Since 2011, families across the country have turned to nature for a break from their everyday routines and a deeper sense of reconnection, understanding, and transformation. While Breakwater Expeditions is often associated with outdoor adventures, it has quietly gained a reputation for offering impactful family experiences that blend clinical expertise with the healing power of time spent in nature. Their family therapy vacations and intensives are designed to meet families where they are, providing structured and nurturing support.
Breakwater’s four-day Family Intensive program, co-developed by therapist and parent coach Jen Murphy, has become a trusted option for families facing various challenges. Some families seek intervention during crises, while others aim to improve communication, strengthen bonds, and set positive intentions for the future. These intensives occur in comfortable, home-like environments, offering a deeper therapeutic experience without the stress of remote wilderness settings. Combining clinical sessions, hands-on learning, and outdoor adventure, families leave with stronger tools, healthier dynamics, and renewed confidence in their shared path.
Angie Roberts Schmeltzer, co-owner of Breakwater Expeditions, shared, “What sets Breakwater Expeditions' experiences apart is the thoughtful integration of nature, outdoor adventure, and relational work, which can also be effectively executed within a home environment.” The team collaborates with clinicians, parent coaches, and educators to create tailored programs that honor each family’s unique story and goals. For parents, caregivers, and professionals seeking meaningful, values-driven support, these intensives offer a grounded, time-tested approach to hope and healing.
About Breakwater Expeditions:
Breakwater Expeditions is a nationally respected provider of experiential therapy intensives and nature-based journeys for families, teens, adults, and organizations. Since 2011, Breakwater has blended clinical insight with the transformative power of time in nature—offering both front country family therapy programs and destination-based expeditions in sea kayaking, canoeing, and backpacking. Whether a family in crisis seeking immediate support, a teen looking to grow through adventure, or a group preparing for a meaningful transition, Breakwater creates customized experiences designed to meet people exactly where they are.
What sets Breakwater apart is the depth of its leadership and the heart behind every experience. Owned and operated by professionals with backgrounds in therapy, education, and wilderness programming, Breakwater’s founders are hands-on in designing and guiding the majority of offerings. Every program—indoors or outdoors—is anchored in emotional safety, community connection, and the belief that people grow best through experience. To learn more, visit www.breakwaterexp.com or call 208.263.0277.