All Kinds of News for December 07, 2016

"We make a living by what we get; but we make a life by what we give." ~ Winston Churchill

Three members of the Chrysalis team recently traveled to New Orleans to attend the fall Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA) conference.  Corey Hickman, Executive Director,  Jake Sparks, Clinical Director, and Robin Greene, Admissions counselor had the privilege of being part of two separate projects designed to help give back to the community of New Orleans.  Not only did they have a wonderful time doing this, meeting, laughing, playing and connecting with other professionals, but even more importantly were able to experience the warmth of serving others.

The first event was an afternoon dedicated to working at the 'Grow Dat Youth Farm' (growdatyouthfarm.org/).  The farm is a two-acre sustainable farm whose mission is to provide a collaboration in the community to provide fresh and healthy food to local residents and inspire its participants to create personal, social and environmental change.   Chrysalis managers helped on the farm by weeding and preparing new areas for planting, and wholeheartedly felt it was an afternoon well spent.

The second event that they participated in was the Disco Shuffle 5K.  The event raised money for another wonderful local charity, Liberty's Kitchen.  Liberty's Kitchen's mission is dedicated to two programs.  Their Youth Development Program works with disconnected youth to provide them workforce and life skills training to help them learn self-efficacy through employment.  Their School Nutrition Program provides local low-income children access to better nutrition and nutrition education at school, furnishing healthy, scratch-made meals prepared onsite at schools.

Hickman, Sparks and Green were excited to have the opportunity to give back to these local programs.  Volunteering is a value at the Chrysalis School, and the school looks forward to future service opportunities at other conferences.  

About Chrysalis School

Chrysalis School is an all girls therapeutic boarding school in northwest Montana for ages 13-18.  Its mission is to provide the best-quality therapeutic services, education and experiential opportunities to adolescents and their families in the context of a warm and nurturing residential boarding school environment while maintaining a commitment to integrity in all that they do.

REDMOND, WA – Just northeast of Seattle’s tech giants Microsoft, Google and Amazon, rests Serenity Mountain, a 32-acre videogame and Internet addiction recovery center. Set to open this month, it is reSTART’s newest residential campus for teens ages 13-18.

reSTART has been helping young adults (18-30) since 2009 and over those seven years there has been a steady inquiry of where to seek help for teens. "This is a much-needed resource for families,” said Company CEO and co-founder Cosette Rae.  “Our office has received thousands of calls from parents over the years and the ages of children that need help are continually getting younger. An ever-increasing number of children are choosing to step out of life and into their devices." 

Technology-focused addiction centers are not new in other countries. After labeling Internet addiction as a public health crisis, both China and South Korea have opened hundreds of dedicated Internet addiction centers. According to Pew Research Center, 73 percent of American teens have access to a smartphone, 87 percent have access to a computer, and 91 percent of teenage boys have access to a gaming console.

“I have heard from many distraught parents who are experiencing this reality with their teenagers. These parents feel extremely isolated and helpless when it comes to helping their kids and screen addiction,” Delaney Ruston, MD, Director of “Screenagers: Growing up in the digital age” said, “My hope is that someday soon we will have many more places like reSTART in our country.”

reSTART will care for up to 16 adolescents at its Serenity Mountain campus and will range from eight weeks to 12 months in length. The program’s three-phase approach allows teens to take a break from their screens, develop a plan to manage their digital media use, and then strategize how best to carry out this plan going forward.  

Hope and understanding are in no short supply, according to a former reSTART client, “I have found a peace with the chaotic nature of the world that I never could have attained without reSTART’s help.”

About reSTART Life, LLC 

reSTART was established in 2009 and continues to help youth and adults (18-30) to lead healthy sustainable lives. For more information visit reSTART Life at www.netaddictionrecovery.com.

What are self-harming behaviors?  Britten Lamb, LCSW, Clinical Director of ViewPoint Center explains what self-harming behaviors in adolescents may look like and how ViewPoint Center addresses this issue:

• Self-harm, also known as non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI), is defined by the American Psychological Association as the direct, deliberate destruction of one's own body tissue in the absence of suicidal intent. NSSI is deliberate in that self-injury is intended by the individual, rather than accidental.
• Most of the adolescents at VPC who have reportedly engaged in self-harm say they use it to try to relieve feeling anxious, depressed, overwhelming negative emotions, and pressure from family, school and friends.  However, many also report having “no feelings” at all. They explain that they often feel “numb” and that self-harming helps them to “feel alive”.
• Often, adolescents have said that they knew someone who was doing it or that a friend suggested it to them and so they tried it. They report feeling a temporary release of negative emotion and that they often continued to self-harm to get that relief again.
• Many students report feeling they would engage in self-harm because it became a habit or they were addicted. All of the adolescents at VPC who have reported self-harm have also reported low-feelings of self-worth.

How does ViewPoint Center address self-harming behaviors?

ViewPoint Center uses Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) to teach distress tolerance skills, emotion regulation skills, interpersonal effectiveness skills and mindfulness skills. These skills have been shown to reduce the rates of self-harm and improve self-mastery and competence in individuals.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is also used to challenge maladaptive beliefs and to improve self-esteem and self-worth and to help individuals find a life worth living that is free of harmful coping mechanisms.

ViewPoint Center, a licensed mental health hospital for teens ages 12-18, is located just outside of Salt Lake City, Utah. With a program lasting 6-7 weeks, ViewPoint Center provides superior assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and stabilization for struggling teens. Many teens at ViewPoint Center struggle with mental and behavioral issues such as suicidal ideation, anxiety disorders, and eating disorders. In a safe, personalized environment, ViewPoint helps teens focus on the healing process.

BestNotes located in Twin Falls, ID has achieved Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC-Health IT) Complete EHR Certification via Drummond Group LLC. Drummond Group LLC is an Authorized Certification Body (ACB) that has been empowered to test software for compliance with the requirements of the federal government’s program. The stamp of approval designates that the software offers the functionality that enables eligible providers and hospitals to meet Meaningful Use requirements, qualifying these organizations to receive payments under the ongoing EHR adoption program.

"Achieving this milestone is part of our larger commitment to customer success.  We believe Meaningful Use will ensure compliance and present new opportunities for our customer's expanding their reach in local communities and beyond," says Nathan Olsen, CEO of BestNotes.

To earn the certification, BestNotes was tested to be in accordance with applicable standards and certification criteria put forth by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). 

With more than 15 years of testing experience across various industries, Drummond Group LLC (DG) brings a high level of technical expertise to this process. Its healthcare experience also runs deep, having certified hundreds of EHRs since becoming an ACB in 2010. 

BestNotes, which met the requirements for Complete EHR, is a HIPAA compliant CRM and EHR specifically designed for the behavioral health industry.  Merging the traditionally separate CRM and EHR tools into one highly functional product, BestNotes enhances collaboration and patient outcomes for one low monthly fee. 

Certification Information:

This Complete EHR is 2014 Edition compliant and has been certified by an ONC-ACB in accordance with the applicable certification criteria adopted by the Secretary of Health and Human Services. This certification does not represent an endorsement by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Vendor: BestNotes, LLC., Date Certified:  8/25/2016, Product Version: BestNotes V1, Additional Software: none, Certified Criteria: 170.314 (a)(1-15); (b)(1-3, 5, 7); (c)(1-3); (d)(1-8); (e)(1-3); (f)(1-3); (g)(2-4), Price Transparency: There are no additional costs beyond the purchase of BestNotes or optional implementation fees. 

*A certification that is issued to an integrated bundle of EHR Modules shall be treated the same as a certification issued to a Complete EHR except that it must also indicate each EHR Module that comprises the bundle;

*A certification issued to a Complete EHR or EHR Module based on applicable certification criteria adopted by the ONC at subpart C of this part must be separate and distinct from any other certification(s) based on other criteria or requirements.

If you would like more information about this topic, please contact BestNotes at 866.554.3793 or sales@bestnotes.com

Our understanding of the basis for why adopted children are more vulnerable to a host of psychological and school-related problems compared to their non-adopted peers remains unclear (Family Studies 2015, International Journal of Behavior Development 2010, University of Minnesota 2008), and that the rate of referral of adopted children to mental-health facilities is far above what would be expected given their representation in the general population (Psychiatric Times 2009). This article will trace evolving adoption practices and offer some insights into the challenges facing helping professionals who work with adopted children and families, and facing the children themselves.

The past 30 years have seen major changes in infant adoption practices. Parents who adopted children born between 1940 and the early 1980s in the United States grew up in a world in which adoption agencies and the general public strongly believed that maintaining absolute secrecy and cutting off all connection with the child’s birth family were essential for protecting the child’s emotional well-being (Carp, 1998; Herman, 2008). By the 1960s, however, some adult adoptees stepped forth from their shadows of shame, sentiments that commonly plague the mind of the adopted child for having been given away at birth, to state publicly that the secrets and relinquishment designed to protect them had instead harmed them.

Although some people continued to argue in favor of traditional confidential adoption practices, a large body of literature began to document the deleterious impacts secrecy and cutoffs in adoption practices developed (Hollinger, Baran, Pannor, Appell, & Modell, 2004; Rosenberg & Groze, 1997). As a result, by the 1970s, some agencies began to experiment with offering expectant parents who were considering adoption the opportunity to meet their baby’s prospective adoptive parents. Today, although some remain skeptical about the feasibility of open adoption (Brown, Ryan, & Pushkal, 2008), adoptions in which biological and adoptive parents exchange identifying information and have some form of contact with each other, are the norm (Vandivere, Malm, & Radel, 2009). This is a change from the days when confidential adoption was the only option available and biological and adoptive parents had no choice but to accept total secrecy, anonymity, and separation, regardless of whether this was what they wanted for themselves or their child.

Today’s open adoptions vary widely. The array of options between these approaches is vast and have paralleled changes in the larger society. Single parenthood has lost much of its former stigma, and children born outside of marriage are no longer labeled “bastards” or “illegitimate” (Collins, 2009). In addition, science has amply demonstrated the lifesaving importance of knowing one’s genetic heritage to prevent and cure diseases.

Effect of Relinquishment Trauma on Brain Development

A recent and growing body of research into children’s brain development is shedding new light on the ways that early adverse experiences, including adoption, changes the structure and electrochemical activity of the brain and the resulting emotional and behavioral functioning of the child. Research is shifting the way that professionals view and treat children who have experienced trauma by providing biological explanations for what had traditionally been described in psychological, emotional, and behavioral terms.

In fact, a growing body of literature suggests that separating any child from its birth-mother can have a traumatic effect. For many people, this is old news (“The Primal Wound” 1993). To some, it’s a startlingly new concept. The mainstream view is that adoption is a happy event: a child needing a family gets one and the child being “loved” in a traditional way will be sufficient for healthy development. How, then, is adoption a trauma? Scientific research now reveals that as early as the second trimester, the human fetus is capable of auditory processing and in fact, is capable of processing rejection in utero.  Another words, what mother experiences, babies also experience. The most influential of these were maternal experiences that passed biochemically through the umbilical cord by means of a group of chemicals called catecholamines; if the baby's birth mother was under stress, the fetus would have been flooded with these stress hormones which have been shown to, in turn, affect emotions. Scientists theorize that these chemical stressors cross the placenta and "frighten" the developing nervous system (Gerhardt 2004). If it happens often enough, the fetus actually gets used to feeling chronically "stressed." 

At birth, it must be recognized that the far greater trauma often times occurs in the way in which the mind and body of the newborn is incapable of processing the loss of the biological, life giving figure. The physiological response to the loss of the person responsible for giving life is the release of the ‘stress hormone’ cortisol, which prepares the body to take urgent action – the ‘fight or flight’ response. A certain amount of stress is normal for all children, but in this case prolonged exposure to inconsistent care giving and reaction to the unfamiliar voice, heartbeat and innate care-giving that a biological mother is programmed to provide results in a negative impact on the physiology of the brain (Woolgar, 2013). This can disrupt the child's sense of security, safety, and sense of themselves and alters the way they see and respond to people and situations in their lives (Siegel 2014).

Far beyond any cognitive awareness, this experience is stored deep within the cells of the body, routinely leading to states of anxiety, depression and mistrust for the adopted child later in life. These changes are adaptations to chronic stress.

The failure of society, the therapeutic community and others to acknowledge relinquishment traumatization diminishes the capacity to treat it. When traumas occur, there is a critical period of time afterward during which humans require understanding, acknowledgment, and compassion in order for shock to subside and healing to begin. Unacknowledged traumas create distrust in babies, and this significantly impedes the bonding and healing process.

It should be noted that most adoptees adapt just fine from the trauma of separation, but some struggle with trust issues throughout their lives, and have a hard time beginning or ending relationships. Figures vary, but the literature suggests that between 18-30% of adoptees are challenged with depression, anxiety, and more, throughout their lives (American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry 2005, Psychiatric Times 2006) and some require intensive, long term, residential care. For almost a decade, Calo Programs has been facilitating ground breaking and proprietary therapy specifically designed for young people experiencing the effects of early childhood stress and developmental trauma. There is hope. Research is revealing a spectrum of resilience among adopted people who benefit from neurobiological interventions in a safe and nurturing environment. It will take time, patience, and intensive therapeutic support to address and overcome them, but as Dan Hughes ("Parenting a Child Who Has Experienced Trauma", 2016), states: “Parenting a child who has experienced trauma may require a shift from seeing a ‘bad kid’ to a kid who has had bad things happen to him.”

How can Professionals Help a Child Recover and Heal?

1.     The key is to see behaviors as survival strategies and not interpret/analyze as "bad" behaviors. Allow this view to generate compassion and patience for the client where the professional can then remain objective.

2.     Do not to expect to immediately learn about all the trauma the youth has gone through. Some of the trauma’s effects may not become apparent for months or even years. Often, most of a client’s trauma occurs during the preverbal stage and thus doesn't respond well to traditional, verbal based interventions.

3.     When traumatic stress is stored in the lower part of the brain and body, cognitive/behavioral modification interventions are only minimally effective and may reinforce shame.

4.     More effective, but counter intuitive interventions are highly relational and include empathy, understanding and compassion to help heal the shame that goes along with relinquishment.

5.     Work hard to understand the perspective from all ends of the adoption triangle and how the disruption in care giving affects the child.

6.     Read the literature from researchers and authors like Nancy Verrier, David Brodzinsky, Sherrie Eldridge, Dan Hughes and Heather Forbes.

7.     Attend a training through hospitals, school programs, therapeutic, and private agencies.

8.     Consider becoming an Adoption Competent Therapist -  Adoption Competent vs Regular Therapist.

9.     Take the long view. The trauma didn’t happen overnight and the healing won’t either.

For more information, please visit Calo Programs.

About Calo Programs

Calo (“kay-low”) Programs is a behavioral and mental health provider specializing in healing the effects of complex developmental trauma. Calo is comprised of Calo Teens, Calo Preteens, (both residential programs located in Lake Ozark, MO predominately serving adoptive families), New Vision Wilderness, trauma informed outdoor behavioral health programs in Wisconsin and Oregon ("NVW”), Calo Young Adults, a transitional living program for young adults on Winchester, VA and Embark by Calo, a therapeutic workshop and family intensive assessment and treatment program for those reeling from issues of trauma, attachment and adoption.” 

Michael Groat, PhD, a clinical leader at the Menninger Clinic in Houston for 9 years, will be the next Executive Director and President of the CooperRiis Healing Community beginning Jan. 2. Dr. Groat will succeed Virgil Stucker, who last year announced his intention to step down after serving as Executive Director and President since CooperRiis opened in 2003. Virgil will continue in a part-time role, helping with outreach and fundraising.

As Director of Menninger's Adult Division, Dr. Groat led the Hope Program for Adults and Professionals in Crisis. At the time, he also served as associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Baylor College of Medicine.  The American Psychoanalytic Association (APA) named Michael a Fellow in 2003-2004, and he was a 2004 fellow of the Psychoanalytic Research Training Program at the Anna Freud Centre at the Yale Child Study Center and Western New England Psychoanalytic Institute.

Dr. Groat's hire continues CooperRiis’ commitment to provide the best of mental health science within a healing milieu that helps residents move from despair to a more fulfilling and hopeful life. About 80 percent of residents who complete the program reach the level of independence they desire and are successfully reintegrated into society.

Before deciding to come to CooperRiis, Dr. Groat held the healing community in such high regard, he often referred individuals and families to CooperRiis.  “It is so clear to me that the science of mental health yields its best outcomes when a person with mental illness can experience their recovery within a therapeutic community,” Dr. Groat said. “At CooperRiis, individuals can take the time they need to recover while being cared for by a community of staff and peers. I believe the synergy of extended time, a healing community and deeply respectful care is transformative. My family and I are thrilled to join CooperRiis. It is a rare find and I sense that everything I have come to value about relationships and healing has led me to this moment.”

Dr. Groat received his master’s degree from Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, and his doctorate degree in counseling psychology from the State University of New York, Albany. He completed a four-year advanced fellowship in psychodynamic psychotherapy and systems-based hospital work at the Austen Riggs Center in Stockbridge, Mass.

Dr. Groat has published on topics ranging from attachment style, personality assessment and addictions to mentalizing-based approaches to treatment and impasses in treatment. He presents regularly at national professional meetings on approaches to mental health recovery.

About CooperRiis Healing Center

CooperRiis Healing Community is a residential mental health facility founded in 2003 by parents of a child who faced mental health issues. Its campuses in Mill Spring and Asheville, N.C. have a resident-to-staff ratio that’s better than 1:1. They treat wellness, not illness. CooperRiis residents experience a holistic approach that includes daily service work, peer interaction, diet, exercise, self-esteem and empowerment. Data and anecdotes from residents show that CooperRiis helps them and their families get beyond helplessness and blame to a positive place of hope, support and transformation. Approximately 80 percent of residents who complete the program reach the level of independence they desire and are successfully reintegrated into the community, an achievement that has earned CooperRiis national recognition.

EDGE Learning & Wellness has launched “Financial Fridays”, a new program to enhance the financial literacy of students.  The program focuses on a variety of personal finance topics and is offered monthly, on Friday mornings, for current students and is also open to any of our alumni who wish to attend.

EDGE has a commitment to working with students and parents to improve each student’s skills across life domains.  The staff team works to assess student needs and reaches out to expert providers to create programming that supports student achievement in academic, wellness, interpersonal, vocational, emotional, and financial arenas; this offering targets the key habit of organizing one’s finances in a way that results in being poised and prepared for unanticipated challenges and opportunities. 

As of 2014, only 17 states in the U.S. mandated financial literacy education and only six states required testing of finance management skills for graduation from high school.[i]  In a related finding, a recent survey by U.S. Bank indicated that less than 60% of college students nationally know how to construct and follow a budget, would grade themselves a “B” or higher grade for managing their personal finances, or understand the fundamentals of building credit or investing for retirement.[ii]  The report “Money Matters on Campus” revealed that college students felt less prepared for managing money than any other aspect of their college lives (coursework, organization, resource identification and utilization, etc.).[iii]  

“We have researched ways to further support the development of financial literacy skills and practices for our students and we are excited to engage Mary DiChristofano to help us move beyond the things we’ve done well in the past like budgeting and intentional spending,” according to Jason Wynkoop, LCSW, who is the Executive Director at EDGE.  “It’s apparent from the research and from our experience with students that the skills and knowledge that college students possess is inadequate for the challenges they’ll face as they continue into their adult lives.”

Mary D. DiChristofano, a Private Wealth Advisor and Senior Wealth Strategist with Graystone Consulting/Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Management, is leading the program.  She currently services the firm’s clients as their Family CFO, coordinating all of their financial and estate planning needs as well as philanthropic intents. Mary’s passion for educating her clients and providing them with a solid understanding of complex and sophisticated strategies does not stop with the senior family members, but is diligently delivered to the family’s next generation.  Her interest in EDGE is in helping students appreciate the opportunities that they have to craft their own futures through thoughtful management of their resources.

[i] National Council for Economic Education. (2014). Survey of the states: Economic and personal finance education in our nation’s schools in 2014. New York: NCEE.

[ii] U.S. Bancorp. (2015). 2015 Students and Personal Finance Study: Student Perspectives on Money and Finances.  https://financialgenius.usbank.com.

[iii] Money Matters on Campus. (2015). Money Matters on Campus: How College Students Behave Financially and Plan for the Future. http://moneymattersoncampus.org.

About EDGE Learning and Wellness Collegiate Community

EDGE Learning and Wellness Collegiate Community is an accredited transitional living program located in Chicago, IL. EDGE offers therapeutically supported residential and non-residential options for post-treatment young adults. The participants, ages 18 -24, are striving to excel academically, while creating a life of balance, joy and wellness.

On November 8th, Uinta Academy added the newest member to the Uinta family, a sweet filly. She is doing well and learning the ropes of being a brand new baby. The Uinta Academy girls have had a great time seeing this filly come into the world.  They have spent time feeding and taking care of her. Everyone at Uinta Academy loves the horses.

The horses are there for the clients throughout the residential treatment program. Horses assist the girls through their therapeutic journey. 

About Uinta Academy

Uinta Academy, located in Wellsville, UT, is a fully licensed residential treatment center focused on working with young ladies ages 13-21. Uinta Academy is the nation’s leading multi-dimensional residential treatment center for adolescent girls. We specialize with girls who struggle with relationships and attachment who have experienced trauma. Uinta Academy’s clinically intense and sophisticated treatment program is balanced by a warm, nurturing, family-style living environment.

On a balmy Saturday morning in November, SUWS of the Carolinas welcomed several alumni and their family members for a day hike up Heartbreak Ridge. Heartbreak Ridge is one of the most prominent hikes at SUWS, and the rocky pinnacle called Pride Rock is a popular location for transition ceremonies for students moving from one phase of the program to the next. Pride Rock is somewhat of a monument is SUWS culture, so it was fitting to set the site as the destination for our alumni hike. 

Once the group was assembled, 12 families together, picnic lunches were prepared, we headed up, while sharing stories about the adventures of each participant. Many of the alumni who attended are now in college, and one student who returned from a graduating class in 2010 shared that he is now a licensed pilot, and working toward navigating a commercial aircraft. Many of the former students knew one another and genuinely enjoyed hearing about one another’s success stories.

The hike consists of a gradual incline, and Heartbreak Ridge sits near the escarpment of the Eastern Continental Divide and the views are incredible.  The group experienced peak leaf season, a little later this year in western North Carolina, and this certainly enhanced the opportunity for fantastic photos. After an invigorating hike and a tasty lunch, the group descended back to the SUWS basecamp where everyone exchanged information and said their goodbyes. The hike was met with enthusiasm, stay tuned for our Spring alumni hike when the flowers start blooming.

SUWS of the Carolinas is a wilderness treatment program for students 10-17 years of age who are working through addiction, depression, developmental disorders and behavioral issues. Students work with a licensed clinician and experienced staff members in a supportive outdoor environment free from the stresses and distractions of everyday life. SUWS of the Carolinas operates within the Pisgah National Forest under permits issued by the United States Forest Service (USDA), and is subject to the USDA Civil Rights Non Discrimination Agreement (Form AD-475-C). 

Academic Coordinator extraordinaire Kelli Hansen joined Gateway in 2014 as an English teacher and college counselor. She has taught in a variety of settings from elementary school to adult education, but the majority of her experience comes from working with high school-aged students in residential and day treatment programs, which she has been doing since 2000.  She has taught Language Arts and Italian where she enjoys challenging students and preparing them for college or other future plans. Through her years of experience, Kelli has learned that if a student has the right motivation, the right tools, and the right team on their side, any student can learn. She believes that education has to be part of the cure for our students to achieve long-term success. 

*   What is most rewarding about working at Gateway? 

Kelli: I enjoy the close relationships I'm able to have with the students. In large settings it's more difficult to have that level of involvement.

*   What is your favorite book and why? 

Kelli: The Harry Potter books were the first books I read that I actually enjoyed. It is what sparked my love of reading.

*   What is your favorite brain rule (www.brainrules.net) and how do you integrate it in the classroom? 

Kelli: Brain Rule - Study or listen to music to boost cognition. I love torturing my students with silly songs to help them remember and reinforce concepts. It's amazing how much better students remember the material when I make them sing - even though some think they're too cool to sing silly songs!

*   When you were younger, what did you want to be when you grew up?

Kelli: A veterinarian. I'd still like to be. I started college as a Zoology major with the intent of going into veterinary medicine, but Biology was like a foreign language to me and it "weeded me out."

*   What is your favorite thing about living in Utah? 

Kelli: I love the variety of the scenery in Utah. I'm able to enjoy the mountains with amazing hiking and biking trails, red rock with the heat in Southern Utah's desert, and still have lakes and rivers for rafting, swimming, and boating. You can do so much in Utah and it is gorgeous everywhere you go. The people are generally really nice too.

Gateway Academy (UT) is dedicated to the healthy development and healing of adolescent boys and their families. We provide a safe and nurturing environment through five integrated programs: Therapy, Academics, Community, Outdoor Education and Fitness. With integrity and respect, we help students feel empowered and valued, build healthy relationships, make thoughtful decisions, develop life skills, become life-long learners, and achieve their personal best.

The academic team at Moonridge Academy planned two educational field trips, that included fun too.  Their philosophy is to first teach in the classroom, followed by real-life hands on experience.  Moonridge Academy, serves girls ages 11-14 years old.  Many students find success absorbing what they have been taught, when it is experiential.  During this past semester, the girls at Moonridge Academy have been learning about the systems of the body in science class.  They have also been learning about the sinking of the Titanic in their social studies class.  To complete both units of study, the academic team planned a day of field trips in Las Vegas, NV which is located about 2 hours from Moonridge Academy. 

First the girls visited the Bodies Exhibit where they got to see the different systems of the body up close and personal.  The girls had their own tour guide, Steve Curry, the science teacher, who spent time explaining each display as they moved through the exhibit.   Next, it was onto the Titanic Exhibit where the girls gained knowledge about the biggest maritime disaster in history.  The girls thought it was super cool to be assigned the role of an actual passenger to "be" during the exhibit. Some were quite sad to learn that the person they were assigned didn't survive the sinking of the ship.  Of course, any trip to Las Vegas includes eating at a yummy restaurant.  All in all, a wonderful day filled with learning and fun.

 Moonridge Academy

Moonridge Academy is a CERTS Program in beautiful southern Utah with 16 beds, and is specifically designed for younger girls, ages 11-14.  Younger girls need a younger environment, without the influence of older girls' more sophisticated or advanced issues.  Moonridge takes a young approach to therapy and intervention, even our DBT program is taught and delivered at this specific age range level.  Moonridge is intensive residential treatment for girls with issues of trauma, emotional regulation, depression, family conflict, and beginning stages of self-harm or substance experimentation. Traditional schooling is provided and Moonridge uses play and laughter to connect, a warm family environment to protect, and deep therapy to inspire and create change.  Moonridge is located in scenic southern Utah near Cedar City, UT.

Every therapist knows the benefits of assisting their clients in identifying and accepting their authentic emotions.   When students arrive at Greenbrier Academy (WV), many are in the beginning stages of this personal skill development.  Getting in touch with their emotions can be scary or painful and it takes trust in the therapeutic relationship to begin to understand self and to develop more options for how to approach relationships and life.  

As one of the first steps in their therapeutic journey at Greenbrier Academy, many students complete an art therapy activity called 'the emotion map'.  The emotion map is designed to start the conversation about emotions and assist students in identifying their emotional self.  Drawing and expressing emotions on paper with pastels allows the child to explore emotions outside of their inner experience, which for many, feels safer, more grounded, and manageable.  This builds confidence in emotional management and acceptance and starts to breakdown maladaptive beliefs about emotions being wrong, bad, scary, or unacceptable.  It’s amazing to see how, after completing this simple exercise, students automatically have a better understanding of their emotions and can make connections that are helpful in navigating their relationships in a healthier way.

Mountain Valley Treatment Center is currently transforming a former maintenance barn into a community center, and like everything at Mountain Valley, it is being built with Exposure Therapy in mind.  Set to be finished in mid-2017, the retrofitted exposure barn will include balance beams, tire swings, and other recreational space to help our therapists and exposure specialists facilitate these types of exposures in a safe and fun atmosphere.

Unhelpful beliefs about body sensations are common issues amongst residents at Mountain Valley.  Often the residents feel their normal body sensations are warning them of danger - danger they might be getting sick, something bad might happen, or that they might draw negative attention to themselves.  These unhelpful and often inaccurate beliefs about body sensations play a monumental role in maintaining anxiety.  Biased beliefs often result is biased behavior, with the most typical biased behavior being avoidance.  The residents are very good at avoiding the things that make them uncomfortable.  This avoidance makes sense - nobody wants to purposefully do something they think will be uncomfortable or embarrassing.  However, even though avoidance works in the short term, the biased thinking that drives the avoidance tends to grow and spread into all aspects of life.  Eventually, life becomes more about avoiding than particpation and life gets very limited.

At Mountain Valley, helping the residents systematically re-engage with these threatening body sensations and test out their biased beliefs.  This is a therapeutic pracess known as Interoceptive Exposure.  Interoceptive exposures target typical body sensations such as shortness of breath, increased heart rate, dizziness, lightheadedness, etc. In order to stimulate these sensations, the residents engage in activities such as breathing through cocktail straws, sprinting for short distances, spinning around in chairs, and holding their breath.  It is with this type of exposure in mind that we have designed the "new" building on the Mountain Valley campus.

About Mountain Valley Treatment Center

Mountain Valley Treatment Center, a not for profit program, was founded in 2011 to provide intensive residential treatment to adolescent boys and girls and emerging adults struggling with severe anxiety, OCD and other related disorders.  Located in Pike, NH at the edge of the White Mountain National Forest, Mountain Valley stands apart from like providers because of its specialization, its uniques setting, and its comprehensive approach to care.  Residents typically spend 60-90 days at MVTC taking advantage of the most effective evidence-based treatments through individual, group, and family therapy, conducted in a caring, supportive and ethical fashion that meet the unique needs of the individuals, and the expectations of the professional practice of social work, psychology, and psychiatry.

Living Well Transitions opened the Landing Pad a year and a half ago. The Landing Pad is a house that provides a soft transition for clients as they begin their journey with Living Well and acclimate to the Boulder community. Since the doors opened, clients have been welcomed into the house with warmth, clinical intention, and genuine concern, and are supported by Jasleen T.J. MacKeigan throughout their 30-90 stay. As the year comes to a close, Jasleen spent time reflecting on her role as House Manager at the Landing Pad.

Jasleen writes: At the end of August of 2015, I arrived to a beautiful five-bedroom house tucked away in a quiet neighborhood of Boulder, Colorado. This would be my “landing” from a three-year journey in Asia. Coming back to my hometown from spending several years living and teaching at a retreat house in the Philippines could be likened to our client’s experience of coming to our program from wilderness or other environments.

Over the past year and a half, I have seen a plethora of different people with unique stories come through our doors. The common thread that runs through them is a sense of not being accepted in some way. This lack of acceptance may be from oneself, their family, friends, society at large or all of the above. It has been both inspiring and heart wrenching to see groups of young people, who have all felt rejected, sit in a circle and listen to each other. The most unlikely friendships have formed, and during an election year, the boundaries of what makes us different have softened. Time and time again I have seen our clients support and show genuine care and connection for each other, and feel honored to witness and contribute to the creation of this Landing Pad.

 About Living Well Transitions

Living Well Transitions, in Boulder, CO, offers intensive therapy, groups and life skills counseling to young adults ages 18-32 in a real-world, independent living environment. Living Well helps clients struggle less by developing self-acceptance, values clarity and the courage to take action so they can lead purposeful lives in alignment with their core values.

Solstice believes in Transition Support, after a student has left our care. Research has shown that students tend to struggle more within the two months immediately after completing treatment.  This is why Solistice includes 2 months of aftercare within tuition, for every graduating student and their family.  Solistice's aftercare program is designed to lead to greater success after treatment because it supports the work accomplished while a client is enrolled in the treatment program.

During the months prior to transition, there is diligent planning to assist the student and their family to manage the expected bumps as they continue on their journey.

The plan is driven by our guiding principles:

1. To educate the parents and students about the transition process – what to expect and how to plan for it.
2. Three months before graduation our students and families begin the discussion of transition with our Transition Coach. This is where the coach assists families in the process of building a supportive network back in the home environment and within their community.
3. Finally, within the process of treatment, Solstice continues to build the utilization of new skills and processes built during treatment back at home and school. This often requires parents and family to have new ways of thinking. This phase is where we are also going to visit the families in their homes and provide coaching in their home environment.

Our Transition Coach works with each family to creatively approach these solutions to ensure optimum success. From the first day a student and family enrolls, the goal is to make sure this is a long lasting change that sets our families up for success.

About Solstice West RTC

Pacific Quest is pleased to announce a new member of the Wellness and Clinical teams: Dr. Robert Voloshin, Integrative Psychiatrist.  Dr. Robert joins Dr. Shelly Ham and will be on-site full time.  Pacific Quest’s Medical Director Dr. Britta Zimmer comments, “We are very excited to add another Integrative Psychiatrist to our team!  Dr. Robert brings knowledge from his experience in acute hospital settings combined with a passion for integrative psychiatry.”

Dr. Robert received his BS from University of California San Diego (UCSD) in Biology and went on to complete medical school at Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine in the San Francisco Bay Area.  He chose osteopathic medical school because of its orientation towards integrative care and healing.  Dr. Voloshin completed his Psychiatry Residency at the University of New Mexico as well as an additional year of fellowship training in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. During his residency and fellowship Dr. Voloshin was involved in cutting edge addictions research. He continued to pursue his passion for integrative psychiatry during his training through research, journal clubs, and conferences.

In addition to Dr. Voloshin’s formal psychiatry training, he has pursued external psychotherapy training in Somatic Experiencing and Hakomi. Both therapies utilize mindfulness and are somatically oriented. Some of Dr. Voloshin’s primary influences in the field of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry are Daniel Siegel MD and Bruce Perry MD, PhD. Dr. Voloshin places a strong emphasis on neuroscience in his work with young people. The Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics which Pacific Quest utilizes and Interpersonal Neurobiology, the study of how our primary relationships affect the development of our brains and nervous systems, has a significant impact on his practice. His multifaceted approach to Psychiatry with an emphasis on family systems theory, developmental psychology, psychopharmacology, nutrition, mind-­body approaches, and reconnection to the earth and community makes Pacific Quest an exquisite place for Dr. Voloshin to practice.

Pacific Quest is an outdoor therapeutic program for struggling adolescents and young adults that offers a clinical, yet holistic, approach to treatment. Our neurodevelopmental approach, combined with horticultural therapy, integrates evidence-based therapeutic methods, whole-person wellness and organic gardening to sustain a healthy community and motivate change.

At Elevations RTC, the campus community seeks to create a safe, comfortable environment for all students. Elevations RTC works closely with struggling adolescents of all gender identities and sexual orientations to promote healing and personal growth. For transgender students specifically, a variety of mental health and gender identity issues must be taken into account during treatment.

“Working in a gender affirming environment has helped students feel more comfortable to have honest conversations about sexual orientation and gender identity,” says Matt Seelos, LCSW, Primary Therapist at Elevations RTC. “It is clear that the term ‘transgender’ does not encompass everything an individual is. Their stories and where they are in the transition process are unique to each individual.”

Much like the approach for more traditional mental health issues, treatment for transgender students is individualized and designed to meet the client where they are at. Transgender students, like other clients, present and experience struggles in an individual fashion. Because of this, it's important to assess which issues are associated with the client’s gender dysphoria and which issues are influenced by other mental health issues.

Another important aspect to assess at the beginning of treatment is the level of acceptance and support a client receives at home. As statistics for suicidality and self-injurious behaviors drastically increase for unsupported transgender adolescents, this is important to take into account.

“So often, we help teens deal with the natural struggles that come with puberty,” comments Seelos. “They are struggling to find their identity and role in the world. For transgender students, they are also dealing with a fear of how others may respond if they share that they don’t identify with the body they were born with. Transgender students are concerned about friends ending their friendships, teasing from peers, and being misgendered.”

Because of the individualized nature of treatment, clinicians at Elevations RTC must determine the possible benefits and/or negative impacts for each intervention chosen, such as hormone replacement therapy and  more traditional psychotherapies. Much like with all clients, the treatment plan goals should be measurable and applicable to the client’s current state and struggles, with the ability to adjust as the client makes changes.

“In my experience, working with transgender students isn’t as complicated as one might think,” says Seelos. “They are looking to be understood, to feel a sense of control in their life, and, most importantly, to feel cared about.  Helping students learn where they can find healthy support and identifying when others do not have their best interests at heart is often a difficult task. More than anything they are looking for acceptance. This is no different from any of our students.”

 About Elevations RTC

Elevations RTC is a unique residential treatment center that works with both young men and women ages 13 - 18. Elevations offers guidance, support and relief to young men and women struggling with issues like trauma, depression, mood disorders, behavioral problems, identity/body image, and substance abuse. Elevations RTC is located in Utah and provides specialized, clinically intensive programs for troubled teens.

Newport Academy was featured in a Bloomberg Businessweek cover story about non-punitive teen mental health treatment for affluent teenagers.

“I believe in providing above-average living standards as a way to destigmatize, take away the shame of having to go through a very, very difficult process. Because change is not easy.” —Jamison Monroe, Founder & CEO of Newport Academy 

Teen treatment is becoming more important than ever. The opiate epidemic has become a national problem, with 1 in 6 students taking prescription drugs without a doctor’s prescription, according to a recent CDC report.

Newport Academy was featured on NBC's TODAY show on this topic of teen mental health and the epidemic of painkiller use (http://www.today.com/video/how-painkillers-can-turn-high-school-athletes-into-drug-addicts-824904771606). We are committed to providing top quality care.

At Newport Academy, we believe in sustainable healing. We treat adolescents, guiding them from self-destruction to self-esteem, by addressing the underlying causes and conditions that lead to maladaptive coping mechanisms. The Newport Academy program provides the safety, support, and, above all, the unconditional love that teens and their families need in order to heal. By incorporating multiple modalities of psychological and experiential therapies, and a dedication to treating the entire family, we offer superior adolescent treatment programs.

Summit Achievement is thrilled to announce that Katherine Ghirardelli will begin working in the role of Outreach Director.  Katherine has a BA in Psychology from Georgetown University (DC) and Masters in Social Work from Columbia University (NY).  Katherine comes to Summit Achievement with many years of experience as an Educational Consultant, Admissions Counselor, and Clinical Social Worker.  She has a great deal of integrity, work ethic and professionalism that are a perfect match for for Summit Achievement begins the 21^st year of operation. 

About Summit Achievement

Summit Achievement is, and always has been, guided by positive reinforcement and the power of choice. Our outcome-focused wilderness therapy program employs effective therapeutic and educational principals. Through the process of engaging therapy, classroom academics and exciting wilderness expeditions, students experience the therapeutic benefits of outdoor adventure-based activities while learning to manage the demands of a more traditional environment.  As an intentionally small, owner-operated program, we serve adolescent boys and girls, ages 13-20, from around the world.

Second Nature is excited to announce the return of Coady Schueler, Psy.D. Coady has been with Second Nature for the last 5 years of her 26 years of experience working with adolescents and their families in a a range of therapeutic settings, and we are happy to share that she is returning from a recent sabbatical. 

Dr. Schueler specializes in adolescents struggling with the residual impact of sexual trauma, eating disorders, depression, anxiety, autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and substance abuse/dependence. Coady's strength lies in her capacity to engage with resistant, well-defended, and emotionally overwhelmed adolescents. Coady will begin taking clients on her caseload on January 10th.

Q&A Family of Programs is proud to announce several recent graduations. Six of the young men and women have moved on to the next exciting phase of their lives over the past few months. As a treatment provider, the goal for each client is for them to work very hard to attain the skills and experience to move on to full independence. Over half of them are planning to attend college starting in January.  All six clients have a level of employment and are living in their own homes, not with their families.  Each of these individuals made their own transition plans with the support of our staff.  It is always sad to see clients move on to their next phase, but Q&A has pride for their success.

Because of our recent successful graduates, there are several spaces for young adult clients at The Journey WV and Applewood Transitions.  The programs provide a safe, loving place to learn the necessary life skills, job skills, and social skills to move forward in their lives.

Blue Ridge Therapeutic Wilderness focuses on offering the most effective and individualized programming possible for its clients and their families. It provides the best programming by employing the best therapists and tenured field staff in the industry. During the extensive work that happens in the field, the field staff are the eyes and ears of the therapists, providing support as needed. The administration at Blue Ridge painstakingly work to make certain that each student is perfectly matched to their therapist, field staff and group culture to produce the best possible outcome for the student’s individual needs. The highly experienced and trained staff work diligently to ensure Blue Ridge Therapeutic Wilderness is the most clinically sophisticated program.

“Our goal is to run Blue Ridge Therapeutic Wilderness in a way that reflects our unwavering commitment to quality and sustainability in all the programs we offer,”  said Dan McDougal, Executive Director.   Over the past year, the leadership at Blue Ridge recognized that change is necessary to meet the needs of its clients and continue to improve its program offerings. At times that has meant making carefully considered program changes to better meet the needs of a particular group or population of clients. Other times, it has meant resisting fads in the industry that offer minimal benefit to Blue Ridge’s proven model which is rooted in providing clients the ability to explore themselves with great depth and a distraction free environment.

To support the goals and continued growth of Blue Ridge the staff has undertaken the difficult, but necessary task of examining every aspect of the program. One of the fundamental changes as Blue Ridge concludes a most transformative year is to discontinue to operate the SPARK program after this current group of students have completed their stay. The SPARK program was one of, if not the only, true wilderness program designed specifically for young boys struggling with neurodevelopmental issues. SPARK therapist Carla Short's steadfast dedication and expertise to serving this group of youngsters, is evident within the SPARK program. Thank you to Carla Shorts for her tremendous work with clients, parents, and staff over the last year.

Going forward, it is critical to focus more energy on other areas of the program that are better aligned with the vision. Blue Ridge will continue to build upon its core values and offerings by focusing on outcome-oriented programming and the addition of staff to support this focus. Blue Ridge is proud to announce the addition of Clinical Therapist Emily Miranda to the team.  Through transformative power and passion for wilderness therapy, Emily is deeply engaged with her clients. Her approach is integrative, combining feminist multicultural values with an interpersonal emphasis, focusing on building the clinical relationship and teaching mindfulness practices.

It is important that a strong and healthy foundation is created moving forward and that all of the programs conform to the vision of offering the highest quality clinical support to students and families. Emily works with adolescent girls who are clinically complex and often have experienced trauma, depression, anxiety, self-harm, substance abuse, eating disorders and emerging personality disorders.  Emily’s therapeutic approach both with parents and their children is first to focus on establishing a relationship.  She views the teenager and their family through a holistic lens, considering environmental, community, family and individual factors in assisting with change.  She also incorporates concepts of mindfulness, Dialectical Behaviorial Therapy (DBT), art, multicultural sensitivity, and LGBTQ affirmative therapy, when appropriate.

“I am so excited about the addition of Emily Miranda and the direction that Blue Ridge is heading. Emily has been a cornerstone within the organizations she has worked and is one of those people and one of those names well known within our industry. Many of us who have been doing this work for a long time admire her love and dedication to her students and their families. Her passion for advocating for program advancement in the treatment of her clients and their families is one of the many reasons Emily fits in perfectly with our vision of working and advancing the programming. With Emily joining our team, we are building on our strong foundation and are poised to lead the industry in 2017.” - Executive Director Dan McDougal

Emily will be starting a second adolescent girls group in early January.

Trails Carolina, a leading wilderness therapy program for teens ages 10-17, offers support and guidance for families and students during the holiday season.

Throughout the holiday season, students are encouraged to reconnect with family traditions and take time to practice gratitude and graciousness. Often, while spending holidays with their families, the meaning behind holidays gets lost behind superficial aspects of the holiday season such as expensive gifts and holiday parties. At Trails, we encourage students to share things they are grateful for, such as their health and their family.

During the winter holidays, some Trails students take part in gift exchanges. Students will draw names within their groups and create gifts out of natural objects. These handcrafted gifts allow students to express appreciation for each other in an intentional, creative way. The intentionality of these gifts can be very meaningful to them.

“This gift-giving hits on the various love languages that we incorporate into programming,” says Jason McKeown, MS, LMFT, CPE, DCC, Family Clinical Director at Trails. “Each group at Trails come up with their own traditions during the holiday seasons. In a wilderness setting, students go without familiar traditions during the holiday season. Instead of focusing on the materialistic aspect of the holiday season, students are encouraged to search inside themselves and create powerful traditions for themselves based on the true meaning of the holiday season.”

During the holidays, students are often surprised with feasts which feature foods they do not normally experience during the wilderness. This positive surprise, along with the other meaningful traditions they create while at Trails, can be some of the most powerful holiday celebrations students will ever experience.

“Throughout the years, many students have told me that the holiday spent at Trails was the best holiday they ever had,” comments McKeown. “Students tend to look at holidays in a very different way after experiencing the holidays at Trails.”

For parents with children in treatment, the holidays can be a lonely, isolating time. At Trails, the weekly parent support call can be helpful for parents struggling to process difficult emotions that emerge during the holiday season. Other parents of Trails students are on this support call, which helps to normalize the experience parents are going through.

“Hearing how other families are navigating the holidays can be helpful and empowering for many parents,” says McKeown. “The families can take ideas from other families and really be intentional about how they want to work through the holiday.”

College Excel, a comprehensive, residential college support program located in Bend, OR, is currently in the beginning stages of having three dogs certified as "emotional support animals," also known as therapy dogs, through the National Service Animal Registry. These dogs include Rosie, a labrador pitbull mix, Theo, a golden retriever and Otis, a golden retriever.

Emotional support animals provide just what their name states: emotional support to their owners, as well as to others who have the luxury of coming into contact with them. Research has shown that simply petting dogs for a few minutes can instantly lower human stress levels. At College Excel, it is exciting that these wonderful pooches can help staff and students alike!

“Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent.” -Victor Hugo

Music is undeniably connected to human emotions. Christine Drabek, a member of the Ginger’s House clinical team, utilizes the program’s diverse curriculum to keep clients motivated and enhance self-expression.  The Music Therapy group is one of the most popular weekly activities both at our residence and clinical office.  It requires each participant (including staff, if present) to pick a song to represent their current thoughts and/or emotions.  Prior to playing the song, women are asked to briefly describe why they chose the song, as well as what they hope the group members will take from the song.  Sometimes a lengthy discussion follows a song, sometime the group just listens, and on a rare occasion there is a spontaneous dance party!

Founder and Director Cecily Rich states “music can be a key component of self-expression, connection and fun in recovery and is included in Ginger's House curriculum in a variety of ways.”  When asked about the therapeutic benefits of the activity, Christine reported that “it provides a deeper connection in the Ginger’s House and recovering community in Portland, which is paramount in addiction recovery. Each song is an opportunity to practice mindfulness, while listening for the message the artist is conveying.” Clients report finding the activity both cathartic and fun.  Here is one client’s thoughts on the activity: 'It allows us to get to know our peers and staff through a different lens than talking. We learn about each other through our musical choices...and the different songs people pick give us insight into how they are feeling. ' "

Here is one of the most recent playlists:

Such Great Heights-Postal Service
Tuesday Afternoon-The Moody Blues 
Got Nuffin -Spoon 
Below My Feet -Mumford & Sons 
Don't Know Why-Norah Jones 
Keep Yourself Warm-Frightened Rabbit 
Up Up & Away-Kid Cudi 
The Funeral-Band of Horses
Drug Dealer-Macklemore (feat. Ariana DeBoo) ***this may seem like an inappropriate song, but it is actually about the prescription drug addiction in our country.  Also, Macklemore has been open about his own struggles with addiction.  

The use of music at Ginger's House is not a coincidence.  Cecily Hamilton Rich has a heritage steeped in music. Her paternal grandmother was an opera singer and many family members play instruments including her brother, Tom Hamilton of Aerosmith, seen here together with Cecily at a recent family event.

About Ginger's House 

Ginger’s House is a residential and extended care program for women ages 18-30, who are seeking support in maintaining sobriety while reentering the world.  The focus of the comprehensive treatment program is on recovery from addiction to substances, eating disorders, sex and love addiction, trauma, anxiety, depression and other co-occurring disorders.  Clients receive individual and group therapy services, medication management, life skills training, relapse prevention planning, art therapy and equine assisted therapy. 

Each year Alpine Academy hosts several regional parent and alumni weekend gatherings. One day is an event for alumni students and parents and the next day is an event for the parents of current students that live in the area. These are wonderful opportunities to connect with the Alpine Family.

This past weekend Alpine hosted an event in Southern California. Alpine Academy’s director, Michele Boguslofski, was accompanied by the academic director Angie Alvey, the clinical director Aarika Maisak and the after-care coordinator Caitlin Forcier.

Saturday’s event was hosted by one of the alumni families in their home. About 40 former Alpine students and parents came together for an evening of fun, food, and reconnecting. Alpine believes these weekends serve the dual role of celebrating the continued work that alumni families have accomplished since leaving the Academy while also providing a grounding connection to work that was done at Alpine. In speaking of what she learned at Alpine, one of the girls stated, “I still have some struggles, but now I know how to handle them.”

Sunday’s event was held at an area hotel and was attended by nearly 20 parents of current Alpine Academy students. These are great opportunities for parents to connect with and learn from each other while strengthening relationships with members of the Alpine team. It is also one more way they can talk collectively and individually with the various department directors to gain insight on and offer feedback about the overall treatment process. Comments such as, “I feel like I’m getting my daughter back” and “We are starting to feel like a family again” were great reinforcement to the Alpine team and process.   Alpine Academy is so grateful to all of the students and parents, past and present, that give meaning to the work that they do.

Brightstone Transitions, Vantage Point Aspiro, Black Mountain Academy and SUWS of the Carolinas are excited to announce the 4th Autism Symposium in Asheville, NC, from Sunday, April 2nd, and Monday, April 3rd, 2017. This will be held in conjunction with the Gender Education and Demystification Symposium (G.E.M.S.) Conference and the Southeast Wilderness Symposium.  

The Autism symposium will include an expert panel discussion and will highlight best-selling author Liane Holliday Willey, EdD, as the keynote speaker. Willey is presenting on the perspective of females on the Autism spectrum, as a woman diagnosed with autism at the age of 35.  The conference includes numerous breakout sessions by professionals specializing in working with this population. Be sure to mark your calendar to join us for these incredible few days.

The Autism Symposium was created in order to bring more awareness to the increasing need for services for those with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), and to facilitate conversations on the most pertinent topics regarding these students and their families. With this symposium, the hope is to highlight top notch treatment approaches and provide insights that will continue to aid professionals that serve this population.

The symposium is sponsored by Brightstone Transitions (GA), Vantage Point Aspiro (UT), Black Mountain Academy (NC), and SUWS of the Carolinas (NC).

Open Sky welcomes Aaron Wallis, Ph.D. and Sierra Williams, MA, NCC to Clinical Team.  Both clinicans will begin to take clients in early spring 2017.

Dr. Wallis will be working with Young Adults and has had the privilege of living in many fascinating places due to being part of a military family. He received his B.A. in Psychology from Texas Tech University before he moved to his beloved state, Colorado.  He earned his Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Northern Colorado. While in graduate school, Dr. Wallis was able to explore a few areas of clinical interest through research: substance use (marijuana), social skill development and social media. Not only did he study these concepts through research, he was also able to hone his clinical skills working directly with young adults in several college counseling centers including Grand Valley State and University of Colorado.

Dr. Wallis has a strong interest in the myriad issues that face young adults as they transition into a demanding and complex adulthood. He has a particular passion in working with young adults to address social anxiety, substance use, anger and emotional management challenges and the development of a healthy relationship with social media. Dr. Wallis is drawn to Open Sky because he is a scientist at heart and values Open’s Sky focus on research, efficacy, and techniques that actually work. He is invigorated by the opportunity to move beyond talk therapy; Dr. Wallis believes the power of wilderness therapy creates healing experiences that young adults can incorporate into their character as they heal. Dr. Wallis also understands that no member of a system can completely change without the support of the whole system. For this reason, he values Open Sky’s emphasis on supporting families healing together.

When he’s not working, Dr. Wallis likes to take his dogs and wife and get lost in the wilderness.  He enjoys biking, swimming, exploring new food and places and generally being outside. He is also actively trying to bring Texas BBQ to Colorado, which appears to be a lifelong challenge!

Sierra Williams, MA, NCC will be working with Adolescent Girls and is a Pennsylvania native. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a specialization in Mental Health from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania. It was during this time that she discovered her strong desire for working in the counseling field. To that end, she continued her academic pursuit and earned her MA in Community Counseling, specializing in Addictions, from Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania.

Clinically, Sierra has a background in substance abuse and mental health treatment; prior to working at Open Sky, she worked at an inpatient drug and alcohol rehabilitation center. Her therapeutic approach is solution focused, strength based, and person-centered. She motivates even the most resistant students with her warm, direct, and collaborative manner. Sierra is passionate about working with individuals who have not yet reached their potential. Her areas of clinical expertise include substance use, mood disorders, oppositional behaviors, unsuccessful developmental transitions and family struggles.

Sierra likes to help those she works with internalize courage and act with bravery, as exemplified in one of her favorite quotes: “Great people do things before they’re ready. They do things before they know they can”- Amy Poehler. She strives to help students access their true selves and live in harmony with the world around them.

Outside of work Sierra likes to explore the world around her by hiking, kayaking, and site seeing in the Durango area. She enjoys spending quality time with friends, discovering new restaurants, and leisurely sitting outside while reading in the sun.

Evoke Therapy Programs Personal Growth Intensive, Finding You, is for individuals looking for a therapeutic accelerator to create dynamic changes in their lives. Participants looking to find balance or confront current dilemmas will come away with a greater feeling of peace and clarity.
This is a 4-day program with education, group counseling, psychodrama, and mindfulness activities for the following issues:

• Conflict in relationships
• Co-dependency
• Communication skills training
• Understanding cycles of depression and anxiety
• Struggles with important life decisions
• Developing clarity and identity
• Healing trauma
• Parenting and couple’s challenges
• Healing self-medicating behaviors
• Healing childhood wounds
• Grief and loss issues
• Building skills for greater intimacy in relationships
• Forgiveness for self and others

The January Intensive will be Jan 15th through Jan 18th in Park City, Utah. 

Please call 866.411.6600 for more information. You can also visit our web site. (https://evoketherapy.com/our-programs/for-families/) 

Evoke Therapy Programs has been named one of Outside Magazine's Best Places to Work in 2016 for the second year in a row! Each year, Outside Magazine recognizes the top 100 companies in the United States that help their employees strike the ideal balance between work and play. These companies encourage employees to lead an active lifestyle, are eco-conscious, and prioritize giving back to the community. You can find the entire list of winners here (http://www.outsideonline.com/2134736/best-places-work-2016)

Read Evoke's blog about the recognition and to hear what some of their employees had to say about it, at https://evoketherapy.com/the-evoke-team/blog/mike-swartz/evoke-at-entrada-chosen-as-one-of-outside-magazines-best-places-to-work-again-in-2016.

This month after the school term ends, Dragonfly Transitions students will be traveling from the small towns of Klamath Falls and Ashland to Portland, Oregon for a week of service work and sightseeing before heading home for the holiday break. The Portland trip presents students with an opportunity to get to know a wonderful city, take part in cultural experiences and broaden their horizons. Dragonfly students will volunteer in the mornings with several nonprofit organizations such as a homeless youth shelter, Native American resource center, the Oregon Foodbank, a Portland-based furniture bank and local park services. In the afternoons, students will explore the city and local attractions including Powell’s Bookstore and the famous Portland food carts. 

After the holidays, several Dragonfly students will ring in the New Year with a group ski and snowboarding trip to Bend. The Dragonfly team enjoys offering this safe and fun experience over the New Year holiday. As a celebration for those who choose not to go on the ski trip, Dragonfly also hosts New Year’s Eve activities at the student community center.