’t like what we don’t like. Whole-hearted engagement builds curiosity, and curiosity can be a source of deep learning: learning about ourselves, others, and the world around us.”
Caitlyn and Michael are passionate about helping students discover and develop what is meaningful to them and what adventure activities they enjoy. Solstice approaches therapy holistically, with the entire team ensuring that students have a wide range of skills, relationships, and hobbies that support a healthy, fulfilling life after graduation. With mental and physical health inseparably tied, students discovering healthy, physically engaging hobbies they enjoy and will continue to pursue after graduation is a key part of therapeutic success at Solstice.
About Solstice RTC
Solstice RTC is a residential treatment center for teen girls and assigned females at birth that has helped hundreds of struggling teens 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 young people. At Solstice RTC, teens discover their full potential. For additional information on Solstice RTC, please visit https://solsticertc.com/ or call 866-278-3345.