TeenCounseling.com connects 13-19 year olds in all 50 states with over 1,000+ licensed professional counselors. Professional counseling through TeenCounseling.com can help your child cope with various issues such as anxiety, stress, self-esteem, depression, bullying, eating disorders, relationships, anger, and more. It can help your child be more successful in developing coping skills and it provides them with a resource when they need guidance and support.
How it works:
- Get matched with a licensed counselor who specializes in teens
- Discuss your child's issues and situation with the counselor
- When you approve, the therapist is connected with your child
- Your child uses an app on their phone to communicate with the therapist
- The therapist interacts with your child over text, phone, and video
- Counseling is confidential but the therapist will alert you if an intervention is required
All Counselors on TeenCounseling.com are licensed, trained, experienced Psychologists (Ph.D/Psy.D), Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFT), Clinical Social Workers (LCSW), or Professional Counselors (LPC). All of the counselors have a Master’s or Doctoral Degree in their field, and have been licensed by their state’s professional board, after successfully completing the required education, exams, training, and supervised practice.
Counseling is done in four ways:
- Exchanging messages with the counselor
- Chatting live with the counselor
- Speaking over the phone with the counselor
- Video conferencing with the counselor
Teens can use different approaches at different times as they wish, based on their needs, availability, and convenience. All these four methods are included in your membership with no additional charges and regardless of how many messages you send or how many live sessions you have.
How much does it cost?
Counseling on TeenCounseling.com is based on a flat membership fee that covers both the use of the platform and unlimited counseling for both you and your child. Your payment will be the same regardless of the number of messages and sessions you and your child have with the counselor. This way your child can communicate with the counselor as often as they like and whenever they need.
While face-to-face counseling can cost $150 to $250 for a single session (or about $1,000 per month), the cost of counseling through TeenCounseling ranges from $40 to $70 per week (billed monthly) and includes messaging, chats, phone and video sessions.
Your membership payments will be charged to a credit card or PayPal on a recurring basis. If you or your child no longer find online counseling with TeenCounseling to be helpful for any reason, you can simply cancel the subscription online.
Get started today at www.teencounseling.com/allkindsoftherapy and get 10% off your first month.
From May 27th - May 31st Greenbrier Academy’s academic staff immersed themselves in curriculum planning and in-service. Located in Pence Springs, WV, the academic staff at Greenbrier was thrilled to spend a week increasing student success while modeling a school-wide dedication to service; a core part of this therapeutic boarding school for girl’s program culture.
As a result, our Clinical Team organized Family Unit Bonding Week to fill Greenbrier’s students' schedules with a week of adventure activities, as well as ways to connect on a deeper level with one another. Through decades of serving families and their high school aged daughters, Greenbrier acknowledges the importance of quality bonding time to strengthen a virtuous community culture. Students struggling with a lost sense of self were supported to develop a positive self perception as they cultivated a sense of belonging within a community of supportive peers and mentors.
To encourage healthy identity development and a virtuous student culture, Greenbrier’s dedicated clinical team arranged a week of:
- treetop adventures with zip lining,
- white water rafting,
- volunteering at a local strawberry farm and animal rescue,
- hiking, and
- giving back to the community on campus.
Service and connection brings meaning to one's life. Greenbrier staff were thrilled to watch students engage in serving the community and connecting with one another in meaningful ways. Additionally, the adventure therapy activities were a spectacular treat for all to enjoy the West Virginia summer landscape.
About Greenbrier Academy
Greenbrier Academy is an accredited academic/therapeutic boarding school and a licensed by the state of West Virginia as a non-acute residential treatment center in Pence Springs, WV serving young women 14-18. We offer college prep academics within a therapeutically immersive experience. Our program preserves and protects your daughter's future; emotionally, socially, physically, and academically.
Evoke Therapy is thrilled to welcome Dr. Kristen Brown (https://evoketherapy.com/the-evoke-team/leadership-team/kristen-brown/) as their new Psychiatric Medical Director. Dr. Brown is a doctorate level Nurse Practitioner with a specialty in Psychiatric Mental Health from the University of Utah. Over the past several years her focus has been working with children, adolescents and adults in psychiatric medication management for mood and impulsivity disorders, ADHD and addictions. She has spent the past ten years working in the addiction/mental health field helping others find recovery through both therapeutic and medication modalities.
Dr. Brown offers a holistic approach to psychiatric treatment. She recognizes the need for individualized care and encompassing services to significantly improve success. One of Dr. Brown’s strengths is creating a trusting, therapeutic relationship with her patients. Her philosophy as a provider centers around the provider-patient connection and the power that can be created through compassion, empathy and understanding. Her ability to connect with patients empowers her as a strong advocate and support to her patients and their families.
Dr. Brown is originally from Los Angeles, California. Her love for water originated in the ocean and pools of Southern California. She swam on a U.S. Swim Team for 6 years before moving to Utah for educational pursuits. In Utah, she learned to love the mountains as much as she loves the Pacific Ocean. Her background in competitive swimming and in earning a Sports Medicine degree contributes to her passion for physical health and the mind/body connection. In her spare time, she loves to ski the powder snow, Utah’s version of water. When the snow melts, you can find her fishing, camping, and swimming in the beautiful Utah mountains and deserts.
Evoke Therapy Programs at Entrada, in Santa Clara, Utah provides innovative mental health treatment solutions for struggling teens, young adults and their families. Their programs foster lasting change utilizing the power of nature and Wilderness Therapy. They also offer Personal Growth Intensive Workshops for individuals and families that are looking to create dynamic changes in their life or to simply find the balance they are seeking.
About Evoke Therapy Programs at Cascades
Evoke Therapy Programs at Cascades, in Bend, Oregon provides research-proven Wilderness Therapy treatment for struggling teens, young adults, and their families. and this approach promotes lasting change. They also offer Personal Growth Workshops for individuals, couples, families, and professionals in the mental health field that are looking to create lasting changes in their life.
In mid June, a group of 10 AIM House participants headed down to Westcliffe, Colorado to volunteer at Mission Wolf, a non-profit educational wolf sanctuary. A day at Mission Wolf has become an annual trip for AIM House, representing a unique opportunity to be immersed in an experiential educational experience. For those who participated in this most recent visit, it was an unforgettable one-of-a-kind adventure.
An AIM House staff member, Kaitlin Anderson, reflected on what the Mission Wolf experience has meant to her over the years and why she continues to take part in the trip: “The first time I kissed a wolf, ie. had a huge wild animal stare into my eyes with her deep yellow windows to her soul and lick my teeth, I was floored, honored, moved, and seen in a way that I have never been seen before.” She continued, “Connection, understanding, majesty, grace, power, strength, humility, life, love, gratitude were all things that coursed through my veins and thoughts in that moment, and continue to every time."
Hearing Kaitlin describe the experience reveals her powerful energy for the education offered through AIM House. Discussing the purpose of experiential education, she said, “Each time I return, I see this experience happen for client after client - people who have struggles, who feel unseen, who hurt, who feel alone, for them to be seen in this way. There are not words to describe what that is like. That is why I do this every year!”
She continued, “What I notice is that it changes people. It changes the light in their eyes, the way they walk, the way they talk and carry themselves, the way they connect to each other, what they think is possible. Every time when the group comes back to the house they are more aware, more grounded, less anxious, more connected, more jovial and more confident. When we leave Mission Wolf after such an experience having done community service to help the cause, a part of every group leaves something- they’ve made a positive and lasting impact on the wolves.”
After spending time with the wolves, the group headed to the Great Sand Dunes in southern Colorado and had another powerful experience, taking in and playing in the vast landscapes and treasures of the earth. Camp fires, shared food, lots of play, bonding, healing and enjoyment.
The AIM House crew wrapped up the trip with a soak in the Joyful Journeys Natural Hot Springs and Spa. A time to integrate. A time to relax. A time for self care and experience natural highs far more powerful than substances, an important lesson for AIM House clients about the many sober experiences that can create bliss and joy. The Mission Wolf trip is meant to help people in recovery see that life offers much more goodness than often meets the eye. Happily, the participants who were part of this experience have been exceedingly grateful to have taken part in this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
About AIM House
Founded in 1999, AIM House is a transitional living program located in Boulder, Colorado. Young adults come from wilderness therapy programs, residential treatment programs, therapeutic boarding schools and drug and alcohol treatment centers. Mentors and therapists work with each participant to create an individualized program that meets the needs of the participant and their family. Participants have access to a large variety of educational institutions, including the University of Colorado Boulder. AIM House also offers executive functioning support, vocational coaching, and personalized artistic and entrepreneurial mentorship.
ViewPoint Center's multidisciplinary assessments provide a thorough evaluation of patients from a variety of different perspectives. With professionals from multiple disciplines working together to contribute to the assessment process, they're able to form a more accurate, fuller assessment of patients.
What makes their multidisciplinary assessments unique?
ViewPoint Center's multidisciplinary assessments are unique because they are carried out in “real time”. The staff continuously communicate with each other, making adjustments to the assessment and treatment process, based on what they see from patients on a daily basis. The multidisciplinary team is constantly making adjustments to relay the best, most useful information to parents and consultants. Staff meet on a regular basis to share their insights about patients and exchange information that is used in shaping assessment and treatment.
Assessments are carried out over several weeks, rather than several days.
ViewPoint is able to observe patients in a variety of different settings over multiple weeks. This helps them observe the ways in which a patient’s behavior may change in one setting versus another, providing a more comprehensive data set to form conclusions at the end of the assessment process.
Staff are full time and work with patients throughout the assessment process: The continuity of care at ViewPoint Center is unique. The same multidisciplinary staff are observing patients throughout their entire stay at The ViewPoint center. This helps contribute to forming a more complete, accurate assessment.
About ViewPoint Center
ViewPoint Center, a mental health assessment center for teens ages 12-17, is located just outside of Salt Lake City, Utah. With a program lasting 7-8 weeks, ViewPoint Center provides superior assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and stabilization for teens struggling 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.
Martin, GA — The budding Sustainable Development program has taken on new ground at Shepherd’s Hill Academy this year. The once small garden has grown to a 1+ acre tract (and is still growing). In early 2019 the program found its permanent home which has already begun to be cultivated by students and staff.
Homesteading courses and sustainability sessions focus on empowering students to create community and a sense of accomplishment. Students are responsible for creating a sustainable environment by engaging in projects such as: cultivating a year-round rotating crop garden, maintaining fruit & nut trees, establishing a compost system, and small scale animal husbandry (including goats, pot-belly pigs and chickens). Students also learn and practice companion planting, organic gardening methods, zone planting, and discover the benefits of natural herbs for health and wellness.
This holistic component to the program at Shepherd’s Hill Academy focuses on experiential learning. But it doesn’t come without therapeutic benefits! Experiential learning provides therapeutic value and promotes holistic healing in each individual. It combats mood dysregulation by stimulating natural neurotransmitters in the brain, as students are outside and exposed to sunlight and nature. Cultivating plants and animals helps give visual representation to cause and effect patterns of development and growth. It can also be rewarding to see one's work become fruitful and productive.
The mission of the sustainable development program is hard at work. The program exists to Enrich the Lives of Young Adults through Hands-on Sustainable Development. Students will learn the intrinsic value of hard work, learning in application, experiencing the fruits of their labor, and providing for those in need.
The sustainable development program will continue to grow into the coming months and years. Projects currently in development or planning stages include large scale aquaponics, beekeeping and honey production, USDA Organic certification for produce, greenhouse construction, vermiculture and much more!
About Shepherd's Hill Academy
Shepherd’s Hill Academy is a 501(c)3 faith-based Residential Therapeutic Boarding School for teens in crisis. Nestled at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the 200-acre campus provides empirically-based therapy by master’s level clinicians, accredited academics and an unplugged wilderness living environment. Learn more at shepherdshillacademy.org
Onward Transitions' entire program staff began a series of training last month with Dr. Kevin Polk, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) Guru and designer of the ACT Matrix. Onward Transitions utilizes ACT as its primary influence in individual, group and milieu counseling. Staff will often utilize the ACT Hexaflex (designed by ACT inventor Steven C. Hayes in 1982) or Dr. Polk’s next-generation Matrix tool with Onward Transitions' emerging adult members to help them think through situations they might be stuck in.
Executive Director Tracy Bailey reported that the staff will meet monthly with Dr. Polk for a three-hour in-service to refine the use of ACT and the Matrix tool with their members. “Dr. Polk blends theory, research, role play, and past and current case examples to engage our staff in a lively and forward-thinking learning environment,” Bailey explained. “Our staff have been ‘noticing’ how much they are ‘noticing’ the way ACT has been woven into our way of thinking and interacting with members and with each other,” she continues, using a direct reference to the core principle reference to “noticing,” or accessing the observing self. “We recently hosted a tour with one of the participants being an ACT therapist who also ‘noticed’ how ACT-driven we were. It was quite a compliment to the work of our team.”
About Onward Transitions
Onward Transitions (OT) in Portland, ME is a small, independent, owner-operated program for bright, motivated, emerging adults in the final stages of learning to live on their own. OT supports actual sustainable independent living and autonomy from two city locations. Participants (members) ages 18-29 never live with us; they live in their own apartments, scattered throughout the city. Members' challenges include anxiety, depression and executive functioning.
At Trails Momentum, a wilderness and adventure-based program for young adults, one of the main components of the program is helping young men and women develop relationships through strong group dynamics. The program has recently started to integrate more processing groups and team-building exercises into the regular schedule, to better support students with social anxiety.
Adventure activities provide an opportunity for students to talk about their experiences or to reflect on a theme. In a group setting, they are amongst peers who have struggled with the same issues, so it creates a safe space for them to process their anxiety and to show empathy toward others.
Clinical Director Mara Mueller points out, “young adults today are connecting on the Internet instead of face to face and, as a result, have severe social anxiety, especially in group settings. For some of our students, this can be the first time they really look at how they show up in the world and offline.”
In recent group activities, processing topics have ranged from types of communication styles, how to manage conflict with others, taking responsibility for emotions, vulnerability, and foundations of healthy relationships. When divided into smaller groups, young adults are better able to establish a sense of safety and belonging in the group that encourages them to share more.
“As they share and relate to their peers, their worries and fears are normalized rather than judged, which helps alleviate some of the anxiety. There is low pressure to talk or have insight into their feelings, which many students do not have coming in,” Mara shares.
Having shared experiences through adventure activities helps to build the relationship, allowing for conversation to flow more easily. As each group spends a lot of time together, they realize how important it is not only to make friends, but to treat everyone with respect and kindness in order to maintain the healthy group dynamic.
“A powerful group dynamic encourages young adults to hold up mirrors for one another, creating accountability, as well as allowing them to support one another through moments that feel overwhelming,” says Mara. “That is the power of authentic connection.”
About Trails Momentum
Trails Momentum is an outdoor adventure and wilderness-based therapy program based in Hendersonville, North Carolina for young adults, ages 18 to 25, who want to work on gaining independence and improving self-awareness. The program takes a strength-based approach using adventure therapy to build a stronger group dynamic. Its small and nurturing community helps young adults with social anxiety gain confidence and a sense of belonging. Learn more about campus life and our relationship-based approach by calling (877) 296-8711.
Orem, Utah: The Arise Society is delighted to welcome Jeff Larson to the clinical team as our Primary Therapist. With more than 15 years of experience as a therapist for young adults and adolescents, he has gained a strong reputation in a referral-driven industry.
His extensive experience includes working with Valley Mental Health's Adolescent Day Care Unit, Second Nature Wilderness Program, the Intensive Outpatient Program at Wasatch Youth Support Systems, Life Matters Counseling, as a substance abuse and mental health evaluator for court-referred youth, with Avalon Health Care, Inc. and Vista Counseling Services’ young adult transitional program.
Jeff understands the issues facing today's young adults, which include behavioral problems, mood and anxiety disorders, self-esteem issues, trauma and abuse, personality disorders, family discord, bereavement, substance abuse and identity issues. “I have more than 11 years of practice specifically in transitional programming as well as an outpatient program, almost exclusively working with college-aged students,” he said. “I've worked with this population for a long time.”
His therapeutic expertise and versatility extend beyond traditional office sessions. He is also familiar with local colleges and guidance staff, and collaborates regularly with academic professionals, disability resource center support staff and employment organizations. He is adept at helping his students push through obstacles and uses his experience to guide students and families in need of intervention. “I relish the moments when I see my students find success and navigate life's challenges. It is important to build relationships with them, have them know that you are genuine, and that you truly do care about their growth and well-being, even when they are struggling and making mistakes.”
Vaughn Heath, PhD, Founder and Clinical Director of The Arise Society added, “We are happy to have Jeff as part of the Arise Society’s team. He comes to us with an incredible amount of experience working with young adults and their families. He is an expert in helping them navigate the many challenges during the transition to independent college life.”
“I love the setting that The Arise Society creates because my greatest strength is integrating myself into a student’s life. I believe that meeting and engaging with them in their environment on a regular basis is critical to getting real, sustained results,” says Jeff.
Contact: Becky Brown, Director of Business Development & Admissions, (435) 691-4318 at beckybrown@thearisesociety.com
About The Arise Society
The Arise Society helps young adults that are struggling with anxiety, depression, gaming or other motivational issues. We provide personalized academic, therapeutic, and social support in a "real life" setting that gives our students the skills to reach their fullest potential. They attend college at UVU and benefit from group and individual therapy, 24/7 availability of mentor support, activities and social events. We empower students to regain a sense of confidence, independence and health as they move forward in life. www.thearisesociety.com
Anson McNulty, Operations Director and Co-owner, and Andrew Farris, Program Director at Summit Achievement, will be presenting on decision-making at the Wilderness Therapy Symposium in Park City, Utah on August 23, 2019. The title of their presentation is "Trips & Tricks: How mental shortcuts can help or hurt us in decision-making." This presentation is a must-see experience for field guides and program directors as well as anyone working in the wilderness therapy field.
Their presentation will discuss how the mind works in decision-making. During the workshop, Anson and Andrew will discuss heuristics, cognitive biases and how the brain filters sensory information. Heuristics can be either mental shortcuts that ease the cognitive load of decision-making or quick ways to accidentally create more substantial problems. They will investigate cognitive biases like recency, resource, choice anchoring, and other influences to see how these play into the choices we make. They will explore how the brain is filtering our sensory experience and how that impacts decisions.
Anson McNulty earned his bachelor’s degree in Outdoor Recreation Administration from Unity College. He is certified as a Wilderness First Responder and a CPR Instructor. Anson has been working with troubled teens in the wilderness and residential settings since 2000 and is dedicated to helping struggling teens find their way via experiential therapy. Anson has worked at Summit Achievement since 2002 and became a co-owner of Summit Achievement in 2018.
Andrew Farris graduated from Green Mountain College with a bachelor’s degree in Adventure Recreation. He is a Leave No Trace Master Educator. Before joining the Summit team, Andrew taught environmental education to elementary students and adventure education to college and corporate groups. Andrew has worked at Summit since 2009.
About Summit Achievement
Summit Achievement is, and always has been, guided by positive reinforcement and the power of choice. Our outcome-focused program employs effective therapeutic and educational principles. 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 wilderness therapy program, we serve adolescent boys and girls, ages 13-20, from around the world.
Pure Life Adventure is offering their first Women's Retreat from September 8 - 14 2019 in Costa Rica. This event is open for any woman who is looking to take the time to explore a beautiful country while focusing on self-development.
During this seven day retreat, participants will slow down and step out of their comfort zones while exploring all the beauty that Pure Life has to offer. Women will have the oportunity to reflect upon old beliefs, roles, and patterns that are no longer serving them. They will learn how to reconnect to the favorite parts of themselves.
Pure Life is partnering with Kim Mlinarik, LCPC to facilitate the week. Pure Life guides and staff will provide guidance and support through the challenging itinerary while Kim helps the women process their thoughts and feeling during their adventures.
For more information, please contact Carrie Weatherhead at cweatherhead@purelifeadventure.com
About Pure Life Adventure
Pure Life Adventure is located in the Central Pacific region of beautiful Costa Rica. Relying on decades of experience in the Costa Rican outdoor industry, the bicultural team provides a therapeutically sophisticated and holistic approach to helping young adults with depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, lack of motivation, executive function deficits, trauma and substance abuse. The students are individuals with very real challenges looking for lasting change. Pure Life utilizes traditional individual and group therapy in combination with outdoor experiential learning and adventure. The Pure Life integrated and dynamic approach includes an emphasis on fitness, mindfulness, life skills and cultural immersion.
Sunrise Residential Treatment Center is dual-licensed as a residential treatment center and a therapeutic boarding school. This licensure enables them to meet the individual therapeutic needs of each of their students, and also meet each girl where she is academically, enabling her to achieve her academic goals.
Sunrise' private school features small class sizes; highly trained, relational teachers, and a "real" high school experience. The result is that 99% of their students who complete therapy at Sunrise are on track or even ahead of their peers at home, in being prepared for high school graduation. In addition, 100% of Sunrise girls who are behind in their academics because of their struggles, are caught up or again, ahead of their peers when they graduate from Sunrise. Many of their older students complete High School early and may have co-enrolled in one of the two local, four-year colleges. And many of the girls who have graduated High School at Sunrise take full college course-loads locally while completing their therapeutic work at Sunrise.
Sunrise RTC hosts a High School Graduation ceremony each year for those students who complete their high school credits during their stay at Sunrise. "Our high school graduation is one of my favorite moments every year" says Krista Perry, Sunrise Academic Director, "It is so fun and the ceremony is short, sweet, and full of joy!" This year was no different, with 9 graduates participating in the ceremony; three of whom were alumni students who chose to come back to Sunrise and walk with their graduating class. Each year students are awarded Valedictorian, Most Improved student, and a leadership award; and these students are asked to speak during the ceremony. A mother of a current student commented, "This was one of the best graduations I have ever been to! The girls spoke so clearly and confidently about their academic success -- it gave me hope for my daughter."
About Sunrise RTC
Sunrise is a residential treatment center for adolescent girls ages 13-17 aimed at uncovering the academic, social and emotional potential of girls who have been held back by emotional or behavioral struggles. Sunrise combines the warmth of a home, the safety and clinical expertise of a residential treatment program and the community access of a transition program.
Courtney Carlisle, M.A. has joined the English faculty at John Dewey Academy full-time in June of 2019, after substituting during the summers since 2014. She earned her BA and MA in English literature from the University of Wyoming, and then moved to Tempe, Arizona, to pursue a PhD at Arizona State University.
Currently writing her dissertation, Courtney focuses on early modern English literature and critical theory, but especially appreciates the opportunity to teach literature courses that include diverse texts and encourage students to think and write critically about themselves as readers and writers. Before coming to Dewey, Courtney taught for the University of Wyoming’s English Department, Honors Program, and Outreach Program, and worked for Arizona State University’s English Department and Institute for Humanities Research.
Aside from teaching, Courtney enjoys reading (of course!), traveling (often with an eye to literary history), and settling into the Berkshires with her two dogs.
Benjamin Mielenz, M.A. will join the John Dewey Academy Spanish Faculty team in August of 2019. He has a passion for second language acquisition that is rooted in professional and academic immersions on four continents outside of North America. In 2007 and 2008, he spent a year in Malawi as a public health volunteer. The challenges and rewards of that experience had a profound impact on him as he pursued his education and continued to seek out exciting and enriching opportunities to travel while learning. Upon completion of his bachelor’s degree, he worked for an academic year on the Caribbean coast of Colombia as a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant. He has also spent a year and two summers in northern Spain, where he hiked 550 miles of the Camino de Santiago de Compostela in 2017 and conducted his Ph.D. fieldwork in 2018.
His graduate work in Spanish sociolinguistics runs in tandem with his teaching philosophy. He is convinced that the way we communicate plays a crucial role in the way we see the world and our place in it. Understanding a language as a non-native speaker has helped Ben to think critically about human interactions. In the classroom, this translates into a creative and playful approach to learning with an emphasis on progress rather than perfection. He encourages his students to find and trust their own voices and to use their communicative abilities to engage with the world around them.
When he’s not teaching or working on his dissertation, you’ll probably find Ben hiking the Berkshires, shooting pool, playing rock and blues in a band with friends in Albany, NY, or relaxing at home with Pearl — arguably the best Albany alley cat to ever relocate to Western Massachusetts.
About John Dewey
John Dewey Academy is a 30 bed, co-ed therapeutic boarding school located in the historic town of Great Barrington, MA. It has an unrivaled academic program with PhD level instruction, 100% college placement, and PhD level therapists. Length of stay is a minimum of 15 month and college process and placement is the outcome goal for all students. Psychiatric support is available. Tours are offered weekly.
Red Oak Recovery® is excited to announce that as of August 1, 2019, their young adult men’s program will be an in-network provider with Blue Cross Blue Shield.
In network insurance coverage includes Partial Hospitalization (PHP) and Intensive Outpatient (IOP) services.
“In an effort to continue to provide intensive clinical care for young adults while meeting more families in need of affordable treatment cost options, we are excited to be able to serve our clients and families in this way,” says Jack Kline, MS, LPCS, LCAS, CCS, CTT-2, MAC, President and Founder.
About Red Oak Recovery
Red Oak Recovery® programs are located throughout Western North Carolina and include clinically-driven and gender separate trauma focused mental health and substance abuse treatment for young adult men (www.redoakrecovery.com), young adult women (www.thewillowsatredoak.com), and adolescent males (www.foothillsatredoak.com). Our developmentally specific treatment modalities take into account each client’s unique story, trauma history, gender challenges, substance abuse history, relapse triggers, and mental health issues. Our dually licensed master’s level clinicians integrate research-based practices with complementary modalities to help clients honor themselves, recognize their self-worth, and pursue positive, lasting change.
How does teaching young women to be entrepreneurs of their own lives help them become independent? Entrepreneurs are focused on moving forward; they are always looking to the future. They are goal oriented; they set a goal and everything they do is then aimed at achieving that goal. Entrepreneurs have the ability and desire to learn. They learn to navigate the unavoidable ups and downs. At Applewood Transitions for Young Women, part of the Q&A Family of Programs, the clients are learning entrepreneurship on two levels.
On the first level, they enter the workforce by operating The Breakfast Nook Restaurant, located in the building where they live. They learn every aspect of the restaurant business, from ordering and cooking to waiting tables and greeting customers. They get opportunities to develop a strong work ethic and practice employment skills in a safe and supportive environment. While many of the young ladies begin work motivated only by a pay check, they soon take a personal interest in the restaurant and begin to develop much more. The Breakfast Nook is a popular stop for locals and tourists, alike, so the young ladies develop relationships within the community as they serve and visit with repeat customers. Without even knowing it, they begin developing some entrepreneurial skills such as predicting what dishes will sell and developing new menus, running the grill during a rush, dealing with and learning from mistakes and failures, and effective communication with peers and staff in the workplace.
The young ladies recently took on the management of Mountain Market, a boutique gift shop in nearby Thomas, WV. At the shop, they are responsible for managing inventory, customer relations and service, marketing, finances and store displays. These additional entrepreneurial positions have provided more opportunities to develop self-efficacy and personal responsibility. The level of pride that each young lady experiences in her own ability to grow and manage a business is palpable and such a wonderful launching pad.
On the second level, these young ladies develop into entrepreneurs of their own lives. That goal of getting a paycheck develops into so much more. They begin to connect their job and the skills they are learning with their future goals. Rather than just collecting a paycheck, they set longer term financial goals and begin budgeting to reach those goals. Several graduates of Applewood Transitions have saved substantial amounts of money to help them move into the next phases of their lives. One recent graduate saved over $10,000 and has recently moved into her own condo and is continuing to save for college in the fall of 2020.
While having money in a savings account is important, it is the other entrepreneurial skills these young ladies develop that propel them into independence. The young ladies of Applewood discover who they are and what they want in life, which allows them to set realistic and attainable goals for their futures. They learn patience and understand that it takes time and baby steps to achieve longer term goals. They learn that developing adult relationships is critical to their success and happiness. Building a strong work ethic that is motivated by purpose and meaning becomes critical to success - and these young ladies understand this concept very well.
The idea of being entrepreneurs of their own lives spills into all areas including self-management of medical appointments, budgeting, daily living skills, relationship building, emotional self-regulation and family interactions. At Applewood Transitions, young women can learn and practice these skills in a real life setting with a safety net. When they fail, they can learn from the experience and move on. Without the safety net of Applewood Transitions, they may not get a second chance. Second chances are critical to success. Most entrepreneurs have failed more often than they have succeeded, but it is those failures that lead them to success. This is the mission of Applewood... to provide young women with opportunities to fail successfully so they can integrate the learning and move on.
About Q&A Family of Programs
Q&A Family of Programs works with young adults ages 18 and up, providing opportunities for each of them to develop independent, functional, and happy lives with a high level of quality. Our clients have struggled to reach independence for a variety of reasons such as the inability to develop and/or implement the life skills needed to be successful, or struggling to obtain consistent employment. Our goal is to help these individuals find meaning and an authentic purpose for their lives and a practical path to achieve their goals.
BlueFire Wilderness is an adventure-based program in Idaho that separates groups by age and gender in order to meet the specific needs of each group. Both the boys’ and girls’ programs have been divided into pre-teens and teens to account for the potential difference in behavioral issues. This helps clients gain relationship and communication skills that they may have struggled with in the past. Girls’ behavioral issues may vary depending on their age, but the focus is more on underlying issues of low self-esteem, body image issues and social relationships.
Although girls are placed in the same group, the girls group has two primary therapists that specialize in different age ranges. While the younger group focuses more on family systems, the older group focuses more on navigating healthier relationships in their social worlds. For both age ranges, the emphasis is on building relationships through adventure activities.
Lindsay Myrick, LPC is one of the girls’ primary therapists, and works with girls aged 14-17; Lindsay serves as the assistant clinical director at BlueFire. She utilizes EMDR therapy and mindfulness-based interventions in combination with wilderness and adventure programming, to assist adolescents and their families with healing issues related to trauma and attachment. Lindsay recently completed a LGBTQIA Safe Zone Training and is presenting research on integrating Adventure Therapy Activities into Family Seminars this summer.
“Helping the girls I work with build resilience after the difficult things they’ve experienced in their lives is my primary goal. While they may always carry these memories, I want them to be in a place in their lives where they are able to engage in other meaningful activities. I encourage students to walk the walk, not just talk the talk,” she shares.
Dr. Paul Goddard is the other primary therapist who works with girls 11-15. He has been working in Wilderness Therapy for over 20 years. His ability to balance genuine nurturance with personal accountability has earned him the reputation of being a “Giant Teddy Bear” among his clients.
Building trust with treatment-resistant young women – who sense his genuine care and concern balanced with his belief in their ability to face their “monsters” and heal – is Dr. Goddard’s specialty. He challenges students to “find that which is best within and to express that inner strength to make the world a better place.”
Both therapists work closely with families to encourage them to walk the walk of growing together. Adventure therapy offers a unique opportunity for innovative, experiential approaches to rebuilding and strengthening relationships.
About blueFire
blueFire Wilderness is a wilderness therapy program outside Boise, Idaho for teens, ages 11 to 17, struggling with depression, bullying, anxiety, addiction, and other emotional or behavioral problems. blueFire incorporates adventure therapy and family therapy into the program to help students build confidence, improve communication skills, and gain leadership skills that help them repair relationships and rebuild trust with their parents. Our goal is to help teenagers rediscover their inner spark.
The Summer Solstice, which takes place on June 21st, is the longest day of the year and marks the changing of seasons. It is a symbolic day of transformation where sunlight, at its peak, serves as a powerful metaphor for girls discovering their brightness. Many people use this time to reflect on goals they formed at the beginning of the year and to evaluate how they can stay motivated to make positive changes in their lives. Solstice West, a residential treatment center for teen girls, prepared for the Summer Solstice throughout the month of June by embarking on a journey alongside caterpillars as they turned into butterflies. This provided a mirror for the journey the students experience at the program. The lifecycle of caterpillars is roughly 2-3 weeks, which aligned perfectly with the summer holiday.
Throughout the year, students engage in ceremonies to honor different phases of their personal exploration. This ceremony was unique due to the parallel between the butterfly release and their own emotional release.
DanaLee, who teaches classes on Self-Compassion at Solstice West, regularly gathers the community on the first Sunday night of every month to discuss topics ranging from gratitude, the power of a good question, the practice of letting go, and the strength of a positive community. These ceremonies are held to offer Spiritual Direction to students who are exploring their identity through vulnerability, insight and experiential learning. All ceremonies are centered around creative expression, symbolism and soul-searching.
On the first Sunday night of this month, students were given a piece of paper and invited to tear it, fold it, and make it into a shape that represented them. Then, they were invited to gather the scraps that they had torn away into a pile in front of them. These scraps represented the things about themselves they did not like, did not understand, and did not know what to do with. “By tearing apart the scraps of paper, they uncovered the beauty within themselves that is often masked by their insecurities,” says DanaLee. “The takeaway of this exercise was that every single human being has scraps and that part of their journey is to figure out how to embrace themselves as works of art, scraps and all, and to let go of the pain they attach to these insecurities.”
The girls planned a celebration for the Summer Solstice with decorations, games, S’more sundaes, and a ceremony dedicated to letting go. During the celebration, the girls released the butterflies that they had watched over the past few weeks and stood in awe as they watched these beautiful creatures go off into the world.
“This release reminded them that they are safe in their cocoons during this phase of their journey, but that when they are fully ready to let go and shed their fears, they will transform into beautiful creatures and discover their full potential,” comments DanaLee. “ Butterflies offer powerful lessons in science and beautiful messages for the soul."
About Solstice RTC
Solstice RTC is a residential treatment center in Layton, Utah for girls ages 14-18. This program empowers young girls who are struggling with depression, anxiety, low self esteem, trauma, and addictive behaviors to heal from past experiences and develop new coping skills to help them lead healthier lifestyles. Its holistic personalized approach sets them apart from other residential treatment centers by emphasizing the importance of mind-body connection through adventure activities, experiential learning, equine therapy, and family therapy. Solstice is fully licensed by Utah’s Department of Human Services and has a fully accredited academic program consistent with the state’s core curriculum. At Solstice RTC, young women discover their full potential. For additional information on Solstice RTC, please visit http://solsticertc.com/ or call 801-444-0794.
Equinox RTC is excited to announce that Dan Keith has been appointed as our new Clinical Director. Dan Keith comes to Equinox after 5 years at our sister program, Solstice East. The fantastic work he has done with families and teens since the early days of Solstice East has helped prepare him to succeed as the Clinical Director of Equinox RTC. In his time at Solstice East, Dan facilitated New Parent workshops under the Solstice Model, with a focus on trauma, attachment, and the healing force of relationships. He has regularly been tasked with and aided in the professional development of co-therapists, clinical interns, and direct care staff.
Dan received his Master's in Counseling from Western Carolina University and draws from experience having worked with adolescents in residential, day treatment, outpatient and in-home settings.
Dr. Kyle Gillett, Executive Director of Equinox, noted, “What I love about the addition of Dan to the team is his deep rooted connection to our family and the Solstice Model. He brings such a laser-focused vision of how an emphasis on healthy relationships can drive healing in our students. Layering that with his understanding of experiential learning, and a therapeutic vision of 'Do, Reflect, Apply', he is a perfect fit for the Equinox program.”
His experience has taught him the value of a program rooted in a holistic perspective that emphasizes the importance of family and relationships. For that reason, he was drawn to Equinox RTC. He has witnessed how impactful positive adolescence can be in the lives of teens and is grateful for the opportunity to provide guidance during challenging times. Jenny Selent, Executive Clinical Director of Solstice East, and Dan’s supervisor and mentor notes, “Dan has been an integral member of the clinical team and critical to the successful outcomes at Solstice East. He will be missed at Solstice, but we are super excited for our ‘brother program’ to make such a significant addition.”
In his practice, Dan has worked with adolescents struggling with anxiety, depression, emotional regulation, communication, defiance, trauma, and relationship issues. He is trained in TF-CBT as well as EMDR, Brainspotting, and TF-EAP. Dan has specialized in group therapy topics such as experiential DBT, technology and social media, and entitlement. In alignment with the work at Equinox, Dan has a strong history with and connection to the adventure world. He has facilitated numerous day and multi-day adventure and recreation trips including hiking, paddle boarding, whitewater rafting, tubing, and snowboarding. When not at the office, Dan enjoys time with his family, reading, kayaking, and hiking with his shepherd, Keetna.
Of his role, Dan says, “I am excited to join the team as the Clinical Director at Equinox RTC. Having worked with Equinox’s sister program, I’ve known of the program since early in its development and have continually been impressed with the therapeutic work accomplished here. Equinox RTC has developed such a compassionate culture, one which I look forward to contributing to.”
In alignment with the work at Equinox, Dan has a strong history with and connection to the adventure world. He has facilitated numerous day and multi-day adventure and recreation trips including hiking, paddle boarding, whitewater rafting, tubing, and snowboarding.
About Equinox RTC
Equinox RTC is a leading residential treatment center for adolescents ages 14-18. Equinox is unique in its focus on Trauma, Loss, and Attachment, providing clinically intensive treatment for young adults struggling with anxiety, depression, OCD, ASD, learning disabilities, and other emotional and behavioral needs. Equinox offers a combination of clinically sophisticated support with a whole child approach including adventure therapy, integrated Cross-Fit program, and a whole foods diet. Equinox provides a fully accredited school, with broad course selections taught by licensed teachers in a college-preparatory environment.
ReSTART has repeatedly been coined the “Gold Standard” in treating internet and video game addiction. They recently celebrated their tenth year as the leaders in supporting this emerging struggling population. Located near Seattle, they have been working with both adolescents and young adults, not only using intensive therapy, but also using relationships and creating a strong sense of community and connection with both staff and students.
While celebrating their tenth anniversary, they are also celebrating a very special birthday. Dakota, the Australian Shepherd, has also turned ten. Dakota joined ReSTART when it opened and she has played a vital role in allowing ReSTART students to feel welcome and to begin the process of connection. Many ReSTART students have been unsuccessful connecting with peers and they seem to be drawn towards animals and benefit from that interaction. The students take Dakota everywhere they can, including their camping and hiking trips.
Part of the reason that ReSTART opened up a ranch, where students spend the majority of their days interacting and taking care of animals, was due to the impact that Dakota has had on this particular population of struggling young people. Back in September, ReSTART opened up “Rise Up Ranch” with dogs, cats, goats, horses and chickens - a perfect place to get away from technology, get grounded, and get connected. So Happy Birthday Dakota! And thanks for being a truly important part of ReSTART’s growth.
About ReSTART
Headquartered in Fall City, Washington, reSTART is a leading advocate of healthy sustainable digital media use (internet, VR, and videogames) for people and the planet. ReSTART offers staffed residential care for youth (13-17) and life sharing retreats for adults (ages 18-30), along with independent living support.
With Summer arriving in Montana, the staff and students at Montana Academy are prepped and ready to embark on their annual 5-day July Block Break Trips. These 5-day trips provide a fun and engaging reprieve from the daily routine at the Academy and are a chance for staff and students to travel to some wonderful locations around the state of Montana; some local and some further away.
Experiential by nature, these Block Break Trips provide opportunities for students and staff to collaborate on location, itinerary and associated logistics while creating shared goals and objectives providing students with a sense of ownership. Other Block Break Trips throughout the year, in May and September, often include parents and provide a small and intimate environment to spend with sons and daughters. Montana Academy's July trips are longer and are intended for each young men's and young women's team to come together for a shared common adventure.
The July Block Break Trips for 2019 are spread out and vary in venue and objective. This year, Montana Academy ventures to the Lower Missouri River, Glacier National Park, the Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex and Lake Koocanusa as well as other venues in the surrounding area. The 5-day trips are busy this year and most incorporate some type of service-oriented project for a portion of the time, whether it is partnering with a local agency or on their own as a way to give back.
The staff and students at Montana Academy look forward to the tradition of the July Block Break Trips and look forward to the experiences, memories and adventures that these trips provide.
About Montana Academy
Founded in 1997, Montana Academy is a coed, accredited, privately-owned therapeutic boarding school located in Northwest Montana. Unique in the nation, Montana Academy provides students a robust combination of clincal sophistication, an effective therapeutic program, and a challenging prep school all situated on a 500 acre Montana Ranch. Instead of limiting treatment to symptom relief, (pills or brief therapies), Montana Academy pursues a two-step diagnosis and dual treatment: (a) to identify and remove, in so far as possible, the obstacles to psychological development; and (b) to prod student to achieve new psychological milestones and so to restore the momentum of normal adolescent maturity.
Valley View School is delighted to announce that Julie Hayford, LMHC, has joined the clinical team as an individual and family therapist. Ms. Hayford is a highly skilled clinician who has worked extensively with adolescents and their parents in residential and community-based settings for the last 13 years. She is trained in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behaviorial Therapy and utilizes an empathic, attachment-informed humanistic approach to treatment. Ms. Hayford received a Master of Arts in counseling psychology from William James College. She will begin working with a caseload of students when the Valley View summer program begins in mid-July. Valley View is excited to welcome a clinician of Ms. Hayford's caliber.
About Valley View School
Valley View School, founded in 1970, is a private therapeutic boarding school serving boys in grades 6-12. Our non-profit 501(c)(3) school is located in the central Massachusetts town of North Brookfield. The Valley View Program consists of a comprehensive blend of Therapy, Academics, Athletics, Arts and Activities challenging our students emotionally, intellectually and physically. The boys learn self-control and anger management, social skills in order to create and cultivate relationships with peers and adults, while developing compassion, empathy and respect for others and to realize their true potential.
In a partnership and under the direction of the renowned Learning Specialist Sanford Shapiro M.Ed., Evoke Therapy Programs announces a new initiative, “Bringing Cognitive Science and Universal Design to Evoke Therapy Programs.” Based on extensive experience as a Learning Disability specialist, Sanford will be training Evoke staff in Universal Design [UDL]. This training begins the exploration of their thinking styles and how this can affect almost everything else in the treatment process.
According to the Center for Excellence in Universal Design, UDL “is the design and composition of an environment so that it can be accessed, understood and used to the greatest extent possible by all people regardless of their age, size, ability or disability.” Many therapeutic programs continue to define themselves by creating a niche; terms like attachment-based or trauma-informed suggest to potential clients a good fit. With UDL, Evoke at Cascades is able to use best practices for any special population to understand and better serve more of what everyone needs. They are better informed about what’s needed for mental health and success from deeply understanding conditions such as depression and anxiety. By aligning treatment approaches to different learning profiles and the variations in how clients think and process, Evoke at Cascades winds up with better communication and less resistance. Sanford explains this wider net, “…When best practices are used to teach reading for someone with dyslexia, everyone tends to benefit. In UDL environmental design, think of a ramp entrance to a building. While it may be designed for someone in a wheelchair, it also works well for someone pushing a stroller, the elderly or someone on crutches.”
Sanford will begin with a series of trainings for all Evoke staff. The beginning steps for staff members is to understand how they think and how this impacts their life and how it can create biases and blind spots while working with clients. This initiative underlies a fundamental aspect of Evoke’s vision that effective treatment starts with the self-understanding of the treatment professional. Such understanding applies to the therapeutic perspective and Evoke’s idea that all treatment professionals have an ethical responsibility to do their own work. With Sanford’s expertise, the idea is expanded to include the basic way that treatment professionals think. Clinical Director and Co-founder Brad Reedy Ph.D. states, “We believe that by providing staff with the tools and ideas that UDL has to offer, we can achieve better results with a wider group of our clients.”
About Evoke Therapy Programs at Cascades
Evoke Therapy Programs at Cascades, in Bend, Oregon provides research-proven Wilderness Therapy treatment for struggling teens, young adults, and their families. and this approach promotes lasting change. They also offer Personal Growth Workshops for individuals, couples, families, and professionals in the mental health field that are looking to create lasting changes in their life.
Between 2014 and 2019, Trails Carolina, a wilderness therapy program for young people ages 10-17, partnered with the Center for Research, Assessment, and Treatment Efficacy (CReATE) and the Arkansas Institute of Developmental Science to conduct an outcomes study exploring the therapeutic effectiveness of wilderness therapy. Earlier this year, the data was compiled and Trails Carolina is excited to share its findings.
This study collected clinical outcomes data from Trails students and parents between 2014 and 2019.
In the research initiative, parents sent reports of their child’s symptoms, syndromes and behavioral problems at four stages: upon admission to Trails, graduation from Trails, three months after graduation from Trails, and a year after graduation.
Upon admission, parents reported the following about their children:
- 66% of parents reported that their children experienced clinically significant symptoms of ADHD, depression, anxiety, and conflict with their peers.
- 50% of parents indicated that their children experienced suicidal ideation.
- 40% of parents reported that their children struggle with substance abuse, disruptive behavior, and academic problems.
- 25% of parents reported significant sleep problems observed in their children.
One year after the completion of Trails, parents reported:
- 20% reported their children experienced clinically significant symptoms of ADHD, 0% reported that their children were experiencing symptoms of anxiety and depression, and 15% reported that their children had conflict with peers.
- 13% reported that their children experienced suicidal ideation.
- 18% reported that their children were struggling with substance abuse, 28% reported that their children were struggling with disruptive behaviors, and 6% reported children struggling with academic problems.
- 6% reported significant sleep problems observed in their children.
More findings from this study will be reported in the coming months. Learn more about the research initiative and outcomes study by visiting https://trailscarolina.com/outcomes/.
About Trails Carolina
Trails Carolina is a wilderness therapy program based just outside of Asheville, North Carolina that offers a multi-dimensional wilderness therapy model to troubled adolescents, ages 10-17. Trails capitalizes upon the profound effects of a student’s wilderness experience, and then combines that experience with strong clinical assessments and therapy. For additional information about Trails Carolina, please call 800-975-7303.
In recent months, the LGBTQ community has been at the center of the media. Voices like those from Kylie Jenner and Megan Rapinoe make the message loud and clear: LGBTQ folks have a place in society, and should not need to hide who they are from the world in order to fit in. Aspiro Adventure has known and been long aware of the importance of student identity, and for the past 13 years, Aspiro's therapists have been willing and able to help LGBTQ-identifying students understand and explore this major part of who they are.
Aspiro therapist Leigh Uhlenkott, LMHC shares that while at Aspiro, LGBTQ students have both time and a safe place to further explore their identity, while building their confidence and increasing self-efficacy. She states that more kids are coming out at a young age as transgender and this can be a difficult and scary experience for them, leading many parents and professionals to a variety of questions. It is therefore important for the adults in their lives to understand and support them.
Leigh encourages parents and professionals not to rush the process and discusses the importance of taking time to get educated and find support. It is important to understand that a transgender child has been thinking about this daily, possibly for many years, so it is important to take some time to try and get caught up to where they are at. Attached, Leigh shares an article to help with this process, outlining:
- Gender
- Gender Expression and Exploration
- How a Parent Can Process Misunderstanding
- Resources
Please follow this link to see Leigh's video and to read her article titled Gender is a Spectrum: How to Support Students and Parents in Understanding the Complexity of Gender Expression and Identity.
About Aspiro
With treatment-specific programs located in Utah and Costa Rica, Aspiro’s mission is to be the most clinically-advanced outdoor behavioral healthcare program in the world, providing safe, dynamic, highly effective treatment modalities that are backed by empirical research. Aspiro Wilderness Adventure Therapy is a short-term wilderness program serving adolescents ages 13-17 and young adults ages 18-28 with varying degrees of social, emotional and behavioral challenges.
After seventeen years at the Chamberlain International School, life-long educator Sally Kelly is retiring. Sally has persevered through many challenges over the years and through it all has always shown her dedication to the students at the school.
Sally has been the Title I teacher and is in charge of working with any students in need of special instruction. She worked directly with many students in any and all settings throughout the school and also administered several academic assessments over the years. She has worked with some of the most challenging students one-on-one and was able to provide them with the support each needed to be successful in the classroom. Over the years, Sally became famous for assisting students meeting the achievement standards on the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System so they completed the final requirements for their diploma.
Fellow teachers will miss her friendship and guidance. Staff noted that her warm demeanor, kindness and soft approach was especially calming in what sometimes can be a very fast paced enviroment. From all accounts, Sally embodied Chamberlain's philosphy that teachers are more than just individuals who share knowledge - they are coaches, counselors, inspirers, leaders, and so much more. Sally plans to travel and spend as much time with her family as possible in her retirement.
About Chamberlain International School
Located in Middleboro, Massachusetts, Chamberlain International School offers a therapeutic residential learning experience for students ranging in age from 11 to 22. Students at Chamberlain International School struggle with a variety of learning disabilities and mental health challenges.
Open Sky has recently launched its SKYlights podcast. In each episode of SKYlights, Open Sky Co-founder and Executive Director Emily Fernandes, LCSW, speaks with experts in the field of wilderness therapy, exploring the unique value that nature provides on the journey toward wellness, self-discovery, and growth.
Emily thoughtfully guides conversations with clinical, family services, field, and operations staff, as well as and other experts about important topics related to wilderness therapy and Open Sky’s family-centered approach. The model at Open Sky integrates the latest in evidence-based clinical studies with innovative, research-driven mindfulness and holistic healing practices.
Emily, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, is well-suited to connect with guests on these topics, based on her depth of experience in wilderness therapy. Emily began her journey towards wilderness therapy in 1995 on a NOLS course. She then gained experience as a Field Guide and Director for Aspen Achievement Academy and worked for Hurricane Island Outward Bound School and Connecticut Wilderness School. She helped found Open Sky in 2006 and worked for five years as a lead therapist with adolescent girls. Her areas of clinical expertise include anxiety, depression, grief and loss, self-harm, trauma, and adoption and attachment issues.
“I'm thrilled to have the opportunity to talk with such dynamic and passionate professionals about topics related to wilderness therapy,” said Emily. “I’m grateful for this platform to share our conversations with a larger audience. It's exciting that SKYlights podcast offers a unique perspective on the meaningful work happening at Open Sky.”
New episodes of SKYlights are released bi-weekly, with select episodes available wherever you get your podcasts. For more information and to subscribe to the SKYlights podcast, please visit Open Sky’s podcast page. Here, you can also access episode previews, guest profiles, and more information about the topics covered.
About Open Sky Wilderness Therapy
Nestled in the mountains of southwest Colorado and the Canyonlands of southeast Utah, Open Sky transcends traditional wilderness therapy with an approach that emphasizes treatment for the whole family. When a family partners with Open Sky, they embark on a rewarding adventure of self-discovery and learn a range of strategies that promote lasting success. The Open Sky clinical approach utilizes the latest in evidence-based clinical modalities integrated with innovative, well-researched mindfulness and holistic healing practices. Therapists develop treatment plans, provide individual and group psychotherapy, and update families each week via teleconference. Students participate in daily process groups and a wide range of experiential activities designed to increase awareness and facilitate growth.
Seven Stars, a residential treatment and assessment center for teens struggling with neurodevelopmental issues such as autism and learning difficulties, is excited to highlight the family programming that takes place throughout a teen’s time at their program.
At Seven Stars, family therapy is an important part of the therapeutic process. At the program, therapists consult with parents each week by phone and they conduct a weekly family therapy session by video conference. Parents are also encouraged to come visit their child every 4 to 6 weeks. These visits provide opportunities to enjoy some family time and to work on family relationships and family therapy goals. Improving family communication and relationship patterns are common goals. Additionally, helping parents foster autonomy and independence in their adolescent is a common goal.
Primary Therapist Justin Manco, aCMHC, explains an approach he often uses with parents during their child’s first weeks in the program:
“When working with new families, it is always interesting to see where parents are, in regard to their stage of change versus their child,” comments Manco. “Often parents are in the plan and action stage, whereas the student is most often in the pre-contemplation stage. Bringing awareness and attention to the difference in stage for parent and student helps them recognize implicit expectations they have of themselves and their student. It helps the parents slow down and meet their child where they are in their development and progression. Parents are then better at joining their child as their child moves through each stage of change: pre-contemplation, contemplation, plan, action, maintenance.”
Primary Therapist Rachelle Steed, MSW, describes her overall approach to family therapy:
“I like to keep parents actively involved every step of the way,” says Steed. “Every week I scan in the materials that I am using with the client and send them to the parents as well. This helps us all be on the same page on everything from the verbiage to be used with their child as well as incorporating the skills that we are learning into the family dynamic. I recently had a parent who printed all of the materials that I sent and put them in a binder to use with the other children in the home. Each family has their own unique needs and I really focus on generalizing the skills that we are learning in treatment to their life at home.”
Gordon Day, Ph.D, the Founder and Director of Seven Stars, often gets questions from prospective parents about outcomes for graduates of the program.
“The most common things I hear from parents of graduating students is that they see their child as much more confident and much more comfortable with themselves,” says Dr. Day. “They see their child as being more able to engage in problem-solving. They also see improved communication and collaboration. All of these outcomes are fostered by a strong family therapy component to the program.”
Learn more about Seven Stars by calling 844-601-1167.
About Seven Stars
Seven Stars is a leading assessment program and residential treatment center for teens ages 13-17 who struggle with neurodevelopmental disorders such as Autism Spectrum Disorder and ADHD. For more information about programming at Seven Stars, please visit http://www.discoversevenstars.com/ or call 844-601-1167.
On May 30 and May 31, seven Auldern Academy seniors, their families and Auldern staff celebrated high school graduation with a Tribute Dinner and the Commencement ceremony Thursday night, followed by a celebratory reception on Friday, May 31. Jim Phillips, Auldern’s Dean of Academics was the Master of Ceremonies, with a ‘welcome’ to families, students, staff, and alumni, by Auldern’s Executive Director, Angie Fusco. Graduates presented gifts to their parents with the presentation of diplomas immediately following. Dr. Eileen Antalek served as the keynote speaker. This was a special treat for the students as Dr. Antalek was the Director of Admissions for Auldern and enrolled many of the graduating seniors.
The following students participated in graduation; Isabela C., Alena G., Caroline G., Hannah L., Mackenzie M., Maria S., Elizabeth W., with Mackenzie presenting the Valedictorian Speech.
Cheer Squad – A couple of Auldern students recently found a new way to channel their energy, through Competitive All – Star Cheer! Since October 2018, Tiana and Kate have traded their pencils for cheer practice several nights a week and spent numerous weekends at competitions. They competed on a Senior Level 4.2 team from Sanford Academy, in Sanford NC. Both young ladies were members of the “Kingdom” team from Infinity Cheer Empire. Many weekends were filled with travel to local competitions in Fayetteville, Concord, Charlotte and Raleigh, NC. Additional travel weekends included national competitions to Savannah, GA, Pensacola, FL and Myrtle Beach, SC. The ladies and their team enjoyed much success this season as the team won 3 National Championships and 4 other First Place finishes. According to Executive Director Angie Fusco, “the experience for these girls has been normalizing and great for their self-esteem. Competitive cheer has also instilled a sense of teamwork and commitment. It has been a highly beneficial addition to our ancillary programming at Auldern and we look forward to other students joining in the future.”
About Auldern Academy
Auldern Academy is a college preparatory, therapeutic boarding school for young women ages 14 to 18. We provide a positive platform that helps transform the lives of young women academically, emotionally, and socially.
Elements Traverse and Elements Wilderness invite you to join us at the San Rafael Classic Triathlon July 13 in Huntington, Utah! With Sprint, Olympic, and Kids Triathlons, complete with a flat run around Huntington Lake, this is a great race to set a new personal best! Sponsored by Elements and with John Karren serving as Race Director, the San Rafael Classic (www.sanrafaelclassic.com) had a record turnout in 2018 and we are hoping for a record turnout again in 2019. Beyond being a great race set in Utah’s gorgeous Castle Country, this race benefits the Emery County Search and Rescue, the largest team of its kind in Utah.
The race begins and ends at Huntington State Park; with all the camping by the lake, families have a great place to stay and share in the spaghetti dinner and homemade rolls on Friday July 12 at 6pm, it’s the night-before carbo load. The kids’ triathlon is always a blast, it’s one of the only open water kids races in Utah, with tons of support and medals for age groups.
The San Rafael Classic features:
- Sprint, Olympic and Kids races
- Small, family feel for the race
- Spacious campsite right next to the transition area
- Spaghetti dinner the night before the race
- Level run area around Huntington lake
- Course closed to traffic
- Medals for finishers, hand carved plaques for Top 3 in each category
- Family friendly and lots of fun!
For registration go to: www.sanrafaelclassic.com
Email john@elementswilderness.com for any questions about the details of the triathlon.
About Elements
The Elements Programs provide clinically robust wilderness interventions for coed young adults and adolescent males. Located in the desert and mountains of central Utah, Elements is small, owner-operated, and puts tremendous attention to detail into each individual client and every facet of its programming.
All Kinds of Therapy is excited to announce that in the first 6 months of 2019 website traffic is up over 20,000 visitors, compared to the same six months of 2018. There have already been multiple months in 2019 with over 11,000 visitors, and visitor traffic remains strong. Busy months of allkindoftherapy.com traffic correspond with advertiser’s admissions phone lines also being very busy.
Launched in 2015, allkindsoftherapy.com’s website traffic has climbed continuously. Most users find the website through Organic Google searches, which is the gold standard of web search. The average length of stay is over 2 minutes on advertisers' fact pages. "With over 180 blogs, a monthly newsletter, and over 100 advertisers' facts displayed where parents and young adults can compare and review options, it is the place for web research on behavioral healthcare treatment options," said Jenney Wilder, the owner of All Kinds of Therapy. All Kinds of Therapy was created to allow consumers to do research as part of their process, compare their options, find out the questions to ask, learn about trends and demystify industry jargon.
In 2013, 80 percent of internet users (about 93 million) were searching for health-related topics, according to Pew Research. 63 percent of those users to look up information about a specific disease or medical problem. Consumers are web savvy and they are doing research as part of their process - even if they have a doctor, psychiatrist or mental health professional assisting them. Allkindsoftherapy.com allows web users to gain information on the topics that matter to their troubled teen or young adult, and to find out the questions to ask treatment providers, without having to pay to see the information. Consumers use the website like they use cars.com because of ease of use, quality information and advertiser transparency. This format has proven to keep visitors using the website.
For more information about All Kinds of Therapy, or to learn how to become an advertiser, please visit https://www.allkindsoftherapy.com/about-us.
About All Kinds of Therapy
Launched in 2015, allkindsoftherapy.com is an online directory of treatment and intervention options troubled teens and young adults (ages 30 and under). Advertisers have to answer 40+ questions and provides significant facts about their treatment model, clinicians' training, licensing, etc and which is a level of transparency, unlike any other online treatment directory. Users research intervention and treatment programming options and can compare treatment options side-by-side, ‘favorite’ particular programs, subscribe to the monthly newsletter, review industry jobs and read a curated blog to answer their questions.