Passages Alaska is an outdoor therapeutic wilderness for young adult males on Prince of Wales Island (Alaska).  Sitting in the same range of the Pacific Northwest, each group of eight students will have the same weather as Seattle. The base on the island is a half-hour flight north of Ketchikan, AK and a two-hour flight from Seattle. When not out on two-week expeditions canoeing, whale watching, fishing and doing service work, the students will be living in a fishing lodge or a structure on Isle Paradiso, on the north end of the island.   

The program was designed by founder Sean Tomkinson, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker/Therapist, who will be sharing his passion for Alaska while providing therapy.  “I always dreamt of going to Alaska as a kid growing up and I’ve been here now for 11 years. Wilderness therapy and Southeast Alaska just seem like a natural combination, as being here is still a source of awe for me.“  The program was started four years ago for adolescents from the state and he has revamped the program for young adults.  They will be learning about themselves, their strengths and weaknesses; and how to move toward a more positive direction in their lives. Alaska provides its own therapeutic value that allows for a change in perspective which is enhanced by the extremely experienced field guides who will accompany the students on their journey.

The 18-28-year-old males participating in Passages Alaska struggle with anxiety, which shows up as depression, isolation, having family difficulties, lack of motivation, school failure, lack of self-confidence.  In the 8 weeks of the program, the participants will learn responsibility, self-reliance, how to communicate and build confidence that is transferable to the next stage of their life. This is an opportunity to be someplace very few people ever get to travel, with the safety of having transport route close by if needed.  The state of Alaska has approved Passages Alaska’s plan for quarantine so the wilderness therapy program is open for business April 7th. 

About Passages Alaska

Passages Alaska is a unique wilderness therapy program in Southeast Alaska for young adult males 18-28 that opened April of 2020 after having been open for four years for adolescents. Using the magic of Alaska and access to the coastal waters allows there to be a change of perspective for the participants. Hands-on therapeutic interventions include canoeing, whale watching, fishing, primitive skill building and service with extensive therapy and coaching for those with Anxiety, Depression, ADHA and Failure to Thrive.  For more information about this innovative wilderness therapy program in Alaska, please visit the website  www.passagesalaska.com or contact Sean Tomkinson at  907.821.8092 or 270.908.4166.