Pilcrow Advisors is pleased to announce its partnership with Meg Stiphany as a College & Career Consultant. Over the past several years, Pilcrow families have advocated for additional specialized support for their children in areas of career counseling and college admissions. Meg's career counseling services provide in-depth self-exploration and 1:1 coaching which results in a report that includes over 900 points of data. The shared goal is to help adolescents and young adults find a career that matches their personal motivations, strengths and values.
Meg comes to Pilcrow Advisors with a wealth of knowledge in navigating both boarding school and college admissions. She has spent over 10 years serving well-regarded universities and boarding schools in the role of Admissions Director and Director of Student Services. Meg has a deep understanding of the admissions process and can support students interested in pursuing admissions in higher education. Meg shared “Parents and their children are looking for more. More one-on-one attention, more personalized attention, more intentional support for long-term growth. The goal for all parents is to ensure they've given their child as many tools as possible for their toolkit, so that they can be self-sufficient and find success in their own right. Pilcrow's suite of offerings can help the young-adult population thrive and I’m excited to be a part of the team."
Members of the Pilcrow Advisors’ team live in different areas of the United States. Jamie Goodman resides in Illinois, Kristie Jensen is in Utah and Meg Stiphany lives in Indiana. During this time, Pilcrow Advisors continues to tour schools and programs virtually and support clients with various needs worldwide. Jamie shared, “We’ve temporarily shifted our work from on site tours to virtual tours. This shift has allowed us to visit three times as many programs than we normally would in person and support the countless children and young adults struggling to manage during these difficult times. Although nothing compares to an onsite tour, we’re making valuable use of our time at home and look forward to getting back on the road as soon as possible.”
Pilcrow Advisors is a therapeutic and educational consulting firm that serves clients from all over the world, empowering parents to advocate for their child with the right tools and knowledge of options available. Founded by Jamie Goodman, Pilcrow Advisors provides the most up to date information on options by consistently touring programs, building relationships, and acquiring feedback from parents, professionals and schools/programs.
Like many residential programs, Fulshear Treatment to Transition recently had to cancel their quarterly family program due to Covid-19. Generally, families in the program are invited out quarterly to participate in a two day workshop, where clients and families choose from a total of 32 offered groups. Because of travel restrictions and safety measures, a new plan was formulated.
Although nothing can replace the connection that Fulshear feels with its families and the work that is accomplished through their family program and in-person family sessions, Fulshear knew that the program had to provide families with something that would help them continue to move forward in the program. To that end, the idea of FulshearCast was born! FulshearCast is Fulshear’s very own podcast series found on SoundCloud.
For this family program, the clinical department took on the challenge to create 15 different podcasts, including Fulshear’s very own Integrated Adult Attachment model, plus recovery, trauma and adoption and other relevant discussions. The benefit of this modality is that it allows all families an opportunity to learn and then apply this information from the comfort of their own home, on their way to work, or while exercising.
FulshearCast isn’t just a format for family program, but something that Fulshear clinical and education departments will continue to build into a larger library of topics. The stated goal is to assist young adult women and their families in overcoming obstacles related to mental health, addictions and life transitions. Join the Fulshear clinical department on FushearCast at https://soundcloud.com/fulsheartransition.
About Fulshear Treatment to Transition
Fulshear Treatment to Transition, founded in 2003 and accredited by the Joint Commission, is located right outside of Houston in Needville, TX and Stafford, TX. Fulshear works with young women ages 18-24 struggling with mental health issues along with accompanying co-occurring disorders, and is known for its development of the Fulshear Adult Attachment Model.
As of July 1st, 2020, Foothills at Red Oak Recovery is now an in-network provider with Blue Cross Blue Shield at their adolescent residential treatment program for boys, ages 14-17. In-network insurance coverage includes Residential (RTC), Partial Hospitalization (PHP), and Intensive Outpatient (IOP) services.
“We are excited to now be an in-network provider at all three of our trauma, substance abuse, and mental health treatment programs. This allows us to continue to provide intensive clinical care for adolescent and young adult clients in need of affordable treatment options,” says Jack Kline, MS, LCMHCS, LCAS, CCS, CTT-2, MAC, Founder. “During these time of uncertainty for our country, it is important for us to be able to find ways in which quality treatment services remain available. Being of service to those who are struggling is critical as we move through these unprecedented times.”
For more details on how Foothills at Red Oak Recovery can help provide clients and families with individualized care and treatment plans for long-term recovery, reach out to 866.457.7590; admissions@foothillsatredoak.com
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 boys (www.foothillsatredoak.com).
Boulder Creek Academy welcomes Warren F. Hartz III, Ed. D to the academic staff. Warren joins BCA as the Career and Technology Education instructor. Warren has a stellar background ranging from Industrial Arts Instructor to Independent Educational Consultant, including participation in South Carolina Tech Prep Conferences, curriculum development, and textbook critique.
Warren has received multiple levels of commendations from the state of South Carolina and the Department of Education, as well as the State of Pennsylvania for outstanding contributions for youth and education.
Boulder Creek Academy is very excited about what Warren will bring to the students and the academic program. Warren plans to incorporate his vast experience of getting students to expand their interests and get hands-on opportunities.
Warren loves to facilitate an “experiential environment… I hope to spark their interest and teach them to try things, to think and plan. My goal is to give the students experiences that they wouldn’t get elsewhere, and to give them entry level skills that they can take home with them and use in their future.”
Lisa Hester, Executive Director of Boulder Creek Academy states, “I’m thrilled to welcome Warren to our team, we think he will be a strong addition to our program. We look forward to all that he has to offer.”
About Boulder Creek Academy
At Boulder Creek Academy, students rediscover their academic and social confidence. The key to our success is that we reignite our students’ belief in themselves by utilizing time-tested and proven methods. Students begin to experience academic achievement, regain self-esteem, learn to embrace their uniqueness and become capable learners who are confident in themselves. Each day at Boulder Creek Academy is purposefully designed to maximize experiences that allow students to practice social skills, improve self-worth and develop healthy identity, benefit from therapeutic learning and to have fun.
Boulder Creek Academy has been creating a therapeutic learning environment for high school students ages 14-18 with anxiety, depression, untapped academic potential, interpersonal relationship difficulties, limited executive function skills and overlooked strengths and talents for more than 25 years.
Asheville, NC -- Solstice East, a residential treatment center for teen girls ages 14-17 in North Carolina, is excited to announce that they have appointed Carol Sowers, M.Ed., to Academic Director. After three years as a History teacher and Department Head at Solstice East, Carol has demonstrated valuable skills in connecting with students using interactive teaching methods.
As Academic Director, Carol will lead an esteemed on-campus educational staff and oversee teacher-led classrooms where students receive high school course instruction for credit. She will work closely with members of the treatment team to develop individualized learning plans for each student based on their academic and therapeutic needs. At Solstice East, the academic program operates year-round, offering five instructional terms during a calendar year in which students can earn full quarter class credits each term. Purposely kept small; the average class size is around six students.
"I am honored to take on this new role as Academic Director of Solstice East's private on-campus academy, and I'm excited about the challenges ahead," says Carol Sowers. "Through my background in the classroom and as an administrator, I know I have the tools I need to provide the best possible academic environment for our students and guide my fellow teachers to new heights."
Carol has a Bachelor of Arts in History and a Master's of Education with a focus on Curriculum and Instruction from Mary Washington College in Virginia. Before teaching at Solstice East, Carol taught IB History and was an Assistant Principal at the Islamic Saudi Academy in Washington, D.C. Her broad educational experience - from having taught ESL and IB history, serving as a dorm parent, and working as an autism paraprofessional, have informed her educational philosophy and strengthened her love of education.
"Carol has been working with Solstice East students for over three years, and knows our program intimately," reflects Solstice East Executive Director Rick Pollard. "We are grateful for her expertise and look forward to her continued insight and guidance in our academic program."
With small classes and passionate teachers, Solstice East's fully accredited academic program features a competitive college preparatory curriculum designed to inspire a diverse student population. Solstice East, located just 20 minutes north of Asheville, NC, offers a full range of core classes, from special education to honors-level courses, to accommodate all learning styles and needs. The academic program is fully integrated into a therapeutic environment, ensuring that students are supported as they prepare for future success.
About Solstice East
Solstice East is a residential treatment center for young women ages 14-17 nestled in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains just outside of Asheville, North Carolina. Solstice East is committed to treating each student through a combination of individual, family, equine, and adventure therapies as well as treating and diagnosing a range of issues including (but not limited to) trauma, anxiety, depression, eating disorders, substance abuse, suicidal ideation, self-harming behaviors, attachment, and identity issues. Solstice East assists adolescents and their families in developing excellence in relationships, influence, character, and health throughout their life journey. Our holistic approach acknowledges that mental health diagnoses are only one piece of the puzzle; we strive to help young women succeed in multiple areas of their lives.
The unofficial start of summer is behind us and now, more than ever, the kids residing at Northwest Passage are ready to get outside! While the world beyond their Northwestern Wisconsin campuses is unpredictable and ever-changing, the need for a sense of safety and healthy ways to tolerate distress persist in the children receiving mental health treatment at Northwest Passage. Unfettered access to the outdoors has proven to be a great asset during the coronavirus pandemic. With their young residents facing continued isolation from their families and the inability to stray too far from campus, the staff at Northwest Passage needed to create more outdoor spaces and activities on campus to keep the youth occupied and engaged.
Enter the Hammock Village! A hammock village consists of 10 colorful hammocks hanging between a group of poles set in a circular pattern. Sails attached to the top of the poles offer protection from the hot summer sun. The Hammock Village offers kids and staff a place to congregate, at a safe distance, to enjoy nature as they participate in group therapy sessions, read or study for school, or just relax and reflect.
With initial plans in place to construct a Hammock Village on Northwest Passage’s Prairieview campus in Frederic, Wisconsin, a call went out for donations to make the project a reality. Donors responded in force, with over 73 individuals making donations towards the project. The tremendous response not only allowed for completion of a Hammock Village on the Prairieview campus but enabled construction to begin on a second Hammock Village to be located on Northwest Passage’s Riverside campus in Webster, Wisconsin.
Thanks to Northwest Passage’s “village” of supporters, young people receiving mental health treatment at Northwest Passage this summer will have an exciting new place to connect and grow on their path to hope and healing.
About Northwest Passage:
Founded in 1978, Northwest Passage is a non-profit organization dedicated to restoring hope through innovative mental health services for children and families. With over 40 years of rich history, Northwest Passage has become a national leader in residential mental health assessment and treatment for youth experiencing severe and complex emotional and behavioral disruptions. The organization has two residential facilities. Riverside, situated on 70 acres of iconic Northwoods landscape and bisected by the winding Clam River in Webster, WI, serves boys ages 12-17. The Prairieview campus is located on 25 acres of rolling prairie in Frederic, WI, and houses females ages 12-17 as well as Northwest Passage’s Assessment Program which serves youth ages 6-17 in a co-ed environment.
Northwest Passage’s success is due in large part to its high-impact experiential programming. They have implemented a powerful therapeutic arts program, InaNewLight, and showcase their residents’ inspiring artwork to the public at the one-of-a-kind Northwest Passage Gallery in Webster, WI. Funded with private donations and grants, the InaNewLight program has provided an opportunity for Northwest Passage’s youth to travel around the country, and even internationally, capturing amazing sunsets, beautiful wildlife, and serene wilderness scenes with their cameras. Along the way, many also captured parts of themselves that were otherwise out of reach.
Northwest Passage has earned academic accreditation through Cognia, Inc., formerly AdvancED. For more information about Northwest Passage call 715-327-4402 or visit nwpltd.org.
As college and university students around the country await instructions on how they will attend classes in the fall, parents of those students also anticipate what their roles may look like in this quickly changing landscape of life. To meet the support needs of this group, Focus Collegiate, a Boston-based and nationwide program supporting success for college students, has retained the services of Wise Roots Parenting, a leader in providing effective, evidence-based, human-centered tools for parenting success.
“There’s a natural fit between Focus Collegiate and Wise Roots Parenting,” says Brooks Witter, Co-Founder of Wise Roots Parenting. “We share a strengths-based approach to promoting lasting change that prioritizes the healthy functioning and dignity of the individuals. As Focus Collegiate works with students with complex learning profiles to help them navigate the challenges of college life, our job will be to promote their success by equipping their parents with the outlook and tools they need to let their kids earn their own victories, while remaining available for emotional and moral support.”
Each family participating with Focus Collegiate will receive, as an inclusion in their program, a 6-month subscription to the Wise Roots Parenting curriculum and several hours of individualized one-to-one coaching offered through a secure online video conferencing platform. The Wise Roots Parenting learning platform is a 4-course, 62-lesson curriculum designed specifically for parents of teens and young adults. With this partnership, Focus Collegiate will be able to create, edit, and otherwise customize this platform to address the unique needs of their parents.
“What I appreciate about working with Wise Roots Parenting, beyond their skillfulness as coaches, is the flexibility and multi-modal learning that their platform provides,” says Grant Leibersberger, Founder of Focus Collegiate, LLC. “Their coaches will be providing individualized support to our parents, and their online learning platform will give our parents access to valuable resources anytime they want. We are also excited to use their expertise in online content delivery to help us with our parent webinars.”
Wise Roots Parenting will begin to formally collaborate with Focus Collegiate this summer, providing online orientation, engagement, and learning groups to the parents of students participating in Focus Collegiate’s Summer Cohort. Their partnership will continue through the 2020-21 academic year with Wise Roots Parenting coaches providing individualized coaching to parents of participating students.
Wise Roots Parenting provides effective, caring and evidence-based parent engagement services. Individualized coaching is strengthened and complemented by their customized online learning platform created to provide convenient access to the best resources available for parent success. Wise Roots Parenting was born to promote the human capacities for compassion, existential freedom, emotional intelligence, and dignity by means of providing skills to parents of struggling teens and young adults in treatment for addiction, behavioral and/or emotional health issues.
Info@wiserootsparenting.com
PO Box 270643
Louisville, CO 80027
720-340-5260
Joanna Lilley, NCC, of Lilley Consulting partnered with Shayna Abraham, of Prepare to Bloom, Fusion Academy, and Holden High School to create the Virtual Alt Fair Series. The mini-series include interviews of programs that support high school graduates or current college students searching for a gap year alternative. These interviews highlight outlier opportunities that families may not find when doing a traditional gap year search. The goal is for every adolescent, young adult, and parent to know there are more options available than they may initially discover during an online search.
An Alt Fair in both California and Colorado was planned for Spring 2020 and respectfully canceled due to COVID-19. Transitioning to hosting this virtually was not something Joanna or Shayna considered exploring until the topic of “virtual college” for Fall 2020 exploded. “After reading one article that subliminally eluded to high school graduates’ only option being to pause on life if not attending college, I knew we had to spring into action to educate families about their options,” said Lilley, “There are amazing programs that are members of the Gap Year Association, and yet that’s not all-inclusive of the opportunities that exist. When the entire high school graduating Class of 2020 is looking for a Plan B, awareness and knowledge of these resources is imperative.”
The first three recordings are available and downloadable on YouTube. Email Stacy@PrepareToBloom.com to receive the registration links for future Virtual Alt Fair events. If you or anyone you know is struggling to find a good fit for gap year opportunities, you can email joanna@lilleyconsulting.com or Shayna@PrepareToBloom.com.
About Lilley Consulting and Prepare to Bloom
Since 2016, Lilley Consulting has been helping families and young adults find treatment options during a time of transition or crisis. Joanna dedicates herself to working solely with emerging adults who unravel before going to college, when they land on a college campus, or right after college graduation. Young Adulthood can be messy, but it doesn’t have to be if you find the best treatment resources at the time that you need them.
Prepare To Bloom is a San Francisco Bay Area-based therapeutic and educational consulting firm devoted to helping families make sound therapeutic and educational choices, assisting families and their children to find treatment options regionally or out of the home. Founded in the spring of 2011, by Shayna Abraham, MA, CEP, Prepare to Bloom consultants visit over 50 different treatment programs per year. The team works with families around the United States and around the globe.
Summit Achievement was the subject of a segment featured on The Today Show in early May. The video highlights the effectiveness of wilderness therapy in treating adolescent anxiety. The piece titled “Outdoor Therapy Program provides healing for anxious teens“ profiled four adolescent clients through the therapeutic process. The segment was released on The Today Show website in May and is available through this link.
The process of having The Today Show film at Summit Achievement began last year and included months of dialogue to ensure the confidentiality and ethical consideration of the clients involved in the segment. After Summit was assured of the confidentiality and consent of clients, The Today Show producer and cameraperson came to campus in early February. The Today Show Team spent three days on the Summit Achievement campus, interviewing clients, staff, and clinicians on campus and on a wilderness expedition. Originally slated to be on a morning broadcast in April of The Today Show, the piece was released on the website after the COVID-19 outbreak.
Summit Achievement co-founder Will White, who was featured in the segment, shared, “It was a great piece, for it focused on the clients who shared their remarkable stories of transformation through wilderness therapy and highlighted the effectiveness of Summit Achievement’s model of treatment. I want to thank all the staff and clients at Summit who did a great job of sharing their stories from the field.”
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.
Asheville, NC -- Journey Home East, a step-down program for young women ages 16-21 located in the idyllic small town of Asheville, NC, is excited to announce changes to their clinical team. Kaitlyn Keller, CMHC, is moving into the role of Program Director, and Danielle Andrews, MA, LPC, CFTP, has been promoted to Director of Transitional Services. Both women have been active at Journey Home East and their sister program, Solstice East, for several years.
Kaitlyn received her Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Lenoir-Rhyne University. As a practicum student, she worked in a day treatment program and outpatient services with youth, counseling a diverse caseload of children and families using trauma-informed psychotherapy while integrating expressive therapy modalities, including art, movement, and play. She completed a clinical internship at Solstice East, where she went through specialized training in Brainspotting therapy.
As a mentor at Solstice East for several years, Kaitlyn assisted students with issues associated with attachment, trauma, family systems, identity, and relationships. Kaitlyn appreciates working alongside the young women at Journey Home East and guiding students to be braver, bolder, and brighter.
Before pursuing her deeper passions in Transpersonal Counseling at Naropa University in Colorado, Danielle Andrews worked for 12 years in the business sector, specializing in Labor/Employee Relations, Leadership Development, Mediation, Collective Bargaining, and Employment Law. Since 2008, Danielle has worked enthusiastically with adolescents, young adults, and families in wilderness programs, private practice, schools, and treatment settings, including as Director of Transitional Services at Solstice East.
“For me, there’s not much that’s more inspiring and meaningful than empowering teens and young adults to explore their passions and grow in their strengths and capabilities,” says Danielle. “I believe people rise to the level in which we see them - and we hold up the mirror!”
Danielle integrates her background in conflict resolution, systemic change management, counseling, and transitions into her work. She utilizes her previous training into helping young women struggling with complex PTSD, attachment issues, borderline personality disorder, and anxiety launch into independence. She is also EMDR trained and certified as a Family Trauma Professional (CFTP).
As students at Journey Home East take steps towards integrating lessons learned in residential treatment, they work on their educational and career goals with the support of their peers and staff. The presence of positive role models empowers them to build self-confidence and to achieve their dreams.
About Journey Home East
Journey Home East is a transitional living program serving females ages 16-21 in the artistic semi-urban community of downtown Asheville, NC. We provide around the clock structure and support for young women learning everyday skills in preparation for real-world living. Our residential program, led by a team of experienced and compassionate professionals, assists residents with all aspects of daily life including budgeting and financial planning; managing free time and electronic device consumption; relationship building and growing boundaries; health, hygiene, and personal safety; applying for jobs; school studies; shopping for groceries and cooking meals; and more. Clients enrolling at Journey Home East have had previous therapeutic placement and require transitional housing prior to independence. We provide all residents with continued therapeutic support to assist them on their life journey.
Los Angeles, CA, June 2 – Ascend Healthcare, provider of innovative residential treatment for teens suffering from mental health and substance use disorders, has hired Associate Marriage and Family Therapist Rebecca Stephens. Rebecca will be serving as a therapist within Ascend’s premier adolescent program.
Rebecca has always been interested in mental health and the healing power of psychotherapy. She obtained a master’s degree in Experimental Psychology from California State University at Northridge and a master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from Azusa Pacific University. She worked for many years as a Research Analyst at Hathaway-Sycamores, a mental health agency that serves low-income children and families and has worked extensively in high schools and private practice with teenagers and young adults struggling with depression, self-harm, eating disorders, and trauma.
Rebecca works from a person-centered approach, collaborating with clients and families to come up with meaningful goals. She works from several theoretical models including family systems, psychodynamic, and Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT). Above all, she strives to be a stable and compassionate partner on the path to mental health.
“Rebecca has proven to be a great addition to the team and we are delighted to work with her. She is highly collaborative, thoughtful in her approach, and great with our clients,” said Jess Beck, LCSW, Clinical Director of Ascend’s residential program for adolescents.
Ascend Healthcare is a 12-bed residential treatment center located in Encino, CA, a suburb of Los Angeles. Ascend offers a 45-90 day, insurance-based program of treatment for mental health and substance use disorders. The treatment center’s program is designed to support teens and families through evidence-based treatments and a unique clinical approach. Ascend’s team nurtures each individual through a journey of acceptance and change, establishing a path for a thriving future.
If you would like more information about this topic, please call Seamus at 617-869-6552 or email seamus@ascendhc.com.
Legacy Outdoor Adventures for men and Juniper Canyon Recovery Center for Women have launched a brand new and updated family program. Due to restrictions on campus visitors and travel, regularly scheduled, in-person family workshops and programming are temporarily halted, however the new platform available online has made it possible for parents and other loved ones to continue to engage in the therapeutic process.
The platform allows for psychoeducation in the form of live webinars, group learning and processing between parents and families of current clients, and also for individual family therapy through video chatting.
The webinars and subsequent videos are all created and led by clinical directors Troy Faddis and Dr. Maddy Liebing. Recent topics have included: Parenting with a Heart at Peace, Leading a Sober Lifestyle, Choosing Appropriate Aftercare, and Changing Communication with Adult Children. After the live webinar, recordings are made available for families to access at their leisure.
While Legacy and Juniper Canyon remain confident in their ability to host in-person family workshops again as soon as is safely possible, the online program is here to stay. It allows for more flexibility and engagement from families as they support clients in their individual journeys.
About Legacy Outdoor Adventures and Juniper Canyon Recovery Center for Women
Legacy Outdoor Adventures is located in Loa, UT. Legacy Outdoor Adventures is an adventure therapy program for young men ages 18 and up. Legacy is licensed as both an Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare Program and a Residential Treatment Center. Together with the women’s program, Juniper Canyon Recovery Center for Women, Legacy is the premier wilderness recovery program for adults.
Tooele County, UT-Alpine Academy is pleased to announce its upcoming (June 15, 2020) grand opening of the state-of-the-art Lakeview campus. This will be Alpine Academy’s second campus, located three miles south of its current Mountain View campus nestled at the base of the scenic Oquirrh Mountains.
The new campus allows Alpine Academy to serve students of all gender identifications. The current Mountain View campus provides therapeutic and academic services to teenage biological females ages 12-18. The new, Lakeview campus provides these services to biological males in the same age range.
In a statement on the completion of the campus, Alpine Academy Director Christian Egan said, "We are thrilled to open the doors of a new campus to serve adolescent males with the same evidence-based, family-style treatment we are known for. A campus for boys has been requested, hoped for, discussed, and carefully planned for at least fifteen years and we are so pleased the time has come. We begin with Family Teachers and a therapist experienced in working with boys, who are positioned to seamlessly transition our first students into the Alpine lifestyle. With our established leadership team at the helm, we are ready to heal and elevate the lives of more youth and families from across the country."
The grand opening reflects Phase One of a three-phase plan. The first phase includes the opening of two family-style homes, academic and clinical building, indoor/outdoor equine riding areas, and a soccer field. Once fully completed, the Lake View campus will grow to also host a total of six family homes, a fitness and arts center, a career and technical education building, and an outdoor pavilion for social gatherings.
Alpine Academy was created in 2003 as a program of the Utah Youth Village, a nonprofit founded in 1969. The Academy is licensed as a residential treatment facility in the state of Utah and certified as a non-public school. The two therapeutic campuses provide services to teens facing challenging life circumstances from around the country. The dedicated and experienced staff utilizes the Teaching Family Model which emphasizes a family-style environment that provides a nurturing, individualized and strength-based treatment approach.
About Alpine Academy
Alpine Academy Therapeutic Schools, state-licensed as residential treatment, for adolescents, ages 12-18, includes two campuses - one for males and one for females. The 30+ acre, Utah campuses are just three miles apart and are only 30 minutes west of the Salt Lake City International Airport Both campuses serve students struggling with severe emotional disturbances. Alpine is a fully accredited school with dual-endorsed teachers. Therapy, with Master’s level clinicians, is built into the school day. Alpine is a nationally certified Teaching-Family Model treatment program. Students live in homes with married couples who provide a family-like setting and serve as professional house parents. Through a strength-based, trauma-informed, individualized approach, students are taught healthy behaviors in a setting that best replicates family, school, and community life.
Trails Momentum, a wilderness-based program for young adults, is excited to announce that Jordan Siegel, MSW, LCSW will be joining their clinical team as a Primary Therapist in late June.
Prior to joining Trails Momentum, Siegel was the Clinical Director of a therapeutic boarding school for girls. In that role, she helped develop a research-based clinical model focused on interpersonal growth and healthy relationships. She also maintained a caseload while providing leadership to the clinical team and the residential program.
Siegel specializes in trauma and attachment-focused therapeutic techniques. She has received certification in Theraplay™, an attachment-based play therapy backed by research and principles that can be helpful for individuals of all ages. Theraplay™’s core principles of emotional regulation, sensory integration, and relational attunement can support young adults as they develop healthy relationships and a better sense of self.
Siegel holds a Master’s in Social Work from the University of Pennsylvania and is a member of the National Association of Social Workers. She has presented at numerous conferences including NATSAP ( National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs), Wilderness Symposiums, and IVAT (Institute on Violence, Abuse, and Trauma).
Additionally, Siegel is trained in dyadic developmental psychotherapy (DDP), an attachment-focused therapy that supports the development of attachment-based relationships. DDP is known for its effectiveness working with individuals who have experienced adoption and other traumatic events.
“I’m excited to be able to take the skill sets of my attachment, relational, and trauma work and apply it to the young adult population,” says Siegel. “I’m looking forward to supporting young adults as they navigate the intricacies of learning how to be an adult while focusing on working through their struggles.”
A born and bred New Yorker, Siegel comes from an inherently creative background. In her free time, she loves to dance, cycle, and spend quality time with her family.
“I’ve respected and collaborated with the Trails team for years,” comments Siegel. “I’m excited to experience what Trails Momentum has to offer and the value of wilderness therapy.”
For more information about clinical programming at Trails Momentum, please visit https://trailsmomentum.com/ or call 828-457-8840.
Trails Momentum is a wilderness-alternative for young adults ages 18-25 struggling to launch themselves into adulthood. Young adults are guided on a journey of self-discovery where they develop self-concept and are empowered to make the transition into independence. Adventure programming, clinical services, family involvement, college coursework, and social and life skills development are seamlessly interwoven to maximize the transference of important life skills and address clinical and behavioral challenges.
Equinox RTC, a residential treatment center for boys 14-18, welcomes Natalie Weiner, LCMHC, as Primary Therapist. Weiner found her passion for counseling while working in wilderness and community-based therapy settings, both abroad in Scotland and in the North Carolina mountains. She received her Masters in Mental Health Counseling from UNC Greensboro and is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor, National Certified Counselor, and TF-CBT certified clinician.
Prior to joining Equinox, Weiner practiced outpatient therapy with a focus on at-risk teens, young adults, members of the LGBTQ+ community, survivors of trauma, as well as those who are new to the counseling process or jaded by their past therapeutic experiences.
Dan Keith, Clinical Director, noted: “In the interview process it was obvious the passion Natalie has for working with kids. Her experience connecting natural learning opportunities to strength-based interventions make her an ideal candidate for the work we do at Equinox. She recognizes the power of residential work to draw immediate and lasting connections between family, academic, and leisure skills, and in turn driving the change our boys must internalize to return home safe and ready to succeed.”
Weiner agreed; she is excited to return to the residential treatment world and hopes to help students identify and work towards discovering and creating a better understanding of what their values are. Weiner is passionate about helping students build a healthier, happier life for themselves.
“There’s more of the opportunity for organic sessions [in residential treatment] and I love being a part of those moments,” Weiner said. “I love being able to use different spaces around campus and going outdoors. Participating in recreation activities provides more opportunities for students to heal and grow.”
The Equinox clinical model uses a combination of adventure, family, group, and individual therapy to help each student grow. Therapists are trained across modalities, including Eye-Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Somatic Experiencing, Trauma-focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Neurosequential Therapeutics in order to best serve students by individualizing each treatment plan.
About Equinox RTC
Equinox RTC is a leading residential treatment center for boys ages 14-18. Equinox is unique in its focus on Trauma, Loss, and Attachment, providing clinically intensive treatment for boys 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-person approach including adventure therapy, integrated Crossfit 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.
Redlands, CA - Benchmark Transitions is pleased to launch a 12-week Summer Intensive Clinical Transitional Living program for young adults, 18-28 years of age. The Summer Intensive is designed to provide young adults, who are struggling with mental health and substance use disorders, with a concentrated clinically supportive environment during the summer. Open Enrollment for the Summer Intensive is available throughout June, July and August, 2020 and programming can extend into the Fall. Discounted Transitional Living rates are being offered as well, to help families recover from the COVID-19 business closures.
"After months of Stay-At-Home orders, families are recognizing that their young adults are struggling with mental health issues like anxiety and depression, poor coping mechanisms, emotional disregulation and concerning amounts of substance use," states Jayne Longnecker-Harper, M.Ed., Founder and CEO of Benchmark Transitions. Benchmark's Summer Intensive provides 20-30 hours per week of evidence-based clinical programs that are specific to treating young adults. Programming includes individual therapy, group therapy, family therapy and psychiatric services that are facilitated by a team of dedicated credentialed, pre-licensed and licensed mental health and substance use disorders practitioners.
Benchmark's on-site educational department features a Master's level credentialed teacher who can assess transcripts, support with credit recovery and supervise on-line classes for high school and college credit repair. Benchmark's Summer Intensive curriculum includes outdoor experiential activities, animal care occupational program, independent living life skills, meal-planning and 24/7 awake staff supervision and support.
"Many young adults have missed out on some of the typical turning points such as prom and graduation. They have had to finish their school year with on-line classes in their bedrooms with limited social access. There is uncertainty about Fall classes and job availability. Young people are anxious about the world and their future. Benchmark offers a safe, structured experience to address their mental health, behavioral issues and substance use and prepare them for the future with life skills and educational support," summarizes Ms. Longencker-Harper. The Summer Intensive will provide young adults with the skills necessary to be prepared for school, jobs and independent living, as well as start them on a path towards improved mental health.
About Benchmark Transitions
Benchmark Transitions is a comprehensive, multi-disciplinary approach to residential treatment and supportive transitional living for young adult men and women, ages 18-28. Benchmark provides an evidence-based and compassionate approach to treating mental health and substance use disorders, community based supportive transitional living, education and career development and independent living life skills. Benchmark is best known as the longest running young adult program with success treating complex mental health issues, including anxiety, bi-polar, depression, ADD/ADHD, attachment, disordered eating behaviors, mood disorders, thought disorders, mild autism spectrum disorders, executive functioning and learning differences. Benchmark's programs are licensed and certified by the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) and are fully accredited for all levels of care by The Joint Commission for Behavioral Healthcare.
For more information about the Summer Intensive, please contact Benchmark Transitions Admissions at 800-474-4848 x1 https://conta.cc/2XOuTvj
Redlands, CA - Cory Skaggs, 21 year-old grandson of Jayne Longnecker-Harper, M.Ed., Founder & CEO of Benchmark Transitions, has recently developed and launched the new Field Guide and Curriculum for Benchmark's Sober Outdoor Adventure Recreation (SOAR) hiking program. The Hiking Field Guild and Curriculum developed by Cory includes classroom and experiential activities and 12 rotational courses. It includes an Overview and Purpose, Education Standards, Objectives, Evaluation and Resources. The course demonstrates planning and preparation, safety and risk managment, map reading and other essential outdoor hiking basics. Clients and staff then practice their skills as they enjoy the beautiful hiking areas near Benchmark.
Skaggs, a 21 year-old Junior at Sierra Nevada University (SNU) in Incline Village, Lake Tahoe, is majoring in Interdisciplinary Studies in Outdoor Adventure Leadership (ODAL) and Ski Resort Management and is a member of the SNU Snowboard Team. Skaggs took a medical leave of absence last semester due to a knee injury during snowboarding. With his extra time, he submitted a proposal to the family business to add increased organization and guidance to the SOAR hiking program.
"During the Stay-At-Home orders for COVID-19, I was invited to teach a Topography Mapping class during SOAR," states Cory. "From there, it led into developing a full hiking field guide and curriculum that can be taught by Benchmark's teacher, Ben Madison, M.A.T., every Friday. Ben has tons of outdoor education experience and it was fun to coordinate and implement the Field Guide for the class," emphasizes Skaggs. Cory has led the ODAL Orientation at SNU, has been trained as a Certified Outdoor Educator through National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and has training as a White Water Rafting Guide. He holds his Wilderness First Responder (WFR) certification, Leave No Trace (LNT) certification and is also a certified Avalanche-I Rescue Responder.
The SOAR Curriculum is led by a Master's level credentialed educator, and co-facilitated by licensed and credentialed clinicians to enhance the therapeutic learning experiences within the programming. For more details about SOAR and other programs at Benchmark Transitions, please contact Admissions at 800-474-4848 x1. Benchmark Transitions SOAR Program
About Benchmark Transitions
Benchmark Transitions is a comprehensive, multi-disclipinary approach to residential treatment and supportive transitional living for young adult men and women, ages 18-28. Benchmark provides evidence-based and compassionate treatment for mental health and co-occurring substance use disorders, community based supportive transitional living, education and career development and independent living life skills. As the longest running young adult specific treatment and transitional living program, Benchmark is best known for treating a range of complex mental health issues including anxiety, ADD/ADHD, attachment and trauma, mood and thought disorders, mild autism spectrum disorders, executive functioning and substance use disorders.
Benchmark Transitions is licensed and certified by the State of California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) and is fully accredited for all levels of care with The Joint Commission for Behavioral Health. Benchmark accepts most PPO insurance plans and is In-Network with Aetna, Anthem Blue Cross (accepting most BCBS/Blue Card members), MHN/Tri-Care, Kaiser Permanente of Southern California, First Health and Quantum Health. Our in-house billing and claims department helps famililes access quality care at Benchmark Transitions for all levels of care.
Redlands, CA - Benchmark Transitions, the longest running treatment and clinical transitional living program specific to young adults, is pleased to welcome Nicholaus Bond, LMFT, as Clinical Director. Nicholaus is responsible for the oversight of clinical treatment and case management programming for all levels of care at Benchmark Transitions, including Residential Treatment at Benchmark Transitions at Wildwood Canyon and Benchmark Transitions at Panorama Ridge, as well as the clinical treatment at the Transitional Living Center (TLC) program and Independent Living Serivces (ILS) extended care program.
When it comes to helping young adults, Nicholaus believes in the mantra "The Family is Medicine." Nicholaus is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with extensive training and experience in the treatment of youth and young adults with mental illness and substance use disorders. He has a Master of Science in Marital and Family Therapy from Loma Linda University and a Bachelor of Science in psychology from Brigham Young University.
"Nick's training as a clinical therapist and supervisor, as well as his years of experience with young adults, makes him a perfect match for Benchmark Transitions," states Jayne Longnecker-Harper, M.Ed., Founder and CEO of Benchmark. "The combination of Nick's training in trauma-based treatment modalities, with an emphasis in both mental health and substance use disorders is such a key factor for us. In addition, he has specializes in Multi-Dimensional Family Therapy as both a practitioner and supervisor. Engaging the family system in the young adult process at Benchmark is a cornerstone of our work and Nicholaus will bring training, supervision and quality outcomes to the position," she emphasizes.
About Benchmark Transitions
Benchmark Transitions is a comprehensive, multi-disciplinary approach to residential treatment and clinical transitional living for young adult men and women, ages 18-28. Benchmark provides evidence-based and compassionate treatment for mental health and substance use disorders, community based supportive transitional living, education and career development and independent living life skills. Benchmark is best known as the longest running young adult specific program, treating complex mental health issues, including, but not limited to: anxiety, depression, mood and thought disorders, ADD/ADHD, attachment and trauma, disordered eating behaviors, mild autism spectrum disorders, executive functioning and learning differences. Benchmark accepts most PPO insurance plans and is In-Network with Aetna, Anthem Blue Cross (accepting most BCBS/Blue Card members), MHN/Tri-Care, Kaiser Permanente of Southern California, First Health and Quantum Health. Benchmark's in-house billing and utilization review department assists families to access quality health care.
EDGE Learning & Wellness and EDGE Advance are excited to announce the addition of a new learning support option, EDGE Virtual Campus. There is still a lot of uncertainty about what students can expect from college this fall. Many young adults may feel even more unprepared and anxious about their ability to succeed academically in college, due to an attenuated final high school semester or spring college term. The default virtual learning/academic experience that was initiated last spring very likely lacked the rigor and demands of future virtual learning experiences that learning institutions have had time to prepare. In addition, feelings of isolation and disconnection are common.
To help successfully meet the challenges that are posed, the EDGE team has been busy providing flexible learning options and experiences that lend themselves to providing ongoing support to all of our students, both on site and remotely. It is clear that whatever direction our country’s academic institutions take, access to ongoing virtual support will be a critical aspect of any successful educational experience.
With a long-standing commitment to supporting students striving for academic and social success, as well as celebrating the diversity of students that have historically gravitated toward a more metropolitan experience, the EDGE family of support programs is prepared to meet student needs on multiple levels. These services will include therapeutic life coaching from professionals holding advanced degrees in a counseling-related field, learning support and coaching, executive functioning skills development and support, career engagement, health and wellness services as well as unique community-building experiences and opportunities – typically only available in residential settings. For more information about EDGE Virtual Campus or any of the EDGE support programs, please contact the Admissions Director, John Conway at jconway@edgevirtualcampus.com
EDGE is an accredited transitional living program located in Chicago, IL. EDGE offers therapeutically supported residential, non-residential & Virtual options for post-treatment young adults. The participants, ages 18+, are striving to excel academically, while creating a life of balance, joy and wellness.
Is your teenager or young adult looking for an alternative to college? Jamie Blume, founder and CEO of Along Their Way, LLC is a mentor and life coach for teens, young adults, and their families. She was a parent of a struggling teen. She sees clients in person in Denver, Colorado and the surrounding areas as well as video chats nationwide. She holds advanced degrees in nutrition, holistic wellness coaching and public health. As Jamie explains, “I believe that every child is creative, resourceful, and capable of making choices that will lead to a gratifying life; some simply need more help figuring it out along their way.”
Come hear Jamie Blume from Along Their Way, LLC on Thursday, June 25, 2020 from 12 pm -1 pm at the Virtual ALT Fair. Every child takes a unique life path. For some, going straight to college after high school is ideal. For others, they may want a gap year, or two or three. Or, they may want to take a different road altogether. Along their way, regardless of their chosen route, teenagers and young adults may need additional support. Jamie will share her wisdom and guidance as you and your teenager navigate this exciting time in your child’s life. To register to go to alongtheirway.com or sign up through this link.
Along Their Way support teenagers, young adults and their families by focusing on the whole being–mind, body, spirit, and heart. Our goal is to provide guidance and insight as your teenager maneuvers around the rocks, goes through rough waters, and finds areas of flow. Based in Denver, Colorado, we offer guidance through mentoring, life coaching, and group retreats nationwide.
In the face of the pandemic, students around the country have had to adjust to new ways of learning. At Solstice West, a residential treatment center for students ages 14-18, students have been able to excel despite changes in campus life and learning.
Health, both physical and mental, has been brought to the forefront of thinking at Solstice West. Confronted with the pandemic’s changes, Solstice West students were given the chance to use more of the skills they learned in therapy in the classroom. “Students watch the news every day in class, so they are very much aware of current events and what’s going on in the world,” said Jamie Murphy, Academic Director. “The students learn critical thinking skills by talking through what they see, as well as being able to use the regulation skills they have learned in therapy if something, especially like Covid-19, is making them feel a certain way.”
Solstice West places a major emphasis on integrating their academic programming with students’ treatment plans. With an integrated team of cross-departmental staff including teachers, therapists, and residential mentors, students are supported in all aspects of their treatment. When the pandemic caused schedules to change, the team knew the students would need all-around support.
“We try to teach students flexibility, and also help them be aware of what strategies work well for them,” Murphy said. “For example, there may be some students that need some front loading, who'll be told in advance when a schedule is going to change. Knowing how they react in those circumstances and how to cope with the stress of unexpected changes will be important for them moving forward.”
For graduation, students donned their cap and gowns while their families participated via Zoom. Solstice West is proud of its graduates who excelled in spite of adversity.
About Solstice West RTC
Solstice West RTC is a residential treatment center for teen girls that has helped hundreds of struggling teens on their journey to solving issues like trauma, depression, anxiety, and mood disorders. Solstice RTC, located in Layton, Utah, offers a specialized, clinically intensive program based on the specific needs of young women. At Solstice RTC, young women discover their full potential. For additional information on Solstice RTC, please visit https://solsticertc.com or call 801-444-0794.
Pure Life Adventure in Costa Rica is planning to reopen the young adult adventure therapy program on August 31, 2020. Costa Rica is beginning its return to business as usual and is reopening its border to foreign travelers. The 10-12 week adventure therapy program for young adults who struggle with anxiety, lack of motivation, and depression will operate with strict enrollment guidelines to keep clients and the Costa Rican community safe from COVID-19.
Pure Life Adventure is a leader in assisting young adults to achieve intrinsic levels of change by incorporating the best practices of individual and group therapy. Pure Life students also work on improving social skills, leadership skills, life planning skills, and vocational development. Through cultural immersion, community service, and adventure-based activities, students develop the skills and experiences necessary to get them through the difficult transition to adulthood so they can thrive and flourish independently.
On March 23rd, when Costa Rica closed their borders, Pure Life transferred enrolled students and staff to a Utah base to continue their adventure therapy program. Costa Rica has been applauded globally for their swift response to the pandemic, and the government has developed a plan to reopen the country as their active COVID cases rapidly decrease. They have a detailed plan to reopen the country to foreign travelers on June 30th, 2020. Beaches and national parks are scheduled to reopen as the country continues to loosen restrictions.
The team at Pure Life has been carefully following the Costa Rican plan and is excited to relaunch. Based on the current information, applications for Pure Life are being accepted now for young adults ages 18-30. Students can begin enrolling on August 31st, 2020. In order to follow careful “social distancing” guidelines, Pure Life will offer two admissions dates: August 31 and September 14. Space is limited. Applicants will be accepted, as appropriate, in order of date of completion of the application.
COVID-19 creates a level of uncertainty for the world and the Pure Life Adventure team is mindful of it. “We continue to make safety our number one priority in this reopening process,” said Andrew Taylor, MBA, Executive Director.
For more information, please contact Carrie Weatherhead, LCSW Director of Admissions and Marketing at: 617-605-5827 cweatherhead@purelifeadventure.com
Relying on decades of experience in the Costa Rican outdoor industry, Pure Life's multicultural and multilingual 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 provides intermediate level treatment, utilizing traditional individual and group therapy in combination with outdoor experiential learning and adventure. Pure Life's integrated and dynamic approach includes an emphasis on fitness, mindfulness, life skills, and cultural immersion.
New Vision Wilderness Deschutes announces Milestone – a 28-day mindful wilderness adventure-based therapeutic growth program. Somewhere between Wilderness Therapy and Adventure Education is a place. A place for adolescents and Emerging Adults to disconnect from the stresses of daily life and reconnect with themselves, others, and the natural world. At Milestone, the focus is the intentional use of nature and adventure experiences in a trauma-informed and caring environment.
Milestone utilizes licensed clinical professionals to interact with the group providing guidance and framework. Group sessions go beyond what most adventure programs can provide. In addition to their therapeutic aspects, Milestone also provides other assessment tools and utilizes mindfully, thought-provoking briefings, reflection experiences, and coaching to help guide the individual on their life path.
Milestone works to:
- Decrease stress levels
- Enhance coping and relationship skills,
- Create a better understanding of self,
- Increase empathy for others,
- Identify the value of the natural world,
- Support healthy risk-taking behaviors and mindful well-being.
The clinical offerings are both daily and weekly group sessions, with family intensives and parent coaching options available.
Activities can include backpacking, fishing, climbing, camping, surfing, canyoneering, and much more. Adolescent programming will begin taking students on June 15th, 2020. The Emerging Adult program will start accepting students on July 1st, 2020.
About New Vision Wilderness
New Vision Wilderness Deschutes is an innovative wilderness therapy programs for clients who require immediate intervention and intensive mental health treatment. Our programs specialize in treating struggles associated with adoption, developmental trauma, anxiety, depression, and addiction. We serve teens, emerging adults, and their parents in the Cascade mountain range of Central Oregon. New Vision comes from a trauma-informed lens and a relationship-based model permeating our culture of leaders, clinicians, and employees. The wilderness is our catalyst for change and healing.
Moorpark, California: Spett Therapeutic Consulting today announced a return to full operation out of its Ventura County office for connecting parents to the right treatment options for their struggling child. This milestone is a major move for Spett Therapeutic Consulting on its mission to help parents access the support and tools they need to address their child’s mental health.
“During these unprecedented times brought on by the coronavirus and the subsequent shelter in place orders, we have been very concerned about the disruption or discontinuation of treatment services available to young people across the country,” says Lexy Spett, LMFT, Owner & Lead Consultant at Spett Therapeutic Consulting. “In reflecting back on 17 years of consulting experience, we feel strongly that our role in assisting families is more important now than ever. Families can not afford, both emotionally & financially, to just hope for the best. By working with a therapeutic placement specialist such as Spett Therapeutic Consulting, parents will be better educated and prepared to utilize residential programs more effectively.
This news comes in the wake of many recent initiatives and accomplishments of the company, including:
- Partaking in 50+ hours of virtual tours of residential programs across the country.
- Participation in virtual trainings on topics such as Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) vs. Radically-Open Dialectical Behavior Therapy (RO-DBT), Therapeutic Issues facing LGBTQ Teens, Trauma Treatment in the age of Covid-19 and Vaping, Covid-19 & the Teen Brain
- Lexy Spett, LMFT is an active Board Member of The Therapeutic Consulting Association and The Mental Health Professionals of Conejo Valley.
“Spett Therapeutic Consulting used the time in quarantine wisely to enhance learning and strengthen collaborations with treatment program partners and other Consulting professionals. We are emerging a more robust organization ready to serve families and young people who can benefit from residential treatment.”
About Spett Therapeutic Consulting:
Our priority is to connect parents to the right treatment options for their struggling child. We believe that parents and families have the power to affect change in a young person’s life. Our goal is to equip families with everything they need to grow toward health & harmony.
To learn more about the range of services Spett Therapeutic Consulting provides.
On May 31st, Shortridge Academy proudly welcomed its first group of students back to campus. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Shortridge students had been working from home since mid-March, engaged academically, therapeutically, and socially in what the school calls “Shortridge Online,” a virtual Positive Youth Development program. While most of the student body has or will be returning soon, several have chosen to remain enrolled in Shortridge Online. As a result, the school plans to continue this remote platform indefinitely and incorporate it into its standard offerings.
Going forward, and in order to adhere to state and federal guidance relative to the pandemic, Shortridge students will be arriving on campus in waves of up to 12 students every 14 days. According to the school’s admissions department, there will be space for new students to enroll in each wave. A girls wave is set for June 14 followed by another boys wave June 28.
“I cannot overstate how excited we are to have our students back on campus,” said Adam Rainer, Shortridge Academy Founder and CEO. “Students arriving on campus over the upcoming months will have a special opportunity to be a part of a historic, unique, and collaborative effort. Partnering with students is one of the hallmarks of the Shortridge Academy mission and we are ready to get back to it,” Rainer continued.
Now in its 18th year, Shortridge is considered the most normalized and progressive therapeutic boarding school in the country, whose strengths-based and authoritative approach supports well those students struggling with anxiety, depression, family dysfunction and learning challenges. If you would like more information about Shortridge Academy, please contact Admissions Director, Katie Rainer at admissions@shortridgeacademy.com, call (866) 828-9243, or visit our new website at ShortridgeAcademy.com.
Shortridge Academy is a private co-ed Therapeutic Boarding School, founded in 2002, emphasizing challenging yet supportive college prep academics within a therapeutic community. Located in southeastern New Hampshire with close proximity to both the seacoast and the mountains, Shortridge’s setting and Positive Youth Development model provides students with an ideal environment to further develop their sense of self and strengthen family relationships in an intellectually stimulating learning environment reflective of a traditional boarding school.
Corner Canyon Recovery now offers the Stellate Ganglion Block to clients with PTSD symptoms: a recent Veterans Administration study demonstrates efficacy of a long-acting anesthetic injected into the stellate ganglion nerve plexus in the neck. Veterans with PTSD had a statistically significant reduction in trauma symptoms. The VA uses this shot to help manage upper body pain in veterans and observed an improvement in PTSD symptoms without other interventions.
Treatment for PTSD using SGB Shots
SGB focuses on the part of a client's nervous system, the stellate ganglion, that regulates the physiological reaction (known as "Fight or Flight") people can experience in response to trauma. Short and long term effects like flashbacks, anxiety, depression, insomnia, and inability to function normally can respond quickly to this intervention. “By pairing Stellate Ganglion Block (SGB) shots with our clinical interventions and safe emotional environment, we hope to rapidly improve PTSD symptoms so that clients can access our treatment more quickly and effectively and increase the benefits they are receiving, in addition to having more time to build skills to prevent a return to their old dysfunctional coping skills”, says Cheryl Kehl, CEO at Corner Canyon Recovery.
Features and benefits of SGB include:
- Significant reduction in trauma symptoms
- Alleviation of hyperarousal, exaggerated startle responses, and anxiety
- Reduction in long term effects like flashbacks, anxiety, depression, insomnia
SGB shots will be available starting March 9, 2020. For more information see the VA study summary and review the SGB Fact Sheet. Conclusions and Relevance: In this trial of active-duty service members with PTSD symptoms (at a clinical threshold and sub-threshold), 2 SGB treatments 2 weeks apart were effective in reducing CAPS-5 total symptom severity scores over 8 weeks;
CCR pre- and post- data show that Trauma Symptoms are reduced by 51% during an average stay, currently 67 days, through a
combination of effective treatment modalities including EMDR, Brainspotting, Neuro Enhancement Brain Technology, DBT, CBT, Psychodynamic, Art, Equine, Exposure, and Family Therapy. These take place in a supportive, caring, comfortable environment which increases the benefits of these treatments. We anticipate that adding SGB shots will drop that percentage of recovery from trauma symptoms even more.
About Corner Canyon Recovery
Corner Canyon Recovery is an inpatient mental health and addiction recovery center, providing evidence-based and compassion driven treatment for mixed-gender adult clients in a comfortable, healthy environment with caring personnel. Corner Canyon Recovery is innovative and provides our adult clients with the most effective treatment options available for their individual concerns. Our inpatient program strives to improve and change lives in ways that other treatment programs can’t.
The Dorm is thrilled to announce the launch of its new Therapeutic Gap Year service, an offering that provides students the chance to focus on emotional wellbeing, academic skills and personal development before or during their college experience.
The Therapeutic Gap Year will be available virtually with select in-person opportunities at The Dorm in Washington, D.C. Rolling admissions will provide students maximum flexibility so that they can take part for as long as they need, be that for a summer, a semester or a full year.
“We know that many students are looking for options and alternative paths right now”, explains Sarah Harte, LICSW, Director of The Dorm, Washington, D.C. “As a result of the coronavirus pandemic, we are all in uncharted territory. For many students, what is on offer for them next semester may not be the best fit. As they consider their options, a therapeutic gap year is a unique opportunity for them to grow, learn and develop in ways that will benefit them now and into the future”.
The Dorm’s Therapeutic Gap Year was designed to help students looking to develop in five key areas:
- Emotional Literacy
- Independent Functioning and Skill-building
- Mental Health, Eating and Substance Use Recovery
- Academic & Vocational Exploration, Preparation and Skill-building
- Navigating and Balancing Social Relationships
“A large number of students start university ill-equipped for the stressors and challenges of a college environment”, shares Sarah. “Research has indicated that as many as 60% of students report wishing they were more emotionally prepared before launching their academic career. Another study has shown that a third of undergraduate students live with a mental health concern which can impact their ability to cope with life on campus. The Dorm’s Therapeutic Gap Year is for students seeking to develop their personal toolbox for life in school and beyond.
A Comprehensive Curriculum Led By An Expert Team
Developed with students specific needs in mind, the Therapeutic gap year will offer:
- Daytime, evening and weekend activities that will range from 3-30 hours per week based on what the student needs (a sample schedule is available to view here)
- Mental health treatment tailored to individual needs and overseen by licensed clinicians
- Academic and vocational development opportunities including skill-building workshops, volunteering, service experiences and internships and time spent at The Dorm U, a simulated college class experience
- A safe and supportive experience of community and social connectedness
- Independent living opportunities for students looking to experience living in their own apartments while accessing onsite supports
About The Dorm
Since 2009, our mission has been to guide young adults towards independence through evidence-based clinical therapies, community support and practical skill-building. As a full-service treatment community with locations in New York City, NY and Washington, D.C., we offer a unique approach to caring for young adults that is both therapeutic and holistic. This includes comprehensive day and evening services with individual and group therapy, wrap-around academic support, independent living opportunities and individualized life skills training. Our holistic health and wellness services include weekly mindfulness, meditation, yoga, nutrition and fitness training. The Dorm’s expert therapists and practitioners support the community with tailor-made treatment plans that meet them where they are today - virtually, at home, at school, or out in the community.
Beginning in July, Blue Ridge Therapeutic Wilderness (BRTW) will reopen its Transition Program for adolescent students and their families. Blue Ridge is a nomadic wilderness therapy program nestled in the mountains of Georgia and North Carolina. With an integrated approach, Blue Ridge students receive assessment and wilderness-based therapeutic interventions to learn the skills necessary to understand themselves, their families, and how to connect in meaningful ways. As each student’s stay draws to a close, the Transition Program provides the time and space for these adolescents to reunite with their family in the container of wilderness therapy before they complete their wilderness journey through a symbolic right-of-passage.
Transition offers families a rare opportunity that is central to BRTW’s whole family therapeutic approach. Parents are invited to visit and stay overnight in the woods, witness their child’s emotional and physical skills, and enjoy the simplicity of wilderness living under the guidance of experienced field staff. Meanwhile, each student is provided space to reflect upon their stay in the wilderness and explore their hopes and goals for the future. Families revere this time as a moment to reconnect mindfully and intentionally before they exit Blue Ridge and begin the rest of their journey.
In March, Blue Ridge’s Transition Program underwent a hiatus as Covid-19 became an increasing health concern. After thorough assessment and preparation, Transition Camp will be ready to resume beginning in July, while respecting Covid-19 precautions. At Transition Camp, students reunite with their families at a campsite separate from their previous groups. This unique characteristic of the program, in conjunction with other social distancing precautions, has led Blue Ridge to determine that the program is prepared to once again safely welcome adolescent students and their families.
If you would like to learn more about Blue Ridge’s Transition Program for adolescents and their families, please contact BRTW’s Admissions Department at 888-914-1050 or admissions@blueridgewilderness.com.
About Blue Ridge Therapeutic Wilderness
Blue Ridge Therapeutic Wilderness (BRTW) founded in 2002 as a licensed wilderness therapy program that offers clinically driven wilderness therapy programs encompassing advanced therapeutic skills, a highly flexible nomadic wilderness therapy model, licensed wilderness therapy assessment and multiple treatment options for struggling teens ages 13-18 as well as young adults ages 18-30 in their Emerald Arrow program. Their individualized approach, family support, and commitment to service translate to an unparalleled experience and better outcomes for adolescents and families.
BOULDER, COLO. [June 8, 2020] – Choice House, a residential program for men struggling with substance use and co-occurring mental health, recently announced that the center is now accepting insurance for its 90-day residential treatment program.
Integrating the ability to work with insurance carriers will help make the long-term treatment program available to more men who need it, significantly reducing treatment cost while delivering the comprehensive support needed to achieve lasting sobriety. By accepting insurance for its residential treatment option, Choice House intends to remove some of the cost barriers that so many families struggle with when evaluating drug and alcohol addiction programs.
“We are beyond excited that our world-class treatment will now be available to more men and their families,” said Jordan Hamilton, Executive Director and co-owner of Choice House. “We remain steadfast in our commitment to the long-term model we’ve seen guide so many to recovery.” Research has shown that 90-day or longer treatment programs tend to yield better outcomes for those who struggle with addiction.
Choice House treatment options include a 90-day residential treatment program, intensive outpatient program, and structured sober living for men with substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health disorders. Experienced addiction and trauma certified clinical staff create a healthy, healing environment to support each individual’s unique path to long-term sobriety.
About Choice House
Colorado-based Choice House is Boulder County’s premier provider of 90-day residential treatment, long-term structured sober living, and intensive outpatient services (IOP). The treatment center helps support those on their road to lasting recovery with a strong focus on the beautiful Colorado outdoors. Learn more at choicehousecolorado.com.
The global pandemic has forced many essential services to evolve in order to continue to serve their populations, and Evoke Therapy Programs is no exception. Fortunately, this has meant new and no-cost ways for families to stay involved with their peers and engaged in their children’s process, while travel is either forbidden or strictly limited.
Late in May, Evoke conducted its first online Parent Workshop through Zoom. Evoke has long held the belief that children can achieve better change and growth when their parents are included and learn skills that benefit their own personal growth process as well as their child’s. In prior Parent Workshops, parents traveled to Oregon or Utah to meet field staff, learn strategies, and meet some of their parent cohort. The workshops have been a very important part of every Evoke family’s journey, which the company wanted to continue offering during the COVID crisis.
That first Zoom workshop was free and hosted by Evoke therapist and assistant clinical director Lauren Roberts with 21 parents in attendance. “I was excited and blown away by how powerful the experience was. Parents were open, honest, and engaged. It was an informative and life-giving day,” says Roberts. “We will continue to offer these workshops on a monthly basis throughout this time and hopefully, continue to offer an online option for Parent Workshops even after COVID-19.”
Like the Workshops, the online Parent Support Groups for current and alumni parents have been another offering that worked so well, the company plans on making them a regular part of its complimentary offerings. Evoke hosted previous support groups in cities across the U.S., like Los Angeles, New York, and Chicago, and parents who lived within driving distance would often make the trip. While they were well-subscribed, not everyone who wanted to could attend because of the journey and time required. COVID provided the perfect opportunity for Evoke to see how online support groups might work.
The online support groups have been very well-received and surprisingly intimate, as well. Up to 12 parents per group from all over the country join to share stories and support. Moderated by either Dr. Brad Reedy, Evoke’s Executive Clinical Director, or one of Evoke’s therapists, they last an hour and have been in such demand that Evoke will now be offering several free Online Support Groups per month.
About Evoke Therapy Programs
Evoke Therapy Programs provides both outdoor-based therapeutic programs for adolescents, young adults and families and Intensive therapy programs for individuals, families, and couples. Evoke is accredited by the AEE/OBH and is a NATSAP Research Designated Program. Evoke’s outdoor programs are based in Bend, Oregon and in Saint George, Utah. Evoke’s Intensive Therapy programs are in northern Utah.
Logan, Utah – June 8, 2020 – Logan River Academy, a residential treatment facility based in Logan, Utah, recently celebrated the high school graduation of its largest graduating class in program history. A small ceremony was held at the school in order to honor these twelve individuals. “We are very proud of our graduates,” says Larry Carter, LRA’s Executive Director, “For many of these students, graduating high school wasn’t even on their radar when they first got here. Now they are better prepared to meet whatever future challenges they might encounter. This is a great accomplishment. We are also excited that several of our graduates will be moving into our Logan River Transitions young adult program. We can’t wait to see the difference these students make on the world.”
Due to health and safety concerns, the families of these twelve graduates were unable to attend the ceremony. However, accommodations were made to host these families via video conferencing technology so they could join in the celebration. The ceremony featured several speakers including teachers, therapists, and students.
Logan River Academy prides itself on being a fully accredited high school which means that each graduate will receive a full high school diploma. Their small class sizes and flexible curriculum delivery options allow each student to receive the individual attention they need to be successful and reach this milestone in their life. “We strive to give our students, not only the best clinical treatment but the best education we can provide,” says Larry Carter, “Our expectation is that they leave LRA having gained the necessary skills to be successful in life.”
About Logan River Academy
Established in 2000, Logan River Academy, located in Logan, UT, has 20 years of experience providing effective therapeutic care for adolescents and young adults. Our goal is to help each student develop the necessary skills to live successful and fulfilling lives. We provide a clinically sophisticated approach tailored to each students’ individual needs. Through the concerted efforts of the family, the treatment team, and an individualized treatment plan, we help our students down the path of developing lifelong healthy habits that will lead to their success and prosperity. For more information call (435) 755-8400 or visit our website at Loganriver.com.
Last year, Elevations RTC, a residential treatment center for teens ages 13-18, began offering a specialty group called “base camp” to help new students acclimate to the treatment program and build connections with other students.
Primary Therapist Tiffany Orozco has been leading this specialty group, which has evolved into an extremely impactful element of programming at Elevations RTC. “This group provides students a chance to really jump into programming and helps them feel like they have a place to land at Elevations RTC,” comments Orozco. “Programming at base camp is focused on three areas: ‘get to know you’ activities, an orientation into programming, and an introduction of helpful therapeutic topics.”
The first area involves ‘get to know you’ activities where students can start building relationships with one another. “The icebreaker activities students engage in during base camp help students form friendships with individuals from all across campus, not just with those who will be on their team,” says Orozco. “They get a sense of unity and that they are not alone in their new adventure.”
The next area of focus is an orientation to the program. “In the orientation section, we’re explaining things like our level system and off-campus recreation activities,” says Orozco. “This provides them with an opportunity to ask questions and become informed about the program.”
The third area of focus is on therapeutic topics that are applied in the first weeks of treatment. “Some of these concepts are taken from the Seven Habits of Highly Effective Teens, by Stephen Covey,” says Orozco. “Examples of topics I go over in this section include being proactive vs reactive as well as what’s within our control versus outside of our control. Students have been really receptive to learning about these topics and applying them to the work we do in therapy.”
“Overall, base camp provides a really great landing point for our students,” says Orozco. “They start to build relationships, feel connected, and have a much better sense of what they will be doing here at the program and what we do therapeutically.”
Base camp programming will be the next topic of the Clinical Corner video series hosted by therapists at Elevations RTC. To watch the first video in this series please click here to watch the video.
About Elevations RTC
Elevations RTC is a unique residential treatment center that works with all students ages 13 - 18. Elevations offers guidance, support and relief to students struggling with issues like trauma, depression, anxiety, mood disorders, behavioral problems, and substance use. Elevations RTC is located in Utah and provides specialized, clinically intensive programs to struggling teens. For more information, please call 1-866-952-7930.
Orem, UT: STRiV, a transitional living and social/emotional/academic support program for young adults, recently expanded their clinical services to include neurofeedback. In addition to their one-on-one mentoring, executive skills coaching, and in-house therapeutic support, STRiV is now incorporating advanced neurofeedback technology to create personalized brain training protocols. For many, this intervention can help the brain better regulate, often alleviating unwanted symptoms and behaviors.
Neuro-pathway training (neurofeedback) is a series of non-invasive, medication-free, neurofeedback sessions created from the Quantitative Electroencephalogram (qEEG), or “brain map.” Brainwave activity is measured by sensors on the scalp while the client watches a video and receives real-time feedback in the form of visual and audio rewards. The goal of all neurofeedback is to help the brain improve regulation by producing healthier patterns.
STRiV’s Executive Director Dr. Clark Hammond shared, “Many of our students have struggled with attention and focus problems, anxiety, or other emotional challenges. We want to provide a variety of entry points that can build upon traditional individual and group talk therapy. After reviewing the research on neurofeedback, we believe this can be a powerful addition for some of our clients.”
Research has shown neurofeedback to be effective for individuals struggling with anxiety, depression, ADHD, memory issues, and more.
About STRiV
STRiV (Strive Forward, LLC) is a transitional living and college support program for young adults who have struggled on their journey toward independence. STRiV provides social/emotional/academic support and life-skills development through one-on-one mentoring, Executive Skills coaching, and individual & group therapy within a semi-independent living environment. Located at the base of the Wasatch Mountains in Utah County, STRiV provides supported access to Utah Valley University, myriad vocational programs, unmatched outdoor recreation, and a wide variety of community-based entertainment.
Turn-About Ranch continues to ensure a safe environment for students and staff despite COVID-19 and social unrest. As much of the country begins to lift restrictions, Turn-About Ranch remains committed to preventing COVID-19 from infecting its program and community. New admissions have continued throughout the COVID-19 crisis with increased attention to risk and safety protocols. Students and staff have been diligently following CDC and Utah’s Department of Health recommendations.
Turn-About Ranch has stayed ahead of mandated safety measures throughout the pandemic; requiring quarantining before admission as well as providing additional quarantine measures upon arrival, limiting travel and exposure of employees, establishing contingency plans in case of infection, and continued training. “Our primary concern is for the welfare and safety of our students and staff,” explained Executive Director Michelle Lindsay, at a recent staff training. “If we all do our part, we can protect our students and community from this terrible illness.” Staff and students continue to wear masks, social distance, and take precautions when necessary.
When asked about how the coronavirus has impacted her treatment at Turn-About Ranch, one student said, “It’s a little annoying sometimes, but I think we have it pretty good here! Even the kids who live in Escalante (the local town) have been stuck at home while we’ve been able to go to our school and work on the ranch and do things we enjoy! I’m glad I’m here instead of having to be in the middle of the virus and all the riots and stuff my family has had to deal with back home.” Similar remarks were given from other students, indicating a willingness to follow new protocols and a sense of safety needed to heal and make needed changes to their lives. “I know I am where I need to be and am glad to be safe from all that is going on in the world,” said another student.
As restrictions ease and the nation begins to resume the “new normal,” Turn-About Ranch leadership will continue to be diligent while offering as many opportunities for real change and growth for their students. “We have a ‘million-acre school.’” said Lindsay. “Surrounded by National Forests and Monuments and Wilderness, we have plenty of room to work with our students and not put them at risk for COVID or any other threats found in the rest of the country. We are blessed to be able to offer meaningful treatment for troubled teens in a safe environment.”
About Turn-About Ranch
Turn-About Ranch is a wilderness therapy and residential treatment program located in the heart of Southern Utah’s canyon country. Students experience life on a real working ranch while undergoing treatment to improve their life back home. Surrounded by multiple national parks and the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Turn-About Ranch is the ideal location for youth of today to have the space they need to find healing and purpose.
Green Hill Recovery, the Raleigh, North Carolina-based transitional living program, is pleased to announce the launch of its Passion Projects initiative.
A platform where young men in recovery are encouraged to go after what drives them, the Passion Project initiative was inspired by Program Facilitator Caleb Barnhart’s personal journey. “Photography was the first thing in sobriety that made me excited to be alive again,” says Barnart. “It became such a powerful tool against addiction, trauma, and mental illness that I wanted to share that feeling with others like myself.”
Individualized to the participant, phase one of a resident’s Passion Project is finding out what excites them. Through the observation of Green Hill’s staff and participation in house activities, Green Hill’s programming team works to determine what the resident excels at. After identification and encouragement, residents plan with staff how they’d like to scale up their project, whether it be receiving instruction from industry professionals or organizing photo shoots in our transitional living home.
Passion Projects encapsulate the Green Hill experience. Green Hill program’s phases are called Discover - Empower - Connect. These projects allow clients to truly individualize their experience within these milestones. They can discover something that brings them deep fulfillment in a life without drugs, become empowered to pursue this dream, and connect to the broader community. Many lose their ‘thing’ when they stop using substances; the fact that Green Hill’s Passion Projects help residents find a new ‘thing’ is extremely powerful, and a foundational piece of a life in recovery.
Jake Summers, Development Director and Partner at Green Hill had high praise for the Passions Projects initiative: “One of the things we do best at Green Hill is to tailor our treatment to the individual. Over the years, we have seen Caleb use Passion Projects to connect our clients to a passion. We are pleased to say that the impact on client’s recovery has been overwhelmingly positive.”
Not only inspiring to watch, the Passion Projects initiative underscores one of Green Hill’s guiding principles; more than just a life without substances, a life free of drugs and alcohol can be dynamic, fulfilling, and fun.
About Green Hill Recovery
Green Hill Recovery is a clinically driven transitional living program for emerging adults in early recovery located in Raleigh, NC. Founded in 2017, Green Hill serves young men in early recovery from across the nation. Our curriculum focuses on academic, career, and life skills specifically designed to help prepare emerging adults for wellness beyond treatment. Our program helps residents discover their core values, empowers them to take ownership of their own recovery, and connects them with their sense of purpose and the broader community.
While some wilderness therapy programs and long-term residential treatment programs have grappled with layoffs and closures due to COVID-19, Solutions Parenting Support is expanding its team of parent coaches due to higher demands for parent coaching during the crises of 2020.
“The struggles of young people have only increased during these difficult months, from canceled milestone experiences to uncertainty regarding what their immediate future looks like, to various stressors stemming from the health crisis, families are in need of support more than ever,” says Hilary Moses, co-founder of Solutions Parenting Support.
In May, Andrea Sussel, LCSW and Hanna Young, LCSW joined the Solutions Parenting Support team.
“We have always taken a very careful approach to expansion here at Solutions Parenting Support. What makes our parent coaching program different from others is that our coaches have extensive clinical backgrounds and have worked directly with adolescents in the wilderness and residential treatment fields for decades. Hanna and Andrea are a perfect fit for our company, in this regard,” explained Jen Murphy, co-founder of Solutions Parenting Support.
Both Hanna and Andrea have worked directly and therapeutically with young people in crisis and have helped countless parents make the changes necessary to sustain longterm wellbeing in their families.
Andrea draws upon her training as a Gestalt therapist and uses core principles from Marshall Rosenberg’s Nonviolent communication to create healthy family foundations. “Families in crisis often have lost the ability to communicate well with each other and when fear, anger and insecurity come up, effective communication goes out the window. In our family coaching work, parents feel supported, yet rise to the challenge of doing the difficult work that will sustain long-term wellbeing in the family system,” says Andrea.
Hanna believes that the real test of what a child learns in treatment is what happens when that child returns home. Parenting is critical to the child’s success and there needs to be a bridge between the inpatient environment and the reality of returning to day-to-day life. She doesn’t believe in a “one size fits all” approach to parent coaching and instead recognizes the incredible potential in every child, along with the distinctive needs within each family she works with.
Hanna also recognized the success of the families who were working with Solutions Parenting Support long before she came on board as one of the team’s parent coaches.“Hilary and Jen have created an amazing resource for parents and families. I’m really excited to be a part of the Solutions Parenting Support team, “ says Hanna.
About Solutions Parenting Support
Solutions Parenting Support, LLC is a nationally recognized parent support and transitional program assisting families during and after wilderness therapy treatment and/or residential treatment programming. With business offices in Steamboat Springs, CO, and Tucson, AZ the team is supporting parents and families in the United States and around the globe. The team of parent coaches and transitional specialists are family system focused, licensed professional therapists and/or licensed social workers with a combined 40+ years of experience working in wilderness therapy programs, varying levels of residential treatment programming, and transitional support.
Many students who graduate from Cascade Crest Transitions (CCT) benefit from continued support throughout their journeys of wellness and recovery. Summit Phase, the third and final phase of programming at CCT, offers a variety of options for support after graduation. Like summiting a mountaintop, this phase represents both the peak of an adventure and the beginning of a new journey ahead. Whether climbing a mountain or navigating life after treatment, having guidance along the way makes the process feel possible.
Students receive individualized support throughout their experience at CCT. This personalized approach extends past graduation too. While in Summit Phase, graduates are paired with a Case Manager, who offers weekly check-ins regarding their successes and setbacks on their journeys beyond CCT. Additionally, graduates can choose to continue meeting with their therapist, working with their academic advisor, or receiving drug-tests for continued recovery support.
Connection to community is a fundamental aspect of life at CCT, including after a student leaves the program. Though not every exiting student chooses or is eligible to participate in Summit Phase support, there are resources available to all alumni of CCT. Keri Fowler, Summit Phase Case Manager, and Dr. Sean Roberts, Clinical Director, run a monthly alumni group that is available to all former students. Keri also coordinates monthly recreation activities, which are open to all alumni. Past trips have included white-water rafting, NBA basketball games, movie nights, and group bowling.
“It is so rewarding to see alumni use real-world application of tools they have learned in CCT. Watching my clients take on life with confidence as alumni is very rewarding.” - Keri Fowler, Summit Phase Case Manager.
About Cascade Crest Transitions
Founded in 2011, Cascade Crest Transitions has been an industry leader in aftercare and transitional programming for young adults. We work with young adults between the ages of 18-23 in a co-ed setting. CCT offers continued therapeutic and academic support alongside real-life experiences, in a sober and safe setting. Cascade Crest is located in beautiful Bend, Oregon.
The Therapeutic Consulting Association (TCA) - a professional association for therapeutic consultants and other Referring Professionals - announces the milestone membership count of over 50 active members.
“Our members are all respected leaders in the therapeutic referring professional community, representing diverse regions of the United States and a variety of therapeutic experiences. The creativity of initiatives and projects that the membership is undertaking has improved dramatically as more voices are represented within the organization,” says Lexy Spett, LMFT, Board Member and Head of the Membership Committee. “As a 5-year old, member-driven organization, to reach 50 active members represents dedication to outreach, strong word of mouth and quality deliverables developed by the Board.”
During the Covid-19 pandemic, the organization responded to members’ needs by providing unique services. With travel at a standstill, the TCA hosted, to date, 50+ unique virtual tours that allowed members to remain current with therapeutic program partners. Additionally, the TCA provided twice weekly virtual meetings for members to exchange information, case consult and offer mutual support. Both these services have been well received and will continue to be offered to the membership.
Board President Jennifer Taylor stated “The TCA looks forward to the future with more members joining which ultimately strengthens the voice of the organization within the larger treatment industry. We are excited about our growth and encourage anyone interested in joining to contact any of the Board Members."
About The Therapeutic Consulting Association:
The Therapeutic Consulting Association (TCA) is a professional association for therapeutic consultants and other Referring Professionals, dedicated to advancing the field of Therapeutic Consulting through collaboration, training and education, outcome-based research, support of ethical standards and an ongoing review of best practices of behavioral health.
In the wake of recent tragedies of racial trauma throughout the nation, on June 4, 2020, outBACK Therapeutic Expeditions announced plans of their commitment to a path of conscious awareness and action steps to enhance diversity and inclusion efforts. To read the full statement, go to Change Begins With Us: You and Me.
Tracy Hopkins, Business Development Director at outBACK Therapeutic Expeditions, when asked about the current momentum in diversity and inclusion efforts in the field, shared “We are at a crucial point, not only in our lives but within the field of private pay behavioral healthcare. The hope is that we, as an industry, are able to take this time to take personal inventory as well as examine our respective programs and practices to better understand what the issues are, to begin to create strategic planning for sustained improvements. It has to be an honest examination of why we - as an industry - are lacking both in a diverse pool of staff as well as clientele.”
For more information, please contact the following members of the outBACK team:
McKay Deveraux
Executive Director
Email: mckay@outbacktreatment.com
Tracy Hopkins
Business Development Director
Inclusion & Belonging Specialist
Email: tracy@outbacktreatment.com
About outBACK Therapeutic Expeditions
outBACK Therapeutic Expeditions is a highly effective, clinically informed treatment program dedicated to bringing families BACK together. Utilizing the wilderness as an alternative to traditional treatment settings, we guide students (13-17) and families in their process of reconnecting to Self, re-engaging with Family, and recommitting to Purpose. outBACK provides an innovative clinical structure designed to yield the highest clinical value for students and their families by providing access to multiple therapists for each student; Primary Therapists who oversee treatment plan and Associate Therapists who are in the group daily. outBACK is a licensed wilderness therapy program in the state of Utah and helps teens with various areas of difficulties such as depression, anxiety, trauma, family conflict, engagement in dangerous behaviors, neurodiversity, ASD level I, electronic and gaming addiction and more.
All Kinds of Therapy sent out its first anonymous survey to the Family Choice Behavioral Healthcare industry, to gain a sense of the funnel during the COVID-19 pandemic. There were 11 questions inquired about enrollment for March-May 2019 vs. 2020. One-third of the recipients of the survey responded. Response breakdown was 10 wilderness therapy programs, 21 residential treatment programs (of all levels of care) who serve under 18 clients, 17 residential treatment programs (of all levels of care) who serve clients over 18 and 14 referrals to the industry that include either therapeutic consultants or interventionists. There was one respondent who chose not to disclose.
The month with the greatest decrease was May 2020 vs. May 2019 with an overall decrease of 8% in enrollment and a 23% decrease in inquiries.
April 2019 vs. 2020
- Inquiry = 15% decrease
- Enrollment = 4.5% decrease
March 2019 vs. 2020
- Inquiry = 5% increase
- Enrollment = 4.5% increase
The final question of the survey was to share your pandemic song for this Spotify mix that was compiled by Carrie Thompson of Bridge House (UT). The data was aggregated by Ryan Walton of New Vision Wilderness Deschutes (OR). Thank you for those who participated.
If anyone would like to have a conversation with Jenney Wilder, M.S.Ed. about the content of the survey, how it was done or why it was done, please call or text at 202-630-2563. Thank you for all who responded to the survey last week.
About All Kinds of Therapy
Launched in 2015, allkindsoftherapy.com is a web-based platform that focuses on interventions, assessment and varying types of treatment to transition programming for ages 30 and under. Treatment and Transitional programs, Wilderness Therapy programs advertisers must answer 40+ questions, revealing facts about their treatment model, clinicians' training, licensing, etc and offer a level of transparency, unlike any other online treatment directory. The platform provides users with a place to research the best options for the individual presentation, to compare treatment options side-by-side, find an Expert clinician, parent coach, teletherapy, teleassessment, therapeutic consultant, and to read the monthly curated blog to develop a greater understanding of a dynamic field. #BlackLivesMatter