Imagine ringing in the New Year at 10,000 feet in a wintry wonderland, surrounded by friends, mentors, and some of Colorado’s most scenic alpine peaks. On December 30, 2016, Living Well Transitions teamed up with adventure-based mentoring program The Koru Foundation and offered clients a unique Colorado experience to mark the arrival of 2017. This three-day, three-night trip to the Tomichi Lodge in Salida, CO, provided clients the opportunity to draw energy from the natural world as they considered their intentions, motivations and life vision for 2017.
The trip began with an overnight in Salida to acclimate to the higher elevation, before the crew embarked on a 6-mile snowshoe trek to the lodge. In the morning, Katie Schwarz, Life Skills Counselor at Living Well Transitions, and Zach Weinzetl, Lead Mentor at Koru Foundation, led the group as they set individual and group intentions for the trip. “Clients spoke to creating a deeper connection with people on the trip,” and themes around “play and joy and being a kid again,” emerged as the group explored their goals for the day, Katie said.
Sledding, playing in the snow and spending time in quiet reflection rounded out the day before everyone settled into an evening group, wherein Katie and Zach, “held counsel.” This process, Katie said, involved “listening and speaking from the heart,” as clients spoke about their year and what led them to Living Well Transitions.
The trip concluded with a snowshoe trek back to the cars and a luxurious soak in the Mount Princeton hot springs. Katie reflected that the trip was a great way to support clients as they embraced the emotional transition into a New Year. It also provided many with a touchstone for their wilderness experiences. “There was lots of time to connect on a personal basis. Each person got a little something different.” Katie said.
About Living Well TransitionsLiving Well Transitions, in Boulder, CO, has been treating young adults like young adults since 2004, by offering intensive individual and group therapy along with 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, no matter the circumstance, so they can lead purposeful lives in alignment with their core values.